Chapter 20 Livia
Iwake to the gentle sound of Enzo's breathing. His arm is draped possessively around my waist, holding me close. For a moment, I'm disoriented, memories of last night flooding back in a rush of heated skin and passionate moans.
After the shower, we made our way back to the bed, where we talked for a while, which inevitably led to sex, again.
I mean, save for towels, we weren't wearing any clothes anyhow.
And once a woman crosses that bridge and opens up, quite literally, it's something that just seems to happen, especially with someone as hot and commanding as Enzo.
I shift slightly, and I feel my body aching in the most delicious way, reminding me of every touch, every kiss. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. Who would have thought that I, Livia Falcone, would end up in bed with Enzo Bonventi, feeling, well, happy?
I lift my head slightly, careful not to wake him, and study his face. The strong line of his jaw, the dark lashes resting against his cheeks, the faint stubble shadowing his face. In sleep, the hard, intimidating edges of the powerful Mafia Don seem to melt away, leaving behind a vulnerable man.
The morning light filters through, casting a warm glow over his olive skin. I notice a small scar near his collarbone, right next to his Onore e lealtà tattoo, that I hadn't seen before.
My heart flutters in my chest, and I feel a rush of affection so strong it almost scares me. This isn't just lust. It's something deeper.
I slowly remove myself from Enzo's embrace, trying not to disturb his sleep.
He shifts and turns his back to me. Suddenly, there's a glow from the nightstand, and I glance over to see Megan's name lighting up my phone screen.
I hesitate for a moment, then decide I need to talk to her.
She's more or less my best friend, and I've been closed off since leaving.
I slip out of bed, and goosebumps rise all over my naked body. I quickly grab Enzo's discarded shirt from the floor and pull it on. It smells like him, and I smile.
My phone stops glowing only to relight again; she's calling me two times in a row.
Shit, I hope she's okay.
I snatch the phone and walk into the bathroom. I close the door behind me softly before answering.
"Megan?" I say in a soft tone, sitting on the counter.
"Liv?!" Megan practically shrieks. "Oh my god, where have you been? I've been worried sick! I've been trying to reach you for days and days and days. What's going on? Are you okay? Where are you, miss?"
I look at my phone. It's 6:37 am, so that means it's 4:37 am back home. I smile—she's drunk.
I bite my lip, unsure how much to reveal. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry I've been MIA. Things have been a little complicated in my life."
"Complicated how? Last I heard, you were rushing off to Chicago for some family emergency. What happened?"
"Well—"
"Oh, shit, sorry, sorry, real quick. I'm drunk, if you must know. Also, Jake's been asking about you."
"Well, family is fine, so that's good," I say. I'm not even going to address the Jake thing right now. I feel like Enzo would tear down this door if he heard me mention another man's name.
"Good, that is good. So when are you coming home?"
"Well, I'm not sure. It's a long story, Meg," I say. "But the short version is: I'm engaged. Surprise."
There's a beat of silence on the other end of the line, and then Megan absolutely loses it. "You're WHAT?" she yells. "What the fuck, Liv? Engaged? Are you out of your goddamn mind?!"
I sigh. "Yes? No? I don't know. It's crazy, but—"
"Livia, this is insane. Tell me you're joking. Do you need me to come and get you or something? Blink twice if you're in danger."
I laugh. "No, I'm not in danger," I say. I hope not, anyway. "And how would that even work? You can't see my face."
"Shit, you're right. Let's FaceTime, and then you can blink."
I can't help but laugh at that. "No, no. It's fine. Look, I actually..." I pause, feeling a giddy smile spread across my face. "I think I might have met someone."
"Wait, wait, wait. What? You're getting married, but you've met someone? Liv, what the hell is going on?"
I giggle, forgetting how Meg can be at times when she drinks. I miss it. "It's the same person, Meg. The guy I'm supposed to marry. He's... incredible."
"Shit, you are serious, aren't you?" she asks, trying to sound sober.
"Yes, Meg. You'll love him," I say, unsure.
"Oh. My. God," Megan yells, and I can practically hear her grinning. "You're crazy, but I'm with you. Okay, okay, tell me everything. Now."
I think for a moment. What exactly do I tell her? Not the whole arrangement thing, so I guess everything else.
"He's older than me," I start, twirling a strand of hair around my finger like a giddy schoolgirl. "Tall, dark, handsome—the whole package. And smart, Meg. We can talk for hours about literature and art."
"Uh-huh," Megan says, sounding skeptical but intrigued. "And?"
"And holy fuck, Meg. The sex. It's mind-blowing." I clap a hand over my mouth, surprised at my own candidness.
Megan squeals. "I knew it! You little minx. Give me details. Is he big?"
I feel my cheeks heat up. "Megan!"
"Come on, Liv. You can't leave me hanging here."
I laugh, glancing toward the bedroom door to make sure it's still closed. "Fine. Yes, he's, um, very well-endowed. And he knows exactly how to use it."
"Damn, girl," Megan says, impressed. "So at first, it sounds like you hit the jackpot, but I want to meet him."
I sigh, my mood dampening slightly. "There's more, and it's a little convoluted. There's a lot I can't tell you... yet. He's not exactly a normal 9-to-5 guy. There's maybe a little danger involved."
"Danger? Liv, what the hell have you gotten yourself into?"
"I wish I could explain further," I say, frustrated. "Just trust me when I say it's intense. But God, Meg, when I'm with him, I feel alive. It's like every nerve ending in my body is on fire."
"Okay, now you're just bragging," Megan teases. "But seriously, Liv. Are you safe?"
I think about the armed guards, about Alex following me everywhere. "Yeah, I'm safe. Probably safer than I've ever been, actually."
"Good," Megan says, sounding relieved. "Now, tell me more about this mind-blowing sex. Can you at least give a girl that?"
I laugh. "Well, last night in the shower..."
As I fill Megan in with the sanitized highlights of my encounters with Enzo, I feel a mix of emotions swirling in my chest. Excitement, fear, lust, and something dangerously close to love. Whatever this is with Enzo, I'm in deep, and there's no turning back now.
Also, it feels really good to talk to her. I've closed off everything since I got here, even my brother, but having this conversation signals to me I need to find a way to intertwine my life pre- and post-Enzo if I'm to be truly happy.
After I spill all the details to Megan, she laughs.
"Damn, girl. You have no idea how jealous I am right now. You remember Tyson from engineering?"
I nod. "Yes."
"Well, I slept with him."
"You what?"
"Yeah, I think I was just horny, but I want what you got. Does he have a brother? Friend?"
"Two brothers, actually, but I don't—"
"I'm coming to Chicago to visit you!"
I laugh. "You may be joking, but I would actually love that. Let me figure out a plan to make that happen, okay?"
"Sure, you know I'll fucking come."
"I know," I say, jumping down from the bathroom counter. "Okay, I've got to go, but I promise I won't be all MIA anymore."
"Okay, you better not. Now I'm going to go pass out. Love you, Liv."
"Love you too, Meg."
I turn and look at myself in the mirror, wearing Enzo's button-down shirt. I smile to myself—I feel kind of sexy wearing his clothes.
I open the door and walk out, Enzo sitting up in bed, looking down at his phone.
He looks up at me and smiles—a genuine, unguarded smile that makes me warm all over.
"Good morning," he says, his voice deep.
I can't help but smile back. "Good morning."
He puts his phone next to him and waves me over. "Come here."
I walk over and straddle him.
He leans in and kisses me softly, his lips warm against mine. It's a gentle kiss compared to last night's passion, but it sets my skin tingling all the same.
When he pulls back, his eyes are tender, searching mine. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm good," I say softly, then add with a small smirk, "A little sore, but in all the right ways."
He laughs. "I'll take that as a compliment."
I laugh and playfully hit his chest. It's surreal, being here with him, joking and smiling as if we're just any normal couple.
But we're not, are we?
The thought sobers me slightly.
Enzo must sense the shift in my mood because his expression becomes more serious. "What's on your mind?"
I hesitate, unsure how to voice my concerns without ruining this perfect moment. "It's just... this is all so unexpected. Weeks ago, I hated the idea of marrying you. And now..."
"And now?" he prompts, his fingers brushing some hair out of my face.
I lean into his touch and smile. "Now, in your arms, it feels right. But also terrifying."
He pulls me closer. "Don't worry, we'll figure all this out together so it won't feel so terrifying."
I bury my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his familiar scent. It's intoxicating, addictive, like the finest wine or the most potent drug.
"I know we will," I murmur, placing a soft kiss on his collarbone.
Enzo's grip tightens. "Careful, cara mia. You're playing with fire."
I look up at him, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw. "Maybe I like playing with fire."
A flicker of something intense passes through his eyes, and suddenly, his mouth is on mine, hungry and demanding. He turns and throws me onto the bed, getting on top of me. The warmth of his naked body on mine feels like a fire that's about to consume us both.
Enzo's weight presses me into the mattress, his tongue licking my skin. I arch into him, desperate for more contact.
"Enzo," I gasp as his mouth trails down my neck, leaving a path of fire in its wake.
His hands roam my body, rough and possessive. He grips my thighs, spreading them wide. "I want you, Livia,” he growls against my skin.
"Then take me," I breathe.
He doesn't make me wait. With one powerful thrust, he's inside me, filling me completely. I cry out, my nails digging into his broad shoulders.
Enzo sets a punishing pace, each thrust driving me higher. The bed shakes loudly, but I barely notice. All I can focus on is the friction between us, the way he stretches me to my limits. His raw, primal power coursing through him and ending inside me.
"Fuck, Livia," he groans, his voice ragged. "You're so good."
I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper. The new angle has me seeing stars, and I moan loudly, shamelessly. I don't care if the guards or the damn gardener across the street hear me.
"That's it," he urges. "Come for me."
His words push me over. I come with a scream, my body convulsing around him. Enzo follows shortly after, groaning my name as he spills his warm cum inside me.
We collapse together, a tangle of sweaty limbs and heaving chests. As the aftershocks ripple through me, I can't help but marvel at the intensity of what we share.
We lie in comfortable silence for a while, basking in the afterglow.
"I wish we could just stay in bed and do that all day," Enzo says between breaths.
I smile. "Me too."
He sits up and looks at me, smiling. "I have some stuff I have to take care of today, but tonight, I'm taking you out to dinner. A nice place, so wear something nice."
I lift myself up, resting on my elbows. "You mean I can't just wear your shirt?"
Enzo laughs. "I wouldn't mind it, but," he leans over and kisses me, "it's got a strict dress code."
We get dressed, and I watch as Enzo puts on his pristine suit. I walk over and fix his tie.
"Enjoy your research," he says, kissing my forehead. "I'll be counting the seconds until dinner."
He walks out of the room, and I feel as if I'm beaming. I can't wait until dinner.
I wonder where he's taking me?