Working for Francesco Pazzi was the last place she expected to find herself. She expected even less to grow to like the job. Falling for him was the biggest surprise of all.
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Word Count: 780 (Short but worth it. I promise ;) )
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We were horseless, lacking most of our supplies we initially set out with, and exhausted, but nothing could wipe the grin from my face when Francesco threaded his fingers with mine to help me step over a fallen log. Even after I was safely over the obstacle, he didn't let go.
After losing Ludovico Sforza's soldiers, we stayed off the roads and cut through the countryside vineyards. We reached scraggly forests next and traipsed amongst the trees until darkness fell. Then Francesco set to gathering kindling for a fire while I foraged for edible herbs or berries. Luckily spring had come early, so I did not struggle to find us something to eat.
"For a banker, I'm constantly surprised at how useful you are," I teased as I sat beside him that evening by the fire. Not only was he a genius with numbers and business, but he could joust, duel, and survive the elements just as easily.
A raspy chuckle rumbled in his throat. "I'll learn to hunt for you next so we can eat comfortably during our journey. I'm afraid it will be much longer now."
"I don't mind," I said with a shrug. "We will get there together eventually."
He didn't reply. I turned to peek at him, only to find him staring intently at me. "Did I say something wrong?"
He didn't reply again. His eyes smoldered with the reflection of the flames flickering within them. I sensed his intention just before he leaned forward.
My heart jolted and knocked against my ribs.
He angled his head, and ever so gently he pressed a tenuous kiss against my lips.
Pulling back too soon, he gauged my reaction with heavy-lidded eyes. The look sent a burst of heat shooting down my core all the way to my toes.
Even though I had waited so long for this, even fantasized about it, I was at a complete loss for words. But then again, he and I rarely used words to understand each other. My head fell forward to bring our lips together again, drawn by an inexplicable magnetism.
Francesco immediately responded. His hand popped up to cup my cheek as he increased the pressure on my mouth. I quickly learned that kissing was sloppy. It could even be messy. But the feel and taste of him made it hard to catch my breath or even think properly, and I decided I loved the sensations very, very much.
We broke apart naturally, each of us breathing harder as if we had been running. While I wanted nothing more than to kiss him again, I wasn't sure my heart could take it. One simple kiss had left me so breathless, so brain-addled, and so weak in my limbs that I wasn't sure it was safe to kiss him again. Had he asked me to stand up then, I would have fallen forward into the fire or into his waiting arms. Although, it had been rather intoxicating, and I expected I was already quite addicted.
In the small space between us, Francesco took hold of my hand. "I'm beginning to think you're an angel, Alice," he said, his tone dark and husky.
My toes curled in my boots to hear such words. "I'm not." I laid a hand on his cheek. His curls tickled my fingertips. "Does this mean you... Do you feel..." The fog brought on by his kiss made it difficult to find the right words.
Francesco answered with another kiss to steal my breath away. When he pulled away, he said, "It means I've always loved you too, but I respected our friendship too much to put you in a compromising position. I told myself all those years that you were unattainable for me. It's part of the reason why I pushed you away. Because it hurt too much to know I could never have you."
"And now?" My chest rose and fell deeply.
With glowing eyes fixated wholly on me, he lifted his free hand not entwined with mine to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. Then he rasped, "Now I simply can't go on without you."
A small sound issued from the back of my throat as I threw myself into his arms. I clutched him dearly and fiercely, afraid that this was all a dream.
He stroked my hair and held me close.
Even when I thought I would never sleep a wink again with so many butterflies in my stomach, exhaustion claimed me. I fell asleep in his arms and slept better than I ever imagined I would in the middle of the woods.
