Page 24 of Something Old

Will I make it worse if I do?

I should just walk away.

I should just forget about this.

“What the hell is going on?” Leora shouts angrily.

I hear something crashing and Tuomo repeating. “Hey, ok, ok, calm down.”

“I will not calm down. Get out of here. You can’t do this.” She’s horrified, but I don’t know why.

I turn back towards the door, wondering why she would be so angry with ‘me’ for trying to sleep with her after she’s been throwing herself at me for weeks.

But then she screams my name.

“Masaccio.” She shouts it loudly.

“Jeez woman. Calm down. There’s no need to shout, I’m right here.” Tuomo says.

“How stupid do you think I am? I know you’re not him.Tuomo.” She’s angry. And it seems - she somehow knew -

“What the fuck?” He stammers.

She throws something, and it flies through the open door, missing him. “Get out.” She screams.

Tuomo comes marching out of the bedroom door. His face like thunder. His shirt unbuttoned and his jacket in his hand.

“She’s all yours.” He snaps as he storms past, down the stairs towards the front door.

I step into her room as I hear the front door slam.

“Mas—” she says, looking terrified. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know—I thought it was you—I kissed your brother —I’m so—” Her expression is one of absolute distress. She is clutching at her nightie against her body - he took it off her.

I am both fascinated and turned on by this scene.

“How did you know it was my brother?”

“Because I know you.” She whimpers. “Will you ever forgive me? I promise you I stopped as soon as I realized.”

“But what was it that gave it away?” I ask curiously. I still can’t drag my eyes off her as she shifts her weight from one foot to theother. The small piece of fabric that she has pressed against her chest is hardly covering anything.

CHAPTER TEN

Leora

Masaccio pushes himself between my legs, grabbing a handful of my hair he pulls my head back and traces kisses over my neck.

Sitting on the dresser with him standing in front of me, I wrap my legs around his waist.

Oh, my word.

I can’t believe he has finally given in to being with me. He wants me.

He presses his lips against mine and kisses me. It’s passionate, fiery, heated - but something feels - different.

Maybe it’s just my own nerves.

I run my hands down his back, my nails leaving lines in his skin beneath his shirt.

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