Page 57 of Under Her Skin
Arturo blanched. “Did he—Hero—I—”
“No. Very close. But no.” She shook her head and leaned into her sister’sembrace.
Arturo sighed in relief, and Imelda reached out her free hand and tookArturo’s.
“So much damage, but we’re on the other side of it now. I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re bothokay.”
Philipo twinkled at her. “I might be a little bit in love with you, ImeldaDonati.”
Imelda grinned at him. “Right back at you,handsome.”
For a moment, Hero and Arturo looked at each other and grinned, and Imelda released her sister. “Come on, Phil, let’s go grab some coffee and leave these two alone for awhile.”
Alone, Arturo patted the bed. “I’ll shift over…I need to hold you in myarms.”
Somewhat awkwardly, they managed to curl up in his hospital bed together. Hero nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, kissing along his jawline. Arturo stroked his hand down to her abdomen, feeling the heavy dressings there. “Does ithurt?”
“The muscles do when I move, but they’ll heal. It’s not so bad, really. I gotlucky.”
Arturo gave a mirthless laugh. “Lucky? I let him hurtyou.”
“You did nothing of the sort. I would be dead right now if it weren’t foryou.”
They were both silent for a moment, recalling the horror of that day. “Seeing you on that table like some sacrificial lamb…mio Dio, Hero. I thought that was it. I didn’t know if I had the strength to fight him off, but there was no way I was going to lethim…”
“…gut me like a pig. What he did to Flavia. He was in love with you, Arturo. He swore up and down he wasn’t gay, that his love transcended gender, that you had always belonged tohim.”
Arturo winced. “What thefuck?”
“He was crazier than a soupsandwich.”
Arturo, despite the topic, had to laugh. “Awhat?”
“Just asaying.”
“A Chicagosaying?”
Hero grinned. “No, I heard it on a television show one time. But it’strue.”
Holding her in his arms again felt so right, so blissful, that he forgot his pain. “Hero, when we both get out of here, we’re going to begin our life together all overagain.”
Hero smiled at him. “You bet we are,gorgeous…”
And she kissed him so passionately that he forgot anything else in the world existed apart from the two ofthem.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Six monthslater…
Hero giggledas Arturo stole the towel that was wrapped around her body. “Turo, we’re going to belate.”
“I don’t care…you look so adorable all wet and sexy.” He pulled her onto the bed where he waited for her, and she sighed happily as his lips met hers. She could feel his long, thick cock pressing against her bare belly. She wrapped her legs aroundhim.
“You’re intoxicating, Signore Bachi.” She gave a long moan as he slid inside her and began to move. Arturo smiled down at her as they made love, his arms locked either side of herhead.
She stroked his face as he plunged his cock in and out of her. “God, I loveyou.”
Arturo chuckled. “Ti amo, il mia amore...per sempre...”Forever...
