Valerio lay on his back, the cool sheets beneath him contrasting with the warm body pressed against his side. The moonlight filtered through the windows of his special house, casting a silvery glow over everything it touched. His house, nestled in a secluded part of the Oak Grove Ranch, was his sanctuary, a place where he could escape from the world and be himself. And tonight, it was the perfect setting for an intimate moment with her.

He turned his head slightly, gazing at her with soft eyes. She lay beside him, her head resting on his chest, her breath warm against his skin. Valerio's fingers traced lazy patterns on her back, feeling the smoothness of her skin under his touch. Every curve and contour of her body was familiar to him, yet he never tired of the closeness they shared.

"Mamas," he murmured affectionately, his voice a gentle rumble in the quiet room. The nickname had started as a playful jest, but over time, it had become a term of endearment, something that felt right when it was just the two of them. "You look beautiful in this light."

He chuckled, watching her get flustered by his compliment, nuzzling his face into her neck. Her scent was something that he could drown himself in, never being tired of her embrace nor how intimate this moment was to him. Yet, his mind was swirling with this mutual relationship—they were friends who fucked, and he even loved seeing her naked whenever she came to his place.

Not that she didn’t enjoy him in a state of undress; the intoxicating tension that built until they never kept their hands off each other stirred another wave of heat within his belly. “Don’t give me that look, you know it’s true.” He lifted his hand to cup her cheek and lift her face to his gaze.

"That's because it's always true," he said, his hand sliding up to cup her cheek. He loved the way her eyes lit up when he complimented her, the way she leaned into his touch. Their relationship was a complicated one, a blend of friendship and something more that neither of them was willing to fully define. But in moments like this, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the connection they shared.

He felt her body moving closer to his, and he felt the familiar warmth and arousal stirring within him. They had always had a physical relationship, one that blurred the lines between friendship and lovers. They kissed, held hands, walked around each other naked, and fucked during heats and ruts. But no matter how intense their physical connection became, they always insisted they were just best friends.

Valerio's hand moved down her back, resting on the curve of her hip. He pulled her closer, feeling the press of her breasts against his chest. "You know," he said, his voice low and husky, "sometimes I think we should just admit what we are to each other."

He just wondered how or if things would shift between them. He could already hear his brother McCree giving his usual advice. It was like he could hear his voice in his head, causing him to growl a little bit as he imagined going to him for an opinion with these words that McCree would offer Valerio. "A woman like that, hermano, doesn't come around often. You can lie to yourselves about your feelings for one another, but don't let it get to the point where you have regrets for never being something more. Don't be afraid to at least try, Valerio."

Valerio pressed a kiss to her lips, whispering against them, "Is it wrong that what we have between us is enough, but there is...something about this—us. The moment we have makes me crave more than just a no-strings-attached relationship. Yes, we are friends and that won't change. But what if you want more, like I am starting to? Do you want more, Mamas?"

He waited for her to answer him, but whatever she did say, he would respect it. Valerio hoped that she would want to take a leap, a chance to see where this goes at her pace.