When I went to bed that night, I tossed and turned for hours. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the face of the man who had kidnapped those girls. My mind had captured the image of him standing over me, preparing to strike.It was all I could see.I tried my hardest to glue my eyes closed, to think happy thoughts-but I couldn't. I finally sat up in the bed, feeling defeated.Throwing back the covers, I got out of the bed and opened the bedroom door. I slowly walked downstairs, trying to stay quiet. I stood outside Luca's bedroom for a few moments, hesitating.Taking a deep breath, I put my hand on the door knob and turned it. Once in the bedroom, I could see the outline of Luca's body sleeping in his bed.I closed the door behind me and walked towards the bed quietly. Gingerly, I pulled back the covers and slid into the bed next to Luca.I fought against getting closer to him.With my head against the pillow, I took a few moments to breathe in his scent and immediately felt the anxie
I slept through the night peacefully. When I woke up, I realized why.Luca's arms were wrapped tightly around my body, one around my waist and the other around my shoulders. His chin was resting on my head, my face nuzzled into his neck.I was still for a few minutes, feeling his chest rise and fall steadily. His skin was warm under my touch as I traced the curvature of his bicep with my left hand, slowly dragging my fingertips to his chest."That tickles."His deep voice startled me and I pulled my hand away immediately. I whispered a quick apology, glad he couldn't see the blush that burned in my cheeks.We were silent for a few moments before I tried to roll over in a bid to escape Luca's embrace. He hesitated for a moment before releasing me."Couldn't sleep upstairs last night?" He asked, his voice deep.I shook my head as I stared at the ceiling, refusing to look at him."I couldn't get him out of my head," I admitted."Your dad?"I shook my head again, surprised that I hadn't t
I stared at the mug in front of me. I knew if I tried to pick it up, my shaking hands would drop it."We'll head out," Blaine said, pushing himself away from the counter."Let us know if you need anything else," Bates added, following Blaine to the front door.When the front door shut behind them, I looked at Luca to find him already staring at me.I knew what that look said. too. It was as if I knew exactly what he was thinking: You still want to go home?"He sounded crazy," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Luca pursed his lips."Don't let him scare you.""I don't know why he would think I was hurt. I told my mom that I was okay and Mady knows I'm okay---"I stopped mid sentence."The packages," I said suddenly.I bolted from the barstool and up the staircase to the loft."Amore, wait..."Running into the bedroom, I sunk to my knees and began to open each box, dumping their contents to the floor."Security never checked these," I muttered frantically."There might be somethin
I followed-no, hid-behind Luca as we walked along the breezeway and through the side door."I look like four-day-old shit," I mumbled as we walked inside.My ratty hair was still down in tangles. I hadn't washed my face that morning and I was adorned by the all the charm and glamor of an old t-shirt and gym shorts."Very cute four-day-old shit," Luca whispered back to me.I followed him closely into the kitchen. As I peeked around Luca's shoulder, I made eye contact with awoman who looked to be in her late-forties. With bronzed skin, dark hair and green eyes just like her son, I knew immediately who she was.She smiled widely and ran over."Hi! I'm Ana, Luca's mom. It's so nice to finally meet you," she said, grabbing me.I picked up on the slight accent entwined withher voice. She pulled me into a tight hug, all of the awkward tension melting away as she did so. I returned the hug and smiled as she pulled away."I'm Carrie, it's nice to meet you too.""I'm sorry to come over unanno
As soon as we finished eating, we gathered our plates and took them back into the kitchen."Are you going to put icing on that or are we eating it raw?"Aubrey asked Norah, pointing at the cake that was cooling on the stovetop.Norah looked at Aubrey and sighed."Of course I'm putting icing on it. I had to wait until it cooled off."Norah grabbed the container of icing and began scooping it out with a spatula to spread across the top of the cake. Ana was shaking her head at their interaction when she reached out to grab my plate."Let me help," I told her, placing my plate into the soapy dishwater.She didn't protest as the two of us worked in unison to clean the dirty dishes. Philip and the twins worked behind us to clean off the countertop, putting away the bags of potato chips into the pantry and the condiments back into the fridge.I noticed Hanna walking out onto the deck and taking a seat on the swinging bed that hung outside. A few minutes later, Luca followed her out there.I
I was laying on my back, staring at the ceiling, when the sun rose the next morning. My mind still reeling, I kept replaying those intimate moments over and over in my mind. I couldn't sleep until I understood how everything had happened so quickly...How did we go from agreeing we didn't need to be around each other to me giving Luca a hand job twenty-four hours later?I was mortified.It took everything within me to get out of the bed that morning and venture downstairs.Was it going to be awkward now?You thought it was awkward before, I reminded myself. To my great displeasure, Luca was sitting at the kitchen counter when I went downstairs. He sat shirtless, facing away from me with a cup of coffee in one hand and an iPad in the other, scrolling through the news.I wanted to turn and run back up the staircase as quickly as I could. He hasn't seen me yet. Maybe he doesn't know I'm standing here, I thought."Morning," he said, still staring at the iPad.I wondered briefly if I had s
Taking a shower when we got home was a workout in and of itself. My legs were shaking and ached every time I leaned over to grab the soap.I almost fell when I reached out to grab the towel from it's hook. Groaning, I dried myself off and tucked the towel under my arms as I emerged from the bathroom into the bedroom.I was surprised to find Luca sitting on my bed, pulling the towel tighter around me as he stood up.He stumbled over his words as he laid eyes on my towel-clad body."I-um.." he started, rubbing the back of his neck, "I have some stuff that I need to get done this afternoon. I just wanted to let you know I was leaving. I probably won't be home until late."I nodded."That's fine."Luca watched my reaction slowly and I realized I may have sounded too happy to hear he was leaving.Giving me a lingering gaze, Luca backed away towards the door."I guess I'll see you later, then," he said.I nodded again, following him.Our eye contact didn't break until I had closed the door.
The soft tracing of fingertips down my arm is what pulled me from sleep the next morning. I stirred for a moment, stopping when I realized where I was asmy eyes opened to the high ceilings of Luca's bedroom.Rolling over on my side, I felt Luca's hard body fill the space behind me, spooning me. His arm wrapped around my waist and tucked itself under me."Buongiorno, amore," he whispered, his breath fanning against the nook of my shoulder.I hummed in response, closing my eyes again.He kissed the spot just under my ear. My hand reached up to find his face, gently pushing his lips away from my neck."It's too early," I muttered, still half-asleep.I heard Luca chuckle as he pulled me into him closer."I don't mind laying here until it's not," he said.I jolted up, suddenly wide awake."Oh my God, what time is it?" I said, throwing the covers back. He groaned as he rolled over to look at his phone."Quarter till eight.""Shit, shit, shit," I muttered running across the room."Do you ha