Page 67 of Sicilian Sunset

There won’t be any sex with Tiero.

Then why is your pussy throbbing at the thought of him?The devilish voice on my shoulder asks.

Oh, buzz off.

Zoe’s phone rings in her room, disrupting the peace, and she gets up to answer it. Watching her, I see her face light up when she realizes who it is. Throwing herself onto the bed, she winces. In her excitement, she forgot she’s stiff and sore.

“Oh my god,” Rhia suddenly shrieks, sitting up straight. “I haven’t grilled you yet about your night. Spill the beans, El. I want a progress report.”

Ah, finally.

I was beginning to worry. It’s not like Rhia to forget her post-date interrogation.

“Well, compared to your night, there really isn’t much to tell. We had a lovely dinner. He took me to an Irish pub,” I tell her with a raised eyebrow, and she bursts out into laughter.

“Really, an Irish pub,” she repeats.

“Yep, he thought I might need a reminder of home.”

“That’s cute. But I want the juicy details. Did he make a move?”

I remain silent. If I tell her, she’ll get carried away one way or another, and I’m too worn-out to be lectured about not sleeping with him.

“Ella! Spill!” She throws a cushion at me but misses spectacularly. She must be tired. Her aim is usually spot-on.

“I don’t think he seduced you. You don’t look satisfied. And given what we’ve just heard, a De Marco won’t be a lousy lover.”

I roll my eyes at her. After all, it’s one of my favorite things to do.

“Something happened though, or you would have denied it by now,” she continues.

“He kissed you,” Rhia declares, and my face turns red on cue.

“I knew it,” she exclaims triumphantly. “And by the way you’re blushing it was hot and steamy.”

She looks thrilled with herself. “God, I’m good. Without you even saying a single word, I get the entire story.”

I close my eyes and shut her out. Another pillow flies my way, and this time doesn’t miss. “Hey,” I protest.

“Seriously, Ella, spill,” she demands.

“Okay. Okay. You are correct. We kissed… and it was amazing.” I say, scrunching up my nose slightly.

“Then why don’t you look happier?”

I let out a long puff of air. “He scares me… No, that’s not true. My reaction to him scares me.” I twist my fingers in my lap as I remember what it’s like to be in his arms.

“What do you mean?” Rhia asks, looking puzzled.

“Whenever he touches me, it’s like I go up in flames. And when he kissed me… I lost all sense of myself, of everything around me… I’ve never had that. I’m not sure what to do with it.”

“You’re overthinking it, El. You and Tiero have such a strong current buzzing between you, it probably can be seen from space. Kissing him is meant to be like that.”

I remain quiet. I’m not sure what to say.

“You owe it to yourself to explore this further. Yes, it might never result in more than a fling, but down the track, you’ll regret it if you don’t give him a chance.”

Rhia looks so earnest. And I can see where she’s coming from… sort of.

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