make sure you were alright first.”
“ I don’t think you realise how much I appreciate having you around at the minute. Not just because of last night, but over the last few days as well.”
“ Grazie ,” Marco smiled. “You know I’m always here for you, cara .”
His words squeezed at her heart. “But when you go back to Milan...” Ashley trailed off. She didn’t want to think about when he would eventually leave her.
“ Hey!” Marco called out. “Stop talking like I’m about to abandon you. That’s not going to happen.”
Ashley put her glass on the table and tucked her legs underneath herself. “I’m being stupid, right? I know.”
“ Cara , just...” He put his finger to her lips.
Ashley’s heart started to thud when he pressed against the soft flesh of her lower lip. It took every ounce of strength she could muster to not react to the touch. The urge to nibble the smooth pad of his finger was too tempting.
Her mind was running wild with her own thoughts that she was taken completely by surprise at the unexpected softness of Marco’s lips when he brushed them against hers.
Ashley didn’t react until she felt his hand pressing at the nape of her neck. It was then that she parted her lips and felt the intrusion of his tongue as he slid it cautiously into her mouth. Her eyes closed instinctively and she allowed the careful wander of his hand as he moved to the side of her waist, his fingers stroking the small expanse of skin revealed as her hooded jumper rode up.
As he continued to stroke her bare skin, Ashley started to feel comfortable with the closeness between them—too comfortable. She wasn’t supposed to be like this with him. They were both confused and running high on emotions.
Placing her hands on his chest, she pushed him away and opened her eyes.
“Marco, I’m sorry, but we can’t do this.” She scrabbled from the sofa and started to back away from him. “I-I can’t.” Her thoughts turned to Ben and guilt consumed her immediately. Her head was screaming at her to continue with Marco, but she couldn’t do it.
They were supposed to be friends. And she knew that the only reason he was trying to get close to her was because of the loneliness he felt right now. Grief hit people in different ways , and from what she could tell, Marco was simply trying to seek comfort with her as an available female.
“ Umm... I’d better get going,” he said, rubbing his jaw and standing from the sofa. “I’ll be back later.” He reached for his suit jacket along with the bag containing the outfit they had picked out for Gabby last night.
He stepped over to the front door and paused briefly as if he was about to say something else. A few seconds passed before he shook his head lightly, opened the door, and then stepped into the hallway.
Still amazed, Ashley couldn’t believe what had just happened. They had gone from discussing their friendship to a heated kiss that had felt so right, but she knew was wrong.
“Bugger,” she groaned, touching her now swollen lips that were still tingling from the gentle, but bruising pressure of Marco’s mouth. His kiss had definitely left a lasting impression on her.
Pushing her hands into her hoody, Ashley coincidently felt her phone vibrate. Pulling out the device, she couldn’t contain the burst of excitement that rushed through her. She hoped it was Marco sending some witty message to diffuse what had just happened.
Ben: I hope you’re okay? Fancy meeting me for lunch at 12? X
She didn’t hide the split second of disappointment from her face, before she smiled at Ben’s name. Turning towards the digital display on the oven, she blinked rapidly catching sight of the time. “Shit,” she muttered, her fingers tapping out a rapid reply.
Ashley: Sounds good! I'll meet you outside Caramel in an hour. X
She stuffed her phone back into her pocket and headed straight for the bathroom. It was almost eleven, so she had
“ I don’t think you realise how much I appreciate having you around at the minute. Not just because of last night, but over the last few days as well.”
“ Grazie ,” Marco smiled. “You know I’m always here for you, cara .”
His words squeezed at her heart. “But when you go back to Milan...” Ashley trailed off. She didn’t want to think about when he would eventually leave her.
“ Hey!” Marco called out. “Stop talking like I’m about to abandon you. That’s not going to happen.”
Ashley put her glass on the table and tucked her legs underneath herself. “I’m being stupid, right? I know.”
“ Cara , just...” He put his finger to her lips.
Ashley’s heart started to thud when he pressed against the soft flesh of her lower lip. It took every ounce of strength she could muster to not react to the touch. The urge to nibble the smooth pad of his finger was too tempting.
Her mind was running wild with her own thoughts that she was taken completely by surprise at the unexpected softness of Marco’s lips when he brushed them against hers.
Ashley didn’t react until she felt his hand pressing at the nape of her neck. It was then that she parted her lips and felt the intrusion of his tongue as he slid it cautiously into her mouth. Her eyes closed instinctively and she allowed the careful wander of his hand as he moved to the side of her waist, his fingers stroking the small expanse of skin revealed as her hooded jumper rode up.
As he continued to stroke her bare skin, Ashley started to feel comfortable with the closeness between them—too comfortable. She wasn’t supposed to be like this with him. They were both confused and running high on emotions.
Placing her hands on his chest, she pushed him away and opened her eyes.
“Marco, I’m sorry, but we can’t do this.” She scrabbled from the sofa and started to back away from him. “I-I can’t.” Her thoughts turned to Ben and guilt consumed her immediately. Her head was screaming at her to continue with Marco, but she couldn’t do it.
They were supposed to be friends. And she knew that the only reason he was trying to get close to her was because of the loneliness he felt right now. Grief hit people in different ways , and from what she could tell, Marco was simply trying to seek comfort with her as an available female.
“ Umm... I’d better get going,” he said, rubbing his jaw and standing from the sofa. “I’ll be back later.” He reached for his suit jacket along with the bag containing the outfit they had picked out for Gabby last night.
He stepped over to the front door and paused briefly as if he was about to say something else. A few seconds passed before he shook his head lightly, opened the door, and then stepped into the hallway.
Still amazed, Ashley couldn’t believe what had just happened. They had gone from discussing their friendship to a heated kiss that had felt so right, but she knew was wrong.
“Bugger,” she groaned, touching her now swollen lips that were still tingling from the gentle, but bruising pressure of Marco’s mouth. His kiss had definitely left a lasting impression on her.
Pushing her hands into her hoody, Ashley coincidently felt her phone vibrate. Pulling out the device, she couldn’t contain the burst of excitement that rushed through her. She hoped it was Marco sending some witty message to diffuse what had just happened.
Ben: I hope you’re okay? Fancy meeting me for lunch at 12? X
She didn’t hide the split second of disappointment from her face, before she smiled at Ben’s name. Turning towards the digital display on the oven, she blinked rapidly catching sight of the time. “Shit,” she muttered, her fingers tapping out a rapid reply.
Ashley: Sounds good! I'll meet you outside Caramel in an hour. X
She stuffed her phone back into her pocket and headed straight for the bathroom. It was almost eleven, so she had
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