18. Isa #2
Elio pumped his hips a few more times before I felt him expand inside me, and then he was coming.
Hot, sticky liquid filled me.
Oh God. I hadn’t realized how messy it would be without a condom. How much I could feel him like this.
I closed my eyes and just rode out the waves and waves of pleasure pushing through me as he continued to expel his cum inside me.
Elio eased up on my clit, and I felt like I could finally breathe again.
When I finally came back to myself, I opened my eyes and turned around to look at him. His eyes were soft, and his tan skin was flushed. He was absolutely beautiful.
And all mine.
I love you.
How badly I wanted to tell him that. I didn’t want to ruin anything we had though. If I told him and he didn’t feel the same…
I shook my head.
“What?” he asked me.
“Nothing,” I said, running my hand over his cheek, feeling the rough stubble there.
He pulled me in closer to him, and I buried my face in his chest, savoring the feeling of being safe in his arms.
It was enough.
At least for now, it was enough to be in his arms like that.
We stayed in bed for the rest of the morning. For the first time, it didn’t feel like Elio had somewhere he needed to be.
And we talked about anything and everything that didn’t matter, but did.
It was one of the best mornings of my entire life.
It was late afternoon by the time I came back. I had Elio drop me off at Valentino’s apartment, where Tommaso had picked me up, who was quiet as usual when I got in the car with him.
I found his eyes on me in the rearview mirror.
“What?” I asked.
He didn’t say anything for a moment. “It’s just been a while since you’ve called me to drive you places.”
I looked out the window. “I didn’t need to go anywhere lately.”
He grunted but didn’t respond to that.
I let out a small sigh. “I can hear you thinking up front.”
“I can’t tell if you’re lying to me or not.”
I crossed my arms, not knowing what to say to that. Technically, Tommaso was my bodyguard. But Dad didn’t allow him in the house because Valentino hired him and was loyal only to Valentino, and mostly because Dad didn’t want Tommaso to witness anything happening inside his house.
So I only called for Tommaso when I needed him.
“Either you’re holing yourself up in that house all the time, which I don’t think is good for you, or you’re sneaking out again. Either scenario is bad.”
I didn’t respond to him. While he might have my best interests at heart, I knew his loyalty to Valentino was greater than his loyalty to me.
I crossed my arms over my chest.
He let out a small sigh as he pulled up to the house.
I looked at the monstrosity in front of me, internally groaning, when I noticed the Valachi’s car and driver in the front. I might be lucky, and it was just Aldo visiting Dad, but somehow, I didn’t think that was the case.
“I know you think I’m here to report your every move to your brother. But I don’t always have to do that.”
I looked back at him in surprise. Was he… suggesting he would lie to Valentino for me?
He stared back at me pointedly.
I nodded and shot him a small smile.
He stopped me when I had my hand on the car door handle. “Do you remember what I asked you to do that first day we met?”
I tried to think back to it. We met when I was eighteen and was about to start college. Tommaso was Valentino’s way of easing his mind while I went off to an unknown place—unknown to him, at least.
“You asked me to have your number memorized.”
“And do you still remember it?”
It took a second for me to recall the ten-digit number, and I recited it back to him.
He nodded his approval. “Good.”
“You know I also have your number saved in my phone.”
“Good to know. But there might come a time when you don’t have your phone with you and need to call for help. You can call me at any hour of the day. I will pick up, no matter what. Okay?”
“Okay,” I repeated. “But I think you are overreacting a little.”
He didn’t say anything. Just gave me a pointed look.
I mock-saluted him and opened the door, getting out.
I couldn’t see him through the window, considering it was tinted dark, but I knew he was watching me.
I smiled and waved at him before making my way to the front door, dreading the moment I would be back inside.
A part of me wanted to get back in the car and have Tommaso drive me somewhere—anywhere.
He was still here. It wasn’t too late. He never leaves until I am inside the house.
I didn’t go back to the car. I opened the front door and stepped inside, taking in the huge space around me, feeling as if there was something insidious growing in the pit of my stomach.
Right away, I could hear sounds coming from the living room.
I walked over, knowing I couldn’t just sneak into my room without somehow triggering Dad’s anger.
I found Dad laughing with Aldo, who had brought Chiara along with him.
Fun.
They all turned to look at me.
“Where have you been?” Dad asked sharply.
I looked down at the hardwood floor. “With Valentino.”
“That girl is always with Valentino,” Dad said, not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice at the mention of his son’s name. I wondered if Dad had ever loved Valentino. Or me?
Had there ever been a time when he was a decent father to us, at least?
I didn’t think so.
“What are you waiting for? Come on in, girl. You can keep Chiara entertained.”
That was the last thing I wanted to do. Perhaps I should have just stayed in Elio’s house for the entire day, ignoring the risk.
I forced myself to walk forward and took a seat next to Chiara.
Dad and Aldo continued their conversation, which mostly consisted of them reminiscing over the “good old days,” while Chiara and I sat silently beside each other. She turned to me suddenly, and I resisted the urge to pull away.
“Father has a second meeting with Massimo soon to discuss my impending marriage to Elio,” Chiara said.
I frowned before I could help it, and she laughed, the sound grating. There was no doubt that she had a crush on Elio, but the fact that I hadn’t been careful and showed my feelings about him was just the icing on the cake for her.
She had been planning on being the future Mrs. Elio De Luca since we were teenagers.
I didn’t think Elio liked her—no, I knew he didn’t.
He couldn’t.
He could have had her with the crook of his finger, but he had pretty much ignored her for most of her entire existence.
So then, why couldn’t I shake off the heavy pressure I felt building in my chest?
Dad and Aldo turned to us, having heard Chiara’s words.
They exchanged conspiratory smiles with each other. “Yes, don’t you think Chiara and Elio match well together?”
I was going to be sick.
It was apparent why Dad and Aldo wanted this union.
Chiara looked at me and smiled triumphantly. I didn’t say anything to that. There was nothing I could say. And it didn’t help that I wouldn’t see Elio tonight.
He was busy chasing down leads from his police source about the Devil’s Wings MC, so I didn’t know when I would be able to see him again.
The thought that I should have stayed in his house today returned, and I never wished to be in another place more than I did then.
It was going to be a long, long day.