Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Flora
The closer I got to my car, the worse the storm got.
The rain continued to lash down and with every crack of thunder and flash of lightning, I cried a little more until I could barely see beyond the end of my nose between the thrashing rain and my own tears.
I gave up trying to see and dropped my head, watching my pumps getting wetter and wetter.
I really should have worn a coat and possibly boots, although I wasn’t convinced that any coat or boots I had packed in my car would have been any match for this horrendous storm.
The loudest clap of thunder I had ever heard boomed causing a loud sob to escape from me as fresh tears of fear, trauma, and my past ran down my face and mingled with the rain there.
Eventually, I was almost back at my car, I risked a glance up and could see it still parked where I had left it. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the pick-up truck, but at least I could get in from the storm and change into some dry clothes.
I fished my keys out of my pocket, but with my hands dripping, I dropped them into a large puddle just a few feet from my car.
Bending, I reached to pick them up when I heard an engine getting closer, the flash of lights suggested the other vehicle was pulling in behind mine.
I straightened, just as another bout of thunder and lightning roared around me, this time even louder, and I could have sworn a bolt of lightning struck mere inches from me, taunting me.
I literally leapt in the air and ran for my car, all thoughts of the other vehicle forgotten, but with shaking hands, I struggled to open the door.
A loud, almost blood curdling scream left my mouth when a hand appeared over mine, steadying my grip on the keys.
“Hey, ssh,” were the words I heard, and even with only one word and a sound spoken, I recognised the voice.
Spinning to face him, the floodgates of my emotions erupted. I cried. Immediately he tugged me to him, comforting me and although the storm continued around us, I suddenly felt a little safer.
Pulling back, I looked up at him. His eyes were fixed on mine and with no words exchanged, he leaned in and kissed me.
The second our mouths met, I was lost to anything that wasn’t him.
My lips softened and parted, inviting him in.
His tongue licked across my lower lip and then he accepted my invitation.
Our tongues duelled and yet rather than do battle, they seemed to meld together, working as one.
His arms were wrapped around me and somehow, I entangled myself in and around him.
My arms were around his neck, holding him tight and close while my legs were wrapped around his hips.
The sound of a loud claxon blaring brought things to an abrupt end. We both laughed as the passing lorry seemed to applaud the show we had been putting on.
“Come on, let’s get you dry.” Maurizio took my keys and after shutting me in his car, ran back to mine to retrieve my overnight bag.
When he joined me back in his car, he offered me my bag.
“Thank you. How did you know where I was?” Panicking that he might think I was being short with him or incredibly conceited to think he had come to my rescue, I continued.
“I mean, I assume you weren’t just passing and saw my knackered car.
” I avoided the thought of what he had witnessed in terms of my own, sad, dishevelled and rather hysterical performance.
“The garage called to let me know you had broken down and that it might be a while before they could get to you.”
“Ah.” I was unsure why the mechanic had felt it necessary to call my boss, but I was glad he had, even if the reason was probably because Maurizio had ensured his last bill for repairing my car had been settled.
“And I was looking for you, not the car. Couldn’t give a shit about the car.”
The air was crackling again and the atmosphere was as thick as it had ever been.
I found myself turning in my seat and realised Maurizio’s movement had mirrored my own.
We were staring at each other again, our bodies taut liked coiled springs or wild cats, circling each other, waiting for the optimum moment to pounce.
The question was, who was going to pounce first?
The first move was made by Maurizio and whilst that wasn’t a shock, the sensation of his hand gently cupping my chin and his fingers stroking across my damp and tearstained cheek was.
“Flora.”
No more words followed for long seconds as the previously sexually charged moment became equally as emotional.
His eyes bored through me, as if he could see me, all of me for the first time.
I felt bare and exposed and it should have made me feel uncomfortable or ready to shut down, but it didn’t, quite the opposite happened.
If anyone was going to see me laid bare and completely vulnerable, there was nobody else I could think of that I’d want that to be.
“You looked sad.”
It wasn’t a question, not even a statement really, more of a musing he was mulling over.
I didn’t want this discussion. Not now, maybe never.
“Maurizio.” I stopped because I had no clue what else to say at this moment.
He continued to allow his fingers to travel back and forth across my face for a few more seconds and then he pulled my face closer, as if preparing to kiss me again.
“Tell me to stop.”
And there it was. The point where he handed things over to me.
We had been here so many times before and I was past the point of putting this off.
It seemed inevitable that the attraction between us would be acted upon.
I ignored the voice in my head telling me that if it went wrong it would leave behind a very awkward situation that could ultimately cost me my job and my home.
This was meant to be and whatever followed, well, we’d deal with it one way or another.
“No.”
He cocked an eyebrow at my determined reply, and in return I cocked mine back at him, almost daring him to stop.
He leaned in closer until his lips almost touched mine. “Tell.”
The sensation of his breath on my face made me swallow hard.
“Me.”
He rested his lips against mine and I allowed them to part once more.
“To.”
The hand that had been on my face had slid into my hair so he was now cradling my head while his lips pressed more firmly against mine.
“Stop.”
We were frozen in our position and possibly time as this moment seemed to pause, waiting for someone to move it forward or end it.
“Never again.”