Serena
“You can do this,” I said to myself in the mirror. I smoothed the dress down with my hands.
The dress was a perfect deep blue that offset the sun-kissed warmth of my skin. Floor-length with a thigh-high slit on each side, it billowed and showed off my legs with every step. The back dipped low, nearly to my waist, the fabric soft against my skin.
It was sexy yet understated. The silk fit my every curve like it was made for me. Adjusting myself again, I felt my nerves flutter in my stomach. The dress didn’t allow for a bra, and because I was feeling particularly daring, I decided to forgo underwear as well.
It was out of character for me to be so forward, but Enzo brought it out in me. I was ready for this, for us, to take that next step, and I needed him to know.
“It’s just dinner.” I twirled my hair up into a messy low bun. “Dinner alone, with the guy you’ve been fantasizing about for the last year. Who organized an entire afternoon for me to relax, arranged childcare, and kissed me until I couldn’t breathe."
I analyzed myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman I saw. I didn’t have a hint of makeup on, yet I was glowing.
“Just be yourself,” I said to myself in the mirror one last time and turned. If I didn’t leave the bathroom now, there was a chance I might never do it.
My heels clicked against the hardwood as I walked through the bedroom and down the steps to the dining room.
Enzo stood with his back to me, staring out at the dark ocean water. In dark pants and a thin white shirt, his tattoos were just visible beneath the fabric.
Okay. Here we go.
I cleared my throat, resisting the urge to turn and run back to the bathroom.
He turned, eyes raking slowly from head to toe, then back again, lingering on my legs.
He walked to me, his eyes glittering with heat.
My legs wobbled at the power of his gaze, and I had to cross one over the other to stay upright.
When Enzo was close, he reached out, grabbed my face, and kissed me. This time, I was prepared for the rush, for the desire that ignited inside me when he touched me.
I held onto his shirt, kissing him with everything I had. His hand traveled from my back to my leg, hiking it up and around his waist.
Spearing my fingers through his hair, I pulled at the strands and rubbed myself against him. He growled, the rumbling of his chest sending a swirl of need through my body.
I wanted to climb him like a tree. And I would before the night was over.
He ripped his mouth away from mine, panting.
“Dinner,” he rasped. “Dinner and then I’ll have you for dessert.”
I almost tripped. His words short-circuited my brain. The image of Enzo on his knees, like he had been earlier when he applied suntan lotion to my legs, looking up at me with heat in his eyes, flashed in my mind.
A shiver ran through me.
His hand slid up my thigh to my butt and squeezed.
“Cazzo,” he muttered, “you’re trying to kill me.”
He let me go, setting me a few inches away from him.
“Come.” Pulling my hand, he brought us to a table on the far end of the boat.
The night sky was clear of clouds, with the stars twinkling brightly. The table was set for two, candles lit and flickering in the ocean breeze.
Enzo pulled out a chair and pushed it in once I sat.
A steward came, pouring wine and leaving warm bread on the table.
I waited until he left before I spoke.
“May I ask a question?”
“Ask me anything, though I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to answer,” Enzo said, putting a piece of bread on my plate before serving himself.
“Did you instruct all the men on the boat not to look at me?” I didn’t bother to hide my smile. The fact that all the men purposefully avoided looking in my direction when I was in the room was comical, and I had to know the reason.
“Not in so many words, no.” Enzo shrugged.
“Okay, in how many words did you say it?”
“If they look at you for more than a second, I will rip their eyes out and put them in their pockets as a reminder to keep their eyes to themselves,” he said with so much nonchalance that I burst out laughing.
“Are you always so…” I paused, trying to think of the right word.
“Possessive? Jealous? Protective?” He supplied the words I was too hesitant to say. I nodded. All three fit.
“Only when it comes to you and Harper. You two seem to bring out the caveman in me,” Enzo joked.
“Sir, the appetizers are ready.” The steward placed a bowl on the table filled with different chilled fish. “The rest of the meal is on the cart, with heating trays.”
“Thank you. You may leave,” Enzo said, never taking his eyes off me.
The steward bowed and ran as fast as he could without it being obvious, if the fast footsteps echoing were anything to go by.
“Is everyone afraid of you?” I asked.
“If they’re smart, they are. Only the idiots test me,” Enzo said. He took a fork, speared a shrimp, and held the end out to me.
I licked my lips, opened my mouth, and let Enzo feed me.
After a few bites, during which he alternated between feeding me and feeding himself, I giggled as lime juice dribbled down my chin.
Enzo’s thumb swiped the droplet and brought it to his mouth.
“I am capable of feeding myself,” I joked.
“Why would you do that when you have me?” he said as he gave me the last bite of the ceviche. “If it were up to me, you wouldn’t do anything unless you absolutely wanted to.”
I mulled over his words, thinking of all the things he had stepped in and helped me handle in the last two weeks—setting up a new studio, handling deliveries and payments, dropping Harper off in the morning.
All things that, besides dropping Harper off, I didn’t enjoy and took time away from working on things I wanted to focus on.
“Is that what you want?” I asked softly.
“To take care of all my problems or things that I dread doing daily, so I only focus on what I love?” I swallowed, trying to parse out my thoughts in a way that didn’t come across accusatory.
“Or is it because by doing all those things, I might feel indebted to you and do what you want?”
“And what do you think I want?” Enzo asked, putting down his fork and narrowing his eyes at me.
“Maybe help with some money laundering or something?” I shrugged.
“The last thing I need or want is to involve you in my business. Martina runs a clean business, and so will you. I won’t allow anything else. Cease with these foolish thoughts.” Enzo stood, picked up the bowl, and carried it to a rolling cart.
He came back with two plates, steaming hot, and placed one in front of me.
Sitting, he sliced into the meat. “I’m a patient man, Serena. This relationship isn’t what you’re used to, and I get that.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, confused. I had relationships, not many, but enough to know what to do in them and how to be a girlfriend.
Enzo sat, pulling his chair closer to me.
Our knees were touching. “All I want is you and Harper. I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.
” He tapped a finger on the table. “You’re used to taking care of everyone and handling everything for the people you care about.
With us, I will do that. It is my responsibility to make sure you and Harper are taken care of in all the ways you want.
Nothing would make me happier than doing all I can to make you happy.
All I ask for in return is you.”He made it sound so simple when it was anything but that.
“You just want me?” I asked because that was a big request, one I wasn’t sure I could fulfill.
“Your time, when it is free from work and Harper. Your body, when you want to give it to me. Your affection, attention.” He waved a fork at me. “You.”
I listened to him and thought about all the ways he was true to his word. He did so much for me without me having to ask. I’d never had more creativity flowing through me or as much energy to get my side projects done because I was sleeping well. And deliveries were taken care of.
Harper had so much room for fun and activities at Enzo’s house, and there was always someone to play with her. She loved being driven to school by Enzo and Donovan.
She had never been happier or more content.
Neither had I, and I knew it was because of the man who sat next to me.
It wasn’t that I was wavering in wanting Enzo. I did. So much.
I was afraid of trying again. Of trusting myself enough to make a decision where I put my heart on the line, only to have it ripped out from my chest.
I barely survived what Charles did to me. And I wasn’t sure if I truly loved him in the way I should have, even though I married him.
Enzo and I had kissed twice, and it was enough for me to know my feelings ran miles deeper with him than anything I had with Charles or anyone else.
If I had to go through losing Enzo, I wasn’t sure I’d make it out the other end.
“Hey,” Enzo said, his voice soft. He dragged a finger up and down my arm. “Where did you just go?”
“Sorry,” my lips twisted in a half smile, “sometimes I get in my head. What were you saying?”
“Serena, amore mio.” His smile was so big there were crinkles in the corners. “If you don’t want to tell me yet, that’s fine. I can wait until you're ready to reveal your secrets. With you, I learned to be a patient man.”
“When were you interested in me? Like romantically?” I thought about interactions since we first met, and kept coming up with nothing.
“Since the moment I first saw you.” Enzo stood, picked me up, and sat back down, with me on his lap. “This is better. You were too far away.”
His thigh was hard and strong underneath me, but even still, I placed a hand on his chest to balance myself.
“You had your hair up,” he motioned to the top of his head, “and were running around. I think you just had an issue with someone because you kept muttering asshole under your breath.” He laughed, and I felt it move through him.
I dragged my hand up his chest and curled my arm around his shoulders, adjusting myself closer. This was a bold move for me, but being around Enzo gave me the courage to act in a way that I wasn’t used to. His eyes twinkled, like he knew how out of my element I was acting.
“I came to you, and you snapped at me,” he continued, dragging his hand up my leg. “I’d never been rejected so fast, without ever speaking, in my life.”
“That can’t be true.” I wasn’t rude to clients. I was professional and cordial.
“You looked at me and said ‘no’. And then when I handed you the note Marcello wrote, you laughed at me, informed me that everyone in the Cosa Nostra was blacklisted, and told me to move on. You didn’t even bother to look at me.
You were fearless when many would have cowered and given me what I asked.
I knew then that I wanted to get to know you better. ”
He kept his ministrations on my thigh, reaching higher with each move until he was at the juncture of my thigh.
“So, you kept coming back,” I said, swallowing. My stomach curled, desire slowly building in me like fire.
“I came back. Over and over, until I got to know you better. Waiting patiently for my chance.”
Sitting on his lap brought us to eye level. His dark eyes scanned my face. Leaning in, he brushed his lips against mine.
I pressed against him, gripping his shoulders as I kissed him back, harder, hoping that I was conveying what I wanted with my body well enough that I didn’t have to use words.
Enzo pulled back, shifting me so I straddled his hips.
He pulled me flush against him, his hands roaming my bare back, the calluses on his palms scratching me in the most delicious way.
I pulled at his shirt, undoing the buttons to get to his skin.
My heartbeat in tune with my clit, and I needed relief. I’d never wanted like this before; my body felt like it was on fire with need.
I ground myself on him, seeking release. Brushing my chest against his with each roll of my hips, I couldn’t stop kissing him.
I felt his cock under me, rubbing my clit, but it wasn’t enough. Clothes were in the way of what I wanted. What I needed.
Enzo trailed kisses down my throat. “There you go, amore. Use me. Take what you need.” He dragged me across his lap. I felt myself dripping down my thigh. I groaned, unable to speak.
I could take no more. I stood, pulling Enzo to stand.
With determination, his words emboldening me, I dragged Enzo behind me as I walked to the bedroom.
Stopping in front of the bed, I reached behind me, undid the zipper, and let my dress fall to the ground.