Claire
Chapter Eight
With Arik’s arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me close, we walked among the hordes of tourists and locals through the cobblestone paths that wound between the tan buildings lining the walk.
As Vespas whizzed by, children laughed, and boisterous men shouted in Italian, we simply walked in silence.
Colorful storefronts began to emerge, selling everything from baked goods to trinkets as patrons wandered in and out of the cramped spaces.
We walked through the shops for well over an hour, saying very little, and simply enjoying the feeling of being in each other’s presence.
Right as the wine wore off just enough for me to realize my feet were killing me, Arik pulled me into a shadowed alleyway. As we passed through a wooden archway flowing with bright purple wisteria, he pulled me in close, slowly stepping toward me until my back met the warm plaster wall.
He whispered, his dark eyes shifting from my eyes to my lips, “I have been waiting all day to do this.”
His lips pressed firmly against mine as his arms gripped tightly around my waist. My knees buckled as my eyes closed, and my hands wandered his back until my fingers gripped the loose collar of his shirt.
In that moment, my body warmed as he pressed closer to me, our breath in sync between deep, passionate kisses that seemed to last for hours.
Arik pulled his lips away, resting his forehead against mine with a deep exhale.
I stared at his closed eyes, watching him breathe deeply with restraint.
“That’s better,” he said with a smile before opening his eyes to lock with mine.
He slowly peeled his body off mine like two Velcro strips coming apart—moving his arm from around my waist, back to my shoulders as he led me down the alleyway once again.
I couldn’t feel my legs, or my aching feet, as we made our way down the shrouded alleyway.
As I looked ahead, the sea emerged from above the aged stone wall that separated a large, hidden terrace from the cliff below.
An orange and pink sunset illuminated the sky as the colors reflected in the white caps of the waves.
What resulted was an artful watercolor of deep blues scattered with muted pinks, oranges, and yellows as far as the eye could see.
In my pause to admire the scenery, Arik moved behind me until his torso pressed against my back. His arms wrapped around my waist, squeezing me tightly as his chin rested on my shoulder, his soft breath against my neck sending electricity up my spine.
Arik pressed his lips to the shell of my ear and whispered, “That feeling you have right now…that’s how I feel every time I think of you.”
My jaw dropped, and my breath hitched in my chest as I struggled to find the next one. I could feel my cheeks burning as my lips turned upward into a smile that was useless to attempt to restrain.
I pulled my body away from him to turn around, willing myself to face him.
As I looked deeply into his eyes, noticing the flakes of golden honey that glimmered among the deep brown, I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His body responded instantly as his arms pulled me in to fill the last few inches that had separated us.
“That was…” I stammered, shaking my head while looking around the space, still unable to contain my smile.
Arik’s hand wandered up to my hair as he brushed a wavy strand from my face. “Ah, you are not used to romance, I see.” He chuckled as he looked at me with amusement.
“I’m just not used to a guy trying so hard to get with me. Like…so hard!” I laughed back as I scanned the surroundings, noticing an alcove on the terrace, sheltered by a teal canopy.
Arik’s eyes left mine as he looked toward the sunset behind me, his brow furrowing. “I am not trying to get with you, Claire.” He stopped and looked at me once more, resolved and stoic.
“Oh,” I whispered, looking down at the lack of space between us and feeling the urge to separate my body from his. Just as my arms loosened from around his neck, he grasped my waist firmly, pulling me in once again. His brows knit together and jaw tightened as I looked at him with confusion.
“Let me make myself perfectly clear. I do not want a shallow fling. I am not into emotionless sexual escapades.” He looked deep into my eyes, searching for understanding. “I’m trying to be with you, Claire.”
I paused before letting out a loud laugh, my head cocking back as I processed his obvious joke.
“Oh, you think I am joking…wow,” he said coldly, as he bit his lip and softly nodded.
My laughter stopped abruptly as my eyes widened and chin tilted forward. “I don’t live here, Arik.”
“And?” he questioned, his eyes squinting as he examined me.
“I live in New York. That’s where my family is. That’s where my job is.” I rattled off before exclaiming, “You’ve known me for like twenty-four hours.”
He tilted his head to the side, as if amused by my argument. He replied, “I like New York. I have not been in a while, but it was nice the last time I was there. I have some business interests in New York that could use more of my attention.”
My eyes locked onto his as my eyebrow raised.
This man is something else.
I sighed and spoke again. “You know, therapy can be helpful.”
Arik rolled his eyes, a smile cracking through his expression as he spoke. “I do not need therapy. I need you.” He squeezed me tightly as his fingertips pressed into me.
I argued, shrugging my shoulders and turning my focus back to the sea, “What the fuck. Listen…you don’t have to do all this. We can enjoy our time together and treat it like what it is.”
I braced for his response like an impact that I expected to hurt, practically wincing as his lips parted to respond.
His tone was twinged with irritation. “I already told you that is not what this is, Claire. I do not know what games you have been the victim of at the hands of weak little boys, but I am no little boy.”
The air stilled between us as his chin lowered, his sharp voice cutting through the silence. “Do you understand?”
I nodded, my body straightening and chin lowering in acceptance.
My eyes pulled away from Arik’s as I scanned our surroundings once more, no longer able to hold the intensity of his stare. I felt his hand caress my back, moving slowly to the back of my head. He pulled me in against his chest and kissed the top of my head before resting his cheek against me.
His voice came through smoothly. “You are not something to taste and forget, Claire. I am not asking for your trust. I am taking responsibility for it. And I will not drop it.”
We stood there in silence as his words seeped into me, coiling around every ounce of fight I had and suffocating them. As my breathing calmed and my body relaxed into his arms, he silently pulled out of our embrace and guided me toward the teal canopy.
As we approached the alcove, the golden dusk reflected in the glass that separated us from a long marble counter.
Moments later, a man appeared from between two long black curtains in the corner, approaching the counter.
My vision wandered to just below the glass.
Large stainless-steel vessels sat within a frigid bane, prominently displaying swirling peaks of gelato in a variety of flavors, decorated elaborately with chocolates, caramels, nuts, and berries.
“What’s your favorite flavor?” Arik questioned as his eyes scanned the assortment of creamy Italian delicacies, his hand never leaving mine.
“Would you like me less if I said mint chocolate chip?” I quipped as his lips parted, the corners turning upward into an amused smile.
“You couldn’t say anything to make me like you less,” he quipped back. “But unfortunately, that is not a popular choice here in Italy.” He frowned in my direction, pursing his lips into a pout. “We have many options, like chocolate, pistachio, stracciatella…but no mint.”
My eyes continued to scan the assortment as I replied, “Ah. Well, that’s disappointing. What do you like?” I was trying my best not to look in his direction out of fear that he could read the burning infatuation that plastered across my face.
He paused in contemplation. “I love them all, but my favorite is Tartufo di Pizzo. It is basically chocolate and hazelnut…like Nutella.”
Even the way he said Nutella made me want to take off my clothes.
“Okay, that then.” I shrugged as I tried to focus my mind on deciphering the small cards that identified each flavor.
Arik turned his attention to the man who patiently awaited our order. “Tartufo di Pizzo and Stracciatella.”
The man nodded and began to swiftly scoop the gelatos from their peaks, placing the scoops into two separate teal paper bowls and topping them each with tiny plastic spoons. Arik smiled as he turned his attention back to me before collecting the bowls from the countertop.
“We can share.”
He then led me toward the stone wall and sat the bowls upon the worn stone before suddenly hoisting me into his arms, causing me to let out a scream. Before I knew it, I was seated atop the wall, the smooth, sun-warmed stones under me as my tired feet dangled over the edge.
I shouted, my eyes wide as my hand gripped my chest and the other held onto the wall for dear life, “Shit! Warn a girl!”
“I’ve got you,” he whispered into my ear as he pressed his body against my back and extended his hand in front of me to display the stracciatella.
I felt his breath on my neck as his nose rested just behind my ear.
His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me securely against his torso as warmth from my chest radiated through my core.
This must be what drugs feel like.
I looked out at the sea as the last sliver of orange kissed the horizon. The sky above us was slowly turning deep blue with stars flickering from among the darkness behind us. As I looked down toward the beach, the colorful umbrellas began to close.
I muttered sadly, “Damn. It’s too late to go to the beach now, I guess.”
He chuckled. “Ah…that is for tomorrow.”