Chapter 40: Bringing Her Home for the River View

After her shower, Livia saw the study door ajar but didn't intrude, choosing instead to walk out to the balcony.

In the late afternoon, the heat lingered, but the balcony offered a cozy retreat with its shade and a gentle breeze that tempted one to take a lazy nap.

She leaned on the railing, gazing at the river where the bustling central business district lay across from her.

The two rivers came together. The cruise ship's lights weren't on yet, but many tourists were already waiting at the dock.

Despite living in this city for years, she had never really taken the time to visit all the famous spots that topped the online rankings.

If it hadn't been for Angelo, she would never have had the chance to witness such breathtaking scenery.

As a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, pressing her against a hot chest, Livia didn't even bother to turn her head. "All finished?"

"Yes," Angelo's chin rested on top of her head. "You smell nice."

Livia's lips curled into a restrained smile.

"Feel like going for a spin on the yacht?" he asked her.

"It's hot."

"We'll go after it cools down at night."

"I should be heading back."

"You're on vacation, and you're not busy. What's the rush?" His hands caressed her waist as he bent slightly to whisper in her ear, his breath warm against her skin. "Stay."

It wasn't a request from Angelo but rather a statement of what he wanted.

Livia cleared her throat "What if one of your friends sees us?"

"None of my friends are coming over."

She let out a snort. "Didn't a certain someone stay over at your place last time? Which bed did she sleep in?"

Angelo knew she was digging up the past. "That was an accident."

"Yeah, accidents are so unpredictable, aren't they?" Her voice carried a touch of sarcasm. "Who knows, maybe someone drunk will turn up here after dark."

He spun her around to face him, his brows knitting slightly as he regarded her face with a hint of jealousy. "Are you really going to hold a grudge?"

"Not at all. How could I? I'm just stating the facts," Livia replied with feigned cheerfulness, "By the way, you and Valentia looked quite the match in that photo the other day."

Angelo's eyes narrowed slightly, but Livia's brows were raised, almost daring him to respond.

She could pretend none of it mattered, but now, with emotions running high, she couldn't help but feel a bit possessive.

"Did you miss the follow-up posts?" Angelo teased, his mood lightening as he played along with her pique.

"I saw them, but it's not like you sent them."

"Why else would they be sent out them out if not for my suggestion?"

Livia was toying with the buttons of his shirt, head lowered. "Valentia came to me that day, asking if we had broken up and whether our relationship is now just friends with benefits. It was clear she was bothered by my connection with you."

Livia wanted to know, just as much, how he would define their relationship.

"What did you just say?"

"I said it's just a physical need between adults. I think you're fit and have stamina, and we're both okay with it, so why not enjoy the pleasure of the moment? Who cares about labels as long as we're happy," Livia said, deliberately giving her words a light, carefree spin.

She didn't want to deal with heartbreak in front of him again, nor did she want to reveal how deeply she actually cared for him.

"Our arrangement means no strings attached, right? We have fun when we feel like it and go our separate ways when we don't," Livia said, tilting her head back and giving him a radiant smile.

Angelo gazed into her eyes, which still knew how to sparkle with laughter, but he didn't appreciate her reasoning.

Livia cocked her head playfully. "What's with that look? Doesn't it sit well with you that I'm being so sensible?"

Angelo's lips became a thin line, and his gaze changed from fiery to inscrutable. He just watched her in silence, setting off a twinge of discomfort inside her.

"It's really warm out here." Livia avoided his gaze and fanned herself with her hand. "It's getting late. I should head back."

Livia slipped her hand from his and started inside, only to be pulled back into his embrace against the railing in one swift move.

The wind tousled her hair, as chaotic as the turmoil in Livia's heart.

Her hands clung to his shoulders as she looked down nervously. "Is this railing safe? It won't break and send us tumbling down, will it?"

"You just want to be friends with benefits, is that it?" Angelo held her waist tightly.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Livia always felt insecure, fearing that in a moment of lost control, Angelo might push her over the edge.

Angelo's grip on her waist intensified as he moved closer. "I invited you to my place. If I only wanted to sleep with you, why wouldn't we just go to a hotel?"

Livia clutched his shirt, looking down, her voice trembling. "Can we go inside and talk? This is too dangerous."

"Are you just looking for a friend with benefits?" Angelo asked her, again.

Her heart racing, Livia stammered, "No."

"Then what is it?"

Livia fell silent.

Seeing her face turn pale with fear, Angelo scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the living room. The air conditioning was on a high, and for a moment, it made Livia shiver from the cold.

It took her a while to recover, then she looked at Angelo with eager eyes, swallowing hard. "I want to go home."

"You said you wanted to play around for five days, and it's only been three. You've got two more days to play here with me." Angelo's hand pressed at the back of her head, his body pinning hers, and his deep-set eyes focused on her face as he uttered firmly, "I'll keep you entertained!"

Her heart pounding fiercely, Livia had to admit that those words made her pulse race, and her hands involuntarily wrapped around his neck, eyes locking with his. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Livia licked her lips and arched up to kiss Adam's apple.

The moment she touched him, she could feel him tense up down there.

Angelo looked down at her, the desire in his eyes nearly breaking free. "You started this."

"I did," Livia admitted openly.

Angelo's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Then you can't blame me for what I’m about to do."

As soon as he spoke, he claimed her lips with his.

The two were inseparable, but suddenly, Angelo stopped.

With a hazy look in her eyes, Livia didn't understand why.

"How about enjoying the river view?"

Still wondering, Angelo carried her to the large floor-to-ceiling window, positioned her hands against the glass, and kissed her from behind.

Livia's blood seemed to freeze at that moment.

She wanted to turn around, but Angelo stopped her from behind, pressing her hands down, not allowing her to move.

Livia felt overwhelmed with shame.

Even though there were no houses opposite and no one could see what they were doing, the idea of making love by the window in broad daylight was something she found hard to accept.

The visceral shock made her feel as though she was exposed, threading the city's vast streets, inundated by a wave of shame and mortification.

Angelo kissed her shoulder and, sensing her rigidity, moved his hands to her smooth, flat belly, tracing circles with his fingertips, stirring her nerves. His breath feathered against her ear. "Not used to this?"