Page 49 of Giorgio

No wonder she was not in a relationship. She had studied herself critically in the full-length mirror in the small powder room behind the library.

She was dark skinned, too skinny, although she had put on some weight since the accident. Her eyes were too large for her face, and she had no idea how to apply makeup. She wasn’t his type. He had made love to her last night out of pity because she had begged him.

And she had done the worst possible thing by falling for him. He probably knew, that’s why he was avoiding her. It had been just sex for her, and she was making a big deal out of it. He wasprobably feeling remorse, that’s why he wasn’t answering her calls.

She had told him there would be no regrets, but she had lied. What she would do however, was leave here with her pride intact.

She was not going to beg him to love her. If he comes to her room tonight, she would open her arms to him, because she wanted more. She was not going to be stupid and deny herself of the sweetest and paradoxically, the most violently intense lovemaking she was ever going to experience in real life.

She had read several of his mother’s historical fiction and it was clear to her that the author had tried to put on paper what the male and female characters had experienced when their fleshes met, but she had fallen short.

How could she describe the sizzle, the heat and the beauty of Giorgio’s lean male body driving into hers with any accuracy? Or how her heart had filled to bursting when he brought her to a climax that had lifted her off the bed and had her wanting more of him?

With a serrated sigh, she pushed off the sofa and hobbled over to the bookshelf. The library had become her place of comfort. She loved the well-thumbed books and the lived in atmosphere. She could swear she could feel his mother’s spirit in the cast room. Would that beautiful woman had approved of her?

She wondered as she picked out a title. She would not be calling him again. She had her pride after all, and he wasn’t going to accuse her of stalking him. If he chose to ignore her then that’s up to him.

*****

Alfredo watched with a spark of interest as his son made the journey from the window to his desk and then back again, the drink in his hand all but forgotten. He had arrived at the corporate headquarters early this morning for a meeting, surprised to see that Giorgio had beaten him to it.

Plans for the gala were well underway and it was time for new billboards to be displayed. Giorgio was the face of the company and had arrived early for a photoshoot. But usually, he would do the shoot and be on his way.

But he was lingering.

“You are going to wear a hole in that very expensive carpet.”

“Pardon?” He stopped and turned to look at his father as if just realizing where he was.

“What’s on your mind?”

“The shoot went well and despite it being a Sunday, everyone turned out.”

“Yes.” Alfredo continued staring at his son. “You left the party prematurely. People were asking after you.”

“I apologize for shirking my duties.”

“Where were you or should I hazard a guess?”

Tossing back the drink, Giorgio made his way over to one of the sofas in the corner of the room. He was planning on going to his club as soon as the shoot was over. She had called twice, but like a coward, he had not answered and had not called her back. What the bloody hell was he going to say?

“I had to check on her.”

“Had to?”

Lifting his head, he gave his father a brooding look. “Yes Papa, I did the unthinkable and slept with her, although sleeping was being used euphemistically.” He dragged his hands over his face in despair.

“Are you going to continue to ‘sleep’ with her?”

“No. Yes. Cristo! I don’t know. I have conflicting feelings for her. I am ambivalent where she is concerned. She makes me want to wrap her in my arms and shield her from everything bad, including me.” His handsome face was a study in confusion. “I don’t know what the hell to do.”

“Are you in love with her?”

The question was like a slap on the face and had his head jerking up. “No.”

“You don’t sound too sure.”

“It does not matter. I do not know how to be in a relationship anyway. I would only end up hurting her. She is vulnerable, has stars in her eyes and the thought of diminishing that has me in a cold sweat. I am sending her back home.”

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