I had to remind myself about Alessandra’s words. It was a gift, but it felt as though it had an ulterior motive behind it. Strange that it should arrive after I’d asked him about my brothers. I wouldn’t let him manipulate me. I had to find out, even if it meant pushing him. I might lose someone that I was beginning to care about, but it was my family. I had to know that my brothers were okay.
I wouldn’t be bribed into silence.
“Any news on my brothers? I mean, I get that they’re fine, but I’m worried about them.”
His head banged against the door, causing it to rattle on its hinges. I knew that I was pushing him. He was holding onto secrets, and I needed to know them—even if it meant frustrating him. I knew by then that he wouldn’t hurt me. I just had to remain calm as I asked him. If he knew how serious I was, there was a higher chance that he would be honest, although it would likely be out of pity.
“I understand that you want to know how they’re doing, but we need to talk about something else. Maybe I can get more information for you next week.”
I sighed as I held the notebook in my hand. It was a bribe. It wasn’t a gift that he wanted to give me to make me happy. I had my answer at that moment. He was simply trying to avoid the question by doing something kind. My questions were causing him discomfort, and he thought he could buy his way out of it.
It didn’t matter. I made a promise to Alessandra, and I wasn’t going to let that slide.
“Okay, but I can’t promise I won’t ask again in the future.”
He lifted his head back towards the slit in the door, his eyes meeting mine. “Fine, but we’re not discussing this further today. Okay?”
“Fine,” I said, making sure to keep my voice sharp, so he knew that I wasn’t going to relent anytime soon. “Another time.”
I watched as he stepped away from the door and disappeared down the hallway again, the slit in the door still open. He was avoiding the conversation and running every time that it was mentioned. I was owed answers and all he did was bring me a sketch pad. Something had happened. He wasn’t good at hiding his emotions, and his reaction each time was telling.
My heart felt as though it would lurch from my chest at the thought of my brothers being dead. I lifted some of the food from the tray and brought it to my mouth, enjoying the savory taste of steamed broccoli with butter.
The pencils were sitting next to my dinner, just asking to be used.
I knew I wouldn’t get much sleep tonight. I would be drawing the faces of my brothers, just in case something did happen to them. I wanted a reference for the future so I never would forget what they looked like.
* * *
I wasglad that he was letting me sleep in his bed again. I decided not to ask him any more questions just yet. I’d wait until a better moment, one where he felt more comfortable and had his guard down. I didn’t want to pressure him into an answer.
I glanced up to his chiseled face and took in every small detail of him. His dark, stubble beard and sharp, Romanesque nose. He had the kind of face that I’d always see in old Roman sculptures, and there was no doubt that it was a sight to behold. It was that expression of his, though, that intimidated those around him. The few words that he spoke, alongside his stoic expression, never gave away what he was thinking.
He turned his head to face me and stared deeply into my eyes. There was a tenderness there that left me breathless. It was something I’d never expected.
Then, suddenly, like lightning, I felt his lips against mine.
It was so sudden I kissed him with my eyes open and felt my chest fill with a warmth that I thought I’d lost when my parents died and my world came crashing down. He brought his hand to the side of my face and stroked my skin, his lips pressed softly against mine.
He pulled back lightly and smiled, leaving me wordless. The silence between us was comfortable, but my thoughts were racing. My face flushed at what had just happened, and he turned back to face the ceiling as if nothing had happened. Everything seemed to roll off him like water. He was always unfazed.
I, on the other hand, was drowning in a feeling I thought I’d lost, alongside the confusion of the first kiss between us. I never thought he would kiss me. He pushed himself up and leaned in towards me. I was overwhelmed with the scent of his cologne, and I wondered why he wasn’t getting up to grab the vibrator. I could feel his erection against my leg, which was always the telltale sign that he’d start pleasuring me.
Something was different.
I held my breath as he brought his hand to my leg. The warmth of his fingers against my bare skin caused me to shiver. He brought his lips to mine again, kissing me deeper. His tongue slipped between my lips as his other hand gripped my neck. He pressed himself against me. He brought himself on top of me, taking my breath away. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I opened my eyes briefly, just to see if there was a toy on the bed. There was nothing.
I quivered the moment he brought his fingers across my thighs and upwards, causing me to spread my legs further. He pulled back slightly, as though admiring my expression. There was a glint in his blue eyes that caught me off guard. I wanted to stare into them forever, enjoying that loving look that he was giving me.
His fingers slipped inside me, taking me by surprise. I felt a burning sensation there as he pressed inside me, his fingers pushing in and out. I took hold of his arm, unable to control the arousal that he was causing. I let out a soft moan and he retaliated by kissing me harder. He removed his fingers and gestured to my dress. My eyes widened. I’d never been completely naked in front of him so far. Each time we’d been together, he’d only see parts of me, not the entirety. My face reddened at the thought and I grew apprehensive. What if he thought my body wasn’t good enough? What if the sight of me naked turned him off? No man had seen me naked, not since puberty anyway so I didn’t know what his reaction would be.
“Don’t worry,” he said, smiling lightly as he sat up and stepped off the bed. “I’ll lower the lights.”
He walked towards the door and dimmed the lights above us. It was now a soft light that allowed for shadows in the corner of the room. It was as though he knew that I was nervous about him seeing me. I began to unbutton my dress as he unfastened his pants, pushed down his underwear, and pulled out the part of a man I’d never seen up close before. He was thick and long, bigger than what I thought it would be. I was stunned. But before I could even get comfortable with looking at his strong, well-built body, he neared the bed and crawled up towards me. My nipples were puckered as I removed my dress. The only thing left was my black underwear.
He brought his hand to my face and held it lightly. “Are you okay?”
Why was he being so tender? I wanted to question him, right then and there. I could tell that it was genuine, but I didn’t know why things had changed so suddenly. He was so gentle. It was a side of Marcello that I thought I’d never see.
