Bruno darts up behind me and scoops me into his arms, carrying me for a few minutes. We’re both laughing openly, grinning from ear to ear as we race along down the narrow path. If you weren’t looking for the trail, you wouldn’t notice it, because the grass and weeds have begun to reclaim it. I imagine business must be pretty slow for the cabin owner lately. On the one hand, it makes me sad that this place seems to be largely forgotten, but on the other hand, it’s nice to know that it’s almost like my own personal private world. Like I alone know the secrets of this magical forest.
Bruno sets me down and we start walking briskly, hand in hand, down the way as the sound of rushing water grows louder. He looks at me in confusion. “What is that?”
“Be patient. You’ll see,” I tease him, poking my tongue out at him.
A few more minutes of walking and we arrive at our destination: a small but beautiful waterfall tucked away behind a thick patch of trees we nearly have to squeeze through to reach. Bruno’s face changes from confusion to full of wonder, and I can’t help but beam at how happy he looks. I can tell he never expected to come across something like this, and I’m overjoyed that I got the opportunity to put that look of awe on his face.
“You like it?” I pipe up, biting my lip.
Bruno turns and kisses me passionately, holding me close. When he breaks away he says softly, “This is beautiful, Serena. Thank you for taking me here. I — we — needed this.”
“Agreed. That’s what I love so much about being out in nature. It’s like hitting refresh on your whole life, like all your problems stay behind in the city and you can finally breathe again,” I say, shaking my head in amazement at how lovely it all is. “I can’t believe I waited so long to come back here. I could’ve really used a visit here during all those difficult years.”
“I never got to do things like this growing up,” Bruno says, standing with his hands on his hips as he surveys the scene appreciatively. “Back home in Italy I ran around the countryside sometimes, just causing trouble with my equally delinquent friends. But it wasn’t like this. And when I came to America, my childhood was over. I went from a scrappy little kid to a man overnight, becoming my uncle’s apprentice, learning the carpentry trade. Sometimes I wonder how different I would be if I had stayed in Italy. Or if the mafia had never threatened my family.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him earnestly, taking his hand. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. I wish you’d had a chance to grow up like any other kid, instead of having those years stolen away from you.”
Bruno shrugs and gives me a peaceful smile. “It is what it is. And besides, the way I see it, all those shitty things only led me down the path to you. And that makes it all worth it.”
He pulls me close and kisses me again, his hands stroking my hair, sliding down to grab my ass as he pushes against me. I feel that familiar flicker of tingling warmth pass down my body and makes me shiver. I know exactly what I want. Right here, right now.
Bruno leads me over to a huge patch of soft moss on the dry rocks off to one side of the waterfall, where every now and then a stray fleck of water flies over to land on us. He guides me to the ground, his fingers tangling into my hair as he stares into my eyes. I’m transfixed, held captive in the perfect, blissful moment.
There’s no sounds of the city, no fear in my heart, no sorrow. It feels like I’ve shed myself of all the baggage I’ve been carrying for so long.
For the first time, I feel totally reunited with my long lost lover, without all the worries and fear marring every emotion. Ever since he’s returned, I keep having the feeling that it’s fleeting. That soon, he’ll be caught. That he’ll be taken away from me once more, and I’ll have to face life without him all over again.
But in the peace and serenity of the forest, no one can touch us.
Bruno’s fingers work along my skin, snaking up beneath my shirt as his lips press against mine. His tongue is soft but exploratory as it swipes across my lower lip, leaving his taste on me as he easily unhooks my bra.
He makes quick work of my jeans and panties, as well, folding all my clothing into a neat little stack beside us before he strips out of his own clothes. Goosebumps prickle up on my skin, our bodies both totally exposed to the cool, fresh air.
“You know, this is strangely similar to a dream I had one night while I was locked up,” Bruno says softly, kissing his way down to my breasts. “I dreamed that you and I were making love on the edge of a massive waterfall. Of course, in the dream there were also talking trees, but that’s beside the point.”
I giggle at that image but my laughter is interrupted by a sigh as Bruno gently bites and sucks at my nipples, his hand trailing down to cup my mound. “Well, I’m glad these trees don’t talk because I’d hate for them to tell anyone about this. Two people fucking in the woods, surrounded by nothing but nature.”
“Yeah, I would hate for them to tell anybody about how wet you are when I touch you, how you shiver when I stroke your sweet little clit,” Bruno growls, his fingertip swirling around that tight, sensitive bud while my hips rock back and forth involuntarily.
“Oh fuck,” I moan as he slides down between my thighs to lick and suck at my pussy. I reach down and tangle my fingers in his dark hair, gently pushing him down into my cunt. The waterfall pounds away, the constant white noise of rushing water only adding to the symphony of sensations I’m feeling. Just before I come, Bruno pulls away.
I whimper plaintively, disappointed.
But he quickly pulls me up and lies on his back, moving me to straddle him. I bite my lip, eager to ride his cock. I position the head of his shaft at my slick opening and slowly slide him inside of me, groaning with pleasure as I sheath him completely.
“Fuck, Serena. I want you to ride my cock hard. I want to fill you up and make you ache,” Bruno instructs, his voice husky and low. I begin rolling my hips, slowly and carefully at first, then more frantically as my climax approaches. It doesn’t take long for me to explode, crying out as I start bouncing up and down on his cock, feeling him strike my g-spot over and over again.
“Ohh, it feels so fucking good,” I murmur, closing my eyes as I ride him harder and faster. Bruno’s hands slide up to cup and massage my breasts, his fingertips passing over my nipples and making me tremble, starting to lose control. I don’t want to go slow. I want to fuck him hard and fast, give in to my animalistic desires.
Bruno sits up and pulls my legs around him so that we’re facing, my knees hooked around his waist. He kisses me, reaching down between us to rub my clit while I ride his cock. I moan into his mouth as he takes control, bouncing me up and down and thrusting up into my pussy.
“Good girl, good girl. Come for me,” Bruno murmurs in my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my neck. Almost as though by magic, I come immediately, my whole body shaking with the waves of intense pleasure. Bruno leans me backward, holding me up with his free arm so that I’m nearly horizontal, still speared by his cock as he thrusts up into me and strokes my clit.
He picks up the pace, slamming into me with loud, wet smacks, and I can tell he’s getting closer and closer. “Ready for me to come inside you, dolcezza?” he says, circling his thumb over my clit so that I’m almost overstimulated to the point of exhaustion.
“Yes! Oh God, yes!” I manage to choke out, my heart hammering away beneath my ribs.
“Fuck!” he bellows, seizing up and shooting his sweet seed deep inside of me as I come at the exact same time, my whole body going limp as my pussy clenches around him. He thrusts a few more times, his hands still on my back, holding me still. His gaze holds mine, both of us recovering from our orgasms.
He kisses me as he withdraws, both of us falling on our backs, panting and sweaty. The fine mist of the waterfall is welcome, cooling our skin as we lie there totally spent and happy. Bruno grabs my hand and squeezes it.
“If I die and go to heaven and it isn’t exactly like this, I’m going to feel so cheated,” he says, l
aughing. “I genuinely cannot imagine anything better than this.”
“Everywhere is paradise with you,” I tell him, glancing over to meet his vivid green gaze with a smile. “What’s that song? Heaven is a place on earth?”
“That’s the one,” he agrees, kissing my hand. We lie there in silence for a few more minutes, both coming down from our shared high.
Finally, I can’t keep those questions at bay anymore and I ask hesitantly, “Bruno, where were you this past week? You just kind of went off on your own. And when you came back, you had all that money. What happened? What did you do?”
He looks over at me with a pained expression. “I didn’t want to worry you.”
“I know. But I would rather have some idea of what’s going on. That scares me way more: the unknown,” I explain truthfully. I thought it would be easier not knowing, but it’s clear to me now that the secrets scare me more than the truth possibly could.
“Okay. I was involved in a theft. A big time. A heist, you might even say.”
“What?” I burst out, sitting up and looking at him with wide eyes. Bruno sits up, too.
Calmly, he explains the whole operation, and I listen intently, my mind racing in a million directions.
“I can’t believe you would take a huge risk like that just after breaking out of prison. Bruno, you’re a fugitive. That raises the stakes for everything.”
“I know. But Serena, you have to understand that taking risks is part of my job. It’s just the way I have to live my life. I promise that I’m as careful as can be. I take risks, but they’re calculated risks,” he says. “And I knew you would be afraid, so I kept it from you.”
I bite my lip.
“Bruno, listen to me. I know you think I’m some delicate little flower you have to protect from all the dangers of your world. But remember that I grew up around the mob, too. Even though I didn’t know much about it then, and I didn’t know any different, my dad was involved in some pretty illicit stuff. And after he died... ” I shook my head. “Bruno, not knowing what was going to happen to me, if I was going to... if that man was going to be able to touch me... I didn’t know if that was my life. And not knowing, I imagined all the worst scenarios. That’s what it’s like when you leave me, without telling me. My imagination runs wild. Besides, I’m in love with you. Anything you have to deal with you should be able to share with me. Okay?”
Bruno shakes his head in amazement, smiling at me warmly.
“Most women would shy away from a guy like me. How are you so brave?”
I shrug, leaning over to kiss him.
“Love makes you brave. From now on, I want to know what’s going on. Even if it’s dark. Even if it’s dangerous. I want to have a say.”
“I’ll do my best to include you,” he concedes, kissing me again. “I could never deny you anything, you know that? You’ve got some kind of crazy hold on me.”
“It’s my superpower,” I joke, grinning. “But if we’re going to be on the run, undercover and underground and all that, I think we need new aliases.”
“Aliases?” Bruno repeats, giving me a dubious look.
“Yeah! You know, like code names or something. Fake names.”
“That’s not usually how we operate, but I’m intrigued now. What name would you give me? Or yourself?” he asks, amused.
I squint at him, thinking hard for a moment.
“Hmm. We need a theme or something. Shakespeare, maybe. Like, you could be Horatio. Or Lysander.”
“Oh, those are terrible,” Bruno laughs. “And what would you be called? Juliet?”
“Juliet? So mainstream! I take it you didn’t study as much Shakespeare as I was forced to read,” I giggle, pondering female character names. “I could be Rosaline or maybe Olivia.”
“Your names are way better than mine,” Bruno points out. “I sense some unfairness here.”
“Fine, you can be something normal like Alexander,” I tease, nudging him with my shoulder. Then, I sober up and add, “But seriously, Bruno, I don’t want there to be any more secrets between us. If this is going to work, we need to be honest with each other. No surprises. No hiding things. You trust me, right?”
“Of course I do. Trust was never the problem,” he answers seriously.
“Okay. Good. It’s settled then,” I declare, grinning. “You and me, we’re a team.”
Inwardly, I make a different promise: that I’m going to take life by the horns from now on. If I’m going to be on equal grounds with Bruno, I need to be brave. Not reckless, but definitely courageous. I need to be strong and assertive. I need to take charge.
“No more trying to ‘protect’ me by keeping things from me. After all, I always find out sooner or later anyway,” I say, shrugging.
“Sounds fair to me. If you think you can handle it, I won’t hold back,” he says. Then he adds, “Seems like as good a time as any to break out of my usual routine.”
I look at him confused as he gets up and offers me his hand.
What the hell does he mean by that?
BRUNO
Downtown Ithaca is not a world I’m familiar with in the least, even with Serena around my arm at my side. It was my idea to come out here, but with every passing second, I’m feeling more like a fish out of water.
There’s none of the bustle of the city here, none of the rush and looming buildings that I was just getting used to calling home back in the Bronx. It’s almost too quiet for my taste, but I have to admit, I feel like I can breathe here. There’s plenty of green, and fewer people look anxious or stormy.
That doesn’t help my situation, though. I’m clad in the same old clothes I had before we left, and while I’m not one to worry about fashion, I can tell I stick out here. As we walk down the wide brown sidewalk flanked by shops on all sides, Serena notices how often I’m adjusting the hood and sunglasses I’m wearing to hide my appearance. She finishes off the mint gelato I bought for us a few minutes ago and throws the napkin into a public trashcan, coming to a stop as she does.
“Relax,” she says, stroking my arm as I smile down at her. “We’re miles away from, well, everything. NYC may as well be a whole different country up here.”
“That’s part of the problem,” I say, looking around at the hipster couples with big hairstyles and sweaters. That gives me an idea, though. A thoughtful smile on my face, I look over at some of the outlet shops nearby, then down at Serena, who tilts her head to the side.
“Whatcha thinking?”
“That we didn’t bring enough clothes,” I say, smiling a little more broadly at Serena, whose eyebrows go up.
“I... never thought I’d hear you say that,” she admits.
“No, but you’ve been through a lot. I don’t get enough chances to spoil you like a proper Italian girl.” That makes her blush and smile, and I take her hand to tug her along into the nearest designer clothing store to start spending some of that money I worked so hard to get.
Serena’s eyes light up as soon as we enter the place. I can see her mind going back to when she was a teenager on her father’s big budget, because I don’t have to look at the price tags on some of the clothes in here to know they’re above what she usually gets.
“Ohhhh, this is good. This is very good,” she says, wandering in ahead of me and looking at the various odds and ends of the fall line of clothes. She looks back at me with glittering eyes and an eager smile.
“Are you sure about this? If you really turn me loose in here, I think I can put a dent in that paycheck of yours.” She winks, half-joking, but even if she were dead-serious, I couldn’t deny her anything.
“Don’t think about the price,” I assure her, stepping over to her and planting a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll take care of that part.”
That’s all it takes to get her going on a tour of the store that seems to warm her soul. After about an hour of trying things on, getting new sizes, and even experimenting a little, Serena finally comes out of the dressing room with an e
nsemble she looks like a regular local in: an oversized, unreasonably cozy green sweater that still makes her body look irresistible. She picks out an equally oversized tan-brown scarf that goes with it and matching tall boots and black leggings.
Even though I’ve been getting odd looks the whole time I’ve been in here, my stony expression splits into a grin when I see her, partly because of how cute she looks in her outfit, partly because her happiness is so infectious.
“What do you think?” she asks, holding her arms out and twirling in place, and before she finishes, I wrap my arms around her and pick her up, to her delight, kissing her on the neck.
“Perfect,” I say, setting her down and giving a smile to the dressing room attendant, who stands awkwardly nearby. “We’ll take it. All of it.”
That changes the attendant’s mood quite a bit. A few minutes later, I’ve convinced the store owner to let Serena wear the new outfit out of the store with her old clothes in the bag. Something about the way Serena’s eyes widen when I hand the cashier a big wad of cash fills me with pride. I like providing for her, even if it’s on things that aren’t totally essential.
When we walk out of the store, I can’t help but laugh at the new spring in Serena’s step.
“I never knew you had such a thing for new clothes.”
“It’s one of those things I kind of reward myself with when it’s been a really good week at the shop,” she says, wiggling a little when I hug her to my side. “I mean, nothing this nice or this much, but a little thing here and there is good.” But it isn’t long before her eyes get thoughtful as she looks my outfit up and down, smiling mischievously.
“What?” it’s my turn to ask.
“Your turn, obviously,” she says, and before I can protest through my chuckles, she’s tugging my big arm toward the closest men’s apparel store.
This is as much for Serena as it is for me.
My tastes are usually simple. I went through most of my life in the Bronx in jeans, a white t-shirt, and a leather jacket. Apparently, I need to get a little more creative than that to fit in up here in Ithaca. Fortunately, I don’t have to leave my style behind too much to do that.
Bound to the Mafia (Bound to the Bad Boy Book 2) Page 17
