Page 158 of The One
With her, life is fuller, brighter, richer, as if everyday moments have been painted in more vivid colors.
She’s the reason my heart beats faster and slower all at once. The way her laughter fills a room, the way her touch grounds and at the same time ignites me, the way she sees me, not just the man I am but the one I want to be.
She’s the woman I want to wake up to every morning for the rest of my life, the one I want to share my secrets with, build dreams with, and grow old beside.
Our days here in Tuscany have been magical. I took her to my favorite places, secret gems I’ve cherished for years. These places are like pieces of me, and now, they’re hers too.
I showed her where my mother grew up, the little corner café she always spoke about going to before she metpapà, and the beach where we played as kids when we visitednona. All those happy memories were raised to another level with Mari by my side.
We talked endlessly, the kind of deep, roving conversations that make time vanish. But just as special were the silences we shared. There’s a peace in sitting together, not needing to fill the air with words. Just being near her is enough.
In the evenings, she played guitar for me, and we cooked meals together, the farmhouse filled with the rich, earthy aroma of fresh ingredients and the lilt of our laughter. Dinner turned into board games, not that those ever lasted long as we turned our attention to less trivial pursuits.
A hand brushing against mine, her knee grazing my leg, was all it took to set us ablaze.
I’ve never known a woman’s body as intimately as I know hers now.
We explored each other with a mix of tenderness and curiosity, discovering our most sensitive spots and committing them to memory like a secret language only we understand.
As promised, we didn’t go all the way. I’m not sure how I managed the herculean effort to resist pushing my cock into her and making her irrevocably mine.
We made time for practical things too, including more self-defense training, shooting practice, and even driving lessons. I haven’t forgotten the promise I made to myself that Mari will never be unprepared or vulnerable again because she doesn’t know what to do. Keeping her safe is as vital to me as the air I breathe.
These moments, big and small, passionate and mundane, are stitching us together. I want to hit pause and live in this perfect bubble forever.
If only we could.
I heard from Tiero yesterday while he was walking the Formula One paddocks in Brazil searching for Ella. She didn’t show up on the first day of practice, but he’s undeterred, convinced she’ll be there. I hope with everything I am that he’s right.
He needs her in his life, by his side. I understand that more than ever now.
When you find the person who feels like your missing half, the one who completes every part of you, it’s impossible to imagine life without them. Tiero deserves that, and so does Ella.
All thoughts of my brother vanish, though, when Mari enters the bedroom with a tray of sweet delights from the local bakery.
The way she smiles at me sets my pulse racing. It’s strange. It’s like my body can’t help but go haywire whenever I’m around her, and this bizarre urge to kiss her takes over.
I reach for her hand as soon as she sets down the tray and draw idle circles on her skin, each rotation sending bolts of electricity up my arm. I watch Mari pick up a cannoli and bring it to my mouth.
“This is delicious, but I’d much rather savor a different flavor on my tongue,” I murmur, my gaze locked on her full lips. I want to kiss them until they’re swollen and that lustful expression that never fails to make me rock-hard returns to her face.
Of course her cheeks flame that beautiful pink color I’ve become addicted to, and her heart thuds against the palms of my hand in an erratic rhythm.
I take the cannoli from her hand, the corners of my mouth twitching as her eyes widen in curiosity. With my free hand, I tug her onto the bed, and she tumbles into my arms.
Grinning, I dab the cannoli against her nose, leaving a smear of cream. Her giggle turns into a surprised squeal when I lean in, my tongue darting out to lick it away.
Hmm, so good. But I bet it will taste even better on other parts of her.
My fingers trail along the soft material of her robe, grazing her skin underneath. Then I push aside the fabric, baring her to me.
Our eyes connect but hers drop to her breast when I paint her beaded nipple with the sweet ricotta mixture. Her teeth sink into her bottom lip as she watches me repeat it on her other nipple, her back slightly arching off the mattress inviting me to take the sweet offering into my mouth.
I don’t hesitate.
A low moan escapes her throat when I swirl my tongue around her areolas and suck her hardened peaks into my mouth, first the left and then the right.
“Teo,” she gasps, writhing beneath me, the heat of her pussy distractingly burning against my abdomen.
