38

I groaned sleepily as I wearily hugged my pillows without opening my eyes. It's definitely still too early. I had to yawn.

After a few seconds I opened my eyes briefly. Instead of an empty half of the bed, I looked at Domenico, who looked at me with a smile. I closed my eyes again, tired. He was always a morning person anyway.

Wait? Domenico? I widened my eyes and sat up, startled. Domenico laughed. "What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, overwhelmed, my heart beating faster with shock. "A beautiful good morning to you too, mia bella," he laughed.

"Dios, you scared me," I murmured. "How did you even get in here?" I asked him confused. "Through the door," he replied in a questioning tone. "I didn't mean it like that," I clarified. "Well, first your security people let me in and then they got your father," he explained trivially.

I widened my eyes slightly. This whole situation seemed so surreal to me. "You talked to my father?" I asked in disbelief. "In short yes."

"About what? Or no...why are you here?" I wanted to know. Domenico sat up and came closer to me. Before answering my question, he locked our lips in a quick kiss. So surreal.

"Because we both have plans for today," he informed me. I wrinkled my forehead questioningly. "And what?" I wanted to know. "That's a surprise," he grinned before glancing at his phone screen. "You should get ready now," he said, looking up again. I thought he should prove to me how much he loves and wants me, but I didn't think he would take it so seriously.

I was totally overwhelmed. "What are we doing today?" I tried again. "You'll see. Now go! Hop Hop," he laughed. I just rolled my eyes with a grin and got up before walking to the bathroom. "Do I have to wear anything special?" I yelled, grabbing my toothbrush. "No, but a dress wouldn't be ideal," he replied.

Where did he want to take me? I brushed my teeth and then went into my closet. I had a shower last night, so I could skip that part now. I looked at my stuff undecidedly. It was nice warm August weather, so I opted for black shorts and a white and blue striped crop top. Then I put on my white sneakers before I went back to Domenico. When he heard me, he looked away from his phone and looked me up and down.

A small smile played on his lips. "You look good," he complimented me. I smiled sheepishly. "Gracias." Domenico looked around my room as if he was realizing something. "This is the first time I've seen your room," he remarked. "Yep," I replied as I walked to my nightstand and picked up my phone. "Can we?" Domenico asked. "Sí," I replied.

"You don't need breakfast now. I'll get something on the way," he informed me. "Okay, I'll just let you know that I'm gone." "You don't have to, I already did that before," he said. I just nodded. Mierda, that was so surreal. Domenico and I, so surreal. I would never have expected it again.

"Now will you tell me where we're going?" I wanted to try again as we walked down the stairs. "No," he grinned cheekily. "Why not?" I persisted. He'll give in at some point. "There's no reason for that," he replied calmly as we walked past security and headed outside, where we headed straight for his car. "Domenico please. I'm very impatient," I whined. A mischievous grin crept onto his lips. "Oh believe me, I know that," he grinned.

I knew immediately what he meant. I punched him lightly in the shoulder. "I didn't mean that" He laughed. I just shook my head.

"Madame," he said, holding the passenger door open for me. "Yeah, and now pretend to be gentleman," I murmured quietly to myself. "I heard that," he informed me, slamming the door at the same moment. "Ass."

-

We had been on the road for a good half hour now. There was a pleasant mood, despite which disgusting images wanted to sneak into my head. Pictures from our last ride together in this car. But still I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the comfortable silence. The delicious pretzel I just ate. And above all, I enjoyed Domenico's hand on my thigh. He stroked my bare skin over and over again with his thumb.

As I ripped off a piece of the pretzel and put it in my mouth, I noticed that Domenico hadn't eaten anything yet. How about when he was driving? So I tore off another piece of my pretzel and held it in front of his mouth. "Do A" I grinned.

He opened his mouth with a smile and I put the piece in his mouth. "How long are we going?" I wanted to know. After a while I gave up the question "Where are we going?" Domenico was stubborn every time I asked him. "Not for long," he replied.

I acknowledged this with a nod and ripped something off the pretzel again. "What is our status now?" Domenico wanted to know curiously, while his thumb gently stroked my skin again and again. His touch still drives me crazy. How much I missed you.

"Our status?" I asked. Domenico laughed a little nervously. "Well, are we back together now or what are we now?" he asked softly. I think he was uncomfortable questioning that. "Mhh," I hummed in thought while starting to grin. I found that kind of funny.

"Our status is: waiting," I said firmly. "Waiting?" he repeated my words questioningly. "Yes, waiting. I'll wait and see how that develops and then I'll decide," I explained with a slight grin. "Or do you prefer the friend status?" I wanted to know with a grin. Abruptly he started to shake his head. "No, I'm perfectly fine with waiting." I laughed. "Well that's fine then," I smiled before the car stopped.

I turned my head and looked through the pane. We were in the middle of a parking lot, but there was nothing to be seen anywhere that could give me any clues as to what Domenico was up to.

And before I could ask him, he slammed the door behind him. He was at the passenger door in a flash and opened it for me. "You slime," I grinned and got out.

I was about to start walking straight ahead when Domenico pulled my wrist back and put his lips on mine. I gasped in surprise. That kiss sent thousands of butterflies fluttering through my stomach. I placed my hands on his cheeks before his rested on my waist. That kiss radiated so much. Again I realize how much I missed him.

We slowly pulled apart and he put his hands over mine. Domenico took a deep breath. "I missed that so much," he murmured against my lips. "Me too," I breathed.

A moment passed and we were still standing in that position. "I'm sorry," he mumbled eventually. I frowned in confusion. "Sorry about what?" I wanted to know. "All." "Just everything and when I think about the whole last time, I would like to punch myself in the face." Domenico stopped and took a deep breath. "Some nights I couldn't sleep because I saw your tear-stained face over and over again, knowing full well that I was the one who caused you the pain. I love you and I really realized that too late I shouldn't have run straight to my father like a servant who's done his job I don't know if I'll ever shake this guilt.

I swallowed, not wanting to cry again. His words touched me in some way. I try to hug his face even tighter, but in a gentle way. "I know you're sorry, Domenico. And I'd be lying if I said I'm not still a little hurt, but I have you I gave us another chance," I said softly.

The pain of his betrayal was still slightly there, but I'm willing to give him another chance. To forgive him. There's absolutely no point in sitting around in my room for days and crying over Domenico. To torment myself with all the good memories if there's still a chance for us.

Domenico began to nod slightly. Another short moment of silence passed. Pleasant stillness. "Let's go now," he says. A small smile crept onto his lips. Likewise on mine. I missed him so much. I nodded eagerly before he grabbed my hand and pulled me with him.

We walked for a few minutes before I saw something from a little further away. A shield to be more precise. I stopped abruptly. "Are you serious?" I wanted to know enthusiastically. I felt like a toddler.