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I held her gaze as she shifted in her chair a little. My heart fluttered at his name and my intrigue got the better of me. He was the oldest and a grown man who had done extremely well for himself. Why would she worry about him the most? “Why?” I asked carefully.
She smiled, putting me at ease for asking such a blunt question. “Because he has been through the most. He has to deal with the most. You have probably realised by now that he is not what he likes the world to believe him to be.” Her eyes narrowed on me suggestively and I swallowed my nerves. But once again, that look was one of determination and drew out the honesty in me. I slowly nodded my head, agreeing with her. “I worry about him because he carries the weight of this family on his shoulders, and he allows it to consume him. He is alone in his grief, choices and darkness. And that is a very lonely place to be.”
I listened intently and felt my face tense at her words. What choices? What darkness? I realised then, that there was so much I still didn’t know about this man.
“He doesn’t seem to be lonely,” I stated, leaning back in the chair. But then I remembered what he had told me about his dad’s death and the regret he felt. He had never told a soul. Perhaps what she was saying was true.
“It is always the people that hide it the best that are fighting the biggest battles. Trust me, I am one of them,” she smiled sadly, and my heart went out to her. She was a woman who I could relate to.
“I think everyone is fighting some kind of inner battle, Cecilia. That is just the way this world works.”
She leaned forward onto the arm of her chair and looked directly into my eyes. “Very true, but we do not have to fight them alone. Sharing your demons and inner struggles with the right person will set you free. If trust is there, you can overcome anything together.”
We held each other’s gaze as my breathing became shallow under her weighted words. Was she implying Giovanni and I could be that for each other? Surely not? She suddenly leaned back and relaxed. A soft giggle escaped her lips, and her playfulness was back. “Ignore me amore. Lack of sleep has gone to my brain.”
I smiled awkwardly and picked up the glass from my table, sensing now was a good time to excuse myself.
“Just...” she reached out and touched my arm as I tried to stand. “Keep an open mind, Olivia. He may surprise you.”
I nodded and stood up carefully. Little did she know, he had already surprised me in more ways than one tonight. “Good night, Cecilia.”
“Good night, Olivia.”
∞∞∞
I made my way back into the bedroom and placed the water on the bedside table. Giovanni was still passed out and I took a moment to watch him sleeping. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was so much more going on with this man... this family... That in her own way, Cecilia was trying to prepare me or warn me. But the overwhelming message I felt from her tonight is that she was okay with this. Okay with me and her son. I scoffed and shook my head. Could I really allow myself to believe that this could be more than just sex? Amazing, passionate sex was what we had both signed up for last night. What if that is all this could be? Giovanni didn’t strike me as the kind of man who had girlfriends. Or relationships in general and, technically, I still worked for him. What was it he said he had had with that girl? An arrangement. Is that what we will become too? When I asked him earlier what happened now, I was really asking what this meant? Was it a one-night thing? Were we just going to sleep together occasionally? Or was it more? His answer was cryptic. He said he wanted me. But he didn’t say how... I suppose I will just have to wait and see how the rest of this weekend pans out. I wouldn’t allow myself to get in too deep. I had to protect my heart from this man. I knew he had the ability to break it if I let him get too close.
Walking over to the balcony doors, I moved the sheer curtain away and gazed out at the beautiful scenery. He hadn’t lied. This trip was already unforgettable. Suddenly, I heard a low groan behind me and the shuffling of the duvet. I turned my head to see Giovanni thrashing around on the bed, his face creased with pain. My heart flipped. He was still asleep, but he was not okay. He was dreaming or... having a nightmare.
“No!” he shouted, making me leap back in alarm. “No!” Sweat was beading on his forehead and his hands were clenched into fists by his side. My eyes widened in panic as I wondered what to do. Don’t they say to never wake someone up during a nightmare?
"Apri la porta!” His voice was loud and haunting, it made me cower back into the curtain. No, I had to wake him. I couldn’t leave him like this. Diving onto the bed, I put my hands on his chest gently to try and settle his erratic movements.
“Giovanni! Gio, wake up!” I whispered loudly, trying to keep my voice soft so as not to startle him more.
“Gio! It’s just a nightmare,” I raised one hand to his cheek and stroked his skin. His dark eyes flew open in alarm and his hand gripped my upper arm tightly.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, trying to keep the panic out of my own voice. The amount of adrenaline that was pumping through my body must have only been a fraction of what was going through his. His eyes settled on my face as his laboured breath caused his chest to rise and fall rapidly. Our eyes locked and I saw everything Cecilia had told me. The fear. Grief. Darkness.
Abruptly, he sat up and smashed his lips against mine possessively, his hands moving to my hips and pulling me on top of him, so I was straddling his waist. His tongue dominated my mouth in frantic urgency, and I felt my core tighten in response. My wetness grew between my legs as I felt his dick hardening instantly. He ripped open his shirt in one violent movement, revealing my breasts before capturing my lips once more. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he flipped us, so I was pinned below his body and, without warning, slammed himself inside me with one powerful thrust. I gasped at the pleasure of him filling me completely. Moaning into his mouth as he started to rock and move his hips, pulling in and out and never breaking our kiss felt so intense. His hands were everywhere. Dominating, exploring every inch of my body and I felt like my skin was on fire. I gasped as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and tugged it back, causing my mouth to break away from his, giving him exposure to my neck. He bit and sucked hard at my skin as he pounded into me harder and faster. My nails clawed and dug into his back as I hung onto him for dear life. This was so different to before. It was raw and wild. Animalistic even. He wasn't in control. At that moment, I felt all his emotions. I felt how much he needed this. How much he needed me.
His arms went behind my back and his strong hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me into every thrust deeper and harder than before. Circling my legs around his hips, I cried out as he hit places inside me, I didn’t know were possible and the euphoric feeling of bursting within built at a staggering rate. His head was buried in my neck as he became rampant with need. I screamed out my orgasm as I felt him release inside me.
“Olivia!” he growled into my collarbone as his last powerful thrust caused his body to shake and shudder on top of mine. We laid motionless in the same position for what felt like eternity. Neither of us spoke. He didn’t lift his head to look at me and all I could feel was his heavy panting on my skin. I swallowed as I stared up at the ceiling. That was intense. I didn’t know sex could be like that. So raw.
Eventually, he pulled out of me and rolled away, staring up at the ceiling, jaw clenched. I moved onto my side to look at him but refrained from touching him. He looked... upset. Did I do something wrong?
I didn’t dare speak as I felt his anger rolling off him. Once again, I suddenly felt like I didn’t know this man. This man that I was lying next to and had just allowed to be inside me. Just as I was about to give up and climb out of bed to head for the shower, he spoke.
“Sorry.”
It was just one word, but it stopped me in my tracks. I frowned as I stared at his side profile that was still tense and unwilling to look at me.
“What are you sorry for?” I frowned.
He sighed and ran his hand down his face. “For that. I didn’t exactly give you a choice or wait for your consent. I never wanted you to have to see me like that. I'm sorry if I scared you.”
My frown deepened. See him like what? Vulnerable? Scared? Because that was all I saw when I looked into his eyes after waking him up. It didn’t scare me.
