Chapter 59
My Heart Is Yours
She wondered why he asked her to keep her eyes closed, but Maine followed. She felt the cold chain go around her neck but the tingling sensation wasn't because of the chain but Richard's fingers gliding on her skin. She stood unmoving as she felt him fix her hair, brushing off some of the strands that went to her face, his fingers brushing her cheek in a caress. She felt his thumb brushed her lower lip and she was startled by the gesture, remembering a few moments ago when he wiped the gelato with the same thumb. When he whispered "I love you" in Italian, it barely registered because what came immediately after sent her senses and her heart into a frenzy.
Maine was surprised by the gesture, but she found herself returning the kiss, her arms reaching out and rested on his shoulders, her hands gripping on his jacket tightly. She felt Richard sigh as his hand moved from her cheek to the back of her neck deepening the kiss. His lips were soft and tasted of vanilla. Her heart was pounding in her chest, as she also felt butterflies in her stomach. She savored this moment, committing it to memory.
Her lips tasted of strawberries and peaches. It was everything Richard had imagined it would be and more. Her lips were so soft and sweet, and as he felt her arms reached up to his shoulders, it was the only sign he needed to deepen the kiss. She willingly gave him access, and he took pleasure in exploring her mouth. When he felt her sigh, his heart leaped with joy.
It took all of Richard's willpower to finally end the kiss. He rested his forehead on hers, eyes still closed and he sighed, contented. It felt like the missing piece in his heart that had been gone for years have finally found itself home.
He heard the music in his heart and he started to sing softly. He wrapped his arms around Maine's waist and started to sway with her to the music.
ð¶What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time
'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do, nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you
All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping on words
You got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here
'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do, nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you
Something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right
'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do, nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you
And me and all of the people with nothing to do and nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so aliveð¶
While he sang, his eyes were locked on to Maine's beautiful brown orbs. And Maine also couldn't take her eyes off him. He sang his heart out as he swayed Maine to his music.
His song was heard by the majority of the tourists near them and some of the couples started to slow dance with them. When his song ended, the people around them applauded. Maine and Richard looked at each other, a smile across both their faces.
"You have a new song," she exclaimed.
"I was very inspired at the moment," he answered.
Richard leaned forward and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"I didn't know that a wish in the Trevi will be granted immediately," Maine whispered, as she still held on to Richard's jacket and they were locked in a loose embrace.
"Which wish was granted?" He asked curiously.
"A magical moment," she replied with a smile.
Richard smiled as well. Glad that he was able to grant a wish in her heart. He reached out to take her hand and kissed the back of her palm before he led her away to the crowded fountain and towards the metro.
-oo-
Richard took Maine to Cacio e Pepe, a local restaurant that was featured in an Anthony Bourdain show that he got to watch. They were seated outside once more, and he again ordered for them in Italian.
When their waitress left to ready their order, Maine reached out to take Richard's hand and gave it a tight squeeze, her other hand touching the pendant he gave her.
"Thank you, RJ," she said. "You don't know how happy you've made me today."
Richard smiled and squeezed her hand back, "anything for you, Maine."
As their orders came and Maine took her hand back, they ate in silence for a while. Maine savored the pasta that she ordered while Richard discreetly looked at her while he ate. He twirled a pasta around his fork and offered it to Maine.
"Try this," he said as Maine hesitantly took the offered pasta in her mouth. "It's their specialty, where the store got the name. The dish is very deceiving, you would think the portion is small. But it's very heavy."
"It's very delicious," she remarked after she swallowed and took a sip of her drink.
"It's really good with red wine," he explained sadly. "It's just sad that you can't have any."
Maine sighed and nodded, "it's one of the things I hated about the transplant. If it wasn't for Jerald, I wouldn't have been able to get a taste of it."
Richard brows furrowed a bit at the memory of that night.
"I wished that night never happened," he said.
"I'm actually glad that it did," she replied with a smile.
"Why?"
"I was able to step into your house again," she answered. "I got to see Alden's room again, and your room as well. I've forgotten how much I loved staying at your house. I had very good memories there."
Richard just smiled and they continued with their dinner. Conversations flowed as Maine recalled their day. She recounted her favorite moments while Richard just smiled and added bits of trivia when Maine asked.
"Why St. Benedict?" She asked.
"He's the patron saint of protection," he explained. "It's the only way for me to make sure you're always safe. That you feel protected."
Maine smiled and felt her heart thumped on her chest, the happy beat as she now called it.
They finished dinner and left the restaurant. Richard reached out and took her hand in his as they started walking towards the metro. He was startled as Maine rearranged their hands so that their fingers intertwined. They walked in companionable silence as they reached the platform of the Metro that would take them back to Rome's Main Terminal.
Richard turned to her, their hands still locked together and he wouldn't let go. He took a deep breath and smiled.
"Maine," he started as he looked into her eyes. "I know what I've said and what I'd done earlier must have shocked you. I promised to give you time. I still meant that.
"I just wanted you to know how I feel. I want you to know that this is real for me. That you're the only one. That I want no one else."
Richard took a step forward as he placed her hand on his chest, near his heart. He continued, "Maine, I want you to know that no matter what happens, this heart. My heart. It's yours. My heart is yours, Maine. Completely. I will wait for you, however long it takes. But no one will ever take my heart away from you. It will always be here for you. Always."
Maine was so overwhelmed with emotions that all she could do was close the small gap between them and wrapped her arms around his waist. Tears suddenly fell from her eyes as she muttered on his chest, "I don't deserve you, RJ."
"You deserve more than what I can offer, Maine," he replied as he enveloped her in his embrace. He kissed the top of her head and added, "you deserve the world."
"But," she countered. "You've already given me the world."
"I've only given you Rome," he teased. "That's not the world."
"It's a start, RJ," she remarked. "It's a start."
Their train finally arrived as Maine disentangled herself from Richard. But Richard took her hand once more and led her to the door.
"Let's go home," he stated.
But for Maine, she finally heard what her heart was telling her. And it's telling her that she's already home.
-oo-
Author's Note:
The song is titled "You and Me" by Lifehouse from their album "Lifehouse" released in 2005.