Lussuria (New Version)

by SJ Molloy

  Oh God.

  I’m going to be sick. I rush to the restrooms and just make it there before I empty the contents from my stomach. Once I sort myself out, I reapply my makeup, feeling a little better. I notice baskets with toiletries sitting on the fancy vanity, so I pick out a minty finger toothbrush and deodorant, then leave some small change in the bowl.

  Exiting the restroom, I find Mystery Man David leaning against the wall outside the restroom. “Hey, you okay? You rushed off pretty quickly. Is there anything you need?” he asks.

  “No, I’m fine, thanks. I was in hospital a few days ago, and have just overdone it tonight, but I’ll be grand.”

  “Well, you look like a million dollars. No one will know your feeling under the weather. If there’s anything you need…”

  I smile and walk to my table. I sense his eyes burning into my backside as I walk off. When I return to the table, there are men everywhere. It’s the same company that were sitting in the booth across from us earlier, and they’ve moved over in my absence.

  Hazel and Anna are lapping up the attention. Anna has her arm draped over one man’s shoulder; she got over Cameron quickly. I sit down as all the men slowly drop their eye gaze in my direction. I switch my phone on—eight missed calls from Lucca. Crap! I try calling him back, but his phone is off again. My head is pounding, so I have another glass of water, slowly drinking it.

  David hands me a business card, I stare at it feeling nervous as this is very intrusive. Why would I want one of his cards? It’s not like I would ever be back here. I sit it down and perish the thought.

  David uses the opportunity to introduce me to Giovanni Costanzo. He is older and distinguished, with long grey hair that falls below his ears, and dressed in a fine knit, black, polo neck top, rolled up at the sleeves, and black trousers. He looks extremely wealthy. I stand, and he kisses me on both cheeks. “Pleasure to meet you,” I say.

  His eyes are wide, he is taking every inch of me in. “And your name?” he asks in perfect English, accentuated with a strong Italian accent. I hesitate as I don’t offer this information to strangers, but the alcohol has given me some confidence.

  “Lexi Robertson,” I whisper quietly.

  Mr. Costanzo holds my hands and I wince slightly as he grasps onto my recovering wrist. “Such beauty. Where have you been hiding, little angel? I would love to work with you.”

  “Excuse me? What type of work? What do you mean?”

  He looks oddly at me as if evaluating if I’m being serious. His flabbergasted look of alarm confirms to me that I’m supposed to know who this man is. “To photograph you, of course. I have visions already, a new creation of perfection, and you are in it. Yes, yes indeed.” He’s enthusiastic about this imaginary photograph.

  “I’m sorry, but I think you may have mistaken me for someone else. I’m not a model, and I’ve never been photographed before, nor do I ever intend to be.” My stomach catapults. I’ve been photographed, and I will never be behind a lens again. My whole life I’ve tried to forget, and the though alone perishes me with a cold, sharp shiver.

  Giovanni lets go of my hands and hugs me with regret. He’s wearing musky cologne, and the pungent scent even lingers in my hair after he has opened the space between us.

  “You are keeping that beauty locked away from the public eye and that’s a pity. I could create a masterpiece, a wonderful vision of delight, a gift to the world. With my images, I could make you a huge success indeed, introducing you as the next up and coming. Please consider it.”

  My head is rushing, my knees are trembling, and my fingers are tightening. This is unimaginable.

  “Oh my holy God!” Anna screeches, “I bloody well knew it! Wait until I tell Lucca he’s dating the next top model.”

  I let go of Giovanni. “Thank you, Giovanni, but I’m not the girl you’re looking for. I have to decline your offer, but thank you for the kind compliments.”

  He looks shocked.

  “Lexi, what the hell are you doing? Don’t be stupid! Do you not even know who this is?” Anna yells.

  Hazel eyes are as wide as a deer caught in headlights, Star struck…

  “You are not only beautiful, but you have a beautiful soul as well. That’s a quality I haven’t had the pleasure of working with in a long time. Here is my card. I don’t give this out liberally, so treasure it. Please reconsider and call my office. I look forward to photographing you.” He hands me the card, kisses me on both cheeks, then shakes hands with David before walking off.

  “Oh my God. Wait until the girls hear about this! Samantha will die,” Hazel blurts out.

  “Calm down. There’s no hope in hell I’m doing it.”

  “You are very different from most girls, Lexi. You’re very intriguing,” David says.

  My heart nearly vaults out of my skin. This is what Lucca said when he first met me. I feel guilty, like I’m betraying him.

  “Lexi, that is Italy’s most famous photographer. He has worked with all the major celebrities and stars. His work is amazing,” Anna tells me, but I don’t care. I certainly won’t be considering photos anytime soon.

  David and the other gentlemen show us upstairs to the private room. It has lush sofas, stools and a full glass wall which looks over the dance floor in the club. A bartender brings over bottles of Cristal champagne from the private bar in the corner.

  “Cheers to a wonderful holiday and to Lexi’s speedy recovery and new modeling contract,” Hazel slurs. I scowl and shake my head. “Who would have thought? Remember me when you’re famous,” she adds. We all giggle, then enjoy glass after glass of champagne.

  I take my shoes off and the thick, soft carpet feels heavenly under my throbbing sores. I’ve lost all inhibitions as round two of my alcohol binge consumes my rationalism. I hate to lose control, but I’m definitely losing some tonight.

  “So, have you considered Giovanni’s offer?” David asks me.

  “It’s still a no. Why are you stalking me?” I slur.

  He laughs. “I’m not stalking you. Well, maybe I am a little. I’m fixated with you, and every man in here wishes they were this close to you right now, so I suppose I’m also looking out for you.” “At least you’re honest, but I have a boyfriend, so don’t get any ideas,” I blurt and then stumble slightly. I hold his arm to get my balance, my breasts brushing against him. He groans, and then puts his arm around my waist to steady me, holding the bottom of my ass with his hand.

  “Where is he now? Because if you were mine, I would-”

  Chapter 23

  Afterlife

  “Take your fucking hands off her, David, or I’m going to rip your fucking heart out.”

  Lucca is standing behind him, his eyes blazing fire.

  “Lucca, calm down mate. This is not what you think.”

  “Lexi, what the fuck are you wearing?” he says, blazing his fire at me. David lets me go and I fall straight to the floor, losing the support. “Lexi, fuck!” he yells with absolute rage, then swings in and punches David powerfully across the jaw, sending him flying. Before I can comprehend what is happening, David’s team is standing behind Lucca, holding his shoulders and pulling him back.

  David wipes blood from his nose and lip, staggering as he stands up. “Lucca, I didn’t know she was your girl, but I’ve done you a favor. I kept a close eye on her and kept all the other men from eating her fucking alive.” I gasp and put my hand over my mouth, still slouched on my backside.

  “I’m gonna fucking kill you!” Lucca forcefully pulls out of the grip from the other men, sending one of them backwards, then pushes David’s chest, smashing him into a bar stool.

  “Lucca, stop it! Stop it!” I yell. Hazel helps me up, and I lean on her for support.

  “You don’t want to do this in my club, Lucca,” David chokes out as Lucca holds his arm under his chin and across his throat, nearly strangling him.

  “I don’t give a flying fuck if it’s your club. She is mine, and I won’t have you touch her or talk a
bout her like that. Stay away from her. Consider this your warning.” Lucca’s voice is deep and coarse, full of rage as he pins David down.

  “Lucca, please. Stop,” I whimper.

  “Okay, fucking let go of me or I’ll have you so fucked up before you leave this place, you’ll regret stepping foot in here. And so will your hot piece of ass.”

  Lucca thumps him, pounding into him with full force again and again ruthlessly. I can’t stop screaming, tears streaming down my face as I watch this debauchery. The suited men pull Lucca off David, dragging him back. One of them knees him in his lower back at the same time as another elbows his face, knocking him down. They kick and hook him again and again, pounding into him.

  I try to break free from Hazel to help Lucca, but she pulls me back. “Stop it! Stop, let him go!” I yell as does Anna who is jumping about frantically next to me screeching and crying hysterically.

  Lucca is on the floor, protecting his face with his arms while the other men kick his gut. I’m petrified, but I need to help him, so using all my strength, I break free from Hazel. “David, please! Please, tell them to stop, I’m begging you. It’s hurting me, please!” My chest is tightening as I watch Lucca helpless on the ground and I can’t control my sobbing.

  David shouts something to the men, and they pull back. I throw myself onto Lucca while they scuff around us. He’s breathing heavy, leaning on one hand and trying to pull himself up as he spits blood on the carpet.

  “Look at me, Lucca honey. Oh my God, are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay?” I scream.”

  Lexi, I’m fine.” He spits more blood out on the carpet, then wipes his arm across his brow, smearing blood all over his suit jacket. I can’t watch this; I feel sick. Pushing myself up, I stagger with my hand over my mouth then run into the restroom, and vomit into the sink.

  The door flies open and Lucca staggers in, covered in blood. Oh God. I turn into the sink and vomit some more, holding my hair back.

  “Lexi baby, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let that fucker touch you or speak about you like that.” I can’t stop shaking as I run the tap, rinsing my mouth with water. “Lexi, talk to me baby. Are you okay?”

  It’s all too much.

  I put my hands over my face and sob, holding nothing back. “No. No, I’m not okay! I can’t look at you like this. You’re wounded, and it’s hurting me.”

  He pulls my head up and takes my wet hands away, pressing himself into me and kissing me. I whimper, feeling his swollen lip, then stifle another sob as I taste the metallic flavor of his bloody lips against mine.

  “Let me clean this up,” I say, pressing my nose lightly against his grazes and cuts. I’ve sobered up quickly after the shock and drama of the fight and I want to reciprocate the care that he shoes me.

  “No, leave it. I’ll do it later. I’m going to be fine, it’s just a cut. I need to know you’re okay.” He looks into my eyes, and I notice how swollen and cut his own eyes are.

  Oh God.

  “Lucca please, don’t ever do that again. I can’t watch you get yourself beaten up,” I babble, running my fingers over his eyebrow and cheek.

  “I did it for you.”

  “But you’ve have blown this out of proportion, Lucca. David was helping me. I nearly fell, but he grabbed me before I stumbled. He wasn’t hitting on me.”

  “I know that fucker. He has a reputation, Lexi, and he would’ve tried to claim you given the chance. You’re mine, and he won’t get fucking near you again. You should know better than to lead pricks like him on.” His voice is deep and serious as his eyes narrow on me.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong. What gives you the right to barge in here on me and the girls when you were seeing Francesca behind my back and ignoring me?” I challenge.

  “We will talk about this later. I’m taking you home,” he replies. “Jesus, Lexi, why have you taken your dressing off? Your feet are seeping.”

  I look down and he’s right; there’s blood trailing from one of the wounds. I sob harder, not because I can feel the pain in my feet, but because of the mess I’m in, the mess he’s in, the mess we have caused out in the private room.

  He scoops me up and sits me on the vanity, standing between my legs and holding me close to his chest. He runs a hand towel under hot water and dabs the blood on my feet. Looking down at my exposed breasts, he shakes his head and clenches his jaw. “Jesus fuck, you need covering up.” He takes his suit jacket off and slips it over my arms backwards so that its open at my back.

  “You can’t be serious, Lucca.”

  “You’re lucky I don’t take my trousers off and make you wear them too. That dress is too fucking short for all those vultures to perv over those legs. You’ve got every fucking cock in this club hard for you...fuck...Jesus, Lexi.”

  I’ve no energy left for this, so I shrug and leave the jacket on. I want him to take me home.

  He carries me in his arms, ordering Hazel and Anna to grab their things. They gather my shoes and bag then follow us. He storms towards David and his men with me in his arms. “This is not finished. Don’t ever look in her direction again, you fucking got it!” he fires harshly. “This should cover their drinks.” He throws a wad of cash on the bar.

  He pushes our way through the busy crowd of socialites to get outside. My head is spinning, so I close my eyes and pretend it’s not happening, embarrassed that we are drawing attention. When we reach his car, he puts me in and buckles my seat belt as Anna and Hazel climb in the back.

  The trip home is subdued and silent, the atmosphere tense as Lucca drives fast and furiously. I turn my head to look out the window, closing my eyes when all the trees shade into one, passing by my blurry vision.

  When we arrive back at the farmhouse, Dominic and Cameron are sitting at the dining table drinking beers. Lucca carries me in and sits me down at the table. Hazel scolds Dominic for staying away today but then wraps her arms around him and kisses him. Anna sits down on Cameron’s knees, and wraps her arms around him also. After tonight’s antics, I just don’t care.

  “Lexi, what the hell are you wearing? Please tell me you didn’t wear that in a club?” Cameron says.

  “I picked it for her and made her wear it. She looks incredible. Lighten up, Cameron,” Anna blurts.

  Groaning, I drop my head on my arms and lean on the table. I just want to close my eyes.

  “What happened to your face, Lucca? You alright, mate?” Cameron asks.

  “Yes, just a misunderstanding. Your sister was attracting unwanted attention, but no wonder with her half fucking dressed.”

  “Hey, Lexi, looks like I can take early retirement, now that you have Lucca looking after you. He seems to have things under control.”

  “Hmm,” is all I manage.

  “Where were you two idiots when we needed help? Lucca took a thumping tonight from six thugs,” Hazel angrily asks the boys.

  “Paulo dropped us off back here after the football and you were all out. Plus, your phones were off,” Dominic redeems.

  “You’ll never believe this, but Lexi got offered a modeling contract tonight for a photo shoot by the one and only Giovanni Costanzo. How friggin amazing is that?” Anna announces.

  “What the fuck!”

  Oh God.

  I think I’m going to be sick again. I slip away and crawl up the stairs, making it to the ensuite, and hugging the toilet. There’s nothing left in my stomach, so collapse on the cold tiled floor and close my eyes.

  I need sleep.

  ****

  I wake up the next morning in bed, naked with a pounding headache and a dry mouth. Lucca is lying next to me. I turn around to look at him and gasp, closing my eyes in despair.

  “It’s okay, Doc. I’m fine. But you, on the other hand, are not.”

  His eyes and upper lip are swollen and bruised red, black and purple. The blood has been washed away, but he has visible cuts and raw grazes trailing from his eyebrow down the side of his face. He holds me tight, wrapping his arms ar
ound me.

  “You nearly gave me a heart attack last night, dressed like that. And that dickhead David trying to fire into you...I’m sorry, I just saw red.”

  “Lucca, you’re badly beaten. You’re a mess,” I whisper.

  “I’m fine. That fucker is lucky I didn’t break his ribs. Actually, I think I might have.” He trails his fingers up and down my back, then kisses me on the head. “I’m sorry, baby.”

  “I feel dizzy and dehydrated with the worst hangover ever. “Oh no, I probably have toxic shock. I can’t remember when I last changed my tampon.”

  “It’s fine. I took it out last night and inserted a new one for you.”

  “Eww, Lucca. That’s gross,” I quibble.

  “No, it doesn’t bother me, and that’s the least of your worries. I’m worried about your feet. I’ll take you to the clinic to get them checked.”

  “Are you going to tell me why you avoided my calls yesterday and spent the day with Fran?”

  “Is that why you got drunk and tried to get yourself raped?”

  Rage washes over me and I push him off me, lift myself up and storm in the bathroom. “You’re an ass,” I mutter. He watches me turn the shower on.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, but it could have happened if I hadn’t come to get you.”

  I don’t reply. I’m mad, so I ignore him and stand under the shower, trying to wash my hair with my better hand. Lucca walks in and stands behind me. “Why am I getting the silent treatment? You know it’s just going to get me horned up.”

  “You still haven’t told me why you went to see Fran, or why you ignored me.”

  He lathers shampoo on my hair, and attentively washes it off, then wraps his arms around me and places his head into the side of mine. “She tried to kill herself. She overdosed and ended up in hospital to have her stomach pumped.”

  “Oh my God. Is she okay? I’m so sorry, I had no idea.” I shiver with panic, even under the heat of the hot jets.

  “She’ll be okay. I’ve helped Donita arrange some more counseling for her once she’s sent home.” He holds me tighter, breathing heavily into the side of my face.