Leila's POV

　　"Luca, we can't…"

　　The word had barely parted my lips before it wobbled and my breath caught in the back of my throat. Eyes pinned on mine-fierce, his gaze ignited and sent a stutter through my pulse.

　　"Leila, I'm not lying to you," he whispered, his face inches from hers. His voice was low and gravelly now, as though the words had been dragged from some deep place inside him. "I love you. I have loved you longer than I'd care to admit. I ...