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"𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮"

Roman shut the door closed with pretentious force. My face was still entirely flushed from only moments ago, and now he was acting as if he hadn't just fucked me against our counter.

He got in on his side, pushing the ignition on with his thumb—the same thumb that rubbed my—

Cough, cough.

Moving on... I still don't know where he was taking us. I thought of all the possible places, considering it was our last night here. Though, none came to mind.

As he drove off, we sat in silence. The silence was comfortable yet the tension was still in the air.

Usually, to fill this silence I would start cranking up my jams, in this case—I did.

Connecting my phone to his car, I scroll through the playlist and land on Brooklyn Baby by Lana. It was kind of funny, considering we weren't in New York anymore.

I sat back in my seat and relaxed, observing the cars outside that we passed by with ease.

My voice was only below a whisper as I hummed to the song, my hand drawing patterns on my thigh to pass the time.

Somehow Roman noticed this, he replaced my hand with his hand—allowing my fingers to draw across that instead.

The snake tattoo around his wrist was what my mind contracted my fingers to trace. Absentmindedly, I blurted the thoughts that came to my head.

"We should get matching tattoo's," I said, looking up at him cautiously. He glanced over at me, slowly raising an eyebrow—all of a sudden, my fucking stomach started to ache again from the overly attractive movement.

"Like what?" He replied, making a quick turn. I shrugged innocently and looked down at his hand.

"I'll think of something," I mentioned, continuing to trace his hand. "Are you down though?" Peeking at him through my lashes.

He faintly smirked, it was hardly there but if you looked close enough it was vivid. "Sure," he said, quickly reaching over and kissing my cheek.

I smiled like a little girl who had just gotten One Direction tickets—VIP ones and continued to hum along to the song.

Fuck I love him.

Too much for my own good.

After another thirty minutes of driving, we came to a slower pace as we arrived up a green hill. The darkness obscured the hill—making it out to be a little creepy.

Though, once we made it to the top—it was entirely the opposite of what the darkness made it out to be.

The whole city of Milan lit up and displayed right in front of our eyes was shown at the top of the dark, high hill.

Roman stopped the car at the very edge of the cliff, swiftly switching off the engine and hopping out of the car.

Coming to my side of the car, he opens the door and stands to the side. I quickly gather myself and step out of the vehicle.

Shutting the door, he takes my hand and walks in front of me—leading us to the front of the car. My lips pursed as he hops onto the hood, then swiftly gripping my waist and lifting me next to him.

Adjusting, I scoot closer to him and immediately face the view—ignoring the arm around my waist that gave me pits of butterflies.

As I stared at the city, entirely engrossed with that and not anything else around me—Roman had patted my hip to get my attention.

I felt his cool lips and warm breath fan the back of my neck, reaching for my ear while he traced mindless circles on my skin.

"Look up, Amore,"

Frowning, my eyes reach towards the sky and instantly—they enlarge.

A galaxy of stars laid upon us. Twinkling in huddles of silver all over the midnight, blue sky. With wide eyes, my lips part with absolute adoration.

This was my dream—a wish. I've never seen this many before, the many stars were huddled and close together—yet still far apart.

Light sprinkles of gold were seen in some of the stars, making me curious as to what it was. Unknowingly, my body had now laid down on the hood—facing directly towards the sky.

As I studied the stars, I giggled as I spotted one that look exactly like a smiley face.

"Roman, come here," I mumbled, patting the spot next to me—still not looking away.

I felt him come down next to me and I pointed towards the smiley face in the sky.

"See it?" I traced the outline of the stars in the air, hoping he would see what my crazy imagination saw. Chuckling, the sound vibrates on my skin as he presses a kiss to my neck.

"I do," He says, burying his head in my neck—his soft curls, tickling my skin. I smile and continue to find more 'smileys' in the sky.

Though, instead, I find something much more amusing and entertaining. Within a small patch of stars was created a star itself.

The stars outlined a star, it wasn't perfect but it was as close as it could be to one. It wasn't hard to miss, it sat in the midst of them all.

And then an idea came to mind.

"A star," I blurt, dragging my gaze away and towards the boy currently laying his head in my neck.

"Hm?" He hummed, his eyes closed as he continued to hold me tightly in his arms. My hand comes to his hair, brushing his hair that fell across his forehead.

"We get star tattoo's," I explained, "It's sort of our thing right?"

Slowly, he opened his eyes. The light amber colour sparkled under the low moonlight, instantly, I felt myself fall all over again.

"Sure, mia amore," He lightly traced his thumb along my cheekbone, seeming in a daze with my eyes as he does so.

Translation: 'My Love'

Smiling, I bring my lips in front of his—hovering over them until they touch lightly. My lips part as I slide my tongue into his mouth and move my lips against his plush, plump ones.

I smile into the kiss, which somehow made him smile too. Pulling away slightly, I look down to the smile playing on his lips, enthralled by the sight.

When I glanced back to his eyes, the sudden reality of this all hit.

Being in love. Falling for my fathers business partner. A forbidden type of love. One where it was strongly supposed to be platonic.

But, it wasn't for us. We were drawn to each other like magnets, every glance or call was just an embodiment of a pull towards each other.

Roman was everything I ever needed, something I didn't even know I needed. He was my stability but he was also someone who brought the fire out of me.

I loved him with my whole heart, and the thought of ever losing him was something never in my life I want to experience.

With these thoughts, my arms curled around his neck. I hugged him with all my might as if he were going to be taken from me—I held on as if I were shielding him from whatever harm.

"What's wrong?" He asked emotionlessly through with the tinge of concern. My eyes were screwed closed as I continued to hold onto him, and he sighed.

Long arms wrapped whole around my body, pulling me up and into his lap.

"Ella?" He whispered, his hand starting to rub circles against my back—something that always calmed me no matter what.

"You wouldn't ever leave me, right?" I mumbled in his neck, tightening my hold while his own hold, tensed.

He went still and then he firmly pulled me away. Gripping my chin, he stared directly at the single tear that I hadn't even known escaped.

Wiping it away with his thumb, he frowned slightly—rare emotion once again etched on his features.

"Never," He said, full of complete promise and confinement. His tone had said it all. 'Don't ever ask something like that again'—'Though, I would never leave you in a million years'

And in return, I nodded. Still, the thoughts of the dream I had came racing in—once again, concern hit me.

He had no control over the dangers out there; even if he were the dangers for most of them. The ones who come to fight back, he had no control over.

Enemies were everywhere, every shackle and brace, they were lurking in the corners of every corner—shadows amongst shadows, they were there.

And for the both of us, we had many. The ones I had were coming after me now, for whatever reason that is. And the possibility of Roman getting hurt in the process, because of me, was eating my thoughts alive.

His eyes scanned me, they hardened as he observed me and as if he could read my mind—he instantly broke off contact with me.

"Arabella," He warned, his eyes narrowing into a menacing glare that sent immediate chills down my spine.

I looked away, lying back down on the hood and stared at the sky. I felt his gaze still on me, leaving invisible holes through the sides of my head.

Suddenly he hovered over me, his eyes still set in a glare, a terrifying one that he only held with the people he couldn't stand to be near—which was everyone but me.

He gripped my chin, firmly bringing my head down from the sky—through my eyes never faltered.

"Look at me, Arabella," He was using my full name, another sign that he was utterly mad.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I slowly looked away from the stars and straight into his eyes.

Fury or rage or madness just overwhelmed his amber eyes—and I knew entirely that he knew what was going through my mind.

"You," He said, tightening his hold but not enough to hurt me—never once was it enough to hurt me. "have to promise me."

He left my chin, cupping my cheek—gulping as he stared at me coldly. "Ella," he whispered, almost weakly—which shocked me to the core.

Roman was never weak, never. Though, right at this moment he nearly seemed it—almost desperate.

Because of that, I didn't have in me to not say the words I couldn't promise.

A lie, I would tell as a truth.

"I promise I won't leave you," I said, weakly my voice came out. Faltering as I said the lie straight through my teeth.

I didn't have it in me to leave him, for his safety. I knew he could take care of himself, but protecting me would be a risk to his possible death.

And within moments, he relaxed. His hand was still on his cheek while he checked for any possible sign of a lie, though the truth was nothing of a sort.

I didn't know if I did have it in me. Never have I been this selfish before, with food—yes. With life, no.

I needed him. I love him, though because I love him, it was enough to make me get up and leave—through my selfishness seemed to be stronger—maybe.

"Don't be stupid, Ella. Leaving wouldn't make a difference to whatever harm. I have people wanting to come after me all the time, no difference mia ragazza."

Translation: 'My Girl'

He whispered yet emotionlessly in my ear. Pressing one soft kiss against my cheek and sighing in my neck.

Sighing after him, I ran my fingers through his soft hair and thought of something to get off the topic.

For a while, we lay in silence, quiet comfortable silence.

"Roman," I called, quietly—trying not to disturb the peace around us. He hummed, looking up at me from his view in my neck.

"Can I ask you something?" I said, in a daze of how this question would turn out. He hummed again, the deep rumble vibrating across my skin.

"Whatever you want,"

Biting my lower lip, I look down at him and turn my body to face him properly—leading him to move up slightly.

"What happened to your mother?" My voice came out a lot weaker than expected. I knew it was a touchy subject, hence why I was faltering.

Yes, he tensed. Though, surprising me, he spoke.

"She killed herself," Emotionlessly, he spoke. He stared directly into my eyes as he did.

My heart weakened for him. Losing a mother was one thing, though the death being the cause of the person itself was another.

Looking away, he continued to speak.

"My father was cheating on her with Melissa, she caught them and couldn't manage the pain—so she jumped off the roof of our home."

Suddenly my breathing stopped for a moment. I didn't realise just how intense this story was—how truly sad his past was.

"My father didn't care. He moved on with Melissa."

My fingers ran through his hair, oddly comforting me as he talked. It made a lot more sense now, why he was so closed off with his father.

"I was only eight at the time," He shrugged and glanced back up at me.

On instinct, my arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him into my shoulder as I hugged him tightly.

"That's really fucked up," I mumbled, not really knowing what to say. I didn't want to say 'sorry' knowing it does jack-shit.

He chuckled. Digging his head into my neck, he left it there as he inhaled deeply, though silently.

"I only need you," He whispered, wrapping his hand through mine and leaning off my neck.

It's impossible to love someone this much.

Pressing my lips to the middle of his head, I keep my arms wrapped around his neck—tightening my hold on him.

"I love you, Roman." Whispering, I blush as the words come out in a soft whisper. His pupils visibly dilated, the black colour taking over the amber.

"I love you, Ella." Leaning down, he pushed his lips softly against my jaw.

I smiled widely, embracing each feeling I felt in this moment of time—

With him.