Dani cupped Nico's cheek. He leaned into her touch. "I care about you. Much more than I was ever supposed to as a colleague and as a friend." Nico placed his hand over hers, pressing it against his cheek.
"Dani it doesn't matter." She is the only thing that matters. I need to keep her safe.
"Yes, it does. Nico, I love you. Can you grasp that?" Dani said forcefully. I need to get through to him. I know he is questioning himself right now.
"Dani, I will only hurt you. I already have. I won't destroy you too." Nico dropped his hand and looked down. I need her to understand. She is forbidden. She is the one I need but can't have.
"Nico, I've already been destroyed. The only thing that would hurt me now is if you were to lie to me again and tell me that you didn't love me." Dani waited for a response. I'm calling him on the lying thing, that has to be a first.
She caught that did she? "You are a good person with a good heart. I have done things, unspeakable things, things I'm not proud of. I don't wish myself upon anyone. There is a reason I have been by myself all these years. I am dangerous, please grasp that." Nico glanced back up to look into Dani's eyes. Please, save yourself.
"Nico, I don't doubt that you are dangerous, but I know that you would never hurt me. You love me just like I love you, whether or not you admit it out loud is up to you but you can't pull that one past me." Come on, please admit it, please.
"I am broken. You don't want or deserve something broken, Dani." I'm grasping at straws here…
"Nico I am broken too, but that's why we understand each other. That's why we work well together, we understand what it's like to endure great hardships." I'm getting there, just a little more…
"I don't want to let you in. You know that." Nico half-smiled. You can't come into this pool of despair with me; we'll both drown trying to save each other.
"I'm already in Nico. Let me all the way in. I want in. You can't tell me that I am not the closest anyone has come to knowing you, really knowing you, in years." Please Nico, just open up to me.
"You have no idea. You're the only person I have ever allowed in. Ever. Not in past years, Dani, I'm talking about in my lifetime. And it scares me. Sometimes you know things by either me telling you or you figuring them out yourself. That is something no one else has ever been able to do. I can't be open Dani. It won't work. You can't handle my past." Nico looked at her serious then.
"Nico, you've seen what I've handled. Again, you heard everything I said back when you were in my massage room and I don't believe for one second that you forgot it. I'm not going to back down. I love you and can handle anything at all as you're with me, even your past. I know I can face it and am willing to. I just want you to be a part of my life. Stopping running Nico." She finished grabbing his hand. Please Nico, I Love You!
"I know you think you can it, but once you hear one story you'll go running and I will be left with nothing. Dani, I have almost no heart left. I wouldn't survive that." Nico looked down but grasped her hand. I need you. I want you, but if I let you in and then you leave it will be my death.
"Nico" Dani let go of his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, to grasp both sides of his face. "The only way I would ever leave you is if you were not loyal to me. Other than that there is nothing you could do that would drive me away. You already have what is left of my heart; please let me safeguard what is left of yours. Let me in, let me love you." Dani pleaded. I love you…
Nico looked at Dani. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul but all I see is genuineness and pain. Pain I've caused. "I can't…" Nico started to break down.
"Why? Tell me the truth Nico, Do you love me?" Dani questioned. Please just answer me this.
How can I lie to that question? How can I phrase it? I can't do it. "Yes." Nico started to do something he never thought he would. He started to let his walls come down.
"Then what's the problem Nico? Tell what you need and I'll do it." Dani said with her hands resting on his legs face eager.
"I believe you stole my line." Nico replied smiling slightly. Now that was a deflection if there ever was one…
"Nico…" Dani sighed "please?" Please just let me love you for the rest of my life.
"I just need you." He pulled her off the floor and into his lap. He stroked her face and cupped her cheek. "I just want you." And with that he dipped his head to hers.
He hesitated with his lips just over hers, giving her a way out. His soul rejoiced when she came the last couple inches to press her lips to his. She opened her mouth and let him deepen the kiss. After breathing became a necessity he pulled back and stroked her hair looking into her face.
"Please tell me you feel the same?" Nico asked of Dani.
She paused. "I can't" and watched as his face fell, she reached and turned his face until their eyes met once again "because you haven't told me if you love me yet." Dani smiled.
And here I thought… "I Love You Danielle Santino. My Danielle."
"And Nico I love you too. With all my heart." Nico kissed her breathless once again.