“I know,” I said in a whisper. “But…I…” I trailed off. I knew Aria was right. I’d known it pretty much from the beginning. I hated that I had to apologize for loving someone, for wanting to be with that someone. It shouldn’t be like that.
Aria took my hand and linked our fingers. “Some women manage to fake their virginity on their wedding night. Maybe you can do that too. And it’s not like Father has already set up a wedding for you, so we can figure something out until then.”
“Aria, I don’t want to marry anyone else. I only want Romero. I mean it, I love him.”
Aria looked into my eyes for a very long time. I wasn’t sure what she was hoping to find there but I gave her time. “You do, don’t you?” she said, resigned. “What about him? Does he love you?”
“He said it after we made love for the first time.” I’d hoped he would say it again after our first night together but so far he hadn’t. Maybe he wasn’t the type to say it out loud very often.
“Are you sure he’s serious about you?”
“Of course, didn’t you hear what I told you?” I said, but even I could hear the flicker of uncertainty in my voice and I wasn’t sure where it was coming from.
“Some men say things they don’t mean after sex because they feel guilty.”
My eyes widened. How would she even know? She had warmed the heart of one of the most feared men in the country. “He wouldn’t do that. And if you’re saying he only tried to get in my pants, that’s ridiculous. You know Romero, he wouldn’t use me like that.”
Her blue eyes softened with guilt. “No, you’re right. Romero isn’t the type and he wouldn’t risk so much for sex. He must care about you if he goes against Luca’s orders.”
“You won’t tell him, right?”
“I told you, I won’t. Luca’s got enough on his plate already, I don’t want him to worry about this as well. We’ll figure something out. But until then, please be more careful. I’m not going to tell you to stay away from Romero because I suspect you’d just go behind my back, but if someone else finds out, things could really get out of hand.”
“I know,” I said. “Romero and I will be careful.”
Aria pressed her lips together. “And there’s really no way that you’d consider breaking things off with Romero?”
“No,” I said without hesitation.
She smiled sadly and hopped off the bar stool. “I want to talk to Romero now.”
I pushed to my feet and grabbed her arm. “Why? Will you try to talk him into leaving me?”
“Do you really think I’d do that to you?” Aria asked in a hurt tone.
I felt bad instantly but Aria had changed over the years. Maybe it was because she’d taken more responsibilities as Luca’s wife, but sometimes I thought she acted too much like a meddling mother when it came to me. I didn’t doubt she always wanted what she thought was the best for me, only problem was I wasn’t sure if we both agreed on what that was. “No. But why do you want to talk to Romero?”
“I just do,” she said stubbornly. “Please stay here while I talk to him. Do me that favor.”
“Aria, please don’t make a bigger deal out of this than it is.”
“Oh, Lily, this is a much bigger deal than you think,” she said before she walked off.
Romero
I wanted to tear my hair out in frustration. We should have been more careful. I usually never let my guard down. I always anticipated possible risks. Today I’d failed on so many levels, it was pitiful, and not just that, I’d risked both our lives.
Aria advanced on me. She looked royally pissed. And I couldn’t blame her. She stopped right in front of me, her blue eyes blazing with anger. “How could you do that? What were you thinking?” she hissed, jabbing her pointer finger against my chest. “But you probably weren’t thinking, at least not with your head.” She made a gesture in the general direction of my crotch, then jabbed my chest again with more force.
My eyebrows shot up. This was so unlike Aria. She never touched me, because she knew how possessive Luca got over the smallest things. “This isn’t only about sex.”
“Lily said the same thing, but what is it then? You know the rules, for God’s sake. It’s ironic that I have to remind you.”
“I know the rules,” I said tersely, getting angry. But Aria was the last person I should be mad at. She was right.
“Lily said you slept with her.” Aria shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes, and all my anger evaporated. “God, Romero, if someone finds out, Lily will be ruined. Or do you intend to marry her?”
“I can’t. You know that. Your father would never allow it, and if we went against his wishes that would mean war.”
“I know it. You know it. So why did you do it?”
“I didn’t push Lily if that’s what you think,” I said. Did she think I’d forced her sister somehow? “Lily wanted it too.”
“I don’t doubt it. I see how she’s looking at you. She loves you. Of course she wants to sleep with you, but you should have known better!”
Fuck, why did she have to be right? “I know. What do you want me to say? That I’m sorry?”
“You’d be lying,” Aria muttered.
Indignation shot through me but she was right. I wasn’t sorry that I’d slept with Lily, at least not enough that I wouldn’t do it again. “Are you going to tell me to stay away from her now?”
“You’d be going behind my back. And Lily would hate me if I tried to get between you and her. You’ve slept with her already, so it’s not like it matters if you do it again as long as you are careful
