Chapter Sixteen Ella
Chapter Sixteen
Ella
How did we get here so fast? It felt like the drive to Catania took forever. This one barely registered.
A guard is already outside, yanking the door open. Tiero steps out without hesitation, still holding me.
“Gualtiero, put me down. I can walk,” I protest, though I’m not entirely sure that’s true.
He doesn’t even look at me.
“No.”
That’s it. No argument. No negotiation.
He carries me through the lobby as if this is the most natural thing in the world. The guards form a quiet perimeter around us, and the few guests still lingering near the bar turn to stare.
What must this look like?
Me, cradled in the arms of a devastatingly handsome Italian man, surrounded by five men who look like they bench-press cars for fun.
Heat crawls up my neck. I bury my face in his shoulder, half to hide, half because it feels safer there.
The elevator doors slide open the moment we approach, as if they too bow to Tiero’s command. We step inside. No one speaks. The doors close, and silence follows us up to the fourth floor.
“Where is your key, princess?” Tiero asks, gazing at me.
“In my purse.”
Before I can even register that I’m not carrying it anymore, it appears in front of me. Suit Guy, the big, bold, scary-looking man who’s usually glued to Gualtiero’s side, holds it out. Good thing he had his wits about him in the chaos and grabbed it for me.
I thank him and fumble for the key while Tiero carries me down the corridor. I pass it to Suit Guy. He hands it to another guard, who strides ahead and unlocks the door before we even reach it.
It all happens like a well-oiled machine and in total silence.
The guards spread out around the doorway while Tiero walks inside and lowers me onto the bed with surprising gentleness, as if I might break if he were any rougher.
Striding to the minibar fridge, he grabs a bottle of water, twists off the cap, and brings it to my lips.
“I can hold it,” I murmur. If I wasn’t still half panicking, I’d be amused by his overprotectiveness.
He smiles at me. It doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I think he’s still too worried for that. Even so, he looks damn handsome, stirring butterflies low in my stomach.
“I know you can. But just let me.”
How can I refuse when he asks like that?
So I let him fuss. It’s… strangely comforting.
He cups my cheek again, thumb brushing slowly over my overheated skin.
“How are you feeling?”
Before I can answer, his phone rings.
His expression shifts instantly. Controlled again.
“I’ll take this,” he says quietly, stepping out onto the terrace.
Finally. A second to breathe.
Letting my body sag into the mattress, I hear low voices, then laughter. I turn my head toward the sound and notice the door to my room is slightly ajar.
I’m in here potentially dying, and the guards outside are laughing?
I roll my eyes.
If they watched us the entire time and witnessed Tiero’s near kiss, my shriek, and my impromptu interpretive dance routine on the boardwalk, should I really be surprised they find this funny?
I’m sure it looked hilarious. I’d laugh too. Eventually.
Their voices grow clearer, and through the fog in my head, something clicks.
I understand them.
Wait.
They’re speaking German.
That’s unexpected.
Their accent is thick, rolling and clipped. Northern Italy, maybe near the Austrian border. They must assume no one here understands.
“Ich wette, der gute Doktor sieht ihre Muschi vorm Chef,” one says.
I blink.
Excuse me?
“Nein, das l?sst er nie zu. Hast du gesehen, wie er sie anschaut? Er l?sst da keinen ran… nicht mal einen Arzt,” another replies, laughing under his breath.
“Wieviel willst du wetten?”
Seriously?
They’re betting on whether the doctor will see my pussy before Tiero does.
I press my lips together to keep from laughing out loud.
Apparently, they’ve noticed the way he looks at me. And one of them is convinced their boss won’t even allow a doctor near me without supervision.
I’m tempted to call out, “Ich wette mit,” just to watch them jump.
But, of course, I don’t.
Information is currency. And right now, I’m sitting on a goldmine.
The terrace door slides open again, and Tiero steps inside.
“Dr. Agosti is on his way up,” he says.
Relief softens the panic buzzing under my skin. Maybe I will survive the night after all.
The guards fall silent the moment Tiero opens the door. He doesn’t even glance at them.
He waits at the threshold until a man in a dark suit approaches, then steps aside and ushers him in, speaking quickly in Italian. The door is pulled shut behind them without him having to say a word.
Yep, it really is a well-oiled machine.
Tiero returns to the bed as if he never left and sits close enough for our knees to touch.
“Ella, this is my personal physician, Dr. Agosti,” he says. “He’ll examine you. He brought antivenom in case it’s needed.”
Relief loosens my shoulders slightly. I’m glad he’s so well prepared. Maybe these spider bites are quite common.
I’m still shaking the doctor’s hand when Tiero reaches for the hem of my dress and lifts it just high enough for the bite site to be exposed.
What the?
I could have done that.
I’m pretty sure my face is a bright shade of pink as I glance up at him. His expression doesn’t change. His focus is entirely on the doctor.
Intent. Watchful.
Was goon number two right?
Is Tiero worried about the doctor seeing too much? His security team saw far more when it first happened.
Dr. Agosti kneels slightly, inspecting the bite with professional calm. The flashlight beam moves with precision. Clinical. And very carefully nowhere else.
I almost smile.
Yay. I would have won the bet.
Tiero’s hand slides into mine without looking at me. His grip tightens when the doctor presses near the swelling.
He doesn’t miss a single flinch.
God, this is mortifying.
This is not how I imagined Tiero getting close to my nether regions.
Not under fluorescent light, and not with a third party narrating venom possibilities.
“Non è il ragno violino,” the doctor says after a moment.
My stomach twists.
He looks up at me. “It’s not the violin spider.”
Good. That sounds… promising?
“The venom of the violin spider is necrotic,” he continues calmly. “It destroys tissue.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“The affected cells die. The skin darkens. It can… deteriorate.”
Oh.
That’s horrifying.
I swallow.
“So this isn’t that?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “This appears to be a localized allergic reaction, possibly intensified by stress.”
Stress. Go figure.
He applies a cool ointment to the swelling. I wince despite trying not to.
Tiero’s thumb brushes over my knuckles again. Steady. Present.
The doctor checks my pulse, my pupils, my breathing.
“It should improve by morning,” he says finally. “Take these antihistamines and rest.”
He hands me a small packet. “I’ll check on you again at eight o’clock in the morning,” Dr. Agosti decrees.
He doesn’t ask if eight works for me. What is it with men in this country? Are they all this high-handed?
He pulls out his card and leaves it on the nightstand.
“If anything changes, call. I can be here in ten minutes.”
That helps. Knowing he’s close by, should anything go wrong, wipes away the last of the lingering panic.
Then Dr. Agosti leaves with efficient professionalism. The door shuts once more.
Silence settles.
The room suddenly feels smaller.
I become acutely aware of the fact that I’m lying on my bed in a thin dress that’s bunched up, legs slightly parted, and Tiero is still holding my hand.
He hasn’t let go once.
Not having the doctor here anymore to distract me, my pulse goes into overdrive.
He leans over me. “Get some rest, princess,” he breathes into my hair before kissing the top of my head.
I nod, the lump in my throat too big for words to fit through.
He’s close.
So close.
Too close.
I breathe in his scent, and it makes me light-headed. The air is charged between us, and I clutch the sheet beneath me to stop myself from reaching for him and doing something stupid.
Tiero has been so sweet tonight. The concern and care he showed is melting my reluctance.
Swallowing hard and taking a deep breath, I say, “Thank you for looking after me, Tiero. I sure didn’t expect any of that.”
“No, me neither. You’re the first person I know who’s been bitten by a spider,” he replies with a twinkle in his eyes. “I’m glad you’re going to be all right.”
“I’m glad I’m your first,” I say cheekily, realizing too late the sexual innuendo this carries.
I cringe and blush crimson. This is something I’d say to Rhia, but really shouldn’t to a guy I’ve just met and who wants to get into my pants.
Way to go, Ella.
Tiero smiles, satisfied. And in his deep gravelly voice that makes desire pool deep within me, he says, “You’re my first in many ways.”
Wait… what?
What does that mean?
Before I can analyze his words further, he continues, “I’d like to take you out for dinner tomorrow…
” Tiero looks at his watch and corrects himself.
“Actually make that tonight,” he says, his gaze as penetrating as ever.
“I’ll pick you up at eight,” he declares, as if I had already agreed to the invitation.
I’m momentarily speechless.
I wondered if I would see him again. Part of me is excited that he wants to spend more time with me. How could I not given this inexplicable magnetic pull towards him?
No stranger has ever felt as familiar as Tiero does. At the same time, no person has ever made me so on edge.
Given we nearly kissed before the spider bite, I’m well aware of Tiero’s intentions now, and for my sanity, I can’t go down that path. But it’s as tempting as a great dessert.
So tempting!
Fine, I admit it. I do want to see him again… though he tests my resolve to stay a good girl.
“Okay,” I agree with a shy smile. Tiero’s face lights up, making him look even more gorgeous.
“Good. I’m looking forward to it.”
I smile up at him. He’s so charming.
“Are you going to be all right here alone? Do you want me to stay?” Tiero asks.
“No. I mean yes. I’m good.” I’m quick to reply. If he stayed, I’m absolutely certain I wouldn’t be okay. I’d be a nervous wreck.
“Enjoy your day on the volcano.” He kisses the top of my head once more and gets off the bed, walking to the door.
“Thank you for everything,” I call after him.
He turns around and gifts me with a panty-melting smile.
Oh my.
“Of course, princess. I’ll look after you. Remember, Dr. Agosti will be back at eight in the morning. If you need anything in the meantime, call me.”
With a last glance over his shoulder, he instructs, “Lock up behind me.”
I nod and smile at him.
“Buonanotte, Ella.”
“Buonanotte,” I say, waving goodbye as he leaves.