When they entered the arena, Aiden just stood there for a moment and took it all in.
“This is amazing,” he said. “I can’t imagine this place filled with people cheering on a match to the death.”
“It makes American football seem tame, doesn’t it?”
“Like child’s play,” Aiden agreed.
They trailed behind a tour group with an English-speaking tour guide, who pointed out the many statues that remained intact after nearly two thousand years.
Once they exited the Colosseum, Nyla suggested he take a picture underneath the famed Arch of Constantine, located just steps away from the ancient arena. This time Aiden insisted he be allowed to pose like a warrior coming home from battle.
Her carefree laughter as he struck pose after menacing pose solidified his decision not to bring up the past again today. She was right. This was supposed to be a fun day of sightseeing. Every time he tried to insert the past, Nyla pulled further away. That wasn’t why he’d brought her here. He didn’t want her running away from him. He wanted the exact opposite.
“We’re pretty much crisscrossing the city,” Nyla said. “But I’d rather try to see the Vatican today instead of waiting until tomorrow. We’ll come back to where we’ll have dinner tonight.”
Aiden gestured for her to lead the way. “After you, Madam Tour Guide.”
Nyla hailed a cab, and ten minutes later, they were standing outside the fortresslike walls that surrounded Vatican City.
Aiden started for the line that wrapped around the wall, but stopped when Nyla tugged his wrist.
“Is there a problem?” he asked.
“Before we go inside, there’s something else we have to do.”
They crossed the street and stopped before a large plate-glass window. Behind the glass case inside were mountains—literally, they looked like tiny mountains—of ice cream.
“You’re joking right? It’s thirty-five degrees out here and you want me to eat ice cream?”
“Not ice cream, gelato. And I don’t care how cold it is, you cannot come to Italy and not have gelato.” She took him by the arm again and dragged him into the gelateria.
Aiden was baffled by the number of people waiting in line to buy gelato on such a cold day.
“I’ve had gelato before,” he said with a shrug. “I don’t get why people think it’s so special.”
“Just taste it,” Nyla said, handing him his cone. His eyes grew wide at his first taste of the rich, creamy dessert. She grinned. “Told you.”
“Yeah, so this is a lot better than ice cream,” he conceded. He followed Nyla to the counter that faced the street and sat on a bar stool that afforded them a view of the line of people entering the Vatican.
“And this isn’t even the best gelato I’ve had,” she said. “It’s pretty close, though.”
She ran her tongue along the rim of the cone, lapping up the rivulets from the already melting dessert.
Aiden couldn’t be sure, but it was a safe bet that he had never in his life gotten so hard so fast, at least not since he was twelve years old. He had to swerve the stool to the right just in case his sweater couldn’t fully conceal the erection that had sprung up at the sight of her tongue stroking that gelato.
“Mmm...” Nyla murmured, licking her lips. “There shouldn’t be something so sinfully good this close to the Vatican.” She held the cone out to him. “Want a taste?”
It was an innocent enough gesture, but in his current state of mind Aiden couldn’t help the barrage of erotic thoughts that suddenly crashed through him.
His eyes trained on Nyla, he leaned forward and took a taste of the sweet treat. “Mmm,” he said. “The best thing I’ve tasted in a long time.”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. Her lips parted, then quickly closed as her eyes shot to his. Aiden held his cone out to her.
Nyla stared at it as if the gelato were forbidden fruit. “I’ve...uh...I’ve tried that flavor already,” she said.
A grin tipped up the corner of Aiden’s lips. “Try it again,” he encouraged in a low voice.
She glanced at the gelato, then at him. Aiden saw her chest lift as she pulled in a steadying breath before she leaned over and licked in the same spot he had.
He swallowed back a moan, though just barely.
The situation in his pants reached nuclear meltdown proportions, a hot ache gripping him as he studied the drop of chocolate cream that clung to the bow of her bottom lip. It took every ounce of restraint in his body not to lean forward and lick it off.
“Is it as good as you remember?” he asked, his voice so husky he could barely hear it.
Nyla’s gaze lowered once again to his lips. “Even better.”
To hell with fighting this.
Aiden leaned forward, preparing to fulfill the fantasy that had been on his mind all day. But before he could connect his mouth to hers, Nyla reared back and twisted her stool toward the window.
She pointed across the street. “We’d better get going before that line gets any longer.”
Aiden shut his eyes against the onslaught of lust that coursed through him. He nearly suggested they skip the tour; it seemed sacrilegious to enter into a holy place with such unholy thoughts flooding his mind.
The wait to get into the Vatican was longer than the one for the Colosseum, which was expected at this time of the year, but seeing the famed painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel made it worth the wait.
They shuffled their way inside St. Peter’s Basilica, which Nyla explained was the length of two football fields. She pointed toward the massive tomb where St. Peter was buried. “Do you see that dove in the stained glass window past the altar? Its wingspan is seven feet.”
“No way,” Aiden said.
“Yes. And those letters up there,” she said, pointing to the Latin writing that ran the entire length of the basilica. “They are six feet tall.”
Aiden slowly shook his head. “Pictures do not do this justice. I can’t even put it into words.” He turned in a slow circle, completely awestruck. “A day and a half isn’t enough. I’ll have to come back here before I leave for the States.”
“You must,” she said. “There’s no way we’re going to get through all of Rome in one day.” Nyla’s brow arched. “Speaking of returning to Rome...” She reached into the shoulder bag she carried and pulled out a handful of coins. She took his hand and turned it, dropping them in his upturned palm. “You’re going to need these for where we’re going next.”
Aiden joggled the coins. “An arcade?”
Her eyes lit with knowing humor, she took him by the arm and turned for the basilica’s exit. “You’ll see.”
They hopped into another cab and crossed the Tiber River. When Nyla mentioned they were nearing the Mausoleum of Augustus, Aiden demanded they stop. He’d written a book report on the life of the first emperor of Rome back in grade school; he never imagined that he’d ever have the chance to see the burial place of the man who started the Roman Empire in person.
His eyes glued to the crumbling facade of the ancient tomb, Aiden rattled off facts that had stayed with him all this time. “Did you know he and Antony were friends before Cleopatra came into the picture?”
“Women.” Nyla tsked. “Causing men strife for thousands of years.”
“Tell me about it.” Aiden snorted, then laughed when she playfully slapped him on the arm. “Augustus is the reason I’ve never eaten figs. After I read that his wife killed him with poisoned figs, I decided I could go through life never eating them.”
Nyla’s head flew back with her laugh.
They continued on foot, walking south on Via del Corso. Nyla spotted a scarf shop and scuttled ahead of him to see if it was open. He took the time to drink in how good she looked in the snug-fitting sweater dress and ca
lf-high heeled boots. She’d paired it with a cream coat that reached the hem of the dress. She’d always been fashionable, even when she wasn’t trying.
“They’re closed,” she said with a shrug.
“Maybe next time,” Aiden said.
She nodded and smiled. A ridiculous thrill shot through him at how open she seemed to there even being a next time.
They continued on down the heavily traveled street. Even though he couldn’t see where it was coming from, the gurgling rush of water and the chatter of what had to be dozens of people grew louder with every step they took. They turned left at another ancient building with stone columns, and a minute later, Trevi Fountain came into view.
Aiden’s steps halted. “Wow.”
“Amazing, right?”
He could hear the smile in Nyla’s voice, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the massive fountain.
“I’ve seen it in movies, but to see it in person...” Aiden shook his head, amazed.
“This is one of the best sights in all of Rome. I can sit here for hours and people-watch.” She nudged his shoulder. “My favorite reaction is the one you just had. You have no idea how many people are stopped in their tracks when they see it.”
“Can you blame me? This is... It’s incredible.”
They took a seat on one of the steps surrounding the marble structure. The only thing that could drag his attention away from the fountain was the smooth glimpse of thigh that peeked out when Nyla crossed her legs. It wasn’t until she pulled the hem of the sweater dress down over her knees that Aiden was able to pay attention to what she was saying. She filled him in on the history of the aqueduct system that fed the fountain, then started on the litany of movies it had appeared in.
“If Trevi Fountain was ever a category on Jeopardy, you’d run the table on it,” he teased.
Her admonishing frown was ruined by the amused glint in her eyes. “I told you it’s one of my favorite places in Rome.”
Aiden nodded toward a group of tourists facing away from the fountain and tossing coins over their shoulders. He slipped his hand into his pocket and came out with the coins she’d given him earlier.
“I guess that’s what these are for?”
Nyla nodded. She took him by the hand and tugged until he stood. “Come on. No trip to Rome would be complete without tossing a few coins into the Trevi.”
Once at the metal bar that surrounded the base of the fountain, Nyla captured his shoulders and twisted him around until he faced her.
“Legend has it that you must toss three coins over your shoulder, like this.” She motioned her arm across her chest and over her left shoulder. “The first is to secure a return trip to Rome, the second is to find your true love and the third leads to marriage.”
“So, do you really believe that works?” Aiden asked.
He didn’t know if the sudden redness on her cheeks was from the cold or embarrassment, but he liked it.
“I know it probably seems silly to someone as pragmatic as you are, but it’s nice to imagine that it’s true. I’ll bet you think it’s a waste of a few euros.”
He slowly shook his head. “No, I don’t.”
His eyes still on her, he tossed each coin over his shoulder.
“Here’s to returning to this very spot with the woman I love.” After he tossed the last coin, he brought his fingers to her face and caressed her cheek. “And that when I return, she knows that she’s the woman I love.”
Her lips parted ever so slightly. Soft white puffs took shape with each breath that panted from her mouth.
“Not too many people know this, but there’s a miniature fountain just to the left,” she said. “Legend has it that if a couple drinks from it, they will be forever faithful to each other.”
Aiden brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty thirsty.”
The tourists’ chatter and gurgling rush of the water cascading over the stone fountain dissipated as he stared into Nyla’s eyes. Time suspended, all thought vanished; at this moment, everything else ceased to matter.
His entire body humming with need, Aiden leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly upon hers. At the feel of her soft lips, every dark part of his soul burst into light. His only desire was to remain in this very spot, doing this very thing, for as long as possible.
He cupped Nyla’s jaw in his palms, his fingertips tingling at the feel of her delicate skin. Aiden drew his tongue along her lips, willing them to open. After three long years, the need to experience her unique flavor was all he could think about.
He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips, steadily increasing the pressure with every swipe, until finally her lips parted. A groan of pleasure tore from his throat as he inhaled the sweet taste of her. He’d experienced it only once before, but he remembered every single thing about her kiss. The way her mouth relaxed, the warmth, the suppleness.
He thrust his tongue in and out, stroking the velvet softness, devouring the honeyed flavor. How had he survived without this? Why did he wait so long? It was impossible to imagine going even another day without kissing her like this again.
He held her head steady as he continued to stroke her warm mouth. He fought the urge to pull her flush against the hardness growing below his waist, but the need to connect his body to hers was more than he could withstand.
“Aiden.” She spoke his name against his lips, sending an electric current racing through his veins.
“What is it?” he whispered, shoving his hand into the hair at the nape of her neck.
“We...we can’t do this.”
His chest nearly caved with the wave of disappointment that crashed through him. “Don’t say that, Nyla.”
She pushed against him, breaking the connection. Then she took several steps back, straightening her dress.
Several people gathered around the fountain snickered and clapped, and Nyla’s pretty brown cheeks turned as red as a beet.
Just great. Their first kiss in three years—their second kiss ever—and it happened in front of an audience of strangers.
Aiden took a step forward, but she stopped him, putting a hand up. “Don’t, Aiden. Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.”
“Why are you making it so hard? Can’t you feel what’s happening here?”
“Yes, and it isn’t right. I’m not doing this to someone else, Aiden. I’ve been the other woman before. I will not put someone else through that.”
His head reared back. What?
“The other woman? What are you talking about?”
“You have a girlfriend.”
“What? No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. Before we left my place yesterday, when I asked about the girl in your Facebook pictures, you said the two of you had broken up. When I asked if you have anyone special in your life, you said yes.”
Aiden pitched his head back and pinched his eyes closed.
“Goodness, Nyla. Are you kidding me?” he said, his voice strained. He looked at her again and shook his head. “You never gave me the chance to finish answering you yesterday. If you had, I would have told you that you’re the someone special that I’m hoping to have in my life. I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Not even one you occasionally date?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I’ve tried to get over you, Nyla. I told myself that it would make life easier if I could just forget those months I spent with you three years ago ever happened, but there is nothing easy about forgetting you.” He closed the distance between them. “I’m starting to think it’s impossible.”
“Don’t,” she said.
“It didn’t matter how smart or beautiful or funny those other women were, not one of them could ever measure up to you.”
&n
bsp; She dropped her head. “God, Aiden,” she whispered. “Why are you doing this to me?”
He captured her chin and lifted it until she met his gaze.
His heart pounded against the walls of his chest as he decided to put it out there, once and for all.
“Because I’m in love with you. It doesn’t matter what you say, or what you do. I’m convinced that I’m destined to love you.” He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I want you to give us a chance.”
She wrapped her arms around her middle and pulled her trembling lips between her teeth.
“I just don’t know, Aiden. After what happened on my wedding—”
“Forget that one day,” he said, cutting her off before she could bring it up again, as if that one day meant more than all the others they’d shared. He put his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.
“Think about how you felt before your wedding day. Remember what it felt like to stroll around the Ancient Americas Exhibit at the Carlos Museum, or through the tulip meadows at the botanical gardens. Think about that first time you reached for my hand as we sat on the swing in my parents’ backyard.”
She tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her. Turning her face to his again, he said, “You felt it that night, Nyla, that very first time you reached for me. You knew then that there was more than just friendship between us. I know you did, because it was the first time I saw fear in your eyes. Because you knew what was happening between us.”
“Of course I was afraid,” she said. “You were my fiancé’s younger brother.”
“I was a man who cared enough to learn what it would take to make you happy. I was a man who deserved a chance.” He tucked a finger underneath her chin and tipped her face up. “I still want that chance, Nyla, because even after three years apart there is nothing in this world I want more than to make you happy.”
Her eyes fell shut.
Aiden had to fight the urge to pull her trembling lower lip between his teeth. He could practically see the war taking place within her.
This could all be so simple, if only she would let go of that guilt she still carried.
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