Fragile Longing

“Sofia,” he said, shaking his head again.

“We should head out, right?”

I slid out of his hold and walked away. Soon his steps caught up with me. I could feel his eyes practically burning into me.The wedding was spectacular, and so were the festivities, which were, of course, held in the best hotel in Minneapolis. Danilo’s tension returned when we were seated in the church but slowly abated throughout the evening, though he was still far from relaxed.

The first time he didn’t follow his sister’s every move with his vigilant eyes was when we danced. He held me close, his palm hot against my lower back. With us being so close, I couldn’t stop remembering our kiss—my first real kiss—and man, what a kiss. Even in my fantasies, it hadn’t been that good, which made me wonder how the rest of our physical encounters would be. The party debacle obviously wasn’t the scale to judge our sex life by.

I caught Anna’s eyes briefly from across the room. We hadn’t had time for a private chat yet. We’d talked on the phone practically every day since my wedding, but talking in person was different.

“Anna beats my protective streak by far,” Danilo murmured.

I laughed, meeting his gaze. “We’ve been friends all our lives. She just wants to make sure I’m all right.”

“And are you? After the kiss?”

Biting my lip, I whispered, “I am.” The kiss had awakened my senses and my hopes. If Danilo could kiss me like that, then surely he had to desire me.

“Good, because I can’t think about anything else than the taste of your lips, Sofia. I can’t wait to kiss you again.”

I squeezed his shoulder, pressing a bit closer. “What are you waiting for?” Surprised by my own courage, I laughed.

“If I kissed you the way I want to kiss you right here on the dancefloor that’ll cause the scandal of the year,” Danilo said dryly.

My gaze drifted over the other guests, engaged in polite conversation and dutiful dances. They’d be shocked, but maybe not. After all, the Mione sisters were prone for scandal. I shoved Serafina out of my head like I had done every day over the last two weeks. For me to feel comfortable with Danilo and really give us a chance, I couldn’t have let thoughts of Fina mess with me, which was also why I hadn’t taken her calls. “We shouldn’t ruin your sister’s wedding like that.”

Danilo searched my face, as if he had picked up on my brief meander down memory lane.

“You should probably dance with her,” I added. Danilo nodded and reluctantly handed me over to Dad.

After a few more dances, I excused myself from the dance floor, my feet aching in my high heels. I searched the room for Anna, but she was dancing with Samuel. Desperate to get out of my heels, I slipped out of the banquet room. I could hardly take my shoes off around people. It would go against etiquette.

I found a comfortable bench in a side corridor and sank down on it. I released a sigh when I slid my heels off. My feet were red, and blisters were forming at my toes. I shouldn’t have worn new shoes for a night of standing and dancing.

Footsteps alerted me that someone was coming, and I looked up to see Danilo rounding the corner, a look of concern on his face. He relaxed visibly when he spotted me.

“Worried I’d run off?” I said with a small smile.

He sat down beside me and surprised me by taking my foot and massaging it. I leaned back and moaned under my breath. “Sorry, this just feels too good.”

Danilo shook his head and bestowed the same treatment on my other foot. The look he gave me was intense, and soon the simple massage felt like more than a way to ease my pain.

It was silent in this part of the hotel. The banquet room was a good distance away and the restrooms were in the other direction. Danilo set down my foot and cupped my face. I scooted over to him, and our mouths crashed together.

I lost myself in the kiss, in Danilo’s warmth and taste. He hoisted me onto his lap, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, sinking even deeper into the kiss. His erection dug into my ass, stirring up my own need. So much for changing panties.

“Shit,” someone muttered.

Danilo and I jerked apart. Anna stood a few steps from us. She sent me a look that made it clear she wanted details, then slowly backed away with a fake sheepish expression. Before she turned the corner, she winked at me.

Danilo made a low sound in his throat. “She’s getting annoying.”

“You can’t blame her. You haven’t given her much reason to like you.”

“I’m trying to make up for my past transgressions,” Danilo said as he kissed my throat.