by Mynx, Sienna
“You’re right, because there is no us. Now will you please let me go so I can return to my room?”
“Shit.”
“NOW!” she refused to be swayed.
Giovanni released her. He fell over to his back blowing out a frustrated breath. Mira rose from the bed. She hurried to gather her robe and cover herself. She could barely stand on her feet without swaying. Her legs and back ached from the acrobatics performed in his bed. She needed a tub packed with ice for relief.
“So this is what you do? You run because we disagree?” He glared after her.
“No. Watch me walk away, and not look back.”
“Wait.”
“Screw you, Giovanni.”
“Bella!” He shouted in a deep authoritative voice that stopped her cold. She glanced back at him almost in fear from the hard tone he used. But he didn’t seem to be threatening her. He looked more pained than anything else.
Giovanni put his hand to his forehead and rested his elbow against his raised knee. “My mother was a sad complicated woman. She lost a lot of her happiness at a young age and gave up her family to be with my father. She wasn’t Sicilian. Do you understand?”
“No.”
“She asked for very little from my father, only the best for her children. She wanted me to be a lawyer. It was her dream. I wanted to be my father; that was my dream. Those two dreams could not exist in one man. So the time came for me to make a choice.” He extended his arms. “This is my choice. My famiglia, is my choice. My business is a lot of things. And most of these things are within and beyond the law. None of it has anything to do with you and me.”
Masterful persuasion seemed to be his style, but when he spoke to her she couldn’t help but recognize his sincerity. “Your life sounds complicated.”
“It’s extremely complicated, Bella; my existence is rooted in contradictions and complications. Do you know what is not complicated? Us. This that we share. Passion. I make you feel good? Don’t I? You make me feel more of a man than anyone outside of those doors.”
“Because of the sex.”
“Because of your fire.” He smirked.
Mira rolled her eyes. Still, she couldn’t help smiling.
“We have a friendship, right? No strings. No need to attach meaning to what I do, if we are just enjoying each other. You appearing from nowhere reminds me of why I should not let complications get the better of me. If I do, I will miss some of the sweetness of life.”
The harsh uneven rhythm of her breathing thinned. The man spoke like a poet and with his accent she weakened. Her thoughts became muddled, and she couldn’t remember in that moment why they argued.
“I say what I mean, without a filter, Bella.”
“I see.”
“With you, I will be more cautious,” he said sincerely.
Her memories of their shared passion were pure and clear, at the front of her mind. It made his apology sweeter. The man didn’t really owe her any further explanation than the one he gave. She stared at him and wondered so many things. What did the tattoos on his body mean? What made him so angry and gentle all at once? What woman had his heart and how could she ever compete. He raised his hand to her.
“Veini qui. Abbracciami.”
“Translation?” she asked softly.
“Come here, hold me.” A mischievous, sly, smile tipped the corner of his mouth upward. As if the denial of his request was not an option. Mira wanted to yield to the burning sweetness that made her his captive. Her feet moved under his command. She shed her robe and crawled back over the large bed to him. “I think I like complicated,” she said.
“And I think I know what else you like.” he rolled her under him and her lungs dragged in deep breaths. He drew her to the edge of the bed and stood. She again was confronted with the angry long erection she longed to possess. Giovanni would oblige. His large hands smoothed over her skin and down her thighs before he spread her legs and lowered to his knees before her. She stared down the line of her body at him.
“Let me apologize properly.”
Lust pushed him straight into full-on arousal. A deep groan escaped his throat as he thrust his tongue deeply into her core and his hands clenched the soft lush curves of her firm ass. Her body undulated in response and her mound pressed upon his face. If he could smile he would. Damn. He could dine here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
He sensed the awakening flames within her. He fucked her with his tongue, sucked and nibbled on her clitoris until she thrashed and pounded her small fists against the mattress for release, and release she did. Lapping with repeated flicks of his tongue, he enjoyed her torment.
She sat up in the bed and squeezed her thighs tightly shut while she shook hard through her climax. Giovanni peered up at her, still on his knees. He rose, lifting her legs and cinching them around his waist. Their eyes met. He found her wide gaze, full of appreciation for what they now shared. It made him more confident. He liked the way he saw himself in her eyes. He could believe himself worthy with this woman.
Intent on full possession, he drove his cock into her. He tossed his hips side-to-side to sink deeper. “So good,” he groaned. “More,” he said. “I like how tight you keep it for me, how you move your ass. Like this. Yes.” He said thrusting in and out of her. She bucked her pelvis when he thrust deeper and he speared her with a hard glance. Though she moved the way he desired, he felt a sharp pang of jealousy that she would know so much of his needs. How many other men had known her sweet body? Who were the motherfuckers that came before him? He wanted names and address so he could send his men in to take care of the competition permanently.
“Don’t stop,” she moaned. Giovanni had slowed his passionate thrusts. He fell back over her and started to fuck her on the edge of the bed. A shiver racked her body and he knew she was close. Knowing his weight was making her breathless, he tried to lessen his passionate thrusts, but he soon slipped beyond control. Spiraling toward his own orgasmic ending that nearly made him weep like an infant.
Chapter Six
“What’s that on your neck?” Fabiana asked.
Mira’s hand instinctively covered the spot in question. She pulled the collar of her shirt over to hide the reddish-purple bruise.
“Oh shit! Is that a hickey?”
“What? No.” Mira chuckled. She found several love bites that morning when she showered. A few bruised patches of skin also peppered her breasts, abdomen, and between her thighs. The man had a habit of biting, sucking, and licking every inch of her. “You know I bruise easily. I was showering a bit too hard this morning.”
A nervous tremble went through her hand when she reached for her cappuccino, so she abandoned the attempt. It was silly to hide the truth from her best friend, but for some reason she didn’t want to talk about it. She ignored the questioning look on Fabiana’s face. Mira hid her sleep-deprived eyes behind the black lenses of her sunglasses. Giovanni was gone. So breakfast this morning had been served outside on the veranda facing the lake. They dined alone on an arrangement of pastries, so sweet and fresh the cream filled croissants melted on her tongue.
“I have news.” Fabiana’s voice, whimsical and light, matched the mood of her friend when she arrived in a tangerine sundress that Mira had designed for her three years ago.
“Sounds mysterious,” Mira said, grateful for the change in subject.
“Lorenzo and I are going to date exclusively. We’re falling in love. It’s real.”
“Oh? Okay.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“Good grief Fabiana, I’m not your mother or your priest.” Mira chuckled. “If you’re getting close to the man, then it’s okay. I only want you to be careful and use your head.”
“Take off those sunglasses. I want to see your eyes when you say those words.” Fabiana laughed. “Where’s my friend? What have you done with her?”
Mira waved off the request. “I’ve only been protective of you because I love you. I’ve
seen you disappointed too often in the past.”
“He’s great. Yesterday I broke the golden rule. He got a taste.”
“Taste of what?” Mira asked a bit disinterested. She wondered when Giovanni would return. He left before they could finish their talk. She was even more curious about the man.
Fabiana snapped her fingers in front of her face. “Pay attention. We made love. It was more than I expected. Not to say I’m in love with the sex. It’s just how he makes me feel. I can’t explain it.”
“Trust me I understand.”
“Would you take the sunglasses off please?”
She gently removed them from her face. Fabiana leaned forward. “Sweet Jesus, girl, did you get any sleep last night?”
Mira picked up her knife and checked her reflection in the sterling blade. Her eyes were puffy, and watery with dark circles beneath. She didn’t bother with makeup. “No. I didn’t sleep. Not a wink.”
“Why? You went to bed early enough.”
Indeed she had gone to bed. Between tossing and turning and being ravished, there was no time for rest. The sun warmed her face and shoulders, still she felt drained, hollow, lifeless. Fabiana stared with an expectant look of some confession to be offered. What could she say? Every time she begged for release he had his hands on her. All night he wanted her. When his dick didn’t respond he used his mouth and hands, fingers. It was never ending. Thankfully a knock on the door sent him to the shower and leaving her semi-conscious on the bed. She nearly had to crawl back to her room. The muscles in her legs screamed from the strain he put on them.
“Hello? I asked you a question. Why were you up all night?”
“Don Giovanni.”
Fabiana’s eyes stretched wide. Mira took another sip of her coffee, set the cup on the saucer and met her friend’s questioning stare. “He returned to the villa late last night.”
“And? So?”
“And I went to his room.”
Fabiana sat back, her long bangs falling into her eyes. She sat perfectly still, staring, as if they’d just met. Mira averted her gaze to the lake. The water was a beautiful cobalt blue, and the waves almost sparkled under the clear sky. This place defined paradise.
“Go on.” Fabiana encouraged.
“I let him… you know... we talked, and then we did more.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am.” Mira nodded. “All night.”
“But you said you went to his room? I found you in yours this morning, alone.”
“I did.” Mira shrugged. “And it happened.”
“Sounds to me like you wanted it to happen. Planned it?”
“Maybe. So?”
“So?”
“There’s no conspiracy. You just confessed to sleeping with Lorenzo. I’m sure you wanted that to happen.”
“Sorry.” Fabiana raised her hands in defense. “It’s not like you. That’s all.”
“You sound like Kei. This is not like you Mira, he would always say. Has Fabiana been putting crazy ideas in your head again?” she mocked her ex’s deep voice.
“Well? Have I?”
“Everyone thinks they know me better than I know myself. And that’s the thing with Giovanni, I can be me. He has no preconceived notions. It feels so good. So I say this is exactly like me. The new me!”
“Hey. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. What’s wrong with you? You dated Kei for six months before you had sex with him. You are very, very particular about men. More so than me.”
Mira put her sunglasses back on. “I guess I’m a bit caught up. You know. In all of this.” She nodded toward the sparkling blue waters of the lake. They were in the middle of paradise. She had a sexy Italian man showing her more passion than she’d had in years, and it’s got her head spinning. Who could blame her?
“I can be impulsive.”
“So he just wants sex?”
“I never said those words.”
“Do you care what he wants? Is this only about you?” Fabiana leaned in and lowered her voice. “Good for you if it’s about you and you only. I want you to be selfish for once. If you can forget Kei and all the stress of the past year, then that means you can create so much more. It’s perfect. This is why we needed this break, so we can discover who we are.”
“You are good for my inner wild child.” Mira winked. “I love you.”
“Who else will put up with your uptight ass? Besides I knew something was up. I mean girlfriend, who gets hickies from a washcloth?”
Laughter exploded from them both. “You haven’t seen anything. I think I got some on my butt, too!
“Whew!” Fabiana fanned herself. The laughter eased them into a comfortable silence, but Fabiana continued to grin. “Okay so I have to ask. The man is intense. Did you see the way he flipped to gangster on me at dinner?
“He did not.”
“He did too! He rarely smiles, unless you are speaking. And when you are in the room, he stares like you belong to him. Intense. Kind of intimidates me, and you know, no one intimidates me.”
“What do you want to know?” she asked.
“How… how did it go down? Did you just go to his room and then bam! Sex, lots and lots of sex?”
“Don’t be silly!”
“C’mon, did you seduce him? What? I have to know about this inner wild child.”
“He’s different. Less serious when he’s with me. Sometimes. He’s definitely different when he’s turned on. I went to his room… and yes it was a bam, thank you mam!” she chuckled. “The man had me so horny after he—” Mira bit down on her bottom lip. She had no intention of sharing the details of their prelude to their sex that made her bold enough to seek him out in the night.
“He what? Mira are you comparing him to Kei? Is that holding you back?” Fabiana asked.
Mira shrugged.
“That’s normal. Lorenzo’s different, too. Oh and trust me, here in Italy, different is good.”
They sat in silence for a moment, staring out at the sailboats drifting along the lake. Mira broke the silence. “You do know what they do, who they are?”
Fabiana shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you kidding? Having a fling is one thing, but you said you were falling in love.”
“And you’re not?” Fabiana tossed back.
“NO! Been there and done that. No. Absolutely not.”
“I’ve known you since we were nineteen. I’ve seen you with two men in all that time. One a blind date I set up for you that you chased away, and the other Kei. You went to Giovanni last night for more than sex. You like the man.”
“Like! I like him Fabiana. That’s not love.”
“Whatever you say. Remember we do plan to make Napoli our home. The man practically runs the entire region along the Amalfi coast. Your paths are going to cross, over and over again. Shouldn’t you get to know him outside of his bed?”
Suddenly, she felt thirsty. She reached for her water instead of coffee and swallowed down deep gulps.
“They aren’t men to dismiss lightly. Especially, if you’re having sex with them.”
She released a bitter laugh. “I know this. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know the man I’m sleeping with. And yes, I like him. Do you really think it wouldn’t matter to you one bit what Lorenzo does as long as you have him in your life? Especially if it’s illegal?”
“Are you saying that you’ll end this love affair with Giovanni without finding out if there’s something real there, because of your prejudices?”
“Now this is rich! I’m prejudice?”
“Of course you are.” Fabiana waved her off. “We all are in some way or not. Pre-judging people makes you prejudice. You even thought Kei was tied to something illegal because of his associations. If people don’t live up to the moral code your granny carved into you, you have no tolerance level for them. Everyone has to be perfect.”
The accusation cut deep. She was glad for the cover of her sunglasses. She double blinked away
the glaze of tears blurring her vision.
“All I’m saying is you must give Giovanni a chance, like I will for Lorenzo.”
“A chance to what Fabiana? If these men are into illegal things, what chances are you suggesting we give them?”
“If? Let’s not pretend we don’t see who they are. The men with guns, the way they speak, dress, nearly bow when your sexy Don enters a room. I’m suggesting that we start our life by new rules in Italy. Take a chance to discover if who these men are matters more than how we feel when we’re with them. That’s all. Maybe we can be better influences on them. Who knows what the future could bring.”
“Dating criminals? I can’t believe you would even suggest it.” Mira shook her head. “You’re thinking about changing who Lorenzo is to make him fit into your life. I won’t play that game. You can’t change a man, and you know this.”
Fabiana picked up her mimosa and gestured in a mock toast.
“I get what you’re saying. I don’t want you to ever think that my support of you is on the condition that you are perfect Fabiana. I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect you to be.”
“Fine, neither is Giovanni or Lorenzo. They aren’t perfect. Let’s just enjoy the time with them and see what we see.”
“Right. I’m sure we’ll see plenty.”
After breakfast Fabiana excused herself to make a few business calls. Mira suffered a twinge of disappointment. Fabiana was far more sensitive than she. If her friend believed she was falling in love with Lorenzo then the blinders were on and her focus was singular. That could mean trouble.
A stroll is what she needed. The veranda had stone steps that led to a cobblestone path through a manicured garden. The cool serenity of the snug retreat made her feel welcome and safe. She shoved her hands down into the front of her jeans. A fresh breeze washed over her. Her oversized long-sleeve shirt, which she tied in the front and rolled the sleeves up on her arms, proved perfect for the day’s weather. Her hair was up in an untamed ponytail, and her sunglasses shielded her weary eyes from the sun. She was too restless to try again for sleep.
