There was no risk of falling, the walls were higher than his own waist, but they were a long way above ground. Still, it wasn’t looking down that he was interested in.
‘I’m not afraid if I’m with you.’
Lucy’s words struck at the very heart of him. In those moments he believed that he was once again a man of honour, of worth. She followed him with no hesitation.
He stepped out first to test the temperature, and the frigid air hit him like a slap. Lucy wouldn’t like it, but he hoped what he had to show her would compensate for the cold weather she loathed.
‘It’s freezing,’ she said, her breath like puffs of smoke in the night air.
‘I know, but we won’t be here for long and I’ll keep you warm.’ He stood behind her and wrapped his arms round her body, barely able to feel her under the downy coat she wore. ‘Look up.’
Her head moved back against his chest. ‘Oh.Wow.’
He looked up himself, and saw the clear black night sky was peppered with thousands of stars. The wonder of it caught him the same way it had when he’d first seen this as a boy, climbing into the forbidden tower and realising that the world was a far bigger place than just him and his family. The perspective had been a humbling one.
‘You wanted to see stars.’ He tightened his arms round her and rested his chin on the top of her head. ‘Whilst these aren’t the stars you see from your home, I hope they’re enough.’
‘This is so special. What an amazing place...’ She turned in his arms. The slender moon’s glow washed over her face, pale and ghost-like in the silvery light. ‘Thank you.’
‘It’s my pleasure to share this with you.’ It meant everything to hear the wonder in her voice. To see how she appreciated his retreat, its beauty. ‘I’ve never brought anyone here before.’
She had given him her music, and he had nothing to give in return other than what he could show her. The conservatory...this secret place. The areas of his home most special to him...
He’d given her a key to parts of his life few had been allowed to glimpse. And in doing so, it was terrifying for him to feel howrightthis moment seemed, when everything else in his life was wrong. She’d given him that without realising, and he didn’t know how to thank her without divulging all his sins. He didn’t want her thinking less of him. Better for tonight to live in the delusion that things between them could stay just as they were.
Silhouetted against the glimmering lights of the city in the distance, Lucy tilted her head back again. There was the merest of sparkle in her eyes as whatever light was available caught there and glittered.
‘I’ve missed seeing the stars.’
He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs sliding over the soft skin, slick in areas with what felt suspiciously like tears.
‘It’s so beautiful...’
There was a sound to her voice, a crack in it. As if it was broken with emotion. It cracked something inside him, too. Stefano was almost certain her tears were happy ones, but he didn’t want her to cry. He wanted to bring her joy. The need for that overwhelmed him—the need to comfort, protect. To make her...happy.
‘Lucy...’
He dropped his mouth to hers, found her lips warm and soft under his own. Parting, letting him in. And once again he was lost.
Lucy tightened her arms round Stefano’s waist. Her bulky jacket, her gloves, were an interruption to the feel of his body against hers. Still, the heat of him rushed through her like a burst of hot water. She couldn’t get enough of him. He seemed like such a hard, uncompromising man, but his kisses...they were all gentleness.
This was beyond what she’d already experienced, the passion. There was something more. He’d trusted her with this special place, which he’d never shown another. It all overwhelmed her, like her music, and she was lost in him, trembling in his arms again.
His kiss slowed, stopped. His heavy, warm breaths gusted for a moment against her cheeks. He pulled away and she wanted to shoutNo!To drag him back to a place where they could both get lost in each other. Forget everything but the magic they made together.
‘Come inside. You should get warm. With all the windows, you can still see the stars. It’s freezing out here.’
He took her hand, laced his fingers through her own and walked her inside. The room seemed quite cosy, considering they were in a turret, and it was frigid outside, but she couldn’t get a good view of the space in the darkness. She’d only caught glimpses of it in the torchlight.
Stefano unthreaded his fingers from hers, left her standing in the centre of the room. Even through her soles of her boots the floor seemed softer here. A rug, perhaps? There was a striking sound, a hiss, and the glimmer of light from a match as he lit something. A candle. Then another. And another. Stefano went through three matches before a golden light glowed in the room. Then he walked towards her, guided her to a plump couch where she sat down.
She could see it now, the small square space. A single bed, a desk... The bulk of the floor was covered in a plush rug, as she’d guessed, and the rest was polished stone.
‘Here’s a blanket.’
He handed her the heavy, silky-soft fabric and she wrapped it around her knees. Then he reached for a vacuum flask and unscrewed the lid. He poured out a cup of something and the scent of chocolate teased her nose.
He handed it to her. ‘This will help.’