Chapter 43
SAMMIE
I paced up and down the living room for the hundredth time, my heart thundering against my chest.
Romeo was going to lose his job and it was all my fault.
If I hadn’t asked him to recreate my bloody fantasy, he’d still have his career.
Or I could’ve at least remembered to close the front door. Victoria wouldn’t have opened it if it wasn’t already cracked.
Romeo shouldn’t have come to my villa. We’d said from the start that it was too risky to do anything on the grounds. But instead of being grateful that we hadn’t been caught, we got complacent.
And now Romeo had paid the ultimate price.
I checked my phone again. Romeo hadn’t replied to the dozens of texts I’d sent. He must still be with Victoria. I was desperate to find out what had happened. Then again, you didn’t need to be a genius to know that it wouldn’t be good.
Stella would know what to say to calm me down. I dialled her number.
‘Hey! How’s it going?’ she answered. ‘Enjoying your last full day?’
‘I was until me and Romeo got caught.’
‘Er, Sammie… sorry, I should’ve mentioned, Jasmine’s here – she and Alejandro came to London for the weekend and, er, you’re kind of on loudspeaker.’
‘Shit.’ My stomach bottomed out. Although I now considered Jasmine a friend, she was still part of the Love Hotel’s management and she’d warned me off getting involved with Romeo, so the last thing I wanted was for her to find out.
Then again, now that Victoria knew, it wouldn’t be long until the news travelled.
‘You and Romeo are involved?’ Jasmine said. I tried to read her tone, but I couldn’t. ‘Is it a fling or something more?’
‘More!’ I replied quickly.
‘And he feels the same?’
‘I’m pretty sure that he does. But we don’t know how to move things forward and it’s a shitstorm because Victoria walked in on us and’
‘Were you kissing?’ Stella asked.
‘He was eating me out whilst I sat on the edge of the pool…’ I said sheepishly. A flashback popped into my mind, sending a wave of desire zipping through my bloodstream.
‘Oh my God!’ Stella shouted. ‘ Brilliant ! That’s so much worse than what Jasmine saw when she walked in on me and Max.’
‘I shouldn’t laugh, but…’ Jasmine giggled.
‘You two!’ I scolded. ‘Now isn’t the time to joke about it. It’s too soon! Romeo could lose his job over this.’
‘Shit, sorry,’ Stella said. ‘Is there anything you can do, Jasmine?’
‘I’m not sure…’ Jasmine said. ‘Like I said from the start, they’ve relaxed the rules on employees, but with guests… I can speak to Victoria though.’
‘Thanks. I just hope that…’ There was a knock at the door. ‘Hold on a sec.’ I raced to the door, flung it open and when I saw Romeo, my heart bloomed. ‘Ladies, I better go. Romeo’s here.’
‘Good luck,’ Stella said. ‘Update us as soon as you can, okay?’
‘Will do.’ I hung up. ‘What happened? Did you get fired? I’m so sorry! I should never have’
‘It is okay.’ He wrapped his arms around me. ‘I did not get fired.’
‘You didn’t ?’ My eyebrows shot up to the ceiling. ‘What did Victoria say?’
Romeo led me to the sofa and as he explained their conversation, relief washed over me.
‘Thank God you didn’t get the sack!’ I threw my arms around him. ‘I was so worried.’
‘I knew you would be, that is why I came here straightaway. I wish that I could stay, but I must go. The couples’ final dates will start soon.’
‘Okay.’ My shoulders slumped again. I was sad that I’d be alone this evening, but the important thing was Romeo’s job was safe.
And it wasn’t like I was in a hell hole.
I could have dinner at the beach bar or something.
Although I’d prefer to be with Romeo, watching the sun set with a cocktail in my hand wasn’t a bad way to spend my last night here.
‘The dates should finish by about eleven. I know it will be late, but perhaps we can do something together afterwards. It is your last night here, so I would really like us to spend time together.’
‘I’d love that!’ I brightened instantly.
‘ Perfetto . I will message when I am on my way. ’ Romeo kissed me, then left.
I leant back on the sofa and exhaled.
Looked like my last night was going to be great after all.
* * *
Romeo had just messaged to say that he was ten minutes away.
Although Victoria had given us her blessing, it was still on the condition that we were discreet, so after locking up the villa, I walked to our normal meeting place outside of the hotel. Just as I arrived Romeo pulled up, jumped out of the car and opened the door for me.
‘ Buonasera, tesoro .’ He leant down and kissed me softly on the lips.
‘ Tesoro ?’
‘It is a term of affection – like darling or baby. Technically it means treasure, which is also accurate.’ He grinned as I slid onto the passenger seat.
‘Treasure. Yep, I could get used to that!’ I smiled, then my face dropped as I realised there wouldn’t be time for me to get used to it , seeing as this time tomorrow I’d be back in London. ‘So where are we going?’ I said quickly.
‘It is a surprise.’
About half an hour later Romeo drove us down a beautiful cobbled street, then parked up.
‘What is this place?’ I said, admiring the pretty stone buildings.
‘I am taking you to my home.’
After stopping outside of a dark wooden door, Romeo opened it and I followed him inside. He switched on the light, led me up one staircase then another before opening a door. When I stepped through it, I gasped.
It was a rooftop with views of the town.
The midnight-blue sky was illuminated with beautiful stars and as my eyes scanned my surroundings, I spotted there was a small table set up with battery-powered candles in the centre, along with a bottle of my favourite prosecco resting in a silver ice bucket beside it.
‘Wow,’ I said. ‘You’re so lucky to live here. This rooftop is beautiful! Look at the views. You can even see the sea from here!’
Although it was dark, I could still make out the gentle ripple of the waves in the distance.
‘ Grazie, Tesoro .’ He smiled, then pulled out a chair for me.
Once I sat down, he opened the prosecco, poured a full glass for me and half a glass for himself, sat opposite me, then lifted his glass in the air.
‘What are we toasting?’
‘To you: the most incredible woman I have met.’
‘ Grazie ,’ I smiled, thinking how bittersweet it was that I’d found a man that thought I was amazing, but couldn’t be with him. I pushed the thought out of my head. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
‘I am sure that you ate earlier, but I am hungry, so I will cook. Would you like something?’ He walked towards a small barbecue.
‘It’d be rude not to!’
Once the charcoal was ready, Romeo gave me a quick tour of his house, then brought a tray of seafood back up to the rooftop. There were huge prawns, plus different types of fish on a skewer that looked like salmon, tuna and something else. Then he brought out another tray.
‘Is that…?’ I grimaced as I looked at the suckered brown tentacles. ‘ Octopus ?’
‘ Sì .’
‘Ugh,’ I winced.
‘Have you ever tried it?’ he asked.
‘No, but…’
‘It is delicious.’
‘I doubt it.’ My face crumpled.
When everything was cooked, Romeo piled it onto our plates. I devoured the fish and prawns, which tasted so fresh I could’ve sworn Romeo just plucked them from the sea, but I gave the octopus a wide berth.
‘Here.’ He lifted a forkful to my mouth. ‘Just try.’
I opened reluctantly as he slid it inside. And as I chewed, my eyes bulged.
‘Oh… It’s actually not bad!’
‘Told you!’
‘Let me try another bit. Just in case…’ I grinned.
For the next hour, Romeo told me all about the dates he’d set up for the couples and I filled him in on how I’d spent the rest of my day, which mostly involved packing, having dinner at the pool bar before a beach walk, then returning to the villa.
After we’d finished eating, he moved our chairs to the edge of the rooftop so that we could take in the views, then wrapped his arms around me.
I rested my head on his shoulder. Everything was so pretty. Romeo was lucky that he could come and watch the stars whenever he wanted.
‘Thank you for bringing me here,’ I said, as Romeo stroked my hair. ‘It really means a lot.’
‘ Piacere ,’ he said, then leant forward and kissed me slowly.
The kiss lasted for what must’ve been minutes but still didn’t seem long enough. I swear I could kiss this man for days.
‘Are you still hungry?’ Romeo asked as he gently pulled away.
‘I’m sure I have room for whatever you want me to eat…’ I smirked.
‘Get your mind out of the gutter, young lady!’ he grinned, stood up then held out his hand. ‘Come. I will take you for dessert.’
‘At this time?’ I looked at my watch. Bloody hell. I knew it was late but I didn’t realise it was after two in the morning. ‘What restaurant will be open at this time?’
‘You will see.’
Romeo led me out of his house and down the narrow cobbled streets. We stopped at a building with its hatch open. Wow. It was a bakery kitchen.
Trays of pastries lined the large metal worktops and as the scent of freshly baked goods flooded my nostrils, my mouth watered.
‘What would you like?’
‘We can actually buy this stuff, now ?’
‘ Sì . It is fresh from the oven. They bake early to give time for everything to be delivered to different bakeries.’
When I spotted my favourite pastries, my eyes brightened and I nodded my head towards them.
‘I think you already know what I’d like.’
‘ Va bene .’ Romeo grinned.
Ten minutes later, we were sitting on a bench near the sea eating freshly baked pasticciotto .
‘ Grazie mille ,’ I said, wiping some pastry crumbs from the corner of my mouth. ‘I didn’t think it was possible, but these are even tastier straight out of the oven.’
‘I am glad you like it. I am sorry I could not organise a special romantic dinner like the other matches had, but I hope that this fresh pasticciotto will make up for it.’
‘Are you joking?’ I raised my voice. ‘Tonight’s been bloody brilliant!
You organised a late dinner on a rooftop.
No, not just any rooftop. On your rooftop.
You showed me your home, views of this beautiful town, you cooked a delicious barbecue feast under the stars, then took me to get my favourite pastry which I’m now eating by the sea with the most incredible man created.
If that isn’t romantic, I don’t know what is! ’
‘Oh.’ Romeo blushed. ‘ Grazie ,’ he said before stifling a yawn. ‘ Scusi . I am tired.’
‘I’m not surprised. You’ve been working all day, then we had that emotional rollercoaster this afternoon and now it’s almost three in the morning and we’re still out. Come, on, Mr. It’s time to get you to bed. Are you staying at the hotel tonight?’
‘ Sì .’
‘Great! Let’s go.’
When we arrived at the hotel, this time Romeo insisted that he drop me off within the grounds because it was too late for me to walk alone. I’d hidden under a blanket in the back seat so the security guard at the gate wouldn’t see me with him.
I expected Romeo to say goodbye in the car, but he insisted that although the grounds were safe, he’d walk me to my room. Because Victoria had asked us to be discreet, he put on a jacket to cover his uniform and wore the cap again.
‘Thanks for walking me home and for an amazing night,’ I whispered when we got to my door. ‘Have a good sleep.’
‘I am not ready to leave you yet,’ he said. ‘So, unless you have any objections, I would like to stay the night with you.’
‘Course! I’d love that!’ We stepped inside, this time closing the door behind us.
Romeo then flipped his baseball cap backwards, gently nudged my body back, then leant against the doorframe and kissed me oh, so slowly .
As our tongues gently flicked against one another’s, a moan slipped from my mouth. This was heaven.
Then, without saying a word, Romeo scooped me up in his arms, carried me to the bedroom, kicked open the door, then laid me down on the bed.
He straddled me, then gently peeled my clothes off before removing his.
Romeo’s dark eyes bored into me like lasers and I couldn’t tear my gaze away.
I didn’t move. I didn’t talk. I wasn’t sure I could, even if I wanted to.
‘Sammie,’ he growled, ‘I would like to make love to you now. Va bene ?’
‘ Sì ,’ I panted, struggling for breath, before nodding enthusiastically.
He rolled on a condom, then slid inside me. As our bodies rocked together in perfect harmony, I realised that what he’d just said was true.
Romeo had said he wanted to make love to me and that was exactly how it felt.
In the beginning it was just sex, but now it was clear from the way he looked at me and the way I knew I was looking at him that there were real feelings involved.
Deep feelings.
And as Romeo peppered soft kisses over my breasts and brought me to orgasm, I knew that something had shifted.
What I’d said earlier to Stella and Jasmine was true. This wasn’t just a fling.
This was more .
So. Much. More.
This was real .
We hadn’t discussed how we’d make it work beyond tomorrow, but I knew one thing for sure: Romeo was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
And there was no way that I could lose him.