Page 11 of Already His

“Well, don’t be worried. I wanted to chat about Simone. He likes you, you know,” Vittorio said, in a confidential tone.

“Yeah? He’s nice and all but he’s not really my type,” I hedged, crossing the street at a crowded crosswalk.

“What type? Hard-working? Well off? Healthy? Family minded?” My father rattled the list off so quickly, I knew he had rehearsed for this phone call. My heart dropped at the thought of my lonely dad, stuck with the responsibility of a single daughter, with no mother to help guide him. Not only that, but considering the fact that my brother was currently living with his boyfriend, who my father insisted on calling a roommate, I was my father’s only hope.

“Dad-,”

“Carina, listen. I know your mother should be the one to talk about all these things, but she’s gone, god rest her soul. It’s down to me, and I know Simone. His family are good people. He’d take care of you, give you children, a home, support and loyalty. That’s more than most people get, you know,” he said. He sounded oddly breathless.

“Dad, are you taking your heart medication? Remember to do it every morning.”

“I’m fine, carina.”

“I’m serious,” I insisted.

“I am fine,” he said firmly. “I’m just worried for you. You work all the time, you’re always alone. Marry Simone and move back to the neighbourhood. You could open a shop that does alterations… or buy one. I know Maria wants to retire and she only has sons. She’d give us a good price,” he said, and the hope in his voice burned my heart to ash.

How could my good, honest, humble father have ended up with a daughter who wanted a life so different than his? I felt like the lowest of the low at the way his proposed life sounded like a prison sentence to me.

“I’ll think about it, ok? I have to go now, I’m getting on the subway. I’ll see you are Paola’s communion on Sunday,” I told him, and hung up quickly, before he could break my heart into any more pieces. I sank onto a bench, ignoring the drizzle that was making its way to full gone rain. Marry Simone, I should have known that had been my father’s angle after church. Vittorio was right, it wasn’t a bad life, and I am sure I’d find happiness in it at some point. With a sinking feeling, like someone trapped in quicksand, I could see it all happening. I felt like it could happen, really, because I wanted to make my father happy, and his dream for me wasn’t really so terrible. More than anything, that invisible leash of familial responsibility hadn’t shifted even once in all this time I’d lived separately from him. Except… this afternoon, with Elliot Winter. The realisation sneaked into my sullen mind. This afternoon I hadn’t felt burdened by moral outrage or guilt. I’d felt free. I had finally taken autonomy over my body, and it had been everything.

I stood up, feeling dizzy with the sudden urgency I felt. I might be forced into marrying Simone and having his four sons, by the expectations of my father, and also my own desperate need to meet them. However, I didn’t need to give him exclusive rights to my body. He had no say over what I did before we got married… that was my decision, my choice.

And I knew exactly who I wanted to lose my virginity to.

Chapter 7

Elliot

Iworked in my office and then ate dinner downstairs alone. I preferred solitude when I was working, and in fact, more and more I found myself seeking it. Being an eligible, wealthy bachelor in New York could be exhausting. I had reveled in it, only a few years ago. I had enjoyed all the interest thrown my way, whether due to my looks or name, I didn’t care. I simply took. Now, as I grew older, and increasingly jaded by the type of women who sought me, I felt tired.

I felt hunted.

And the very woman who showed me little to no interest? I couldn’t get her out my head.

I didn’t keep staff, something that drove my mother mad. I had a cleaner come twice a week, and a meal service delivery, but otherwise, preferred to keep my home my sanctuary from people. People were messy, people had problems. People were my job. I washed the dish slowly and methodically. The quiet was deafening.

The doorbell rang. I considered not answering. It was after hours, and there wasn’t anyone else I knew who would drop by. Then again, I was waiting on some documents. If they came tonight I could work late, and push all other thoughts from my mind.

I pulled open the door, stepping back as the rain wet my shirt, falling in a slant from the dark sky above. In the distance, thunder rumbled, but it all faded to the background, at the sight of Mia Rossi, soaked to the bone.

“Mia?” I managed to say, before she threw herself into my arms, and pressed her mouth to mine. Her skin was chilled and wet, and her drowned clothes immediately soaked through my shirt. I stepped back, and pulled her against me, recovering quickly to return her kiss hungrily.

Her shoes squeaked on the tile floor as I dragged her in, and kicked the door shut with my foot. Her hands were in my hair, and then, falling to my shirt. Desire roared through me, tempered only by the faintest whisper of caution. If she was here for the reason she seemed to be, it was no small thing to her. She’d made that clear.

“Mia, what happened?” I groaned, as her hands fell to my belt buckle. She shook her head mulishly, biting her lip, and continued to work the leather through the strap. I put my hand to hers and stilled her. Her shoulders bunched. “Tell me what happened,” I said, with control and authority I didn’t feel.

“I changed my mind,” she said and raised those cornflower eyes to mine. “I want it to be you. I want to go to bed with you now, tonight, and I want to do everything there is to do,” she bit off, as though she was about to say more, and stopped herself. I should refuse her until her emotional mood had passed. I should calm her down, and get her to explain her change of heart. She stared up at me so earnestly.

“Please, Elliot, do anything you want with me, just give me a first time to remember,” she pleaded.

I am only a man, and I’d already known when I first saw her that this woman was meant to be mine. Any remanent of restraint was forgotten as I picked her up, and wrapped her legs around my waist, and pressed her against the door.

“As you wish, sweetheart,” I said thickly and captured her lips with mine. She arched her back and pressed against me, rubbing up against my dick, already hard and lying thick and needily between her legs. I turned, carrying her light weight effortlessly toward the stair.

Her mouth devoured mine, kissing me with an abandon that was the hottest thing I’d ever felt. She bit and sucked and nipped at my lips and tongue, and I couldn’t wait to split her in half with my cock, and calm the storm inside her.

We reached the bedroom, and she slithered from my arms. Taking a step back, she stripped off her coat, and pulled her top off, casting them all aside without a second glance. There was a determined look in her eye, as she wriggled out her jeans and panties.

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