WHEN FOREVER FOUND ME

Chapter Thirty-OneMy First Kiss-Azul

I was in love with Enzo.

There.

I had finally admitted it.

To myself.

I was in love with that man.

Was that crazy?

Probably.

Maybe a little.

Because Enzo Vitale was the kind of man people were afraid to look at for too long.

He was powerful.

Dangerous.

Intimidating.

The kind of man whose name could make an entire room go silent.

And somehow…

I was in love with him.

I knew it.

There was no pretending anymore.

Not after last night.

Not after falling asleep against his shoulder.

Not after waking up in his house and remembering how safe I had felt beside him.

I loved him.

But that didn’t mean I suddenly knew what to do with all those feelings.

I was still me.

Quiet.

Shy.

Reserved.

And very aware that I was standing beside a man who seemed to have enough confidence for both of us.

So I wasn’t going to poke the bear.

I wasn’t going to tease him.

I wasn’t going to do anything that would make things move faster than I was ready for.

I was just going to let things happen naturally.

At least, that was what I told myself.

⸻

I woke up very early the next morning.

The room was still dark.

Enzo was asleep beside me.

He looked exhausted.

I watched him for a moment.

His face looked completely different when he slept.

The tension disappeared.

The hard expression disappeared.

He looked peaceful.

I remembered how busy he had been.

The United States.

The shipments.

The meetings.

Everything he had been dealing with.

And despite all of it, he had still made time for me.

I didn’t want to wake him.

So I quietly got out of bed.

I dressed and went downstairs.

The house was quiet.

Until I reached the kitchen.

The chef was already there.

He looked surprised to see me.

“Good morning.”

I smiled.

I picked up my phone and typed.

Azul: Good morning. I want to make breakfast.

He looked at me.

Then toward the stairs.

“You?”

I nodded.

He smiled.

“Okay.”

He asked what I needed.

I typed everything.

Eggs.

Bacon.

Bread.

Butter.

Fruit.

A little cheese.

Coffee.

Nothing complicated.

Just breakfast.

Something I could make myself.

Within minutes, everything was placed on the counter.

I tied an apron around myself.

And started cooking.

⸻

I was standing over the stove, carefully turning the bacon, when I heard footsteps.

I didn’t turn around immediately.

Then I heard his voice.

“What are you doing?”

I looked over my shoulder.

Enzo was standing at the kitchen entrance.

His hair was slightly messy.

His shirt was wrinkled from sleep.

He looked tired.

But his eyes were fixed on me.

I smiled.

I typed on my phone.

Azul: Cooking.

He walked closer.

“Why are you cooking?”

I pointed toward the food.

He looked confused.

“What happened to the chef?”

I shook my head.

Then I typed.

Azul: Nothing happened.

I hesitated.

Then added:

Azul: I wanted to make you something.

He stopped.

Completely.

The expression on his face changed.

I saw it.

The surprise.

The softness.

The emotion.

His eyes became almost impossibly gentle.

“Really?”

I nodded.

He looked at me like I had just given him something priceless.

“You wanted to make me breakfast?”

I nodded again.

He smiled.

A slow, beautiful smile.

“My life…”

He came closer.

“You have no idea what that means to me.”

I looked away because I suddenly felt shy.

He laughed softly.

“You’re blushing.”

I shook my head.

He laughed again.

“You are.”

I pointed toward the stove.

He understood.

“Okay.”

He raised his hands.

“I’ll behave.”

⸻

We sat down together.

I placed his plate in front of him.

He looked at it.

Then at me.

“You made all this?”

I nodded.

He picked up his fork.

The first bite went into his mouth.

I watched him.

He chewed slowly.

Then he looked at me.

I waited.

He swallowed.

“This is good.”

I smiled.

He took another bite.

Then another.

I could see something in his eyes.

Emotion.

It was strange.

Enzo was a man who had everything.

Money.

Power.

People willing to do whatever he asked.

He could have a chef prepare almost anything he wanted.

And yet, my simple breakfast seemed to affect him more than all the expensive things he owned.

He looked at me again.

“This might be the best breakfast I’ve ever had.”

I rolled my eyes.

I knew he was exaggerating.

He smiled.

“No, I’m serious.”

I looked down.

He continued eating.

And every time he looked at me, his eyes said more than his words did.

It was almost like looking into a mirror.

When I looked at Enzo, I saw what he felt.

And somehow, I realized he was seeing the same thing in me.

⸻

We kept talking.

Well…

Enzo talked.

I listened.

He told me about some business matters.

He told me his father had been giving him a hard time.

I smiled when he complained about it.

He told me he was tired.

I typed that he should rest more.

He shook his head.

“I rest when I’m with you.”

I stared at him.

He smiled.

Then he noticed something.

He pointed toward my mouth.

I frowned.

He gestured again.

There was something on my lip.

I tried wiping it with my napkin.

He shook his head.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

He laughed softly.

“You’re making it worse.”

I gave him an annoyed look.

He smiled.

“Come here.”

I hesitated.

Then leaned slightly closer.

He reached toward me.

His thumb gently caught the small piece of food.

Then he paused.

His thumb was still near my lips.

My entire body went still.

He looked at me.

I looked at him.

Neither of us moved.

Then his thumb slowly brushed across my lower lip.

A shock went through me.

I stopped breathing.

His eyes changed.

That look.

The same look I had seen on his face when he first saw me in my sleepwear the night before.

Hungry.

Intense.

But controlled.

He leaned closer.

I didn’t move.

He moved closer again.

Still, I didn’t move.

My heart was pounding.

Then I realized something.

I wanted him to kiss me.

I wanted my first kiss to be with him.

So I closed the distance too.

Just a little.

That was all he needed.

His lips met mine.

Softly.

Gently.

Almost cautiously.

My eyes closed.

For one second, everything disappeared.

The kitchen.

The house.

The world.

There was only him.

His lips against mine.

My first kiss.

And it was with the man I loved.

At first, it was slow.

Careful.

Like he was giving me time to change my mind.

I didn’t.

Instead, I leaned closer.

His hand came gently to my face.

The kiss deepened.

My heart raced.

I had seen kisses in movies.

I had watched couples kiss while walking through Palermo.

I had always wondered what it felt like.

But watching it was nothing like experiencing it.

This was different.

This was real.

This was Enzo.

And suddenly I understood why people looked so happy when they kissed someone they loved.

I felt giddy.

Completely giddy.

When we finally separated, I opened my eyes.

Enzo was staring at me.

Neither of us spoke.

Then he smiled.

I was still trying to breathe normally.

He leaned toward me again.

I didn’t move away.

The second kiss was less hesitant.

More certain.

I felt his hand gently at my waist.

I held onto his shirt.

My fingers tightened slightly.

And then, somehow, I found myself smiling against his lips.

He pulled back just enough to look at me.

“You smiled.”

I blushed.

He laughed softly.

“My first kiss with you and you’re smiling.”

I looked down.

He lifted my chin gently.

“Look at me.”

I did.

His expression was full of emotion.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

I smiled shyly.

He kissed my forehead.

Then my cheek.

Then he pulled me into his arms.

I rested against him.

My heart was still racing.

⸻

And then we heard footsteps.

I immediately froze.

The chef walked into the kitchen.

He stopped.

His eyes widened.

Enzo was still standing close to me.

The chef immediately looked away.

“I’m sorry, boss.”

I stepped back quickly.

My face was burning.

Enzo looked irritated.

“What is it?”

The chef looked nervous.

“I just wanted to—”

“I don’t care.”

The chef nodded quickly.

“Yes, boss.”

He disappeared.

I covered my face with my hands.

Enzo looked at me.

Then laughed.

I gave him an embarrassed look.

He stepped closer.

“Don’t be shy.”

I shook my head.

He smiled.

“Come here.”

I took one step back.

He looked confused.

I typed quickly.

Azul: I’m embarrassed.

He read it.

Then smiled.

“Why?”

I stared at him.

He laughed.

“My life, you kissed me back.”

My cheeks became even hotter.

He smiled.

“And I liked that very much.”

I looked away.

He reached for my hand.

I let him take it.

He kissed my knuckles.

“That was your first kiss, wasn’t it?”

I nodded.

His expression softened.

“Thank you.”

I looked at him.

He squeezed my hand.

“For trusting me with it.”

Those words touched me more than anything else.

Because he understood.

He knew what that moment meant.

It wasn’t just a kiss.

It was something I had never given anyone.

And I had chosen him.

I looked at him.

Then typed:

Azul: I love you.

He stopped breathing for a second.

I watched his face.

His eyes became glassy.

He looked at me like he couldn’t believe what he had just read.

Then he pulled me into his arms.

Tightly.

But gently.

He held me against his chest.

“I love you too.”

He kissed my hair.

“My beautiful life.”

I closed my eyes.

For once, I didn’t feel afraid of what was happening.

I didn’t feel confused.

I didn’t feel like I needed to run.

I simply felt happy.

Because I was in love.

And now Enzo knew.

My first kiss had been with the man I loved.

And somehow…

I already knew it wouldn’t be my last.