Free Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) by Leigh Ann Lunsford Page B

going to do whatever with whomever, guts me, yet is a testament to her love for me. “I’m serious, there will be no one else. Only you.” I rub my thumb over her ring; wishing I could burn those words in her skin, make her feel them like I do.
    “Yeah,” she smiles at me.
    “We’re done here.” I am going to take her up to the room and somehow convince her of how I feel. Once we reach the room, her shaking has gotten worse. It started in the elevator, slight tremors in her hand, and with each floor we climbed, it became more prominent. Now she is a ball of nerves. “Relax, this isn’t what you think. We only go as far as you want, or nothing at all. It’s all at your pace, but we have a stopping point.”
    “I’m scared.”
    “I know. If you weren’t it wouldn’t mean as much.”
    “What if I’m not ready?”
    “We aren’t having sex tonight. We’ll only do what you are ready for.” I pull her to her bag, place it in her hands, and gently nudge her towards the bathroom. “Go change, we’ll watch a movie. Just like at home.” I need to ease her mind. I’ve laid a lot on her tonight, and I should have waited. I don’t want her doing anything she isn’t ready for. I know in her convoluted way she will see it as a way to hang on to me, but I’m forever tied to her.
    I worry just as much as she does. Even if I come home on the weekends, she’ll be alone during the week. What if she has a bad day? I won’t be here, and she will seek solace in Bianca, or someone else. Nobody will hold her heart like I do, but insecurities have a way of getting the best of us. We all have them, and they manifest differently in each of us, sometimes we act out, sometimes we shut down, and sometimes we reach out. We communicate, and I have to make sure that is the option we take. I’m scared of not being here to protect her or remind her of my love daily. Phone calls only go so far.
    I quickly shed my clothes, down to my boxers, and throw on a pair of shorts before she comes out of the bathroom. Her face is clean of make-up, and her hair is taken down and brushed. She is in her comfy clothes and yet, she’s still stunning. I purposely sit on the couch as far away from the bed as I can so she isn’t thinking about it. We’ll watch movies, and she will relax, then she’ll attack me like normal, but this time I’ll let her explore. I’ll let her lead for a bit. She watches me for a few minutes, “You okay?” she settles in next to me, cuddling into my side.
    “Never better.”
    “Do you leave right after graduation?”
    “No, I have the whole summer. I wouldn’t do that. You know you and Binks can come visit when you want. I figure she will want to see Dakota.”
    “We’ll see,” she says with a defeated tone.
    “Dad got us a three bedroom condo. He was worried about security, so y’all can have your own room.”
    “It’s not that.”
    “Do you not want me to go? I’ll stop everything, just say the word.”
    “My dad . . . I don’t think he’ll let me go. Appearances and all, he likes to keep them up.” I hate that man.
    “Then I’ll just come home.” No hurdle is too high for us to leap. She lets out a deep breath and focuses on the TV. Soon her hand is rubbing my bare stomach, her fingers dipping and tracing the ridges of my muscles, repeatedly. It’s soothing and enticing at once. I want her hands all over me, even in the calmness it brings; it ignites a slow burn. I let her continue until I feel her tongue on my collarbone, kissing, licking, and nipping me. I look down at her, and she looks up at me with hooded eyes. Fuck, she is so damn sexy.
    I bring my mouth to hers, slowly. Giving her every chance to pull away, I watch her eyes darken, her cheeks turn pink, anticipating each inch as I get closer. Finally, our lips meet, and it’s combustible. Her fingernails dig in to my stomach, my hands go to her ass, kneading and holding her in my palms. She grunts in frustration and crawls across