Page 43 of Protecting Olivia

Leo seemed lost in his thoughts as he maneuvered us through traffic. Sitting in silence with him now seemed different than the times before. It was comfortable instead of nerve-wracking. And it gave me a chance to study his features while he was relaxed. His strong grip on the steering wheel, his eyes constantly checking the mirrors scanning the traffic all around us. What I wouldn’t give to have that watchful stare focused on me. Those rough hands touching every inch of my body. I squeezed my thighs together to relieve some of the ache my thoughts provoked.

He was downright sexy. There were no two ways about it.

“Tesorino, you need to stop thinking whatever it is you’re thinking about,” Leo broke the silence.

I watched as he expertly crossed over three lanes of traffic to merge onto the exit ramp. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the blush on your face and how you pressed your legs together. Your body cannot hide your thoughts. I am holding on by a thread. A very weak, frayed thread.”

Busted!

Perceptive bastard.

I didn’t bother making excuses, he knew exactly what I was thinking. I suppose I should’ve been embarrassed, him knowing how badly I wanted him. But I wasn’t. I liked it.

We pulled into an upscale neighborhood on the outskirts of Annapolis. The houses were older but very well kept. Leo pulled into a driveway and cut the engine.

“If at any time you get overwhelmed or you’ve had enough, squeeze my hand three times and I’ll make our excuse to leave.” Leo took the keys out of the ignition and grabbed his phone out of the cup holder and exited the car. Leaving me sitting in the car wondering where we were and why I’d be overwhelmed. He opened my door and helped me down. The moment I was situated on his left side, he put his arm around my waist and pulled me tight.

I loved it.

Absolutely loved when he touched me.

Leo didn’t bother knocking when we got to the door, nor did he unlock it. We walked right in. The first thing that hit me was the smell. Garlic and the sweet smell of basil. It was heavenly. The next thing that registered was the loud laughter. I looked around the room. It wasn’t huge, nor was it small. It was the perfect size to gather a family around and watch TV or play a board game on the large coffee table that sat in front of the well-worn sectional couch. This was a family home. There were photographs on every available surface. School pictures, military basic training photos, police academy graduation pictures – family pictures. This was so different than the sterile apartment in DC I had grown up in. There were no family memorabilia hanging on our walls. Hell, there was no family. Just me and my mom.

It finally hit me where I was. Leo’s ma’s house.

My frantic eyes looked up at Leo. “You’ll be fine, tesorino. Promise.”

He lowered his face to mine, and his lips found mine. This time I wasn’t letting him pull back before I could finally taste him. I licked the seam of his lips, and he opened his mouth. Finally! The first brush of his tongue against mine sent an electric shock wave through my body. He pulled back, kissing my bottom lip then stopped our kiss altogether to look at me.

“Did you feel that, tesorino?” Leo whispered.

“Yes.”

“Figlio! You’re home.” I heard from across the room, breaking our moment.

I jumped back from Leo like we’d been caught doing something we shouldn’t have been doing. Well, we had been and were caught by Leo’s mom.

Leo chuckled and pulled me closer to him, not allowing me to run and hide. “Hi, Ma.”

Leo’s mom stood across the room staring at us. For a moment, I thought she was going to tell me to leave. Then her lips tipped, and her entire face lit up.

“Bella! Two more plates at the table.” I could’ve sworn I heard her voice crack.

I looked back to Leo. “Did you tell them we were coming? I don’t want to impose.”

“There is no imposing on Sunday dinners, tesorino. Ma always makes more than enough,” Leo explained.

“She’s finally here.” Leo’s mom said softly from across the room.

“Ma,” Leo warned, his voice strong but his face gentled when he looked at his mom.

“Don’t Ma me. Now introduce me to your girl so I can take her and get to know her,” his mom instructed. Whoa, now I understood where Leo got his bossiness from.

“Olivia, this is my ma, Alessandra Gillonardo. Her friends call her Essa. Ma, Olivia Cox.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Gillonardo. Thank you for allowing me to stay for dinner. I hope it isn’t any trouble.”