It's morning and light from the sunrise sneaks past a set of curtains that aren't mine. Nor are the soft sheets covering my naked body. I blink a few times, and even pinch myself because I'm in Enzo's bed. A grin spreads across my face. I'm exactly where I should be. When he walked away from me at my parent's house, it felt like he was closing the book on our relationship. There was defeat in his eyes, which cast doubt on the hope I had about his feelings for me. 

But thanks to me getting a wild hair up my ass, I left the house in the middle of the night and came here demanding answers. Now that I have them, it feels like our relationship can finally begin.

I'm in love with Enzo, and he's in love with me.

Inhaling a deep, satisfied breath through my nostrils, I turn over to snuggle him and draw little hearts on his bare chest with my finger. I'm so giddy that I spell out, I Love You, and Enzo stirs, so I pause, not wanting to wake him.

Then I realize...

Last night he didn't actually say that he loves me. I said it, but he didn't.

I close my eyes and hug his torso with my head against his chest. His heart rhythm has a steady tempo, and judging by the soft cadence of his breathing, he's completely relaxed like a kitten purring. Maybe Enzo did say he loves me, but in my explosive orgasm, I didn't hear him. Because there's no way a man can look at me the way he does, deep in the eyes, while inside me like he wants our souls to be one, and not love me. Right?

Last night felt like more than just sex. It felt like making love. 

His arms squeeze me, and with a groggy morning voice says, "Hi."

"Morning." I lift my head and my heart swells at his handsome, sleepy face.

He kisses my forehead.

"You always wake up before me," he chuckles softly.

"It's hard to sleep when the sun starts coming in."

"Then I'll install blackout curtains so we can sleep in next time."

"Does this mean you're inviting me to another sleepover? 

"No," he says, then rolls and pins me onto my back. There's a devilish smile in his eyes as he strokes a few curls away from my face. "I'm holding you hostage. I want you to stay here forever."

I laugh, "You don't have to kidnap me. I am a willing participant. Keep me here forever."

"In that case..." The corners of his mouth twist, and he begins kissing down my neck, down my chest, down my stomach.

"Enzo!" 

"What?" He stops at my belly button.

"I... haven't showered."

"And?"

"And maybe I should get a little freshened up?"

"Oh, no, no, no." He grins wickedly and pushes my legs apart with his palms. "Let me enjoy my breakfast."

"But—"

"Relax, Mara." He kisses my inner thigh. "Women are always scared about what they taste like, but little do they know, us men like some extra flavor." He winks and kisses my other thigh. "Trust me." 

I inhale a sharp breath and clench a fistful of his hair when his tongue makes the first stroke. No other man will ever compare to Enzo.

Absolutely no one.

I melt into the pillows.

After Enzo's feast, we shower and head out for some real breakfast. While we wait for our meals to arrive, Enzo checks a few work emails, and I scroll on Instagram. Then I notice I have one less follower, which isn't difficult to miss since I don't have many to begin with. Unlike Delilah who is a mini influencer and has countless strangers interacting with her posts. I swipe left to check my messages, and that's when I see a grey icon instead of a profile picture and user not found for the ongoing chat I had with Kyle. 

He blocked me...

This shouldn't upset me considering I had zero issue blocking Josh, yet my stomach rotates like a rotisserie chicken anyway. I hate when my actions hurt other people, but maybe it's for the best. At some point, I was going to hurt him regardless because my heart has always been with Enzo. Kyle was simply lust.

"Alright." Enzo sets his phone aside. "That's out of the way."

"Business is good?"

"Business is very good." Enzo smiles. "I'm supposed to go to Spain this weekend to meet with a client."

"Spain?" I quirk a brow. 

"Yes. Want to come?"

"Where in Spain?"

"Mallorca."

I almost choke on my coffee, and wipe a dribble of it from my chin. "Mallorca is on my bucket list of places to vacation!"

"Good. So, do you want to come?"

"I have to work at Penthouse this weekend..." 

"Quit," he says and takes a nonchalant sip of his coffee.

"But I need the money."

Enzo sets the cup down and reaches across the table to hold my hands. "You don't need that place anymore. What if I told you that Dominic pulled some strings and there is a small ballet production company in Berkeley looking for a lead, and he floated your name? The role is practically yours. All you have to do is audition."

My jaw drops. "Enzo... I—"

"Will you audition?"

"Of course."

"Good. Quit Penthouse. Go to the audition. Come with me to Spain, and let me worry about whatever bills or debt you have for a while."

"I can't let you pay my bills," I laugh.

"Yes, you can." He kisses my knuckles. "I still want to take care of you even though your family doesn't approve." He threads his fingers through mine. "And I've been thinking, what if you move in with me?"

My jaw drops again. "What? Enzo..." I touch his forehead. "Are you ok?"

"Yes," he chuckles. "I'm always off traveling, so you would have the place to yourself most of the time, and it would allow you a sense of independence. Plus, it would be nice to come home to you after a long day."

I swallow a gulp of coffee and it almost feels like a golf ball sliding down my esophagus. The last time I moved in with a guy, he broke my fucking heart after making me believe we were endgame. I clear my throat, "Are you serious? You want me to live with you?"

"Dead serious, but..." he pauses with a sigh and says, "It would mean you sacrificing a lot considering your family won't approve, and that might cause a rift in your relationship with them. So, that's something heavy you'll have to weigh, and I won't pressure you. My offer is open, and I will understand if you say no."

"I can't live my life for them," I say.

"No, but family is important, and I know how much they mean to you."

"Wait a second." I hold up my hand with a head shake. "Why does it sound like you're convincing me to say no?"

"I'm not. I just want to be realistic, and I want you to understand what you might lose by living with me. Whatever you choose, I still want to take care of you."

"Why?" I search his eyes, my brows furrowed, and my stomach twisting with hope that he'll say he loves me.

"Because..." He toys with my fingers, a smile teasing the edge of his lips. "You're my tiny dancer." He leans in, his hand going to my cheek with a caress, his mouth inches from mine. "From the moment I laid eyes on you, you've been my girl."

I almost melt into the seat. Instead, my panties melt, and I steal a kiss from him.

I love you, Enzo Esposito.

But I don't say it aloud.

"By the way." He pulls back to look me in the eyes. "We should get you new bikinis for Spain. Perhaps one with a thong."

"Enzo!" I smack his chest.

"What? You have a very, very cute backside." 

I roll my eyes and bite back a grin. "Alright. Maybe one thong bikini."

"That's good enough for me. I'll just take you to a nude beach."

"Absolutely not. That's where I draw the line."

"Fine. Then we'll have to rent a private yacht so you can walk around naked, and I can sit back and watch your gorgeous body take in the sun."

"Oh my god..." I drop my face into my hands, my cheeks on fire. "Stop!"

"Alright. I'll stop." Enzo smiles devilishly from across the table. Our waiter arrives with our meals and sets them down, but as delicious as they smell, my beloved is gazing at me like I'm tastier. He waits for the waiter to leave, then says, "Do me a favor and describe your panties for me so I can daydream about them while we eat."

"I'm not wearing any." I shrug and cut into my pancakes.

"Mara..."

I look up and Enzo has a funny expression. It's somewhere between a shit-eating grin and nonchalance. Almost as if he doesn't believe me, but is hoping it's true. 

"I didn't want to put on the same undies I had on last night. So, I went commando." I shrug again.

Enzo's fork clatters to the table as he sets it down too eagerly, slides closer to me in the booth, and trails his fingers up my thigh. He's trying to call my bluff as he looks me in the eyes, but I stare right back at him and take a bite of my pancakes. His hand goes up the skirt of my sundress and I uncross my legs, giving him more access to my naked flesh. He slides his hand further. A low gasp escapes his mouth, and his eyes widen as he swirls his fingers around my wetness. 

"We... might need to head back to the apartment," he says in a low rasp.

"We sh-should," I stutter, and clench my thighs before I orgasm right here in public.

Enzo gives a few more torturous strokes, then kisses my temple, and inches back to his side of the table with a huge satisfied grin. I take another bite of pancakes with a deep inhale of bliss because I couldn't be happier with how our morning is going, but when I look at him again, Enzo is licking his fingers as if he has chocolate on them. My breath hitches in my throat. He's enjoying it a little too much.

"Enzo!"

"Yeah, we're definitely going back to the apartment after this, Mara. I'm going to need more dessert." He winks.

We head back to the apartment and spend the afternoon tangled in the bedsheets and wrapped in each other's arms. It feels like Las Vegas, but more real. It feels like the beginning of a new chapter.

When evening arrives, I go to my parent's house, but as I exit my car, and walk up the path, I realize it won't be my home for much longer. Enzo's place will be where I go to find peace in the world. He even said I can adopt a dog, so when he's out of town, I have a companion. I'm excited for what's to come, but the hurdle will be breaking the news to my mom, and the stink-eye Lydia will cast my way. Lucas, on the other hand, seems to have a change in attitude and was nice to Enzo while we searched for my father.

I take a deep breath before walking into the house, then step inside and find my mom sitting on the couch with my dad. They're watching a Telenovela and are completely engulfed as the female lead slaps her husband. I guess Rosalia has finally discovered that Esteban is cheating on her with her sister, Teresa. 

"Dale otra vez, Rosa!" my mom shouts at the TV, urging the woman to smack him again.

Rosalia runs up the grand staircase of their mansion with Esteban on her heels, begging for forgiveness. I take a seat on the arm of the couch because there is no way I'm missing this juicy scene after weeks of watching Esteban's handsome self sneak around the Castillo's family estate to bang Teresa's brains out. I hate his guts.

My mom reaches over and squeezes my knee but doesn't take her eyes off the screen as Rosalia begins yanking Esteban's clothes from the hangers in the closet and rushes them to the balcony. He tries to stop her, but nothing can interfere with a woman scorned as she tosses his clothes out. Workers pause from toiling in the vineyard to watch the commotion, and the camera zooms in on the super sexy Emiliano, who is in love with Rosalia and would never dream of breaking her heart. 

"Ugh, can they get together already!" I say.

"No, he's a gentleman," my mom tuts. "Emiliano would never get in the middle of her marriage. He's patient."

"Love is patient. Love is kind..."

"Exactly."

I look over at my dad who hasn't said a word, and whisper, "How is Papi doing?"

"Fine. Quiet, but that's normal for him." 

"I hate that he was hurt. Any news from the detectives yet."

"No. They're still following leads. They talked to Josh, but cleared him." She squeezes my knee. "He came here, you know."

"Josh?"

"Yes. Earlier. He wanted to see how your dad is doing." She looks at me. "He also asked about you, and apologized to me for hurting you."

I roll my eyes. "He can rot!"

My mother sighs, "I think he's changed, Mija. There was something different about him. I think he regrets losing you. Sometimes men don't realize what they've got till it's gone. I think he and that woman aren't doing good."

"What makes you say that?"

"Just a comment he made about soulmates, and how he hopes to have what your dad and I have one day."

"That doesn't sound like he and his girlfriend are on the rocks," I laugh.

She smacks my leg. "You have to read between the lines!"

"Well, I don't care either way. I don't want him back. I'm... happy with Enzo," I say before I can chicken out.

My mom's mouth forms a flat line, and she looks down. "That older man?"

"Yes."

"Is it true what your sister said?"

"No. I mean, he did pay me to go to work events with him, but it was innocent I swear. I think he mostly wanted to make his ex-wife jealous because she cheated on him."

"So, he used you."

"No." I shake my head. "Enzo is a good man, and he cares about me. We started as friends, but our feelings have evolved, and... I love him."

"Mija..." She takes my hand. "Money doesn't buy happiness."

"I know that. That's not why I love him. He's good to me. Enzo takes care of me."

"By paying for things? That doesn't equal love."

"I know that! I'm not a child who doesn't understand simple concepts," I bark.

"Mija, don't get defensive. I'm only saying these things out of concern because he's closer to my age than yours. The last thing I want is for him to take advantage of you by flashing money in your face."

"He's not taking advantage of me. Why is it so hard to believe that he's a good man with genuine feelings for me?"

"What's wrong with Kyle?" she asks. "I liked him. He's handsome, nice, and closer to your age."

"He is nice, but there's something just off about him. I can't explain it. Besides, I don't love him. I love Enzo, and... I'm going to move in with him."

The color from my mother's face drains. I take her hand and hold it to my cheek. "Mami, please don't be sad. I promise you he is a good man who loves me and is good to me."

"I don't want to see you hurt, but you're an adult and you're going to do what you want." She turns her attention back to the Telenovela.

"Mami, please..."

She frowns but squeezes my hand. "No matter what, I'll be here with open arms if things don't work out."

I wipe the tears from my cheeks and stand. Breaking the news didn't go horribly, but it also didn't go how I hoped. Yet, there is still a chance things will work out, and my mom will see that my relationship with Enzo is the real deal. I leave the living room and head for my room to begin packing. By the end of the week, I'll be moved into his place, and we'll call it our apartment. 

It will be our home where we begin the next chapter of our life together. I close my eyes and my lungs relax with the release of a breath.

What a wonderful life it will be.