Page 38 of Sexted By a Stranger
Luca leaned back in his seat, glancing at me sideways, lips curving in a barely-there arc. "What are you afraid of?"
His fingertip landed below my earlobe, gently rubbing, bringing tiny shivers. "Shall we continue?"
I buried my face in my palms, voice so muffled it was barely audible. "Let's go home."
What a mess.
At my apartment building, Luca got out first, circling to open my door. The last traces of intimate warmth dissipated from the car, also clearing my foggy mind considerably.
Luca naturally wrapped his arm around my waist, leading me toward the stairwell and up.
Pushing open the door, familiar scents hit me, instantly wrapping around me—including the sweet fragrance of apple pie, like gentle hands softly pulling me back from the clamorous world to reality.
Turning on the small wall lamp in the living room, the warm yellow light spread. Two slices of apple pie sat quietly on the dining table. Mom must have come back, taken the other two slices, and specifically heated up my late-night snack.
Luca followed in, casually closing the door. He didn't sit immediately, his gaze sweeping over those two steaming apple pies.
"You made these?" he asked.
"Yep." I nodded, kicking off my heels to walk barefoot on the cool floor toward the kitchen. "Leon wanted some. There's milk in the fridge. Want some? Or coffee?"
"May I try it?" He walked straight to the dining table.
"Of course." I passed him utensils.
He took them, cutting a small piece of still-warm pie and placing it in his mouth.
"It's great."
With that, he forked a chunk, bringing it to my lips.
The alcohol hadn't fully worn off. The taut nerves and emotional upheaval from the banquet finally found an outlet in this reassuring quiet, in the warm food aromas.
I leaned back on the sofa, closing my eyes to rest. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, like lead weights, my body soft and strengthless.
I didn't even notice when or how I leaned over, only feeling my body unconsciously seeking warmth, softly tilting toward that solid, warm "wall" beside me. My forehead pressed against his crisp suit fabric, feeling the steady strength transmitted through his firm muscles, and that calm, powerful heartbeat.
Thump-thump, thump-thump—a reassuring rhythm.
In the last moment of floating consciousness, my body suddenly lightened, lifted by a pair of strong arms.
"Buonanotte, la mia stellina."
That low voice seemed to come from far away, carrying hypnotic magic, completely drawing me into dreams.
Chapter 13
Luca
My phone vibrated persistently in my pocket.
Across from me, that wrinkled old face practically oozed cunning and greed from every crease. His endless bullshit was like a layer of cheap paint, trying to cover the naked profit-grabbing underneath.
He was working hard to swallow most of an arms deal profit, even his gray whiskers bunching up with his obsequious smile.
My patience was shot.
I raised my hand. He immediately shut up.
