Wanted

Chapter 23

You Put a Spell on Me – Austin Giorgio

Enzo

IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I’VE BEEN TO THE PARK.

IT’S QUITE NICE ACTUALLY. I’M holding a picnic basket which, judging by the weight must harbour the entirety of the pantry stock.

Since I do not frequent this place, I choose to follow Elena as she weaves through the bustle of playing kids, relaxed dads and chatty mums, making her way to a wooden bench with a reasonable sized table.

I drop the basket on the table and watch her as she proceeds to unburden the wicker of its weighty contents.

She’s a vision of efficiency as she sets out our lunch on the table, placing all the food, drinks and snacks with practiced ease, all while balancing Angelo on her hip.

My little boy looks at her with so much love and affection; it makes my heart clench.

I don’t think he’s ever gazed at his mother that way.

So much love, so much adoration, so much trust. He’s bigger now, he understands human interaction and is openly craving the attention Elena selflessly lavishes on him.

Not too long ago it was I who was on the receiving end of such affection.

“…or water?”

“Huh?”

“Where did your mind just wander off to?”

I smile at her question, a pathetic attempt to conceal my carnal thoughts after watching her shower her radiance over my son.

“Nowhere, I was just watching how good you are with Angelo. It’s like you’re his favourite person.”

“Of course I’m his favourite person.” She rolls her eyes at me in mock disdain before addressing Angelo.

“Who else gives you cuddles and kisses and most importantly…who gives you pancakes?” She tickles his tummy and he scrunches over in fits of giggles.

“Elleeeee.”

“That’s right Angel. Ellie gives you cuddles and kisses. And don’t you forget it.”

“So, juice or water?”

She kisses him on the top of his head and casts me a soft smile. Her gaze is warm and kind. Nothing carnal or sexual about the way she’s looking at me and I can’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment.

“Water please.”

Lunch was wonderful. We both lay on the picnic blanket relaxing while Angelo plays in the sandpit not far from us.

He looks happy and carefree while squishing the sand between his fingers and stomping his dinosaur in the sand.

A thought crosses my mind then. Angelo seems familiar with the park, not surprised at all by the myriads of activities and the sounds of chatter and laughter. This is not his first time here.

“Do you bring Angelo here often?”

The look on her face tells me the answer. Her eyes are wide with surprise and she bites her lip before lowering her guilty gaze.

“Uhm…y…yes.” She eventually lets out. I am displeased with this revelation. It’s against the rules. I like my rules, it ensures order. Too many variables lead to accidents. Predictability may be boring but it ensures safety.

“I thought I made it abundantly clear that you are not to take Angelo out anywhere without informing me first.”

“It’s not like I deliberately went against your rules.” Her tone is apologetic but she stands firm. Her voice not wavering as she looks me in the eyes while addressing me.

“I called you many times. I left messages with your receptionist asking for you to call me back and you never did. You’re always too busy or in meetings or even out of town. Besides, you’ve been here with us before things got so busy at work.”

“So, you’re saying it’s my fault?”

I’m testing the waters here. I find it interesting to see how she handles an unhappy me. So far, she’s doing great. My subconscious is smirking wickedly but my expression remains stoic. I maintain my intimidating demeanour but Elena holds her ground.

“I didn’t say that.” Her reply is curt.

“You did.” She locks eyes with me again. Fucking hot.

“Angelo is growing up now, he has no cousins, no friends, no human interaction other than you, Tony, Cecelia and myself. That’s not healthy, he needs outside stimulation, he needs to breathe in fresh air.”

“We have fresh air at home.” Bad form Marino.

“What?” The horror on her face is adorable. I decide to let her out of her misery.

“Next time, let me know first.” She nods her head. That’s all I get.

I look over at Angelo, pouring sand on his head, looking every bit the happy toddler I want him to be.

“It’s not that I don’t approve of you taking him out.” She looks up at me. Understanding in her eyes. No anger just acknowledgement.

“It’s just that I like control in all aspects of my life.

I like to know where Angelo is at all times.

That he is safe. The same applies to you.

You are in my care as long as you are in my house.

Safety is not up for discussion. Worst case scenario, should you two go out and God forbid something happens and I am unaware or unable to reach you for whatever reason.

It could be anything from a scraped knee to an actual accident.

I couldn’t bear it if something happened and I were not there. ”

She seems genuinely sorry and I feel bad for putting a damper on our lovely day.

“I understand.” Is her only reply.

I smile then and attempt to lighten the mood.

“It looks like someone is in desperate need of a bath.”

I look at Angelo again and laugh. It’s a small one but yes, I may have chuckled a bit. Facing Elena again I realise the slip in my armour did not go unnoticed. She’s staring at me with wide shocked eyes.

“I can’t believe it.”

She says, and I raise an eyebrow at her.

“You may actually be human after all.”

She proceeds to laugh at me. Full blown loud as hell laughter. Doubling over while clutching at her stomach as she bursts into fit after fit of howling laughter.

She’s a breath of fresh air.

I roll my eyes at her before getting up and smoothing down my pants with my palms. Elena stops laughing long enough to accept my hand and I pull her up, her head lining up below my chin. We fit perfectly. I’m rewarded with a big grin and what might be a blush, but I can’t be certain.

Today turned out to be one of the most relaxing days I’ve had in years.

Angelo is slumped in his car seat, exhausted from his sandpit rendezvous and Elena sits quietly staring out the window watching the landscape pass us by.

It’s a quiet ride back home, an unfamiliar feeling resonating through my bones, a warmth growing through my body like an elixir to my soul.

It feels like peace and contentment, like… home.

I make quick work of parking the car and almost as soon as I turn of the ignition, Elena is out of the car and opening the back door to get Angelo. Her haste takes me by surprise but she quickly sates my curiosity.

“If I don’t get him in the bath now, he’s going to sleep like a log as he is. Don’t mind me, I’ll just clean this munchkin up and put him down for his nap.”

“Can I help?’ The words are out of my mouth before I could think them through.

“Uhm... yeah sure.”

“Great I’ll come up with you then.”

Angelo had a blast with his bath toys, managing to get soapy suds all over Elena and myself, not to mention the abuse the plush rug in the bathroom took.

God bless it. But after half an hour of us playing with him and laughing at the funny faces he made, the poor guy fell asleep while I was dressing him.

I missed this.

I missed spending time with my family. The thought sends an uncomfortable knot straight to my gut. Was I now thinking of Elena as family? It felt so right and at the same time… so wrong.

I carry Angelo to his room and tuck him into his crib gently.

He doesn’t even stir. I know Elena is watching me.

It must seem strange to her… this sight.

Seeing me with Angelo. I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t spent much time with him since she started working here.

The truth is like a punch in the gut. I am a bad father.

I’m half the man I used to be. Something that I need to work on if I want to have a relationship with my son.

We leave Angelo to his slumber and head downstairs. It’s a bit tense; the air is charged with static now that we’re alone together. It’s awkward. Exactly what I was hoping to avoid.

Elena breaks the silence first.

“It was nice seeing you with Angel today.”

“It was nice being with him.”

“It’s good for him. It’s good for you both.

You need time to bond. I’m sure you’ll find that spending more time together will ease both your burdens.

You might feel more fulfilled and Angel…

well Angel will feel more loved. I don’t believe it to be easy for you, given all the responsibility you hold.

I know you need to work and as a result you have to be away.

All I’m saying is that perhaps you could take one weekend off in a month just for Angel and yourself. ”

“You’re right of course. You’re right about many things. I will endeavour to make more of an effort.”

“See that you do Mr. Marino.” There she is the seductive Siren. She smiles at me as she gestures to the living room.

“I’m going to read for a bit, you’re welcome to join me if you want?”

“Sure, I have a few reports that need to be reviewed, shouldn’t take too long. I’ll make us some coffee, you go ahead, I’ll be there in a bit.”

We both sit in comfortable silence; she reads while I review.

At least I’m desperately trying to review.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts and stare back at my screen.

All the numbers and information displayed start to blur into an abstract piece.

I can’t focus. Being this close to her is meddling with my head and I unknowingly let out a grunt of frustration.

“You, okay?”

“Huh?”

“You seem annoyed. Are the figures not adding up?”

“Uh, oh yes, the report. Right.” I clear my throat, heat rising to my chest. I hope to God almighty that she can’t see the effect she has on me.

“They’re all wrong. These just won’t do.”

“Do you need any help?”

Before I can answer she’s at my side, head bent over my laptop and her scent fills my nostrils. I inhale deeply, taking in her intoxicating scent. The sweet fragrance of musk and vanilla invading my nostrils. She smells like heaven. She’s looking at me with her brows knit.

“Something wrong?” I ask innocently enough. Did she catch me inhaling her perfume?

“Your eyes were closed.” Fuck. I hadn’t realised I closed my eyes to breathe her in; it’s a reflex. I need to fix that.

“Did I? I hadn’t even realised.” At least that much is true.

“Are you getting a migraine? It’s normal when you have too much screen time. Maybe you need a break from work. Can the reports wait?”

No Elena, I am not getting a migraine but I am at risk of getting a really painful erection having you this close.

“Yes, you could be right.”

I say pathetically while making a show of rubbing my fingers on my temples.

“Here, let me.”

She makes her way around the couch, coming in behind me.

She pulls my hands away and replaces them with her own.

Her touch is firm but gentle enough to add the pressure I didn’t know I needed.

It feels wonderful. I am truly basking in the relief her adept hands are bringing me, releasing all my tension and all the menacing aches from the office.

A little hum of pleasure leaves my lips as she works all the stress and tension out of my body.

I’m starting to relax when she leans over my shoulder and I feel her breath on my neck.

“Close your eyes Enzo.”

And just like that my tucked away appendage takes her words as an invitation to rise to the occasion, the godforsaken kraken awakening at the most inappropriate times.

I nod and close my eyes, imagining all sorts of non-sexual things.

Granny panties, the orange guy running the country, toe fungus, (gross).

It seems to work. Elena’s hands are pure magic, she moves from my temples down to the back of my neck and my shoulders, kneading into the stiff muscles.

It feels absolutely amazing; I can literally feel the tension seep out of my body.

It must have been around fifteen minutes of massaging when I tell her to stop. To my dismay, she does.

“How do you feel?”

“So much better, thank you. I hate to admit it but I think I needed that. Maybe I should go to one of those Thai massage places.”

“As if you’ll ever make the time for yourself.” She rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head.

“You’re probably right.” I grin at her.

“I don’t mind doing it for you every now and then when you need. Your muscles were all bunched up. You were wound up tighter than a priest at a strip club.”

I let out a full bellowed laugh at that and she joins me.

“Your sense of humour is refreshing Elena. Thank you.”

“Any time boss man.”

And there it is again. I don’t like her calling me boss.

I know she’s just teasing and making light of the moment but I can’t help but tense up when I hear those words.

When she whispers my name though, I like that.

It sets my blood on fire to the point where I almost feel like I could very possibly combust. The realisation has my cock growing hard again and I’m forced to admit to myself that even though we have an understanding, I want to hear her saying my name while she lays beneath me and I’m buried deep inside her.

I’m not a greedy man but I want more. More than she’s willing to give.

Elena gathers our cups from the coffee table and makes her way into the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

A small shuffle and a tiny coo from the baby monitor breaks me out of said thoughts and I head upstairs shouting, “I’ll go check on him” so that Elena won’t see the two-man tent in my pants.

Taking the stairs two at a time I head towards my son and away from the unknowing seductress in my kitchen.