What We Left in the Dark

Seventeen

I woke up slowly, the light of dawn filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. For a moment, I lay there in a state of peaceful disorientation, my mind still foggy with sleep. It wasn't until I felt the steady rise and fall of breath against my neck that reality began to seep in.

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat as I realized where I was. The events of the previous day came rushing back—the fear, the comfort, the safety I had found in Luca's arms. But what shocked me the most was that I had slept through the entire night. After everything that had happened, I had found peace in his presence, something I hadn't felt in a long time.

Luca was still beside me, his body pressed close to mine, his arm draped possessively across my torso. His breath was warm against my neck, and I could feel the gentle brush of his lips just inches away from my skin. The intimacy of the moment sent a shiver down my spine, a soft moan escaping my lips before I could stop it.

The sound seemed to stir Luca from his sleep. He responded with a low, husky moan of his own, his body instinctively shifting closer to mine. I felt the heat of his chest against my back, the firmness of his body pressed against me, and before I knew it, his hips pushed forward, the unmistakable hardness of his arousal pressing into me.

The sensation sent a wave of heat through my body, a heady mixture of desire and surprise flooding my senses. My breath hitched, my mind struggling to process the sudden shift from the peaceful calm of waking to the electric tension now humming between us.

Luca's hand tightened slightly on my waist, his grip both gentle and possessive. I could feel the warmth of his skin against mine, the strength in his touch. The proximity of him, the weight of his body, was intoxicating, pulling me deeper into a haze of desire.

He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his breath hot against my skin as he pressed a lingering kiss just below my ear. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep, the deep timbre sending a shiver down my spine.

"Good morning," I whispered back, my voice unsteady, laced with the excitement that was quickly building inside me.

Luca's lips curved into a smile against my neck, his hips pressing forward again, letting me know that my excitement was very much welcomed. The slow, deliberate movement sent a jolt of pleasure through me, my body responding to him with an eagerness I hadn't anticipated.

I turned my head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye. His expression was one of pure desire, his eyes dark with arousal as he looked down at me. The connection between us was palpable, the air around us charged with a tension that had been building since the night before.

"Luca..." I breathed, my voice trailing off as I struggled to find the right words.

"Shh," he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear. "Just feel, Catalina. Don't think."

And I did. I let myself get lost in the sensation of him, the warmth of his body, the way his touch sent sparks of pleasure through me. The fear and uncertainty that had plagued me the day before seemed to melt away, replaced by the overwhelming desire that was now coursing through my veins.

Luca's hand began to move, tracing slow, deliberate circles on my waist, his touch light yet full of promise. Every brush of his fingers sent a new wave of heat through me, pulling me further into the moment, into him.

I arched my back slightly, pressing myself closer to him, needing to feel more of him, to close the gap between us. Luca responded immediately, his arm tightening around me as he pulled me even closer, his breath hitching in response to my movements.

The tension between us built steadily, each touch, each kiss, adding to the fire that was quickly burning out of control. The morning light, the softness of the bed, the quiet stillness of the apartment—it all faded away, leaving only the two of us, caught in the web of desire that had been building since the moment I had woken up.

Luca's hand slid from my waist to my thigh, his fingers brushing against my skin with a feather-light touch that left me trembling. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

His words sent a thrill through me, the sincerity in his tone making my heart race. I turned my head further, my lips seeking his, and when our mouths finally met, it was like a spark igniting a flame. The kiss was slow and deep, filled with the promise of what was to come.

But just as the heat between us threatened to consume me, Luca pulled back slightly, his breath ragged as he rested his forehead against mine. "Catalina," he whispered, his voice strained. "We don't have to rush this."

I looked up at him, my eyes wide with desire, but also with the realization that he was giving me a choice. He was letting me set the pace, letting me decide how far I wanted to go.

And in that moment, I knew that whatever happened next, it would be on my terms. Luca was here, willing to give me everything, but only if I wanted it. And as I gazed into his dark, smoldering eyes, I knew the answer. I wanted him, and I wanted him now.

But I also wanted to savor this, to take my time, to let the anticipation build until it was too much to bear. So, with a small, teasing smile, I leaned in, brushing my lips lightly against his. "We don't have to rush," I whispered back, my voice filled with promise.

Luca's eyes darkened with understanding, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Then we'll take our time," he murmured, his hand moving back to my waist, pulling me even closer. "But make no mistake, Catalina. I'm not going anywhere."

And with that, he kissed me again, slow and deep, as if we had all the time in the world.