Page 112 of Marcello

It felt like she’d just dumped a bucket of ice water on me. “Wait – what?!”

“I have to go!” she said apologetically as she started down the castle ramp towards the entrance.

Now I was panicking.

“Wait – hold on, hold on!” I said as I ran ahead of her and turned back to stop her.

She tilted her head to the side and smiled apologetically. “I can’t!”

The safe play would’ve been to just ask for her number –

But I was afraid that once she was sober, she would think, Wow, I shouldn’t have done THAT and never answer my texts.

I could not let that happen.

Except for my family’s safety, I wanted her more than anything I’d ever wanted in my life.

Out of sheer desperation – and because I was a little bit drunk – I went for it.

“Spend the night with me,” I said.

She looked at me in shock.

At first I thought I’d offended her –

And then she bit her lower lip.

It was the sexiest goddamn thing I’d ever seen.

I moved in closer. “You’re the most beautiful, incredible, smart, funny woman I’ve ever met. I feel a connection with you I’ve never felt with anyone. Please… spend the night with me.”

Her breasts were heaving beneath her dress.

She stared up at me, her pupils dilated, her face flushed.

And then she surprised the hell out of me.

“…okay.”

“Yeah?” I asked in happy disbelief.

She rolled her eyes and smiled like she was embarrassed. “…yes.”

I kissed her. Hard.

Then I felt her hands pressing against my chest, and I backed off.

“Is your place close by?” she asked.

Shit.

It was 30 minutes away. Plus we’d have to wait for the Uber.

If I told her we wouldn’t get there for over half an hour, I might lose her.

I looked to my left, past the castle walls –

To the five-star hotel facing the harbor, a thousand feet away.