As I slid inside her perfection, Scarlett arched underneath me, her eyes falling shut, her mouth wide, as she inhaled one long breath.
Wet eyes opened and stared at me as if she were seeing something in me that I hadn’t dared believe I could be. “Angel, it is not the air under my wings that you have given me. It is your wings that are carrying me,” tears dripped, “to the sky.”
Over a decade ago…
Passing by a small pantry in the kitchen, a little hand suddenly grabbed mine and yanked. I was security but didn’t fight the silent demand. I would know that touch anywhere.
Behind me, I quickly closed the door and whispered, “What are you doing?”
Noemi had dried tears on her face. Her eyes were manic. “Angelo won’t talk to me—”
I covered her mouth with my palm. “You were right. We should’ve told him.” My other arm was around her body while I peeked over my shoulder through the door levers to be sure no one was in the kitchen.
Noemi gripped the front of my suit, trying to speak from under my hand. “…won’t talk to me.”
The empty kitchen gave me the courage to lean my chin on top of her head and hold her close. “Shh.” Breathless, she melted to my chest. A kiss was placed in my palm. Those lips that I had missed so much caused havoc in my heart. Possibly trying to comfort myself also, I rocked her. “Shh.”
Her body slowly eased from the stress that had been weighing on her beautiful, caring soul.
Her calming had me releasing her mouth. “Noemi, you’re going to get me killed.”
“Mateo won’t come into the kitchen. He says it is beneath us.”
This pissed me off. My mother practically lived in that kitchen to feed his fucking family.
In a whispered cry, she swore, “I will never forgive my father.”
Life was so cruel. It took Noemi from love. “Noemi, we can’t meet like this. You’re married now.”
“To a troll.” She stared up at me. “I want you.” Tears fell. “Angelo won’t talk to me. What will happen to him?”
I closed my eyes to shut out her beckoning mouth. “He’s trying to protect you. They will kill you, too.” She was beyond giving a shit about her life, but I needed her to stay alive so I could.
“Sal, you saved Angelo from me and all I did to him. Don’t let him ice over and become a Suit Zombie. You hear me?”
My eyes dared to open. “I promise.”
A cry burst from her. “I’m losing you, aren’t I?”
“You have to.” I swallowed my boiling and agonizing emotions. “I have to let you go.”
“No.” Trembling hands grabbed at my pant buckle. “I can’t live without you—”
“Noemi—”
“Please,” she begged, on the verge of hysterics. “Ground me.”
Sex was a major part of the communication between the three of us. It came so easily to us and linked us on every level… except this one.
With all the speed and strength I could muster, I pushed her hands away and gripped the nape of her neck. Bending her backward, my other arm slammed the front of her body to mine. It was stifling with need in that pantry. I wanted to make love to the girl I was madly in love with. And she needed the young man in me who always gave her balance.
Exhaling labored breaths, but completely willing to be in my strong hold, she stared up at me and dared, “Do it. Kiss me.”
My body burned to melt to hers, clothes or not. I knew her touch would have me meeting her soul—a place I wanted to hide and take refuge. “I’m going to kiss you this once, but only if you make me a promise.”
She lifted her chin. “No.”
My grip jostled her. “Promise to make Mateo fall in love with you.”
So upset, she asked, “How? He is a stuck-up, empty case of worthless skin.”
I stared into beautiful eyes that reminded me of the woods where we used to be free, where we could get lost in—where we found love in. “Every human came from God. That means there is hope you can reach some hidden value in the spoiled brat.” I lowered my lips to hover over hers. “Let your true beauty show, Noemi. Let him in. He will follow your light. I swear it.” My eyes watered as I told myself her light could never be mine again. “Make him fall in love with you. And live.”
My mouth slammed to hers.
The last kiss Noemi and I ever had was blessed… by our tears.
Now in the living room of the house hidden in the Idaho mountains, I stood in front of a glass door, staring into the darkness. Noemi had done what she promised and was now happily married. That wonderful news didn’t stop how I felt for her.
Angelo, alone with Scarlett, had me missing Noemi even more. I was dying to hear her voice. I wanted her to know that the man we loved so dearly…
In my mind, I told her, ‘We did it, Noemi.’ Tears dripped down my face. ‘We did it. He is going to be happy. We don’t have to worry about him anymore. He has fallen in love, Noemi.’ I wiped at my wet face. ‘She is wonderful, Noemi. She is from the Heavens Mamma taught me to pray to.’ I leaned my forehead to the cool calming glass. ‘Scarlett Giordano is perfect for our boy.’
My hand lay on the glass as I imagined the beauty who owned my heart. ‘I had a dream, Noemi. I don’t know how it all happens, but it was a beautiful dream.’
So many women had been in my arms since Noemi, but none compared. Only Scarlett had come close. The two women were complete opposites in many ways. Noemi had learned sex with me and Angelo after being in love with us. Scarlett already knew far too much about sex before falling in love with the two of us.
And fall she did.
Hearing the bedroom door opening, I wiped my face again. In the reflection in the glass, I saw Angelo, now in his boxers, walking down the hallway. He sounded fatigued, but in a good way. Handing over his soul had settled him. “Will you come to us?”
Turning away from the soothing glass that I had imagined to be Noemi, I said, “Of course.” I took off my jacket while walking toward him. “Is she well?”
I already knew the answer but wondered how much Angelo understood. Did he know he had just made love to his future wife? Maybe so. Maybe, somewhere deep, he knew what had just happened. His dark eyes, which were typically laced with an unspoken rage, were now sedate. His Italian rung… “Like a fresh breeze cleansing my soul.”
Before passing my best friend to lay with the girl that once had no hands, but now held all the power, I grabbed his shoulder. “I knew she would be.”
His head tilted. “Are you alright?”
I will be. “Yes.”
I walked into the room to see Scarlett’s back. She was on her side, covered with a sheet and blanket. Going to that side of the bed, I laid my jacket on a chair. Facing her, my heart stopped. I rushed to her. “Scarlett.” On my knees on the floor, I leaned in and moved dark hair from her face. “Dove, why are you crying?”
Angelo wasn’t concerned at all as he lifted the blanket to crawl in behind her.
Grabbing my hand, she sniffled. “Sal, my happy tears won’t stop.”
“Aw, Love.” I pushed more hair from her face. “But you’re sure they are happy?”