LETHU My head stirred, my body being swung over. My arms wrapped around what I would say were strong shoulders. My legs wrapped around a waist so instinctively as if I had done it way too many times. Warmth, such thick addictive warmth spread all around me, and I could not help but snuggle deeper. My head lay on a shoulder, feeling such warm feelings I could never explain. The person began moving with such ease. I was so secure I could barely feel the movement. I was drifting into more profound sleep than before, my heart beating with such harmony it was soul-healing. Water plopped down, echoing and pulling my mind to stir from the dreamy state it was in. As I slipped back into the world of the living, the sharp pain could suddenly be felt. My whole body was aching but one was too intense, having me moan. I wanted to twist and curl around yet where I was, there was no curling for me. My face buried deep into warm skin, growling. The moisture between my legs suddenly registered in
Elio changed the sheets and made the bed. He took out my heating pads, setting them up before mentioning for me to walk over. My body stood like a tree, dumbfounded as I watched with my brain having thrown the towel. I finally snapped into a walk, sinking into the opened cover, and snuggled in. He tucked me in as if I was his little princess which I would not mind being, honestly. I did not fail to notice the blanket added for me, not wanting me to get cold at all. He pulled out the remotes for the television, turned it on then lowered to place a kiss on my forehead.My world was spinning so fast I would faint.My father was the last person to lay his lips on my forehead before Elio yet Elio’s was way different. It had my heart just explode with such emotions, feeling the tears creep up but I swallowed them back. Butterflies flapped in my belly with such vengeance. I found myself scared because I had never felt such intense feelings pour over me. As cold as it was with the wind heard
The tray was picked up. Elio bent over my body. My head was by his armpit and I had never wanted to dig my face in an armpit so much. His t-shirt had the thread count of a t-shirt an angel would wear, so thick and definitely expensive. His scent just attacked me so rudely and left me defenseless. He sat the tray before me and took the plate of eggs with a fork. I hated eggs with a passion, smiling as he took them away before I threw up. The plate of croissants was picked up by myself, taking one and munching on it. Of course, he had not made them but they were delicious, and maybe it was because he had touched them. I nearly laughed hard at my thoughts. Imagine choking hard and knocking the tray with the food and coffee spilling. I swallowed fast, hiding the grin by taking another bite. I picked up bacon. You could never go wrong with meat when it came to me. The bacon was warm, sure he had made it. It was just in the middle of crunchy and soft like I liked it. God, he knew me too w
The dishes were cleared away. I snuggled back and finally picked up the remote to put on Netflix. I wanted to stay mad at Elio for forcing me to take my medication but I was melting away very quickly. It was drizzling out, making the setting even more amazing for me. So many movies popped out, the door opening with Elio walking in. He slipped into the bed and nearly had me giggle as he adjusted my heating pad. He removed the one at the back and turned it off before holding my body so possessively.My body was pulled into him with such ease. It took everything in me not to moan. I loved that he did not ask, he just did what he wanted with me. He adjusted the heating pad again. My pain was long forgotten, him my painkiller as I drowned in absolute bliss.I could not function for the longest time, just settling into his chest which was the most amazing thing ever in the world. His chest was hard and warm, feeling so safe, so comfortable and so adored if I dared to even say. What was this
I woke up to a sizzling meal warming up the whole room. The smell just had me groaning where I lay. I was buried under thick blankets, the smell having my belly do a shimmy. The smile pulled out on it’s own, not able to hold it. Just a second awake and I was already smiling all my teeth out. I ate my favorite dish prepared by Elio from scratch. He was not only ruining me for other men, he was also ruining my taste buds. The dance could not be helped as I scooped the food over and over again. My eyes were locked on him, his phone in hand. I watched him frown then he began typing back and forth with someone. I watched the way his fingers glazed through the screen, his thumb folding with each pause. His eyes narrowed for a second, my curiosity hitting the roof. It was a curiosity of him. I wanted to learn all that irked him, all that had him react. What was he like when angry? What was he like when happy? An image of a grin he wore a few hours back played in my head. Something told me
ELIO My hands were shaking. Glass tears covered my eyes as I writhed in anger. I felt as if the anger would burn me then engulf the whole world. I stared at the streets passing, stared ahead then at my hands because I did not know where to look. I did not know what to feel because a million parts of me were shredding apart. I could not breathe, my hand moving up to my throat. I wanted to squeeze it in. I lowered my hand back, bending over the seat with the car seeming to shake itself. I wanted to scream so loud. Just to let the anger out but I decided to hold it in. Each breath taken blew to the fire that was already deadly. Someone would pay. Someone had to pay. I stared straight into the review mirror, my driver stepping on the gas. I was in no condition to drive, my car left in Lethu’s driveway. The darkness settled and took root around but I could barely even see. All I craved was blood. All I craved were screams and death. My heart had never drummed so hard. My skin was hot w
LETHU He was gone. Elio was gone and with each day that passed, the pain consumed me whole. When a week passed, I knew he was never coming back. I rubbed on my chest as I had been doing through the days. A certain pain sat there, never healing. It was like an open wound that couldn’t stitch itself together. I was angry, hurt and numb all at once. My eyes scanned through the three hundred and twelve page document before me. I had been reading it for four hours and I was still on the first page. The words were just staring back at me, my eyes roaming through, not even caring that I was supposed to submit the whole proposal a few hours ago. Nothing mattered. Everything was just not significant anymore. My supervisor had been lenient on me in the two weeks I came back to work but I could see that it was slowly running out. My hand ran through my hair. My body pushed up and I just literally sat back in my chair. Eixel turned to stare at me in utter distress. Her eyes were embedded
My palms were sweating as I walked down the steps with a drumming heart. This was a bad idea, I already knew, yet there was this spark in me, a spark I had not felt since Elio walked out. The excitement was just too much for me to give up my bad plan. I locked the house, turned and made my way to the car. My nerves ate at me. I felt as if my guard and driver would not allow me to go out looking like that but as soon as I approached, my guard stepped out, opening my door for me. I would never get used to it. Because of my adventure, I forgot all about the feud fight between us three. “Thank you.” I said back to my guard, smiling. Even getting in the car was a hassle. My boobs were spilling out, also afraid my ass was showing. All in all, I was abusing the dress. I was expecting it to rip at any point. Even those thoughts had my blood rush with such urgency I would soon sweat. “Where to ma’am?” The driver asked when we were all settled. My eyes shot out wide. I had been busy plannin
I felt the lights then saw them. I felt as we walked through the house. I ran my hands into Elio’s hair, pulling him to me as if I wanted to infuse myself into him. His hands ran up to my waist and when he pulled back I kissed his jaw and lower to his neck. Soft music suddenly filled the house and water soon sprayed on our naked bodies. A deep shiver ran down yet not even it would tear me from my heaven. We were no longer just kissing because it felt like we were devouring each other. I felt as if he was kissing me deep into my heart. His hands tightened on my waist and I did not protest as he lifted me off. I found my footing while buried deep in his essence. He turned me around, kissing my jaw down to my neck as I leaned my head back on his shoulder. A moan pulled from the deepest hole in my core. I arched my back to him as his hand grabbed and mold my breast with such hunger. His other slid down my belly. I spread my legs for him, his dick pressed hard on my back. His hand ran dow
“Husband.” I coaxed, the car flying off the road. Wind blew through the thrown-back roof. I felt free, felt unbound, and cosmic. Elio’s groan and warning look had me giggling. I pushed off the seat, my hands moving up my thighs. I felt Elio’s eyes which made me turn my head to stare at him. His eyes couldn’t even budge as I pulled the underwear I wore down. He turned to the road for a second then back. My white lace underwear was unhooked from my feet, bringing it to my face to sniff. “Lethu bella tentatrice, per favore, ferma il mio amore.” Lethu beautiful temptress, please stop my love. He begged, pressing on the gas. The white lace flew to his lap and I watched as he pulled it up to his face, sniffing it. His eyes closed and when they opened I knew I was in for it. The car took a swerve fifteen minutes later and we were down and near the beach. I could hear the water crush. I could smell them and I could feel them already kissing my skin. We drove up a narrow tropical driveway th
I changed to my reception dress and I danced what seemed like hours with Elio. He spun me around the dance square with my smile so bright my jaw nearly dislocated. After him I danced with Salvatore. It was three full songs of him just waltzing me in his arms. “What do I call you? Sal? Big Bro? Volturi? Oohh, I like that one.” I chirped up as he spun me away only for my body to spin back into his arms. His face fell into a frown. “Do I even want to know what that is?” He questioned as I giggled. “You should watch the twilight movie and the breaking dawn movies. I promise you will like them.” I grinned, him corking a brow but then relaxed. I knew he would watch them and I wished I could see his reaction. I would pay money for it. My insides melted for the hundredth time. He picked me up, my palms on his with my whole weight on him as we turned around. As sad as it had been back then, the wedding being postponed was a blessing because there I was, dancing like a princess with the men
I knew there were over a thousand guests scattered on both sides but I could only see blurs. I heard the buzz, so many drones capturing the whole moment. I heard the weeps, the guests even more emotional. My eyes fixed further down the alter where I was going and I could not help but gasp as my vision cleared. I had last seen Elio the morning before when Salvatore and all the men took him away for a day and night to remember. He stood in his black tux looking so good. His eyes were on me, never faltering. His leg shook and I knew he was holding everything back from just weeping as I was. I was full-on crying and it was so embarrassing. By the time we reached the end I was not even sure I could stand on my own. “Who gives her away?” The officiate asked. “I do.” Mom spoke, pulling her arm from me. Elio descended down and held out his hand. Mom put my hand in his before he kissed my cheek then Elio’s. “I love you both.” She whispered and it nearly left me scattered on the floor lik
Two Months Later “Champagne?” My fifteen-year-old sister gestured, the glass filled with the sparkling liquid held out for me. I narrowed my eyes at her. “Hold it for me sis.” She turned around and I watched as she scoured the room for mother’s eyes before she quickly took a sip. It was why she took the champagne glass in the first place. I chuckled, shaking my head. About seven people ran around me, picking a certain part of the dress, pinning, or dusting something off. They were all in panic which hid my own panic. Eyes from the girls were on me as they dived in the delicates offered in the room. I folded my moist hands, eyes moving around the large room again with red the only thing I saw. Elio took it upon himself to make sure I woke up with every part of our room filled with dahlia flowers. There were boxes on boxes of red, pink and white dahlias. I blushed and nearly giggled while recalling the smell that had hit my nostrils as I came alive from dream land. My head had tu
Giving Elio his sponge bath was the highlight of my days as the week progressed along with spending some time with my mother. It was the only time where no one else occupied the room, leaving me with Elio to take care of him. It brought some light back in me. If anyone walked in they would label me crazy because the whole process was spent with me just talking his ear off or singing to him, hoping my terrible singing would wake him up. I realized just then that he was my best friend and not being able to hear his voice over the days tore me apart. I refrained from telling him about my mother and siblings because I wanted to do it when I could stare in his eyes and see him excited for me. In a span of three days I had learned so much about my mother’s life and culture. She taught me so many things and I could not wait to have cooking dates with her which we put a pin on because she and my siblings were leaving in a day. It saddened me but surely Elio and I would visit whenever we coul
Death. You can dream about it. You can talk about it. You can prepare for it but when it hits, it breaks everything in you and shows you that you can never be ready for it. Silence. A great abyss of silence. I saw them talk. I saw them walk. I saw them stand before me, eyes staring and lips moving but all I heard was silence. I curled myself in the chair, feet on the suede. A fleece blanket covered me, not sure when it was draped over but it brought me warmth. Head on my knees with my left hand holding on, afraid to let go because I was afraid that if I did then they would snatch Elio away. Internal bleeding, fractured ribs, torn muscles, ruptured spline. The list went on and on. The doctor’s words came and went as they had in the three days of my grief. A hand fell on my shoulder, my body jerking in fright, my eyes turning—red and burning. Brown eyes stared at me, never leaving. I could see the sadness, the heartache, reflecting pain I could not describe. For long minutes I jus
Mamma led us to the dining table where food lay in abundance. It seemed they had prepared a feast for Elio’s return. Mamma pulled Elio’s chair and he pulled mine back. We sat down, smiling and thanking as Mamma fussed over him, asking how he was, touching his face, kissing his cheeks, and plating his food. I took my own plate, just filing it because I was dead hungry. The few house staff stood by the door, watching and listening. Other family members, far many than those I left, took their seats. Dario stared at Elio intensely and as my eyes drifted around, Salvatore was nowhere to be seen. Irya sat on her chair, no one next to her. Three new people walked through the doors and I nearly splattered apart right there and then. My eyes went wide. Brown eyes stared back at me as if they had been waiting a lifetime to connect to mine. My world shook and crumbled all around me. I did not know if to cry, shout, jump, or just run. I felt like running, running from the truth staring right at
I don’t know when I fell asleep but I do recall hearing screams somewhere. I heard the crash of glass and I shrunk into myself before darkness engulfed me. In my dreams more trauma waited. In my dream I had been late and when I got to Eduardo he told me it was too late, that Elio had passed. The grief rocked me so hard I could feel myself shiver hard even in sleep. I tried shifting around the sheets to find warmth but none was provided. At a point I cried, weeping for my lost love and the feeling haunted me even as my eyes peeled open. My chest was so sore I couldn’t stop rubbing it. My body ached as if I had been thrown into a hurricane. The sheets were all twisted around me, some hanging to the floor. A trickle of sweat ran down my spine and instead of feeling rested, I felt as if someone murdered then brought me back to life. Movement caught my eye and that was when I saw Elio, his back turned to me. He was buttoning up his clean navy shirt, his hair combed back to perfection. Th