Emiliana
I was beyond pissed off. No matter how much I had wanted to kiss Giovanni, in that moment he had built up my hopes so high only to let them crash around me. I wasn’t sure if it was a game to him or maybe he was losing control of his resolve or sight of his job. Whatever it was, his silence only added further to the embarrassment. I hadn’t wanted to talk to him after that, I couldn’t even look at him.
As I stepped down from the stage, I could feel his mossy green eyes burning into me. It only forced me to ignore him even more and so when I saw Luciano standing so handsomely welcoming behind him, I saw my opportunity.
“Emiliana,” his lips widened at me - it was a smile that reached his cheeks fully and showed off his perfect mouth.
“Luciano,” I beamed back at him as I spoke his name. He leaned forward, resting his hand gently on my back, just above my backside. “Do you want to get a drink?” I asked, batting my eyelashes softly at him.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He chuckled lightly.
We stepped onto the terrace that situated itself on the roof of the Beekman hotel. Rattan furniture decorated the open patio area and heaters were placed at each table, the area was relaxing and I was thankful that me and Luciano were the only ones there - apart from my custodian lingering by the bar at the far end of the roof.
Luciano was leaning back on his cushions, one arm draped over the back of the chair while his other hand cradled a whisky glass. His crisp white shirt crinkled at the seams, telling me he was harbouring some defined muscles. His leg was crossed over, resting his ankle on top of his knee and I could tell he was enjoying the conversation as much as I was. His olive complexion glowed under the heaters, making him almost heaven sent.
The breeze whistled past us as we discussed our hobbies and family. It was enthralling to hear that Luciano’s relatives came from a village not far from where my father was brought up in Italy. We spoke about our grandparents, unfortunately only his Nona was still alive and my heart broke at the thought of having to say goodbye to my own. “I’m sorry to hear about your Nono.” I comforted him, resting my hand on top of his.
“It was a long time ago.” He added. While I didn’t know him that well, I could tell he was putting on a brave face. I took a sip of my cocktail, letting the gin hit the back of my throat and ripple through my chest. The warmth stung but I welcomed the heated sensation that it brought to my limbs.
“So what’s with your date?” Luciano piped up, his head nodded in Giovanni’s direction. I refused to follow his gaze but I knew he wasn't too far away. He never was.
The question reared its ugly head and I didn’t want to have to deal with the situation right now.
“He’s just my driver.” I half lied, hoping the answer would suffice.
“A driver who is pretty intent on keeping you close.” Luciano insinuated with a smirk. “I can see the way he looks at you.”
“There’s nothing going on if that’s what you’re asking.” I interjected. While my words spoke the truth, they were laced with guilt and disappointment. I shook the thought from my head, it wouldn’t be appropriate to be involved with Giovanni anyway. I just needed to focus on something else; someone else.
“That’s good to know.” Luciano moved his body closer to mine, raising a hand to cup my cheeks. “I would hate to steal you away from anyone.” His oceanic eyes searched mine, observing my features and committing them to memory.
“You won’t be stealing me from anybody.” I confirmed his hidden agenda.
He closed the distance slowly, his warm hand still cupped my face and brought me closer to him. The fluttering feeling in my stomach had turned into somersaults as he pressed his lips against mine. Soft cushions of flesh puckered and relaxed, massaging my lips seductively. I snaked my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Luciano tasted of mint mixed with whisky, the smokey taste lingered on his tongue as he traced mine with it and I wanted more. His wet mouth was working wonders expertly and I squeezed my legs together as he deepened our kiss. Our breathing increased as we began to run out of oxygen. It was like we had forgotten our basic instinct to breathe during our intense make out session but I didn’t care.
I didn’t even stop to think about the conflict of interest, nor the fact that Giovanni was probably watching with increasing agitation. I wanted to continue to taste Luciano, his flirtatious words and confident aura had me melting into the palm of his hands.
Before the kiss could go any further, Luciano pulled himself away, ending with a soft peck on my lips.
“Emiliana?” He whispered my name and I enjoyed the way it sounded coming from his mouth.
“Yes?” I hung from every word he said, he had me hooked and I would willingly do whatever he asked if it meant I could taste him again.
“As much as I would love - and I mean LOVE to continue kissing you. It’s getting late.” Luciano glanced down at his watch, it was almost midnight. I pulled away, disappointed that he didn’t enjoy the kiss as much as I. “Would it be too forward of me to ask you out on a date?” He asked. He must have sensed my trepidation and he cupped my face once more as he gazed into my eyes.
“I would love to.” I replied coolly. I didn’t want to sound too eager but inside, I was jumping for joy.
“Are you free next weekend?” He asked, clutching my hand in his. I nodded silently, unable to remove the smile from my face. Luciano leaned in close, his lips almost touching mine. I found myself magnetised, I closed the distance between us, allowing his lips to brush over mine. “Until next weekend.” He pulled away from me, his oceanic orbs still locked on me. “Let’s get you home.”
Luciano guided me up from the cosy cushions I was sitting on and we walked hand in hand towards Giovanni. He was perched on his stool facing the bar, despite his position I knew he would have been watching my every move.
“Giovanni.” I spoke his name sweetly, “I’m ready to go home.” He stepped off the stool elegantly, his long legs touched ground instantly and he gestured for me to lead the way. Luciano hooked my arm through his as we made our way to the car.
He opened the door while Giovanni stood behind him, clearly annoyed by his chivalry.
“I’ll see you next week.” Luciano brought my hand to his lips and kissed my skin softly.
“See you next week.” My eyelashes fluttered back at him and I couldn’t escape the large smile plastered on my face. I stepped into the vehicle and in moments we were peeling away from the curb, Luciano waving me off in the distance.
I smiled out of the window, reliving the evening with Luciano. His bright grin was forever etched in my mind. Not once did he ever make me feel uncomfortable or uneasy - nor had he interrupted me. He was constantly listening, hanging onto my every word with intrigue.
By the time we had pulled up to my building, the effects of the alcohol were kicking in and I was ready for bed. My door opened momentarily, Giovanni’s strong hand was held out for me to take. I stepped out onto the concrete, his warm hand gently holding mine. I let go hastily, the sparks that had worked their way up my arm were a guilty reminder of what had happened earlier. I picked up the hem of my dress and marched into my building.
“Goodnight, Giovanni.” I called over my shoulder.
Emiliana“Miss Magnone?” My assistant poked her head out from the door, her bright red hair swinging on every movement.“Yes?” I barely glanced up at her as she spoke. My head was buried in charts and graphs depicting the latest figures.“Mr Russo is here to see you.” I dropped my pen at her announcement, the sound of it hitting the marble flooring, echoing around the room and reverberating through my ears. My heart dropped to my stomach and Itried not to grimace at the nervous sensation.I hadn’t spoken to Luciano since the ball, that was five days ago and I was beginning to think that he was having second thoughts about his proposal for the weekend.&
EmilianaAfter kicking my heels off and slumping on the couch, I had little motivation to do anything else. I was heavily flicking through the channels, searching for something decent to watch when my phone suddenly rang. I picked it up, I instantly knew who it was.“Emiliana,” his sultry voice called my name, it rolled off his tongue like a melody made by Mozart.“Luciano,” I replied with a large smile on my face. There was no doubt that this man gave me butterflies in my stomach and made my heart skip a beat. I wasn’t certain if it was the excitement over the prospect of dating in general or the way Luciano made me feel. Either way, I was enjoying the fact.“How was your day?” He asked me.
Emiliana “Nope, nope, nope.” I scanned through each item of clothing on the rail aggressively, agitated that I couldn’t find anything I liked. Sliding each hanger past me, something caught my eye. Black and cream detail bounced out at me. I gripped the hanger, pulling it from the metal bar that it was slipped around. I held it up to the light, it was a two piece outfit - in my size. A tight fitted black skirt that came up to my ankles was matched with a black and cream coloured bustier. The black geometric lines sprawled across the material, making the outfit look both sophisticated and modern. I tore it off the hanger excitedly and slipped it on. It fit snugly around my chest while the skirt hugged my hips and thighs. I turned in the mirror and Oli whistled at me.
Emiliana It was a busy day at work, meetings after meetings filled my diary and I was anticipating the Christmas break. I had two weeks left before the holidays and I had so much work to get through. I was naive to think that there wasn’t as much paperwork involved with being a CEO. It was only the middle of the week and I was feeling swamped with how much I still had to complete. I glanced down at my watch, it was almost lunchtime and my stomach was growling. Hunger was enveloping me and I was struggling to find the time recently to grab something to eat. “Hungry?” A familiar dulcet tone caught my attention. Luciano lingered in the doorway, his golden hands clutched a brown paper bag. “I brought lunch.”
Emiliana I had always enjoyed Christmas, ever since I was a little girl. From decorating the Christmas tree to playing Christmas songs that my mum would religiously listen to. Snow would cover every surface it came into contact with, blanketing the once pristine decorated gardens in a crisp white fluffy sheet. As a child, I would go out and make snowmen with my father, but the tradition soon found its demise as we both got older. Still, it never detracted from the Christmas spirit we held as a family. It was the entire season that made me feel wholesome and grateful for the family I had. Even though I was an only child, my parent’s brothers and sisters and their families made ours much larger.
Emiliana“While numbers are up on purchasing, there are some figures we would like to address with you.” Mr Rogers spoke deeply to me, his white beard muffled the majority of his words but I could just about make out what he was saying.“Sure.” I replied pointedly. My assistant was beside me, she had been reeling out the data from the sheets while Sandra clicked her pen annoyingly from across the table. Her brown fringe wiggled frustratingly across her face every time she looked down to write something and I had to fight the urge not to pull a hair grip out and shove it into her skull.Melanie, the blonde bob haired woman that always looked so stern was wearing the same grey pinstriped suit as the last time I met her. Her arms rested either side of her particularly straigh
EmilianaI stepped onto the curved concrete, gripping my coffee in one hand and Giovanni’s hand in the other. Stumbling up the gritty slush, we rested against the bridge wall. He placed his forearms on the crooked rocks that made up the jagged edges and I stood beside him, basking in the silence and dim moonlight.I gazed down at the iced river below us, frosted cracks decorated the smooth planes of frozen water. Snow lined the wide belt of iced water while we let the soft silence envelope us both. It was so tranquil.I closed my eyes, breathing in sharp intakes of the crisp air before opening my eyes and watching the heated vapor escape my mouth. I turned my head to observe Giovanni. Small puffs of air clouded before him as he stared at something ahead of us. His eyes were focused on one p
Emiliana It was a week before Christmas and only a few days since I had last spoken to Luciano. I could feel the space that had drifted between us in the last couple of days, I wasn’t sure if it was because of the terrible meeting that took place or Giovanni constantly lingering in my thoughts. Whatever it was, I felt myself sinking in the overwhelming sea of emotions. I watched as couples waltzed in carefree circles on the dance floor behind a golden backdrop. Swaying to the gentle Christmas music. Everyone was in their own bubbles of Christmas spirit and joy and I felt slightly envious of them. Chatter could be heard from the far reaches of the room and laughter was chasing it closely behind. Long rows of tables adorned the main section of the room, rose vines entwined the chandeliers hangi
In one effortless swoop, Giovanni scooped me up in his arms, carrying me bridal style to the super king sized bed at the other side of the room. He lowered me to the floor, spinning me round to undo the laced back. His adept fingers made light work and in moments my wedding dress was nothing more than a pool of material at my feet. Giovanni stepped back, drinking in my figure, the way my corset squeezed at my waist and pushed my breasts up. Gazing over every inch of my creamy skin and my lacey underwear left little to his imagination. He licked his lips hungrily, green eyes landing on the white garter gripping at my thigh. Giovanni dropped to his knees, tugging the garter down with his teeth until it fell from my foot. “It’s going to be a long night
Emiliana I could have stayed like that for hours. Even if my eyes closed as I relaxed in Giovanni’s arms, there was nowhere else I wanted to be. I felt my body being lifted from the ground, but my eyes were too heavy to open. The gentle sway of my body lulled me further into my slumber and it wasn’t until I felt my body pressed into soft sheets that I eventually stirred. Giovanni slid in beside me, wrapping me in his arms and never letting go. His breath skated over my neck, soft puffs that caught in my hair. My cheek pressed against his warm bare chest and moved with each inhale and exhale. “I’m getting you home, Emiliana.” Giovanni’s gentle whispers lapped at my ears like a soothing melody, his hands combing through my hair like it was a
Giovanni The doors were weightless compared to the guilt that tore shreds from my chest. I could almost hear my heart breaking under the strain of what I was about to do. My palms were clammy as I turned to my grandfather, every part of me was in conflict. “Abuelo.” (Grandfather.) I cleared my throat. I had no speech prepared or memorised, this was all about to roll off my tongue, freefalling. “¿Qué necesitas?” (What do you need?) He sighed, resting his elbows on his desk. If he wasn’t family, I would have been intimidated by the way he glared at me, peering over his glasses like I was in trouble. “No es para mí,” (It’s not for me,) My voice mumbled, I shuffled my feet hesitantly. “Es para Emil
Emiliana “Are you hurt, Chiquita?” Vinnie crouched down in front of me, his eyes studying me carefully. I didn’t bother to conceal my emotions as the tears fell from my eyes. It was both shock and relief that washed over me like a waterfall, releasing into my tears. I shook my head and in one swift motion Vinnie had me in his arms, carrying me to the car on the other side of the road and placing me in it. Smoke billowed from the hood of the SUV now abandoned in the ditch, the smell of burning rubber permeated my senses and drowned out any other sensation. I fixated on that one smell, the deep charred stench that prevented me from drifting off into my thoughts. Vinnie’s large form paced over to where Giovanni was slumped against a tree, his
Emiliana Giovanni gripped the strangers head, pressing their foreheads together while smiling widely. I had never seen so much relief plaster his face before. “¿Cuánto tiempo ha pasado?” (How long has it been?) The stranger clutched Giovanni in a brotherly embrace. “Demasiado tiempo.” (Too long.) Giovanni answered, his voice muffled by the leather that pressed against his cheek. “You’ve caused quite a stir.” The man glanced at me before releasing Giovanni. They both took a step back, but they were now shaking hands and patting each other on the back. “This one causing trouble?” He nodded in my direction. Giovanni turned to me, now I had two sets of eyes staring me down.
“We need food.” I called as I searched through the empty cupboards on my tiptoes. There was nothing in them, bar from a few crusty packets of noodles and a take out menu. I knew Giovanni was still attempting to conceal his pain from me and maybe that’s why we hadn’t left the apartment in two days but it was almost ridiculous that Giovanni had described this as a safe place when there were no provisions supplied for our stay. I padded through to the bedroom, catching a glimpse of Giovanni zipping up a black duffel bag. My interest piqued, mostly because Giovanni was looking more shifty and less inconspicuous. “What’s that for?” My eyes investigated the outside of the suspicious looking bag before my hand reached for the zipper. Giovanni rested his hand on top, shaking his head. “Principessa,” he warned me with a raised brow.
Emiliana “Who are you?” I took a step back and Giovanni could probably sense my trepidation. The room fell silent as his jaw rolled side to side. “It’s a long story.” He huffed aloud, not attempting to hide the irritation in his voice. He rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit I had noticed about him. “Then shorten it.” Giovanni heaved another sigh and I could feel the tether of patience stretching to the point of snapping. I could see the muscles working overtime in his jaw as he thought over his words. “How many more secrets are you hiding from me?” I seethed through gritted teeth, that tether tore away from me like an elastic band. Snapping back into my face.
EmilianaThe gentle whirring of the ceiling fan that I had been so hypnotized to earlier, brought me back from the land of nod. Blinking back the sleep, I rolled over. The bed was empty and cold, and judging by the crisp sheets beside me I sensed Giovanni probably hadn’t even joined me.I peeled back the fluffy blanket that was draped over me and stepped onto the cool floor. I was surrounded by safe calmness as I wandered around the room, taking in the simple decor.The room was sparse, apart from the clean white wardrobes that sat against the far wall and the lamp atop of a small table to the side of the bed. Just like Giovanni, this room told me nothing about the man.A loud smash caught me off guard and I flung the bedroom door open. Gi
Emiliana Three hours had passed since I had replaced his bandage. As soon as we were nearing the border of Spain, I could physically feel the heat difference. My nerves that were once a wreck had calmed somewhat. I glanced at the dashboard to see the time was almost six in the morning. We had been driving for over five hours and we still had two more to go. I had opened the window, blasting my face with cool air to keep myself awake for the last two hours while Giovanni remained sleeping. I couldn’t risk falling asleep and crashing after getting this far. I spotted an area further up the road to pull over just as the sun began to rise.