Chapter 11 - Too close Brenda got out of bed like every day and stepped into the shower. The sheets had stuck to her a bit, and she was running very short on time.The night before, she had taken a long time to fall asleep because she had heard Giovanni awake until very late. He had been working in his office until the early hours of the morning, and she couldn't sleep peacefully until she felt him asleep.Even though in the month she had been there, he had never tried anything other than teasing her on any occasion he could, she still didn't trust that he didn't want to claim some kind of sexual relationship.She felt especially tense when he returned early from work and realized he hadn't been with Francesca. On the days he returned after dinner, which had happened two or three times, she slept better.The previous night, she had stayed awake listening to the noises and fearing to hear his steps stopping at her door or the sound of the doorknob turning, but finally she heard Giovan

Chapter 13 - A proposal That Friday, Giovanni hadn't come home to sleep. He had spent the entire night out, and Brenda had barely slept.She couldn't help but feel slightly worried. Surely, he would be with Francesca, but what if that wasn't the case? What if something had happened to him with the motorbike?Maybe he had been drinking, and in that city, traffic was crazy.When she came back from class and he wasn't there, she sensed that he wouldn't come to dinner and would arrive late, but what she initially thought would be a quiet and relaxed night at home had turned into a half-asleep vigil, waiting to hear his keys in the lock.But when she got up in the morning, there were no signs that he had returned all night. He had probably been at Francesca's house, although she wasn't sure.Brenda had thought about going downtown and buying the drawing material she needed, but she didn't dare to leave the house in case he returned.In the end, she decided, and when she returned at noon,

Chapter 15 - Mother-in-law visitGiovanni's mother did indeed arrive on Sunday afternoon. He went to pick her up at the bus station, and Brenda returned early from her walk to be home when they arrived.She was determined to make a good impression, despite what Giovanni had told her about his mother. Surely he was exaggerating.When they arrived, Brenda asked solicitously if she would like something to drink, but her mother-in-law replied that she would not, as she would have dinner early.Giovanni had warned her not to pay much attention to her, as she would likely criticize everything they did."Don't let anything she says affect you. It's just one day," he had commented.Brenda found it hard to believe everything he had told her. When she met her on the day of the wedding, she had behaved properly, cold but polite and courteous.When Giovanni went into the kitchen to prepare dinner, she commented:"So, you're the one who has to cook? Doesn't your wife cook?""Brenda cooks when it's

Chapter 17 - Kisses, Desire and Wet DreamsThat afternoon, Brenda had been drawing in the living room, trying to push aside the conversation she had with Giovanni.She didn't know why she had gotten so upset just thinking about him wanting to hook up with Isabella, but the thought of them together had made her blood boil.She told herself it was because she didn't want to continue being seen as the cuckold in the relationship.She went to her room to undress for a bath, trying to shake off the embarrassment that weighed on her and was driving her crazy."At last, I feel like new," she sighed after spending half an hour in the shower.She emerged with only a towel wrapped around her body, confident that Giovanni wouldn't be home yet; she had made sure to check the time, and there were still a couple of hours left before his workday ended.She felt her heart skip a beat when she heard a noise and then began pounding in her throat when she saw Giovanni emerge from his room in the nude.S

Trip to the AlpsThe day of the trip dawned clear and sunny.Giovanni had advised her to pack warm clothing in the luggage and had also accompanied her to buy hiking boots because he anticipated they would go on some hiking excursions.He had also bought her a motorcycle helmet, although he warned her that if she didn't want to ride with him, she could ride in the car with Marco."If you promise me you won't speed, I'll go with you.""I promise. I never speed on the bike.""What about the day of the wedding? You showed up at the courthouse going who knows how many kilometers per hour.""That day I had to impress you, and besides, it was in the city," she looked at him, incredulous, "No, really, I don't speed, and I assure you it will be quite an experience riding up to the mountains on the bike. It feels like you can touch the sky with your hand."Marcelo left on Friday night to prepare the house, and the rest of them left on Saturday morning.Brenda got on the bike with Giovanni and