Chapter 17
I watched Emiliano unbutton his shirt and shrug out of it then He removed the comforter from his bed and got in under the sheets and patted the space next to him, silently inviting me to join. I couldn't hide the hurt look on my face when I shook my head no. Emiliano leaned up on his elbow and said,
“Please, Hera. I promise I won’t try anything, I just want to hold you in my arms.”
I wanted nothing more than to sleep next to him again. I had never slept so peacefully than I did in his arms. I felt my eyes well up when I faintly said,
“If you were mine, Don Emiliano, I would kill you if you slept with another woman.”
Emiliano looked down hurt and I knew I probably reminded him of *her* existence. I walked over to the door and before closing it behind me I said,
“Sweet dreams, Don Emiliano.”
I got into my room and got ready for bed. I changed into a white fluffy crop top with racerback straps and matching white fluffy short shorts. I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. I finally climbed into bed and went to sleep.
The next morning I woke up and brushed my teeth and went downstairs. I found Emiliano sitting at the dining table with his laptop open with only a pair of grey sweatpants on. I went to take a seat at the other end of the table when I noticed all of the chairs were gone except for the one next to his. As I gracefully walked up to the empty chair, Emiliano looked up at me and said,
“You’re up early.”
I took a seat and looked annoyed as I poured some coffee into my cup. Emiliano asked,
“What’s wrong, Hera?”
“How do you know what time I wake up? This is a normal hour for me.”
Emiliano rubbed his eyes and said,
“I guess I’m used to Anka sleeping until noon.”
I turn to him with fire in my eyes and said,
“Stop comparing us. *She* won’t measure up.”
Emiliano smiled and said,
“I like these pajamas.”
He tried to disarm me by running his finger across my thigh and tucking it under my fluffy shorts and I slapped his hand away and he chuckled and said,
“Mi piace quando sei esuberante.”
*“I like when you are feisty.”*
I reset my expression and drank my coffee. Don asked me if I was hungry and I shook my head. He leaned in close to me and said,
“Go get ready, I want to show you something.”
I got up out of my chair and went back upstairs to my room. I went into my suitcase and got out my shower bag with my shampoo, conditioner, and soap and got into the shower. When I got out of the shower, I lathered myself in my coconut scented lotion and put on a beige cotton thong and a beige bra. I went back into the bathroom to blow dry and curl my hair and put on some tinted moisturizer. I got dressed in white high waisted skinny jeans, a beige chunky crop top sweater and a pair of beige cheetah print pumps. I went downstairs and found Emiliano in his office at his desk behind his open laptop. His unruly beard now a neat goatee, in black slacks and a black button up shirt with his hair slicked back. He looked up and stared at me for moment before saying,
“You look great, Hera.”
I couldn't hold back my smile and I asked,
“You wanted to show me something?”
Emiliano got up from his seat, took me by the hand, and led me out of the house and into a black SUV. The vehicle started moving and Emiliano took a deep breath while he looked out the window and I asked him what was wrong. He frowned for a moment before confessing,
“I don’t like the way the Spaniard is treating Anka.”
I took my hand from Emiliano’s and rested it on my lap and asked,
“Is he hurting *her*?”
Emiliano took a deep breath and said,
“No, it seems as if he thinks Anka belongs to *him*.”
I saw Emiliano clench his fists and the thunder started rumbling in my ears. Emiliano saw the cold look on my face and he grabbed my hand, being sure to graze me between my legs, and I took a shallow breath. He smiled and asked,
“Do you like the weather here in Sicily?”
I look at him questioningly and replied,
“It’s nice.”
He looked down at his feet and said,
“And Sicily is so much closer to Greece than America.”
I stared him down and asked,
“What are you talking about, Emiliano?”
The SUV pulled into the driveway of a large meditarrean style house. The driver opened our door and Emiliano exited and helped me out. I looked at the beautiful white sharp edged house with arched windows and doors. Emiliano took my hand and gently pulled me inside the house. It was gorgeous. Blue and white tiled floors, exposed dark wood beams amongst the white ceiling. The kitchen was large and open with white brick flooring and white cabinets with white marble countertops. On the other side of the kitchen island was the large, spacious living room with big white couches on a vibrant colored rug.
Emiliano took me upstairs to the primary bedroom. Big and open with light blue walls, huge arched windows, a king size canopy bed complete with a sheer white canopy. The bathroom was just as impressive in size. With a jet tub in the corner set in white brick, a walk-in glass shower, and a wall to wall mirror and white marble counter and its own arched window. The wardrobe was also colossal. With rows and rows of shelves and closets, a vanity, and a white marble island in the middle. It was so massive and had so much storage I don’t even think the closet I had now, plus a lifetime of shopping would fill it. Emiliano stood from behind me and I could feel his breath on my neck when he asked,
“Do you like the house?”
He began to kiss my neck and I was instantly covered in goosebumps. He put one hand on my hip and pressed himself against me and I could feel his erection poking the top of my ass and I breathlessly said,
“Yes, it’s beautiful.”
Emiliano moved his hand from my hip to between my legs and I involuntarily let out an airy moan and he said,
“It’s yours.”
I snapped out of the daze Emiliano put me in and took a step away, out of his reach and turned to him. My blood turning to raging magma,
“What am I supposed to do with this house, Emiliano?”
I saw the shame on his face and I fumed,
“You want me to just sit here? While you and your *wife* and your *baby* are a family, you want me here in this house waiting for you?! Is that what you want, Emiliano?”
Emiliano didn’t look at me. I shoved passed him and shouted,
“Take me back, now!”
I stomped down every stair, I thought I was going to break my heels. I got out the front door and to the SUV and the driver opened the door. I sat in my seat as close to the door as I could and looked out the window. It felt like forever before Emiliano got in the SUV and we pulled out of the driveway. It was silent for awhile before Emiliano looked at me and whispered,
“If it wasn’t for my son, Hera, I would’ve made you mine.”
I could hear the thunder on the horizon, the waves beginning to get violent. I folded my arms in an attempt to ease they’re impact. We pulled up to the house and the driver let us out and Emiliano tried to hold my hand but I pushed passed him and went up to my room. I sat on the edge of the bed facing the window to soak in some sun, my face resting on my knees. Wishing I was home, taking my frustrations out on my assignments and stair climber. A tear escaped my eye and I let it go. I was too numb to wipe it away. I heard Emiliano’s footsteps approaching and he sat next to me. I expected him to say something, or wrap his arms around me, but he didn’t. We just sat there in silence.