Chapter 23

ARIA

"What's in your jacket?" Sandro asked, tugging at the material. I zipped it down, holding it open to show him the array of snacks I had stashed in every pocket.

"I was supposed to take it home but..." I trailed off.

"Take it home? Where were you?" he asked inquisitively, scrunching his eyebrows. I hesitated for a moment knowing that Sandro didn't like me walking in the dark. Even when the walk was fairly short.

"I was at the store when Carlo found me," I mumbled, and I raised my hand defensively the second I saw his face drop. He let out a sigh, and it looked like I was stressing him out although the deed had already been done.

"I know, I know. Dark equals danger." I shrugged the jacket off, flinging it on the empty chair.

Sandro barely had time to respond before I opted for tilting to the side to let my head rest in his lap. His good hand started stroking my hair, and I could feel his eyes on the side of my face. He was still sitting, and I let my fingers circle the tattoo on his knee. That must've fucking hurt.

"You know I just care about you, right? I'm not trying to dictate what you can and can't do," Sandro said, tucking my hair behind my ear. His voice was gentle, and I could sense the sincerity behind it. It was amazing, really. If I had met Sandro any other way, there would be no indication of what he did for a living. Besides the gun he always carried.

"I know," I replied. "I agree with you. There are fucked up people in this world. Can you believe I was dragged into an alley by this random man who held a gun to my neck and miraculously let me go?"

Sandro chuckled sheepishly, his hand stilling for a second. "Bellissima, stop. I thought we were pass that."

"I'm just saying," I said softly. "I saw you holding your ribs earlier. Are you in pain?"

"They're just bruised, baby. Don't worry about me," he said, and an involuntary smile formed on my lips. Baby.

"I missed you," I said after a beat of silence. "You're not allowed to do that to me again,"

Instead of giving me a sarcastic response like I had expected, he replied with a, "That's why Carlo has your number now. So you won't have to worry again." Sandro touched my cheek, turning my face so I could peer up at him.

"I missed you, too. So much," he whispered, and another grin made its way to my face. I couldn't stop it, and Sandro's eyes softened. "See, all you have to do is smile and I want to drop to my knees and give you the world. You're very dangerous, bellissima."

"I'm the dangerous one?" I asked, drawing my eyebrows together.

Sandro let out a small laugh. "You're never going to let me live that down,"

"Never."

"I don't blame you," he said, and I could hear the playfulness in his voice. Sandro knew I wasn't mad at him, but the 'never letting him live it down' part was in fact one hundred percent true. It was leverage that I, unashamedly, savoured.

"You're not a bad man, Sandro." I whispered, letting my hand rest on his thigh. I felt like he needed the reassurance, and it was evident that he appreciate it in the way his entire body relaxed underneath me. "Only sometimes," I added, and he laughed out loud and I smiled at the sound of it.

"God, you're amazing. Thank you." He leaned down, giving me a soft kiss on my temple. I turned my head to capture his lips in mine because I had no words to describe how much I missed kissing him. It was scary, but I ignored it and enjoyed the moment.

Sandro palmed the back of my head, kissing me deep and hard. I pulled away when I felt a twitch in his lips that immediately told me he was in pain. He moaned in objection, but I sat up straight and faced him. His lips were in a small pout, and I could tell he wanted another kiss.

"About that shower..." I said suggestively, and if I wasn't mistaken, Sandro's cheeks flared up with a blush.

"Fuck," Sandro groaned, letting his head fall back. Something grew between his thighs, and my mouth dropped. Was Sandro having flashbacks? It looked like he was, and I had to admit that I was too.

I hadn't stopped thinking about that day, and I hadn't stopped thinking about the night in his penthouse too. All of them were memories that made my blood pressure rise in an extremely unhealthy way.

"Let's go have that shower," Sandro said eagerly, taking my hand in his.

"I don't understand how you're even standing right now. Have you seen yourself?" I said without removing my eyes from his torso. We were in his large shower, where I had a full view of his naked body. The sight was gruesome. Blue and purple bruises covered his ribs on both sides, and I was sure there were more bruises underneath the tattoos. It looked like it hurt to breathe.

Sandro shrugged, looking down at himself. "It's not as bad as it looks. I bruise easily, just like you. And plus, I've been through worse."

"That's not the point," I stated, before eventually sighing and closing my eyes. When I opened them, Sandro was looking at me expectantly.

"What is the point, bellissima? Don't stress about it. I'm breathing. I'm walking. That's more than what I can say for the person who did this," he said, grabbing a bottle of shampoo. I don't know if his words were supposed to make me feel better but it didn't. I dropped the matter regardless.

"Wait," I said, grabbing the bottle from him. "Let me. Just keep your brace out of the water, please." I said, and he wordlessly nodded. I proceeded to lather the product into his hair while he stared at me intently, like he was scrutinising every nook and cranny of my face.

All my flaws and imperfections were out in the open, and I wanted to bow my head to avoid his gaze.

My heart jumped when his hand rested on my bare waist.

"Stop looking at me like that," I mumbled. I don't think he realised how he looked at me, and the affect it had on me.

"How?" he asked, confirming my suspicions. Was he really that oblivious?

"Nevermind," I said, shaking my head and gestured for him to duck his head underneath the water for a rinse. I weaved my hands through his hair until it was product free. When I was done, he opened his eyes and continued to stare at me the same way..

"Alessandro, stop staring at me." I said firmly, letting out a small laugh. He chuckled, and I couldn't help but admire his smile. His dimples, his sparkly eyes and the dark hair sticking to his forehead – Sandro was a beautiful man, and he looked even better up close.

Droplets ran down his face, and it managed to make his already plump lips seem even fuller.

"You're beautiful, and you're naked. I don't want to look down when I know my body is too sore to satisfy you the way you deserve. Taking this shower with you was a really bad idea because I'm two seconds away from turning you around," he explained with an unbelievably gentle tone considering what he just said.

My breath stuck in my throat, and I found air again when his thumb stroked my skin. I looked down at his hand on my waist, and then back up at him.

Maybe...

"I want to try something," I whispered, reaching out to slide my hand down his stomach. He tensed underneath my touch, and his flaccid dick quickly raised. I almost laughed at how fast that was.

"Bellissima," he breathed, looking at me with a longing expression. "What are you doing?"

"I think you know," I said softly, moving closer to him. I saw him visibly gulp, and then his fist clenched at his side. He did that thing with his fingers, and I knew that he was serious when he mentioned turning me around. I wanted him to, so fucking badly. But he was hurt and I didn't want to make it worse.

"You said your body is too sore to satisfy me the way I deserve," my voice was a mere murmur, but he heard me. Finally, his eyes dropped down to my breasts and I saw the lust creeping in. Sandro's hand on my waist grew tighter as he nodded.

"But," my fingers trailed down his abdomen until I was met with the soft skin on his dick. "Mine isn't,"

Sandro inhaled, raising his hands to rest his palms on the tiled wall behind me.

"Stop teasing me, bellissima. I can't take it anymore," Sandro's voice cracked, and he sounded frustrated. My gaze was fixated on his toned stomach, and the droplets dripping down the crevices. A mouth-watering sight, holy...

My heart was pounding with anticipation. I had never done it before. What if I was terrible at it?

Sandro must have noticed my internal debate, because he was about to push himself off the wall when I stopped him. Not verbally. Instead, I dropped down to my knees without hesitation.