Yearning

Chapter 11: Aconit

 ROSE'S POV

Carlotta and Dino started to argue in Italian after Cristiano left the kitchen and I sat there at the breakfast table silently crying.

Leo came in and sat next to me and I could feel him staring at me just waiting for an explanation of what was going on.

"Cristiano and I aren't talking," I said softly after letting a couple minutes pass by.

"I heard, Angelo texted me about it," he replied and placed his hand on my own, "go tell him how you really feel Rose."

I looked at him puzzled as to what he meant.

"You know what I'm talking about Rose," he whispered as he came closer to my ear, "you guys make it damn obvious you have strong feelings for each other."

I gulped hard and was slightly embarrassed that others had noticed my emotions for Cris.

"You both are too damn stubborn and prideful to say a damn thing but one of you has to before the other changes their mind," he said as he stood up and went into the pantry.

I guess it's better now than never to tell him. I stood up and walked out of the kitchen towards the patio quietly and sure enough I saw him sitting by the pool as I had many times after hearing him and his father argue about something.

"I love you Rose," he said.

Wait did I hear him say that...

"I LOVE YOU ROSE," he yelled

I did hear right! Oh my gosh he loves me!!!!

"I love you too," I said softly without thinking twice about it.

Shit! Did I just say that out loud?!

I saw him get up and turn to see who it was and as he did a huge smile slid across his face.

I smiled and felt a tear roll down my face as he walked toward me.

He hugged me tightly then he kissed me and I kissed him back.

"I love you Rose," he said in his sweet soft voice that I loved to hear so much.

My insides felt all warm and fuzzy as I heard those words leave his lips for the second time in less than five minutes.

"I love you more Cris," I replied.

We kissed again but this time longer and more passionately than we had

before.

I felt a spark when we did and a feeling of warmth and peace came over me like a wave in the ocean.

"Woooooooo!!!!"

Tadeo and the rest of the family were standing outside by the back doors cheering and clapping.

"I knew you two would hit it off," Nonno said with the utmost assurance.

"Of course you did Papa," Dino said with the biggest smile I had ever seen on a thug.

I looked into Cristiano's chocolate brown eyes and saw their hard expression melt away like ice and be replaced with a soft, caring one.

"Mia bella lupo," he whispered holding me close. (My beautiful wolf)

"I don't know what that means but it sounds pretty," I said smiling up at him.

I did know, because I had been studying Italian at night when I wasn't able to sleep, but I wanted to hear him say the translation.

"It means my beautiful wolf," he chuckled at my lack of knowledge of the Italian language.

I smiled and just kept hugging him.