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I want more. More of his lips on mine. More of his hands touching every part of my body.
Another explosion behind us shatters the magic.
What the heck am I doing?!
I immediately pull away, putting a few feet between us. Gualtiero says nothing and, to my surprise, just lets me be.
He knows he’s getting to me. He knows he’s winning.
Shit.
But I won’t chastise myself for what I let happen. This was only one moment of vulnerability. It won’t happen again. I won’t lose my head over this man all over again.
Easier said than done.
Focus, Ella. Focus. You can do this!
After this little episode, I remain at a polite distance from Gualtiero. He’s an entertaining history book on legs, telling me all about the Aeolian Islands and how Mount Stromboli has been almost continuously erupting for the past two thousand years. The island of Stromboli even has a population of about five hundred people.
Who is crazy enough to live on an island with an active volcano?! Especially if the entire island is only five square miles? The smoke and bright-red lava blobs flying high in the air are enough for me to refuse setting foot on it.
The rest of the day flies by, and I hate to admit it but I’m really enjoying myself. Gualtiero and I even laugh together, reminding me of how things used to be between us. There’s an unspoken truce now, and we don’t mention the events at the nightclub the other night. It’s better this way.
Despite the enjoyable day, there’s no ignoring the tension in him. Especially after receiving a few phone calls, Gualtiero seems preoccupied. I sense that whatever is going on for him, it’s big.
He tries to hide it, but it’s obvious not everything is okay. I can’t help but worry for him. Despite everything I’ve come to know about him and his methods, I want him to be happy.
He catches me staring, and a soft smile lights up his features. As if he could read my mind, he says, “Everything will be fine. There’s no need to worry, princess.”
I’m not so sure. Even though I don’t want to care, I hate seeing him like this.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
He shakes his head. “No, my love. It’s business. I don’t want you tangled up in this.”
I scoff at that. How can I not be tangled up in whatever is happening? Just being with him has made me involved.
“I could do with a hug, though,” Tiero says, surprising me.
I chuckle. This is most unexpected.
The big, scary don needs comforting. And the thing is, I could never refuse solace to someone in need.
I go to where he’s sitting, and he pulls me gently onto his lap. My arms wind around his broad back, while his snake around my waist. We sit there in silence, just holding each other, taking strength from the other and feeding it right back.
Unlike earlier, our embrace isn’t sexually charged. But it goes deeper, so much deeper.
It feels so much like home. It scares me.
But it’s not enough for me to pull away. And that scares me even more.
I cannot be part of this world of his.
What he does goes against everything I believe in; against everything I was taught to value.
What have I got myself into? I’m a hostage, all alone and in love with my captor.
It’s now just after seven o’clock, and Gualtiero is holding my hand, leading me into the restaurant through a side door which opens into a large private dining room. Two of his soldiers are standing guard by the door, ensuring only Gualtiero’s party guests are allowed in.
