5. Amelia
Ipause on the front doorstep, watching Stefano drive away, before I open the front door and tip-toe inside, trying to be as quiet as I possibly can. I really want to make it up to my bedroom and change into different clothes before I bump into my father, and he sees I am still wearing a dress that is clearly the one I went out in last night.
He thinks I slept over at Gia's house, and all my things are still there at her house. It will be a bit obvious if he sees me arriving home in an evening dress.
I glance left and right inside the door. No one is around, so I bolt upstairs, giggling as I run because I have not felt this naughty in a very long time.
I definitely won't class myself as a girl who always does what she is told. I like to party and have fun with my friends. I don't always tell my dad where I'm going. But overall, I'm responsible. Going home with a stranger after a night out with my friends is not on my list of normal things to do.
I hurry into my room and close the door quietly behind me.
Then breathe a sigh of relief as I lean my back against it.
I made it. No one saw me.
I strip out of the beautiful dress Stefano gave me and flick the shower on. When it is nice and hot I step underneath it, reluctantly washing his scent off my skin, that wild forest aroma of pine and crisp mountain air.
I take my time getting dressed, blow drying my hair, and looking presentable before I wander downstairs in a pair of jeans and a comfortable light sweater.
"Hi, honey. When did you get home?" My dad asks when he sees me.
"Not too long ago." I shrug.
"Did you girls have fun last night?"
"We did."
"Did Gia drop you off this morning?"
I nod then quickly change the subject because I don't want to lie to my father. "When is everyone getting here for lunch?"
"Any minute now."
We have a family lunch this afternoon. As far as I know, everyone is coming. My mom and dad and all of their siblings. My aunts and uncles and my cousins too. The only one who won't be here is Serina, my older sister, who is away at college. It's been so weird not having her around this year, but it won't be long before I'll be attending the same university as her.
If she was here, I would have told her all about the hottest man on the planet who I met last night. I grin at the thought.
My mom wanders through in a gorgeous long, flowing dress covered in blue flowers. "You look pretty, Mom."
"Thank you, sweetie. How was your night?"
Before I can answer her, the doorbell chimes and she rushes away. "That'll be your aunt. You know she's always the first to arrive." She laughs.
Soon the house is filled and bubbling with conversation as the entire family sits around the table chatting.
I snap a quick photo on my phone and send it to my sister, Serina. Along with a message that says 'Miss you. Wish you were here.' I know she won't reply now because she's usually in class or study sessions.
"So where did you girls go last night?" My aunt asks, gesturing towards Leanna and me.
Leanna grins at me from across the table. "We went to a casino. Gambled a little bit and then went dancing. It was amazing. Such a good time. We even got to go to the VIP section because the owner took a fancy to Amelia." She giggles.
I shoot her a warning glare.
"What casino?" My father asks, his curiosity peaked.
"Amalfi Royale," Leanna comments casually and my heart sinks. I didn't really want my dad to know I went there. "And when it came time to leave Amelia didn't…" I kick her hard under the table and she jumps in fright, spilling fruit juice down the front of her blouse. "Oops." She says, then shoots me an apologetic smile. She knows I wouldn't want my parents to know I went home with a random guy last night. Especially not that random guy who isn't actually so random given the whole picture.
"What happened when it came time to leave?" My father asks his mouth tight.
Leanna laughs. "Gia and I couldn't get her off the dance floor. This girl loves to dance. Anyways, we had to drag her back to the car to get her out of there."
"Oh." My dad chuckles, sounding relieved. "But listen, girls, I don't actually want you to go back to the Amalfi Royale Casino. That family is bad news. You know they are our rivals, and I don't want either of you getting hurt. If they found out who you really were there is no telling what they would do to you. I know it's not beneath them to kidnap and uh - hurt - members of rival families. That family is… messed up. The guy who owns the casino, Stefano Amalfi, is nothing but evil."
"It's not like anyone there would have known who we are." I shrug, trying to make light of the situation. The fact that my father very specifically mentioned Stefano's name has Leanna and I glancing at each other nervously. She pulls her mouth to the side.
"No one would know us. We just went to dance and then left."
"It just takes one person to recognize you, Amelia. I am telling you that you may not go back there. Do you understand?" his voice is tight and stern. It's the voice he uses when there is no negotiation and I know better than to argue. The whole lunch table has fallen into an awkward hush, and I can feel the heat on my cheeks. It turns out I do blush a lot more than I thought I did.
"Ok, Dad. We won't go back." I nod. My aunt picks up her drink and says to my mom, loudly across the table to break the awkward tension. "This lunch is absolutely superb, little sister. You've outdone yourself as always."
The conversation begins to roll again, and Leanna raises her brows at me mouthing the word sorry. I glance at my dad, scared that he noticed, but he is chatting with his brother.
I promised him we wouldn't go back to the casino because the owner had a bad reputation. Except, now that I have met Stefano, I know I won't be able to stay away from him. I don't know what it is about him, but I am completely addicted. I can't wait to see him again.
I feel so bad keeping it from my parents, but I am old enough to make my own choices now. Stefano won't hurt me. I can't imagine a side of him like the one my father suggests.
Oh, I know the stories about his family. They are really dark. I've heard terrible things about torture and murder. But the man I met last night - that isn't who I think he is.
After lunch, all the adults are chatting and Leanna and I both land up in the kitchen getting something to drink.
"I'm so sorry." She giggles. "I can't believe I almost gave that away. I wasn't thinking. I'm so hungover."
"Don't stress. I think it went over ok. Gosh if my dad found out I left with Stefano he might have a heart attack."
"Are you going to tell me how it was though?" She whispers.
I grin, my cheeks begin to glow warmly, and I bite my lower lip.
Leanna starts laughing. "Oh wow, ok, it was that good."
I nod. "It was so good."
"Are you seeing him again?"
"I don't know. It's really risky." I shrug. Of course, I am one hundred percent seeing him again, but Leanna is terrible at keeping a secret so I don't know if I should let her know that.
I mean she already almost threw me under the bus by accident. She is the sweetest, most fun person - but I think it's better if I don't tell anyone about my relationship that is starting with Stefano.
The rest of the day is filled with family conversations. My aunts and uncles kept drilling me for information about when I started college and where I was going with my life, and by the time they were all gone I was so tired I just flopped down onto my bed. It's already getting dark outside and I'm ready to curl up in bed and go to sleep.
I hardly got any sleep last night and it's starting to catch up to me.
I stretch out and grab my phone.
I have a few messages. The top two are the ones that catch my eye.
First, I open the message from my sister.
Serina: Hey you. Don't worry, in a few months you'll be here at Saint Aquinas with me. We can spend all our free time together and I'll show you around all the cool places.
Me: I'll be the lucky girl with the older sister. I'll be in with the cool kids right from the beginning.
Serina: oh please, like you ever needed help being one of the cool kids.
We chat a little and all the while I am thinking about the other message, the one from Stefano. Once I've said goodbye to Serina, I open it, with butterflies in my stomach.
Stefano: Hello little fox. I've missed you. For some reason, I can't stop thinking about you.
Me: Hello. I've kind of maybe missed you too. What did you do today? Did you have a good day?
He comes online as soon as I hit send.
Stefano: There you are. I had a great day. Family lunch. My half brother was a bit sulky still from last night, but otherwise, it was a really good lunch with my parents.
Me: I also had family lunch. My cousin let slip where we were last night, at your casino, and my father was not very happy about it. He told me I wasn't allowed to go back there.
Stefano: well, then we won't go back there. But you are going to see me again?
Me: Did you want to see me again?
Stefano: Yes, tonight. Which window is yours? I am going to sneak in.
I burst into laughter. He's completely lost his mind. I just told him my father would be furious if I went back to the casino and now, he wants to sneak into my room.
Me: You're crazy. You'll get caught. My room is on the second floor. You can't even get up here without hurting yourself.
Stefano: Watch me.
He goes offline and I just laugh and shake my head. I know he's just joking because there is no way he would risk sneaking onto my father's property to climb the wall to get into my room.
But it turns out I am wrong because just a little while later after I've had a shower and gotten into my comfy sweatpants a little tank top to climb into bed, I hear a light knocking at my window.
My heart nearly jumps into my throat and immediately I think oh my word he did it.
I jump off my bed and run over to the window, pulling the curtain open all the way and unlatching my window to slide it up.
"You are absolutely crazy. Hurry up, get inside." I giggle quietly.
He pulls himself into my room and the moment he is safely inside I draw the curtain closed.
He grabs me in his arms and kisses me and my heart thunders against my ribs.
"Wait. Wait. I have to lock the door." I whisper.
Stefano wanders over to my bed as though he feels completely at home, and when I walk away from the door to stand beside him, he pulls me onto it.
"Don't ever doubt me, little fox. I will go to the end of the earth to see you."
He kisses me but I am smiling so much that we both end up just laughing.
When I've calmed down a bit I whisper. "You have to be really quiet. If we get caught, I will be in so much trouble."
"I can be quiet." He grins, pulling my face back towards his and pressing his lips against mine. He rolls over me, pinning me onto the bed and wrapping his arm around my back.
I feel completely safe in his arms. I feel like this is where I belong like it's where I have always belonged.
He trails kisses down my neck and over my collar bone sending shivers running down my spine. My skin burns beneath his touch and my breathing quickens. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it might fly away.
I want him.
I can feel that he wants me too by the way his cock is pressed up against me.
We kiss for ages and talk for longer. He wants to know everything about me and my life and my dreams. I can't help pouring my heart out to him.
Just before one in the morning, his phone buzzes on my bedside table where he left it, and he picks it up to read the message.
He pulls it to his face and tilts his head to the side.
"Little fox, I have to go. There are some issues at one of the warehouses and they need me there."
"Mm." I pout my lower lip out with a sad grin. "But I don't want you to go."
"I'll see you tomorrow. What time?"
"I'm working tomorrow."
"After work then. What time?"
I laugh. "Message me tomorrow and I'll let you know."
He kisses me one last time before lifting himself off the bed. My body feels cold with him no longer pressed against me.
Quietly he sneaks out the same way he came in and I shake my head. It feels like I am in some romantic movie, and he is my knight in shining armor.
Just before he disappears into the dark night, he blows me a kiss and puts his hand over his heart.
I grin madly, like a love-struck kitten.
Oh, this man is trouble. He's just stealing my heart more and more.
I close my window and draw my curtain closed, feeling lonely without him.
When I flop back down into my bed, I bury my face in my pillow because it smells just like him.
I snuggle beneath the duvet, grab the pillow he was leaning on, and hold it tight against me. I'm so excited that I met him, so thrilled by the knowledge that I really shouldn't be involved with him but determined to be with him anyway.
I fall asleep with a grin on my face.
He came all the way here to see me. Climbed up that steep drainpipe, into my bedroom window - just to see me.
He makes me feel so special.