Chapter 52: Breath Between Us
Luca couldn't control the storm within him any longer. The sight of her caring for him, the softness of her touch, and the knowledge that she was alive and here—it was too much.
His arms slid around her as he gently picked her up from the sofa. She gasped slightly, not out of fear but surprise. He walked to the nearest wall and pressed her back against it, his lips on hers again. His kisses grew deeper, heavier with each passing second.
She whimpered softly, her hands clutching at his shirt.
"Wait... wait... I can't breathe," she whispered between breaths.
Luca stopped immediately. He rested his forehead against hers, their breaths tangled.
"Can we?" he asked softly, his voice almost pleading.
Janet closed her eyes, still catching her breath. "No... I'm not yet ready," she said gently.
He let out a slow exhale and slowly set her down. His hands cupped her face tenderly.
"I will wait for you," he whispered. "You're my everything, Janet."
She looked at him, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. But she still said nothing. Her silence wasn't rejection. It was confusion, fear, maybe even the beginning of feeling something she had tried so hard to bury.
Her breath was still uneven, her body trembling slightly. But for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone.
And Luca... he was right there, waiting.