After tossing my hair into a messy bun and scrubbing the makeup from my face, I quietly turned the knob, finding the two of them peacefully where I’d left them. Part of me wanted it to be me there instead. Get on Enzo’s other side and snuggle up next to him, have his big, strong arm over my stomach, holding me for safekeeping.
One cruel minute of watching this picture-perfect moment had my heart beating hard. I finally went to the bed and carefully lifted his heavy arm and laid his hand across his chest.
He stirred. His long, dark lashes fluttered, which had me going still. He brought his hand over the scruff on his jawline and scratched before his arm fell back to his other side.
I gave it a few more seconds to ensure he was still out, then scooped Chiara into my arms. You wore each other out, huh?
Once she was back in her crib, and thankfully, she’d remained asleep, I forced myself to do the inevitable, let Enzo know I’d returned, and he could leave us. Leave me.
I climbed onto the other side of the bed and shifted the pillows he’d set up as a barrier for Chiara, then lightly touched his arm. He jerked awake as if stunned. It was like a flash of muscle and ink flying over me, and I found myself pinned beneath his hard frame.
Enzo was breathing hard as he continued to brace himself over me. “Maria,” he murmured, shaking his head as if still rousing himself from a deep sleep. “Where’s Chiara?” His eyes widened in panic.
“In her crib.” I touched his chest, attempting to calm whatever bit of worry I’d created for him. “I was trying to wake you.”
He looked over at the old-school alarm clock on my nightstand, which was there for aesthetic only. It was twenty minutes after eleven.
“I’m surprised you slept while I was gone,” I admitted, wondering if he had any plans to move, considering my pelvic bone touched his body, and if he shifted just a bit, my nightshirt might slide up, revealing my silk panties. He’d already seen the bra. Why not the matching underwear?
“Ryan texted me. He told me you ended your dinner date early and took an Uber to their place to see Natalia. He let me know he’d drive you home afterward,” he explained, shifting his hips a bit, and I could feel the heavy weight of his cock resting on me.
I gulped, then whispered, “Of course he did.”
“I’d never sleep if I thought you were with . . .” He cut himself off. “You could’ve sent me a text, you know.” He arched a brow, as if guessing why I didn’t.
In truth, I’d been a hot mess about going on my first date since the split with Thomas, especially since it wasn’t with Enzo.
“Date not go well?”
Boring and not “heartbreaker” material, so Mom would’ve loved him. “He’s a nice guy.” Just not you. “I wasn’t interested, though. Why waste time?” I arched my back the slightest bit, dying for him to relieve the pressure between my thighs but also knowing he’d only hang me out to dry.
“How much did you drink?” His brows slanted as he studied me.
“One glass of wine at dinner. Two with Natalia.” I wasn’t close to being drunk if that was his concern. Tipsy, sure.
His eyes moved to my nightshirt, and maybe my PJs weren’t the “safe option,” because I was still braless, and my nipples had to be poking through. There was a slight snarl to his lips, and then he rolled to the side and sat on the edge of the bed, raking his hands through his hair. He snatched his hat and situated it backward on his head before standing. “I’m going to take the monitor and sleep on the couch.” He faced me, and his gaze fell to my bare legs.
“Why would you do that?” I shifted, tugging the hem of my nightshirt lower.
“You haven’t slept well lately, and I’ll wake up with her. You need to sleep.”
“You don’t need to do that.” I sat and tossed my legs to the side of the bed, nearly losing my balance as I stood. He reached for my arm and kept me upright, but now we were so close that I had to look up to find his eyes.
“I know, but I am,” he said in a sleepy-sexy voice.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I shook my head, searching for his eyes.
“And why’s that?” His gaze narrowed slightly as he tilted his head in question.
“I can’t touch myself while you’re in the other room.” Oh. My. God. Where did my filter go around him? “It’d be, um . . .”
“Why do you do this? Play with fire expecting not to get burned?” His jaw tightened as he leaned in closer, eyeing me with that swirl of chaos and desire in his hooded eyes.