He told the women something in Italian, barely looking at them even though I was positive they were staring at him without his shirt on. The button of his slacks was undone, and…my thighs went to open, automatically surrendering to him again, but I clasped them shut.
No.
Nope.
I never thought I could ever deny myself another orgasm from him, but both physically and emotionally, he’d exceeded all my needs, then again…there was still a small fire of hunger there. An internal bonfire he’d started in me, and I knew it would never go out.
Which was intimidating, but at the same time…so peaceful.
I wondered if love was just a bunch of mixed metaphors and contradictions. Ever since I met him, I was full of them. It was a madness I couldn’t edit out of my life.
He set a hand on each of the arms of the chair and leaned in close. “Do not lie to me, Ava.” His voice was serious, and so was the look in his eyes. Rarely did he show unease, but I could see it.
I reached up and touched his face. “I’m okay, Nazzareno. I’m just drained. Aren’t you?”
“For you, never.”
That wasn’t what I’d meant, but I didn’t argue. It went beyond a simple question and landed in a place inside of me that had been closed for too long.
All I could do was nod.
It took him a second, but he stood with a sigh. He said something else to the women and they lifted their tools, like they had heard him the first time and had been ready to get started.
“I will be back soon.”
“Are you leaving?” I wasn’t sure why that question made me feel so panicky, but fuck me, it did.
He shook his head. “I will be on the other side of the suite.”
I watched as the royally fierce lion on his back disappeared and the women all got to work.
Face, hair, nails…
Instead of relaxing, all I could think about was how when he walked away from me…it felt like he was taking the meaning of my life with him.
I’d chased it for years, and since I’d caught it, I wanted to stay with it forever, but I wasn’t sure how this story was going to end.
One of the women put her hand on my shoulder. “Relax,” she said in a soothing voice. “We are here for you.”
A knock came at the wall, and we all looked up.
Beni smiled. “You look as if you could use a good song.”
“Stronger,” I said. “A good stiff drink.”
A few seconds after, one of the women handed me a glass.
I thanked her and took a sip. I was just being sarcastic. But since it was here…might as well indulge some.
“What is in your mind?” Beni asked.
I sighed and started with the most imminent.
“Rosaria Caffi.”
He waved his hand, like he was waving off the worry. “She is easy.”
I lifted my brows. He gave me a blank look. He didn’t get the metaphor.
