Chapter 46 Did He Want Her Heart?
They started with the Accademia Gallery, one of the major attractions in Florence. Their guide Enzo Romano was very knowledgeable, and the experience was truly worth the effort. As the home of Michelangelo's 'David,' the Gallery was extremely crowded, yet they enjoyed their time there. Christian didn’t leave her hand even once as they followed their guide around. Baffled by everything around her, Skylar was glad of his presence beside her. She wouldn’t want to get lost in an unknown city.
“How was the experience?” asked Christian after they emerged from the place. Enzo had left to cater to another group.
“It was great! Enzo gave us more insight than the history books we read. And David is more breath-taking in real life than in the pictures. Thanks for this tour, Christian.”
Christian scoffed and looked away, not liking her remark. “What’s there in David? I’m more well-endowed than he is!”
“Stop! I don’t wanna listen to your crude jokes!” She turned away, her face flushed with embarrassment. Didn’t the guy have no control over his mouth?
“I’m not joking! You’ll see for yourself!” He followed her with a smirk, loving her blush.
“I don’t want to.” She closed her ears and rushed forward aimlessly while he chuckled behind her.
“Are you tired or do you wish to do something more?” he asked, chuckling at the wide-eyed look on her face.
“Something more? Like what?”
“Checking out the Gallerie Degli Uffizi nearby, maybe.” Skylar breathed a sigh of relief, feeling embarrassed at herself for jumping to the wrong conclusions. What was wrong with her? Why did Christian St. James affect her so much? She followed him to the car, and they drove over to the museum.
“One of the great museums of the world, the Uffizi, houses the premier collection of Italian Renaissance art. A visit here would be incomplete without seeing the Uffizi.”
“How many times have you seen it?”
“Not even once. I came four times to Florence for the hotel deal but didn’t get a chance to sightsee. This is the first time and I’m enjoying it thoroughly with you.” Skylar smiled at his enthusiasm as they alighted and met their guide in front of the museum. It seemed Christian had already booked the tickets online beforehand. The queue in front was so huge, it would have taken them another five hours to buy the tickets.
The guide was very informative and for the next two hours; they were lost in the works of the masters, such as Botticelli, Titian, Michelangelo, and da Vinci amongst others. It was quite an experience for Skylar who wasn’t used to such trips.
Christian took her to visit the Piazza della Signoria next to see the Palazzo Vecchio and the Renaissance Statues. Next they checked out the Piazza del Duomo, which was the complex of the Opera del Duomo. They didn’t need a guide for these, as Christian knew a lot about them. Skylar listened intently, admiring the man for his narrative skills. He was not just drop-dead gorgeous, but knowledgeable and patient as well. Despite her rude behavior towards him in the beginning, he didn’t mistreat her even once.
“We’ll visit the Battistero di San Giovanni now before returning to the hotel.”
Skylar gazed at the old religious building with awe.
“This is an 11th-century baptistry, the oldest religious building here on the vast cathedral square.” He showed her the three sets of doors conceived as panels illustrating the story of humanity and redemption.
“Most celebrated are Lorenzo Ghiberti's gilded bronze doors at the eastern entrance, the Porta del Paradiso, or the Gate of Paradise. Come on, let's see it.”
After an hour, Skylar was too hungry to continue. “I’m tired. I can’t walk anymore, Christian. Can we return to the hotel?”
They went back to the hotel and Christian ordered dinner. Skylar had just freshened up when their dinner arrived.
“Wow! Looks fabulous! I could eat all of this!” she gasped, sitting down opposite him.
“There’s more on the way!”
“Mmm, this is so good!” She licked the cheese off her lips, drawing his attention to them. He had to stop thinking of kissing her now or he would go crazy.
“What was the best attraction of the day for you?” he asked absent-mindedly, his gaze still stuck on her lips.
“Undoubtedly, David!” she said, watching him clench his jaws briefly with annoyance.
“Seriously? What did you see in him that made him your favorite?” he demanded with a frown.
“I’m talking from the artistic point of view. Michaelangelo created this masterpiece to perfection. His eyes, the pulsing veins on the back of his hands, all give make him look alive. Please, Christian, it’s a biblical character. You have no reason to feel jealous!”
“I’m just joking, Skylar. Relax!”
“Oh! So, what did you like the most?”
“Same as what you liked.” They smiled at one another and enjoyed the rest of the meal. It was an improvement from their earlier bickering over every single issue. Christian was glad she was slowly melting towards him. He would now do everything in his power to tempt her to fall for him.
After dinner, Christian showed her the photographs he had taken earlier.
“Please forward them to me. I want to show my friends.”
“What will I get?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Skylar groaned, knowing what he would demand now. She should have seen that coming.
“I can treat you to lunch tomorrow,” she suggested, but he shook his head vehemently.
“No, that won’t do.”
“I’ll give you a head massage, then?”
“Nope!”
“Umm, I can make a nice dinner for you when we get back!”
“No, that won’t count. You’ll forget about it. I want something now!”
“Okay! I’ll give you a kiss.” She rolled her eyes at the shit-eating grin on his face.
“Who’s asking for just a kiss?” Skylar gaped at the man, horrified by his remark. If not a kiss, what did he want?
“Then what do you want? I’m sorry, I have nothing else to give you.”
“You do, Skylar. You have a beautiful heart.” He smiled at the perplexed look on her face before walking away towards the washroom for a shower. Couldn’t she still guess what he wanted from her? He wanted her heart, her love!
Skylar sat in a state of daze. What did he mean by that? Did he want her heart? No, it couldn’t be. He was playing mind games with her! Maybe a good night’s sleep will help her calm her jumbled nerves. She wouldn’t ask him for the pictures again. She couldn’t trade her feelings, her heart, and her soul.
“What’s disturbing you?” asked Christian, seeing her sitting in the same place where he had left her ten minutes ago. Skylar came out of her reverie and looked at him. It was a mistake, and she immediately looked away from his freshly showered bare torso. Clad only in a pair of black sweatpants, he looked irresistible indeed. All her earlier thoughts simply evaporated from her mind. At that moment, his semi-nudity disturbed her the most, but she couldn’t tell him that. Could she?
‘No, absolutely not! It will boost his already inflated ego!’ reminded her inner mind.
“Nothing at all. Umm, I think I’ll shower too.” She jumped up and rushed into the bedroom. Christian wanted to ask her if she needed a cold one as he did. The way her eyes swept over his body, he was sure he saw a flicker of desire reflected in them. He didn’t want her to douse it with a cold shower. He wanted to continue where they left off earlier.
He went into the bedroom and lay down to wait for her. Would she allow him near her tonight? After all, that was what this trip was all about, right? He wanted her to know him better. He wanted her to learn to trust him more. Maybe she did since she hadn’t mentioned the contract marriage recently. So would she marry him for real?
His phone buzzed with an incoming message from Lillian.
Sebastian has returned to New York. They will come over to Cleveland soon for the wedding!–Lillian.
That’s wonderful news. I’ll call him tomorrow.–Christian.
He released a sigh of relief. With the news of Sebastian’s marriage, Christian felt the need to marry Skylar soon. All his siblings were well settled with the ones they loved. He was the only one still struggling!
The door opened, and Skylar emerged, avoiding his piercing gaze. Christian checked out her lavender pajamas, hugging her body well. Nothing missed his hawk-like gaze. From the exposed swell of her breasts to her long, creamy expanse of legs, he noticed them all. It aroused him to a new level altogether. The cold shower he took earlier was therefore of no use to him.
He waited for her, knowing that there was no kid’s room here for her to escape. She had to sleep with him! Tonight, she couldn’t push him away.