Chapter 14
Enzo
ELENA IS BUSY LOADING THE DISHWASHER WHILE I TIDY UP THE KITCHEN.
She has her back to me so she can’t see me staring at her.
It’s the first time I’m seeing her dressed so casually.
Even in her skin tight leggings and oversized t-shirt she’s the picture of grace.
Her hair is up in a hair claw with luscious loose strands framing her face.
The strap of what looks like a sports bra peeks out of the wide neck of her t-shirt.
The shirt is baggy and loose on her slim frame, hanging off one shoulder, it shows off her ivory skin.
Her dainty hands handle the plates with ease and confidence.
How can loading the dishwasher look so good.
She likes crystals, I know from the assortment of crystal beads adorning both her wrists but I know she’s not the hippy type of crystal lover.
I think she probably just appreciates the beauty of them and not so much the mumbo jumbo business, although I have read that some crystals have certain healing attributes.
“Lorenzo?”
Her voice brings me out of my daze.
“I’m sorry did you say something?”
“Yes, I asked if there was anything else I could help you with before I head upstairs. You seemed to be lost in space there for a sec. You were just staring at me.”
Shit, she noticed.
“Yes, sorry I was just looking at your bracelets, are they crystals?”
That seems to get her attention. Her brows knit together as she looks down at her wrists. What is that expression? Is she sad? Shaking her head as if to clear her mind, she seems to have snapped out of it.
“Uh-yes, they’re crystals. This blue one is Lapis Lazuli, it’s said to have a calming effect and enhances communication, the pink one is rose quartz, for love, because who doesn’t need love and the black one is black obsidian or dragon glass for protection.”
I merely nod my head in acknowledgement.
So not a tie dye hippy then. That’s good.
“Interesting to know. I’ve read that some may have healing properties. I believe you’re missing amethyst for that.”
She rewards me with a sweet as sin smile and then …
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll just go upstairs now… have an early night.”
“Good night, Elena.”
“Night.” And with that small word, she leaves the kitchen. After Elena leaves, I make my way to my study. I have some work to do.
Sinking in the chair behind my desk, I switch on my laptop and start pulling out files that need my attention.
My assistant printed out all the reports I had asked for, they lay in my briefcase on the couch across my study.
Blowing out an exhausted breath, I get up and make my way to my briefcase to get the documents I need.
File in hand, I pour myself two fingers of whiskey from the decanter I keep in here.
Sitting back down behind my desk I start scanning through the documents.
The figures look good, the merger was successful and I am certain it will be profitable.
I just took over a real estate company. It’s smaller than mine but managed to grow in a short amount of time.
The owners have two children, sons, one was just ordained into priesthood while the other battles terminal cancer, both of whom are in no way capable of taking on a company.
For this reason, the parents opted to sell.
They started the business late in their lives in the hopes of passing it on to their children.
Given the circumstances, and with no prospects of grandchildren, selling seemed to be the best option.
It would also afford them more time with their son before he inevitably succumbed to his illness.
Stage 4 cancer is no joke, I would know.
All the paperwork seems to be in order. Satisfied, I take a sip of my drink and find my thoughts going back to a certain brunette.
I’d just gotten home when I decided to grab a bottle of water from the kitchen before coming in here to work.
I knew Elena would be around so I was fully prepared to run into her at some point.
What I didn’t expect was to be greeted with the vision of a Siren seated at my kitchen island, moaning sweet sinful sounds like a seductress.
She didn’t notice me when she took her seat, and I made no attempt to alert her to my presence.
I just stared, taking her in. She’s breathtakingly beautiful.
Just as I was about to move, she sank her teeth into the sandwich, her eyes fluttering shut, and a low, sultry moan escaped her lips.
The sound, although innocent sent a flood of my blood rushing south.
It was soft, drawn-out, almost intimate and I was the lucky bastard that got to hear it.
But when she spoke, I damn near lost my mind.
Don’t get me wrong, I will never love another.
I can never give myself so completely to a woman ever again let alone trust a woman with our son.
I made a promise and I intend to keep it, but I am after all a man.
I still have the same desires I had before, the same urges as before, looking down at the two-man tent in my lap…
evidently the same erection as before. God help me.
I was meant to come directly in my study and start finalising deals, checking reports and analysing sales stats when the vixen distracted me with her little seduction albeit unbeknownst to her.
I broke the moment by making my presence known and almost killed the girl in the process.
After that, much to my own shock and disbelief, I found myself prepping a meal for her, then proceeded to set up the counter and serve us both, I even made a fucking salad.
When was the last time I did that? If that wasn’t enough, I poured us both a glass of red wine.
I don’t even like red wine. We ate in silence and then she cleared the dishes while I ogled her behind her back. I am a sick fuck.
I adjust the bulge in my pants and down the rest of my drink. Pushing all thoughts of Elena from my mind and get back to work.
It’s almost 2am when I switch off my laptop and make my way upstairs to have a much-needed shower and head to bed.
Because of you – Kelly Clarkson
Elena
I’M LYING ON THE MOST AMAZING BED I’VE EVER SLEPT ON AND STILL, SLEEP EVADES ME.
I’m staring at the ceiling with my thoughts swirling around a certain Italian.
There were moments when I thought he was flirting with me, but then almost as if reading my mind, he would say something that would clear any doubt I had.
He’s a damn good-looking man, one that I’m going to have a hard time resisting.
I certainly do not want another relationship, not for a long while.
I’m still reeling from what happened with Matt and honestly, I don’t think I can trust a man not to hurt me physically and emotionally.
Matt had hurt me in both ways. I have the marks to prove it.
The thought prompts me to hold my wrist up above my face.
The bracelets gone, twisting them in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering in through the open curtains, the scars shimmer.
The skin, pink and slightly raised catch the moonlight, giving them an almost ethereal glow.
One could even think them beautiful, if not for the violent act that gifted them to me.
The bruises are still there although not as pronounced.
They now have a faded purple hue. The finger marks are gone.
I use the bracelets to cover them. They’re still too prominent to leave uncovered and I don’t want Lorenzo asking questions I have no desire to answer.
The scrapes and scratches on my body have healed but the scars on my heart would never fade.
Matt’s cheating didn’t hurt me, if anything it spurred me on, giving me the push I needed to move on with my life, to close the chapter of our far from perfect life. No, it wasn’t the cheating that had done me in, the assault was my undoing.
Never before had I been exposed to such violence, and desperation.
I was helpless and weak and I never want to feel that way ever again.
My attraction to Lorenzo is normal. It’s a perfectly normal reaction to an insanely gorgeous man but nothing will ever come of it.
I hate to admit it but Matt has made me scared.
I’m deathly afraid to get involved with someone, fall in love and then find out it was all a lie, or worse be beaten to a pulp.
I’d much rather avoid the situation altogether. Prevention is better than cure… right?
Lifting my hands to my face again, I run my fingers across the scars and I feel it.
I feel everything. Closing my eyes, I see the assault playing through my mind like a bad movie.
My hands hurt from his tight grip. I’m struggling to get him off me, scurrying across the floor trying to escape.
It’s all too real now, it’s all too clear and vivid.
My memory so clear, it’s almost a betrayal.
I don’t want to remember. I want to forget.
I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the memories to be blocked out as if closing my eyes tighter might succeed in pushing the horror I endured away.
If only. And with that hopeless thought, the dam breaks and the tears breach.
My barriers are down; I’m alone here with my thoughts and those thoughts haunt me.
The first tear falls making way for fresh new waves of sorrow to follow in its wake.
I roll over to my side and bring my knees up to my chest, curling my body in on itself.
This is the first time I’ve actively cried about it.
It’s feels like both relief and pain, and I know it’s not so much my heart that’s broken but my soul.