Chapter 5

Adira

Charlie and I made our way back to my room, a small smile on my face.  Valentine wasn't nearly so bad when he was relaxed.  And man did he look delicious out of a suit.  He was the type of man that could make a potato sack look designer.  It was the way he held himself, his confidence just oozing from him.  But you can see there was more to him - so much more behind his eyes.  And the way his face softened when he laughed...

I sighed as I brushed my teeth.  I should definately not be thinking about him right now.  Or about how I wanted to run my hands down his chest and follow the trail of hair lower... He was a man's man.  I had always found chest hair sexy on man, somrthing more primative and utterly masculine, especially paired with that short scruffy beard.  Most of the men I photographed now a days waxed or even did laser treatments to be bare and smooth.  Each to their own I guess.  

I laid down on the bed and Charlie laid down behind me, his warmth against my back a soothing balm.  I didn't understand why all of a sudden I was feeling this way.  Ove the years I'd seen hundreds maybe even thousands of half naked and even naked men, all handsome in their own rights.  But I ... I never felt this attraction to them.  I only saw them like a artist would - almost like a another animal that I was taking photos of to show case their best.  I could talk about the features of each man that I drew the eye to highlighting and enhancing those things to really make the photo pop.  

But with Valentine, my mind couldn't settle on just his features.  I could see the way his sweats hung low and showed just a glimpse of his hips and outlined his power thighs.  Or how when he moved his muscles moved so smooth like liquid.  How his messy damp hair hung over his forehead drawing attention to his dark and brooding eyes that held so much emotion and almost none at all at the same time.  Or his lips...

I stopped and pushed the images of Valentine in the kitchen away from my mind.  I was way too tired to keep going and as I felt sleep finally pull me under, I realized something.  Not once did I feel any negtive emotions around him then.  No anxiety, no fear.  I had actually felt like me again.

Valentine

I was up early - my brain unable to cast out the images from last night.  The way her shirt rose just enough to tease me with a glimpse of her panties that only highlighted her lucious ass.  Her long dark hair that I just knew would be soft.  She had smelled like vanilla and coconut and every time she had licked her lips, I had wanted to lick them too.  I had dreamed of her and let's just say it was not a pg 13 dream.  

I hit them gym for a few hours needed to work out my frustration.  I'd never had an issue with women.  What can I say? The Italian blood and the money always drew them in in droves.  Hell for a few years I'd have a different one every few months - models, actresses, beauties from around the world.  All of them in dresses and outfits that left nothing to the imagination and yet, I couldn't get this tiny tshirt wearing girl out of my head.  

I took care of my raging hard on in the shower, hoping to dispell the feelings in my head and regain my focus.  My father joined me at 7:00 on the dot for coffee and a quick breakfast before we hit the road.  We had almost a two hour drive to work and as I drove we discussed business.  He reminded me of some of the charity events that were coming up in the next few months and I told him I would try to make it to all fo them.  We talked about the finance meeting today and finally, when I couldn't hold back any longer, I asked about Adira and the her dog.

"So what's the story with the dog?  I remember you talking about her in general a few times but I'll be honest not much sank in, especially in the beginning.  I was just glad the pressure was off me," I admitted with a smile and a glance at my father.  

He chuckled a little and said "Those first few years were rough for you too, mi figlio.  I am glad you have grown out of that nonesense.  But why the sudden interest?"

I kept my face schooled, knowing he would look for any little sign.  "I was just curious.  I ran into her in the kitchen last night and it was strange that he was attached to her like a shadow.  I've never seen a service animal so in tune with their person before," I replied nonchalantly.  The more vague my answer the better.  I didn't want him getting any ideas.

"You were both stealling my cookies weren't you?" my father laughed again, shaking his head.  "I forgot to leave them out for her."  Then he narrowed his gaze at me and I turned, focusing back on the road.

"Did she say anything to you?  What happened?" he asked.  I could still feel his eyes on me as I drove.

"We swapped cookie stories and she told me about her trip.  She only said that Charlie was protective and had me give him a few cookies so he wouldn't growl at me.  I was just curious," I replied giving him most of the truth.  

He sighed, a sound that was unsusual for my father, only piquing my interest more.  

"It is not my story to tell son, so I will only give you a small insight.  Do you remember the night I had to come and bail you and Matteo out of jail?  You had been so wasted and I had Tony take you home?  The next day I shipped you to my brother in Italy to straighten you out," he said quietly, clearly deep in thought.

"I vaguely remember.  We had expected you to rip us to shreds in the car, but you didn't ride home with us.  You didn't even yell at me the next moring either, come to think of it.  You just made sure we got on the plane.  At the time I was glad but now... there was more to it wasn't there?" I said frowning.  I didn't remember much from that time - all the drinking and partying to celebrate graduating.

He nodded and continued," Adira ended up in the police station at the same time.  Call it fate, call it whatever you want, but luckily both Charlie and I were there.  She has no family - her mother is gone, her brother was in the military, even distant relatives couldn't be reached.  I made sure she got what she needed but Charlie, Charlie was there for her in a way no one else was.  He's been with her ever since."

I glanced over and could see a far off look on my father's face and realized that would be all he was going to tell me.