I decide to do as he wishes and leave the room to get ready for dinner. But I make a mental note not to forget this conversation. Should I be worried about Leo’s safety?
19
Before dinner, Leo takes me to high-end boutiques to pick out a dress for the charity ball. As we enter a cute boutique called Caterina’s, I notice a stunning dress in the window. This is the one! #GutFeeling
I pick out a few more dresses, just in case, and the sales lady puts them in a fitting room for me to get started. I try on a few gowns that are absolutely stunning but just not for me or for this particular event. Leo nods and approves of all of them; I don’t think he’d say ‘no’ to any of them because he just wants me to be happy. His behavior is insanely cute, but it’s not what I’m looking for in a shopping partner. My girlfriends are usually more honest.
Then I get to my favorite one, hopefully saving the best for last. I step into the tight maroon sequined dress. The sleeves are long, but the dress may be a little too short for a charity ball, ending just a few inches above my knees. Let’s see what Leo says.
I open the door to the fitting room, and Leo’s eyes slowly travel up my long legs, taking me all in. The way he looks at me—appreciating my body—makes me want to straddle him in this store.
“Elena, you look exquisite.”
“You don’t think it’s too short?” I say fidgeting with the hem of the dress, trying to pull it down a bit.
Again, his eyes roam over my bare legs.
“Not at all. You have the best pair of legs I’ve ever seen.”
I head back into my fitting room. I’m standing in my bra and underwear when I hear a knock at the door. Thinking it’s the sales lady to check on me, I open the door just a crack to hand her the dress to package it up, but instead Leo pushes his way inside!
“What are you doing in here? What if she comes to check on me?” I whisper.
Leo doesn’t say a word, and with his powerful hands he lifts me up and backs us against one of the walls separating the dressing rooms. His hands grip the back of my thighs tightly. I feel his cock hard against my red lacy panties.
“I want you,” he whispers in between hot kisses. His kisses are so damn addictive.
“Wait, wait … put me down,” I manage to get out while he devours my tongue.
“Cara, I will only put you down if it’s a good reason,” he whispers again, trying not to attract attention, and my gaze locks to his. I grab on to his throbbing cock.
“I need your pants off … now!”
The second he puts me down, I unzip his pants and get on my knees. I slide his boxer briefs down his legs, and his manhood springs out at me—hard and thick. I grab his shaft with both hands and fist him up and down. I lick off his pre-cum and twirl my tongue around his tip over and over to tease him. With his cock now wet from my tongue, I run my hands up and down, while I suck deep on his tip. When I think he’s about to break I take him in my mouth as far as I can and take my hands to massage his balls.
He fists my hair, and I can hear him suck in his breath. Right before he can finish, he pulls me off the ground and spins me around; now we are both facing the mirror. He has my bra and panties off in a second.
I look in the mirror and realize I’ve never seen myself like this before. My lips look swollen from the kissing, my breasts feel heavy and hyper-sensitive, and we both have a glow about us. It also smells like sex in the air. Anyone outside this door has got to know what’s going on.
“I want you to beg for my cock,” Leo growls as he wraps his arm around my waist and slides his fingers between my thighs. I’m already wet from thinking about the pleasure I was giving him. His fingers stroke over my pussy, and I quiver.
“Leo … please,” I moan and try to grind myself harder into his hand.
“What do you want, Elena?”
He’s teasing me!
“I want you inside of me … now!”
With the hand that’s not busy driving my sex insane, he massages my breast. He pulls my nipple to a point, and it instantly hardens for him. When I can barely stand, Leo pushes my lower back to bend forward and positions the head of his cock at my entrance. He slides inside of me and starts to thrust as I rock back onto him. We are pounding into each other like wild animals.
“Elena, look at us,” he commands, and I lock my eyes on the mirror. Holy cow! We look so fucking sexy. If I wasn’t already on fire, I would get turned on just from watching Leo drive into me. My breasts bounce. He looks like he’s claiming his prey.
I feel something building inside of me and I know I won’t be able to last much longer. I feel a pull in my stomach. With one final slam into me, we both climax together, and his fingers squeeze into the curves of my hips.
Our skin looks damp and flushed. That was heavenly! We both quietly get back into our clothes, and before Leo leaves the room, he looks at me and whispers into my ear, “Elena, you better get that dress.”
20
On the day of the charity ball, I’m a bundle of nerves. For some reason I really want this woman to like me. It would kill me if someone so important in Leo’s life hated me—especially his mother.
I’ve been staying at Leo’s home in Tivoli, just outside Rome, every night. We have a routine and it touches my heart how nauseously cute it is. It definitely feels like he’s my boyfriend. We get ready side-by-side each morning and then spend our evenings eating Gemma’s delicious dinners and curling up on the couch binge-watching TV shows on Netflix or playing board games while sipping vino. I’ve never felt this comfortable with a man before and, when I’m away from him working at the caffé, I miss him. Yes I’ve become that girl. There’s no further talk about love or marriage though—but I know my heart belongs fully to him.
I’ve fallen and I’ve fallen fast.
“Good morning, bella,” Leo says as he greets me in the kitchen with a kiss on my cheek and a pat on the ass. I’m reading the paper and drinking an espresso standing at the island. Gemma would be a huge hit in the coffee shop—her espresso is divine.
“Good morning, Mr. Beautiful,” I say and place the paper at his seat at the table before I sit down myself.
“I know you’ve been stressed about tonight’s ball—which you have no reason to be—but I want you to know I booked you a day at the spa. Plus, someone will be here before the event to do your hair and makeup.”
“Leo, you don’t have to do this! I don’t want you to spend so much money on me. I can do my own hair and makeup.”
“Elena, money is no issue. I want to spoil you and I want you to feel like a queen at the ball. Please, let me do this for you.”
Well, you definitely don’t have to beg me to be pampered. This man is too much! I love how he can sense what I’m feeling and just what I need to relax. Even though he doesn’t always say what he feels, I can feel how much he cares about me just from his actions.
I get up from my seat and climb into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“You always seem to surprise me,” I say, before planting a big kiss on him.
“Well, if I knew this would be how you thank me, I’d surprise you more often,” he says, planting soft kisses on my neck. I feel his cock stirring beneath me. His eyes darken.
“Cara, before you drive me any more crazy, you need to go get ready to leave. Mateo is waiting outside with the car because your appointment is in 20 minutes.”
I grab his cock and kiss him, hearing a low moan.
“I want you to think of me while I’m gone.”
“Oh, cara, never doubt that I’m not always thinking about you.”
The afternoon at the spa was just what I needed! Now I’m getting beautified by the best hair and makeup artists in all of Italy. Leo certainly went all out for me for this event.
“You have the most amazing thick, curly hair, bella! You are a dream client!” Gino, my new hairstylist, says.
He spins my chair around, and I look at myself in the bathroom mirror. He’s d
one my hair half up and half down in long curls with a side swept bang. My makeup is done in a romantic smoky eye. I don’t even recognize myself. Damn, he did good!
I throw on a black bangle Swarovski crystal bracelet and black Christian Louboutins and I’m ready to go! I thank my fairy gloss mothers for all their help, and I take one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs where I know Leo is waiting.
I walk down the long staircase and see my man standing for me at the bottom of the stairs—looking sexy as ever. Leo is wearing a black slim-fit Armani suit with a black button-up and maroon tie to match my dress. #Adorable
“You look magnificent,” Leo says, before pulling me into an embrace and kissing me.
“Right back at you, Mr. Beautiful!” I say and smack his ass before I start walking towards the limo where Mateo is waiting.
The ride to the Ruka House Ballroom is short, and I’m proud to say we managed to keep our hands mostly to ourselves a long the way. Leo does try to put the moves on me, but I quickly remind him that Gino would kill him if he found out that no one saw how great my hair and makeup looked before I was ravished by my super sexy Italian boy toy.
Leo tells Mateo that he wants to open the door himself and escort me out of the limo. I do notice that tonight Leo has extra security following us in a separate town car. This reminds me that I need to ask him about overhearing his conversation with Mateo the other day, when I thought I heard the word ‘stalker.’
Before I can bring it up, Leo turns to me, letting me know that this is a red carpet event and there will be many cameras ready to take our pictures. He explains the “step and repeat” process to me, and I pretend I’ve never been on a red carpet before—that’s the life I’m taking a much-needed break from. Luckily, he says that since this is his mother’s charity event, they’ll refrain from making rude remarks to us … we hope. You never know what the paparazzi will do or say.
I take Leo’s hand, and he holds mine tightly, letting me know he’s got my back.
3 … 2 … 1.
“Leo! Leo!” The photographers shout at us as we stop for pictures.
“Who’s your date, Leo?” They keep screaming at us.
Then I see her: Victoria is getting out of a limo with Luigi on her arm. Why are they here? Leo must have noticed my stance become rigid, and the next thing I know, he dips me, planting a huge kiss on my lips. The photographers go wild! Flash after flash of hundreds of cameras and smartphones record this moment.
“Her name is Elena Scott, and she’s my remarkable girlfriend.”
His girlfriend! Be still my heart, I think I might actually climb him like a tree right now if we weren’t in front of all these people. He called me his girlfriend. I don’t know when he made this decision, but I can’t get over how good it feels to hear him call me his own. To move past that stupid idea of ‘lovers’ and be official.
Leo doesn’t say anything about the bomb he just dropped on the paparazzi; instead, he plants a kiss on the top of my head and we keep walking the red carpet. We walk hand-in-hand to the entrance of the most striking party I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know what to expect from a ball, but I can say this blows my imagination out of the water.
Everything in the huge ballroom is white and black but lit with a purple hue. Crystals hang from the ceiling on stunning chandeliers. The tables are lined with the finest china, and violets draped in crystals make up the centerpieces. A live band sits on a giant stage near the wall just past a dance floor, which is currently empty because everyone is finding seats and chatting.
What makes the room shine even more than the decor are the guests! This ball makes Leo’s birthday bash look like a small backyard shindig with some hillbillies. So many big name A-listers and people who look like they bathe in money mingle here.
Leo and I find our table near the stage. Before I can scan the table’s other name cards, a short woman with short brown hair dressed in a floor-length black dress approaches. She looks very posh, refined, and a bit standoffish.
“Leonardo, son, you look very handsome. I’m glad to see you decided to join us. And this must be the one responsible for keeping you away from your mother so much?”
Leo’s mother extends her hand to me in a delicate way. I was afraid I was going to break her but I can feel her strength coming off in a weird vibe. This is not a lady to mess with.
“Ciao, I’m Elena. It’s so nice to meet you,” I say, shaking her hand. I give her a big smile, trying to break the ice. She smiles back at me, but her smile looks fake. My father says if a smile doesn’t reach their eyes, then it’s not genuine. This woman is staring at me with eyes of frost.
“Elena, I’m Rosalie. I’m glad to see you got my son to show up tonight—he likes to avoid events like this.”
I notice she didn’t say it was nice to meet me, too. This isn’t going as well as I hoped. Why did I care if she liked me again? Oh yeah, because I’m hopelessly in love with her son, the man we both happen to have our hands on right now.
“Mama, you know I’d much rather cut a check than come to these big events. It’s just for show, nothing more.”
“How can you say that, Leonardo?” she asks, looking up at him. “You know that I live for this charity ball, and it does great things for so many people.”
“You know what I mean. Not these events specifically, just events in general. Nevermind.”
Did Leo just back down to someone? He sounded like a teenager boy – unsure of himself. Why is he explaining himself to her? We are still holding hands, and I look up at him to see that he and his mother are just staring at one another, as if they are challenging one another.
And just to make matters even better, that voice I hate interrupts my thoughts and walks over to us.
“Leonardo, Rosalie, there you two are! Your ball looks bravo, like always. You did a great job,” Victoria says as she comes over to us. It didn’t slip past me that she didn’t mention me at all.
“Victoria, my dear, I’m so grateful you could come,” Rosalie says, smiling at her and embracing her in a hug before the double-cheek kiss.
Victoria and Rosalie are friends. Why didn’t anyone tell me? Victoria has her back turned to me and hasn’t once said ‘ciao.’ You know what? I can be the bigger person here.
“Ciao, Victoria. It’s nice to see you,” I say with a strong voice, head held high. You won’t get me to back down, bitch.
“Oh, Elena, I didn’t even see you there! How do you like your first ball?”
“My first ball?”
“I assume you haven’t been to anything like this before.”
Again with the white trash jokes? This bitch is about to get the first punch thrown at her at a charity ball.
“You know what they say when people assume—”
Leo starts to laugh at my joke and squeezes me hand. I look over and see he’s staring at me with eyes of admiration. He leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek. Both women look shocked and then quickly glance away.
We all take our seats—conveniently all at the same table—and the courses start to make their way over to us. Luckily for me, Victoria and Luigi are across the table and I can’t quite hear them over the noise of the band. Next to me on my left is Danilo Gentile, the owner of the biggest TV news station in Italy, and his wife, Gianna. They ask me many questions about life back in Michigan and include Leo and me in all their stories. I feel at ease with them. I fill them in on the basics. Luckily they ask mostly about my life, not so much about work. I hate feeling like I’m lying to people—especially my boyfriend Leo. My boyfriend—just trying out the sound of that. Sounds perfect!
After our appetizers are served, Rosalie gets up to make a speech for all her guests.
“Buona sera, everyone! Thank you for taking the time to join the European Breast Cancer Association and myself for tonight’s annual ball. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. It claims the lives of hundreds of tho
usands of women each year.
“Through the research that the outstanding Association is developing, we have a goal to fight breast cancer and stop it at its early stages. I encourage each and every one of the women here to take steps to schedule breast exams and mammograms. And I encourage each and every one of the men here to talk to the women in their lives about their health.
“Now get out your checkbooks, my friends and family, because I know you aren’t cheap. Don’t make me look bad—the Association needs your help. Grazie!”
Everyone starts to clap and stand up for Rosalie. I am very impressed by how well Leo’s mother carries herself in front of everyone. She is still her aristocratic self, but in front of her audience she comes across a bit warmer.
The courses and conversations continue to flow at our table, and I’m having a great time—that is, until Victoria opens her loud mouth and her voice carries across the table, piercing my ears.
“Elena, dearie, so tell us what you did for a living back in Minnesota. Were you a coffee girl there too?”
Why does she have to go and ruin a great night? Because she’s Victoria, that’s why, I remind myself.
“Back in Michigan, I worked in social media and promotional campaigns.” That’s the most basic answer I can come up with that isn’t far from the truth.
“That sounds like a lot of fun,” Danilo says. “Social media plays a major part in our news organizations around the country. Nowadays we can spread stories quicker on Twitter than anything else. I’d love to hear more about your social media work.”
I’m grateful for his kind opinion before Victoria has a chance to bring me down again.
Leo has his hand on my thigh under the table, and he gives it a little squeeze. I feel he’s reassuring me, and it’s calming me down … and turning me on. I reach my hand under the table and place it on top of his. I can think of other places I want his hands. Roaming all over my body. I think it’s getting hot in here.
My Mr. Beautiful: Eternal City Love, Book 1 Page 12
