𝐶𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑂𝑓 𝑀𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑒 | ✔︎ |

[27.] The Beginning Of The End

{{VITTORIO MARIANO}}

I woke up when I heard my girl cry beside me. She was shuffling around almost as if she was in physical pain. She sat straight up gasping for air grasping her chest. She started sobbing without a second thought.

"Princess?" I asked sitting up and moving in front of her. Her eyes were closed and she was crying.

I grabbed her face and she cried more. Fuck.

"Baby, open your eyes please." I pleaded holding her face softly. She was still gasping and sobbing.

"I can't- fuck it hurts. It all hurts." Mara cried. "Take it away please, take it away." She pleaded.

My heart cracked at those words. I can't take it all away lover, only some of it. I pulled her into my chest and she cried more.

"Calm down, honey. Breath okay? Your safe, I'm right here." I held her so close to me. She was in so much pain and I couldn't do anything about it. Anything.

Her breathing started to ease but she was still crying. She brought her arms around my torso and hugged me back. I kissed the top of her head and she sniffled.

"I don't deserve you." She pulled away and stared at me. "Thank you." She added.

"For what?" I tilted my head.

"Everything." That's one way to shut me the fuck up. Jesus I love this woman.

I wiped the tears away from her gorgeous face and stared into her wonderful eyes. Her eyes are brown but they look almost red. It's remarkable. I'm obsessed with everything from her wavy black hair, her naturally pink lips, her olive skin, and her heart. She's so scary around everyone that's not me or Artemis and her goddaughter. She's quite literally a raging bitch to everyone else.

I placed my forehead to hers. "I love you Damara Mariano." I whispered against her perfect lips.

"I love you Vittorio Mariano." She smiled slightly and kissed me.

It wasn't a hungry needy kiss. It was soft, and it showed so much love. It's crazy to me that actions say more than words.

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After we had went back to bed Mara was definitely calmer. She looks so peaceful, and enchanting when she sleeps, that's until the nightmares hit.

When I woke up I couldn't help but stare at the sleeping beauty. She's everything to me, and the thought of anything happening to her makes me angry. Her sent was filling the air. She smells so good. Like warm vanilla, roses, and honey. I've probably said that before but this woman smells remarkable.

Mara scooted towards me and hugged me. She eventually rolled us both over so she was on top of me. She brought one of her arms up and started playing with my hair. I love this. And her. I feel like now that I've said it, I'm never going to stop.

"What's on your mind, pretty girl?" I asked breaking our silence.

"Nothing, I'm just mad." She mumbled.

"Why..?" I pray it's not directed towards me. She's scary when she's angry.

"At myself. Not you Vi." Can she read minds?

"How did you-" She cut me off.

"You're not the only one who can read people like books, lover." She raised her head and rested it on my chest looking up at me. She began tracing my skin giving it her full attention. "I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to wake you up. I didn't even mean to wake myself up." She said just above a whisper.

"Don't apologize for that. It wasn't your fault. I know your beating yourself up for it, please don't. Your being hard on yourself for way more than one thing. Let this one go, okay?" She lifted her gaze to mine.

"Okay." She smiled softly.

I pulled her hips off me and she straddled me. I sat up and she put her arms around my neck. I rested my hands on her waist and we stared at one another for a minute or two.

"We're leaving New York today, are you ready?" I asked.

"Yeah. I have to say goodbye to Vespers parents though, then Salem." She smiled. "Then we can go." I pulled her to me and we were hugging. "Can I tell you something?" She asked.

"Mhm." I hummed against her perfect soft black hair.

"I've lived a lot of lives. But this one? This one is my favorite by far. And it's because of you." She whispered the last part into my ear.

Lord help me. I'm whipped as fuck.