Lencia.
The last time he called me that we were a happy family of five.
“It makes sense. You were scared of the news impacting me and reacted on instinct. The past got in the way. I understand now…and I’ll keep working with you. I forgive you.”
Giulio’s eyes squeeze shut in relief.
I know he’s trying so hard to open up. It’s something we constantly struggled with since signing our legal separation. Both of us bottled away our feelings after every argument. We need to go back to that happy place where we can speak honestly and openly.
“I’m so sick of fighting with you, Lencia. I’m sick of the back and forth. It hurts me. It hurts me right here.” Giulio’s hands slide over mine by his heart. I fan out my fingers and he laces our hands together, every inch of my body throbs at his touch.
It still gets me.
He still owns every single part of my body without even saying a word. Even when I attempt to deny it, I’m his. At the core of Addilyn missing, we have to work together and be on the same team. I have a feeling that after tonight we will be.
“It hurts me there too. We need to be kinder to each other.” I express my gravest concern within our window of honesty. “No more lies, no more getting all angry and worked up. There’s somebody out there seeking to destroy us, and we are hurting each other in the process which is only benefiting whoever is doing this to us.”
“You’re right. You are so right.” Giulio’s eyes open to warmth. I’m smiling through the emotional desolation and am fond of the way he mirrors the action. “How’s therapy and the anti-depressants been going? The book?”
“They’re helping me more than I ever expected. Especially the book, thank you once again for it. It’s been incredible. The conversations with Dr. Eross are getting more…intense.”
“Maybe I could come with you one time?”
Enraptured by his closeness, the words escape me. “That would be…”
“Good?” Giulio asks, detaching one hand to cup my cheek. His eyes are on my pink lips. He can feel my heart now. I’m certain of it. It thumps in my ears, slowly fading out the sound of the crackling wood fire across the room.
It’s all him.
Entirely him.
“Yes. That would be good.”
Giulio’s head moves in line with mine. We challenge each other’s gaze with the light in our eyes. We’re burning like an allusive flame. I squeeze our intertwined hand and his body responds by bringing me even closer. That captivating and erotic cologne is all I breathe. My throbbing heat intensifies and my nipples harden, poking through my soft silk top as I press up against Giulio’s shirt.
Woah.
“When should we go?” His lips almost touch mine. Almost. His deep, sexy voice has me drop my composure. And I don’t want it to stop.
“Next Tuesday night. That’s my next session.”
“That works.” His nod proves a risky move when his lips brush against the tip of my nose and then my forehead. It’s there where he leans in and kisses it. “Only if you would like me there. I know it’s complicated, but I would like to stand by you and support you.”
Oh my…Yes.
I’m in my own world of wondering thoughts with moans threatening to escape at the idea that all Giulio needs to do is lower his mouth down to my lips or neck. Even with all the obstacles in the way, tonight I see him for him. I see him as the man I married. The man I love.
“I need you…” Excitement molds our sensual touches and lingering gaze. “I need you at the session with me.”
“I’m already there, Lencia.”
The nickname again.
Giulio’s presence teases my desire. He knows my body too well not to notice my roused silent plea when he hovers his lips by my neck, seconds from kissing me. Yes, please. The sexual tension is slaughtered by the kettle’s whistle. Our touch falls away without any kiss, yet I still feel him. I will for days. This memory will be with me long after tonight. I never thought that after yesterday we’d share such an intimate moment together…and yet…
I don’t know what this means for us, if it even means anything or if it’s making everything better or worse. God, I don’t even know how to comprehend the way I feel. All I know is that we were so close to becoming whole again…even if it was for a moment in time.
“I should go. Goodnight, Lencia.”
I have no time to gather my thoughts let alone speak before Giulio leaves. He nudges the door shut without another word, leaving me with the roaming impression of his sensational lips lingering across my skin.
I expected to feel something more than this. Something much more. My hopes and greatest prayers diminish the moment Giulio and I are called to the police department on Monday morning.
The little girl sighted who was believed to be Addilyn…isn’t. The little girl, whose name is Madison Clark, was with her nanny taking an evening walk. It was the nanny’s first day working and so when the witness approached her, nerves took over. It was all a false alarm.
I can’t break out of my motionless state. I don’t feel like crying. I don’t know what I feel like. All I know is that I won’t stop the desperate search for my baby. The false sighting sparks new faith in The Window Case for SPD.
We meet with Sergeant Steve Flynn and he seems optimistic, reassuring us that we can contact him anytime, even if we discover the faintest of clues. He also informs us that at the crack of dawn they arrested four men suspected to have committed the vandalism at Giulio’s assisted retirement village project. They
