Page 33 of Beautiful Desire

“Mm, I needed that.” She giggles as I bend down to kiss her lips.

“You need sleep, fiore,” I say, slipping out of her.

I take the condom off and throw it on the floor at the foot of the bed. Moving to the side of the bed, I peel back the duvet and help Elle to get under before walking around to the opposite side.

“Where are you going?” she asks, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

Crawling in behind her, I reply, “To sleep. Goodnight, fiore. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Truth be told, I doubt I’ll last until morning lying naked next to her all night.

* * *

A loud ringing sounds around the room, pulling me from my sleep. I can tell it’s early, and I’m pissed that the sun has barely risen and I can’t be left the fuck alone. I gently remove my arm from around Elle’s waist, and she doesn’t move an inch, thankfully. I know exactly how I plan on waking her up this morning.

I quickly find my phone that has now stopped ringing and turn it to silent, but I notice I’ve received seven text messages throughout the night and two missed calls. The screen lights up again as the name Enrico flashes on the screen, and I know straight away in my gut this can’t be good.

“Parlare,” is all I say.

Whatever it is I need to hear, I know I need to hear it sooner rather than later.

“Devi andare, ora.”You need to go, now.

I drop my head and curse silently. I should have known this was too good to be true.

Without saying another word, I end the call, not wanting to wake Elle, and then proceed to quickly and quietly get dressed. As I start walking toward the door, I feel like I need to empty the entire contents of my stomach. Already knowing this is the biggest mistake of my life, I open the door without taking one last look, quietly slip out, and gently close it behind me before pulling out my phone, dialing Enrico’s number to call him back.

CHAPTER11

ELLE

Rolling over,I wake with a deliciously sore body and a satisfied smile across my face as I recall all the ways Dom and I went at it last night. Needing to stretch, I reach my arms above my head and kick my legs out under the sheets, all the while being mindful not to disturb D.

Opening my eyes, I blink a few times to clear my vision so I can take a peek at the sleeping god lying next to me. Turning my head to the left, I expect to see the outline of Dom’s naked body; instead, all I see is an empty space.

Where did he go? Did he leave me?

No. No, he wouldn’t. Not after last night. Not after what he said about letting me get away. No, he’ll be back.

I clutch the sheet to my naked body and sit up, casting a look around the space. We came back to my room last night because Dom was worried I would walk out on him again. And by the looks of it, that’s exactly what he’s done to me.

Stop it.He probably just went back to his room to shower or went downstairs to get coffee and something to eat.

At least that’s what I tell myself to ease this unsettling feeling I have in the pit of my stomach.

Plastering a smile on my face, albeit a fake one, I finally will myself to get up and start the day. While rinsing myself of Dom, I relive last night again in my head. My skin pebbles with goosebumps as I remember the way his strong hands roamed my body as he thrust in and out of me.

By the time I’m finished, the bathroom is like a sauna. There’s steam everywhere, and the mirror is covered in fog. Quickly towel-drying my hair, I wrap the softest white towel around my body and exit the bathroom. Seeing the clock on the bedside table reading seven in the morning, I decide to catch the early morning sun on the balcony in my room.

As soon as I open the French doors, I’m met with the heavenly smell of olives from the trees surrounding the property. Walking up to the black wrought-iron railing, I lay my arms across it and look out over the beautiful expense of the villa. A sense of calmness washes over me, and my shoulders sag as my body relaxes. It’s so quiet and peaceful here, nothing like the noisy city of Boston.

My room faces the back of the house, overlooking a flower garden down below. To the right is a stone patio and an Olympic-sized pool. I’m praying there’s nothing on the agenda today, because all I want to do is swim and lie in the sun.

I don’t know how long I stand out here listening to the quiet sounds of the countryside, but when a warm breeze blows an errant strand of hair in my face that is now dry, I know it’s been a while.

Walking back into my room, I find my bathing suit and yellow sundress before putting them on. Hanging my wet towel back up in the bathroom, I brush my teeth and tie my slightly damp hair into a messy bun, making myself presentable enough to go downstairs and get a much-needed cup of coffee.

I open my door quietly in case Sofia is still sleeping and quickly walk down the hallway. The house is eerily quiet. Although I’ve been in this villa for the last couple of days, I still get lost once I make it downstairs. Finally reaching the incredible Tuscan kitchen, I go in search of some liquid gold. I don’t feel like a human in the morning until it infiltrates my system. Finding what I’m looking for, I go to turn on the coffee machine, but it’s not working. I check to make sure it’s plugged in before pressing every button and switch. Still nothing.

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