Cabin Fever

by Shani Greene-Dowdell et al.

  “Hmm?”

  “Why do you want to move to Canada?”

  “To be with you.”

  “Is that the only reason? Would you like being here?”

  I frown as I ponder the question. I never really thought about it. Outside of visiting my grandparents, I haven’t really spent much time there. I’m sure I wouldn’t have trouble adjusting since I’ve traveled quite a bit. We are talking about a permanent move.

  “Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll like it, but there’s only one way to find out. Besides, my dual citizenship makes it easier.”

  “Dual citizenship?”

  Rolling to my side, I search for a more comfortable spot. “Yes. My mom is from Canada. I was born in Montreal. My grandparents were there until they passed.”

  “Wow. And you make fun of me for saying ‘eh?’” I love the laughter in her voice.

  “Just because it’s in my blood, doesn’t mean I have to say it,” I tease. “More importantly, I was raised in Italy.”

  “Is your mom Italian as well?” The curiosity I love so much is back.

  “Yes. That’s how they met. She was visiting Italy because she wanted to see where her family started.”

  “I never thought about it like that. Guess I should go visit the Congo since my DNA said that’s where it all started.”

  “I’ll put it on our ‘ to-visit’ list,” I promise her.

  “Do you really want to go?”

  “Yes, it made you possible.”

  “Sounds like I need to check out Verona then,” she says thoughtfully. “It would be nice to see everything you talk about.”

  “Let me know when you want to visit, and I’ll make it happen. How’s the story going?” My question is meant to steer her away from the visiting conversation. It makes me miss her more and feel anxious.

  I need to get back to her and the family we’re creating.

  Chapter 26

  Luca

  My parents have been rotating between my house and Zio’s while they search for a home. I told them I’m hardly home, but they do not want to crowd me. I can understand their point. Our relationship has been better over the last week than it has for most of my life, but it’s best not to overdo our exposure to each other. Besides, I like saying dirty things to Elissa when she calls. I stare at my watch; she hasn’t responded to me all day. Okay. I’m being dramatic. She would still be asleep at six in the morning her time, but I’ve grown accustomed to her had-to-pee-so-I’m-responding-before-I-pass-out-again texts. I didn’t know I’d have an attitude after not receiving one.

  Switching to my computer, I begin to look over the listings she’s found. With a six-million dollar budget, I’m still not loving the houses. They’re huge with every amenity, but they don’t feel right. I know I’ll have to pick the most aesthetically pleasing options when I fly out to see if I can get a feel for them. Scrubbing my face, I stare out into the view from my desk. The blue-green lake winks at me as the trees are blown by the slight wind.

  With a sigh, I search for homes on the water, but it’s not the same. I shake it off. I’ve never lived anywhere else and just need to adjust. I’m sure I’ll find things I like or love about living there especially since I’ll have Elissa. The thought of her erases my doubts. Fuck the house, she can pick.

  Resolved, I began writing her a text with my decision. Somebody's knocking on my door. I press ‘send’ a little before I answer.

  Luca: You pick. I don’t care where we live as long as we’re together.

  I’m stuck at my door because I’m sure my eyes are deceiving me.

  “I’m glad you said that,” Elissa says as she smiles up at me. “I choose here.”

  Without a word, I grab her. Crushing her to me, my mouth covers hers before another word could be uttered. Fuck, it feels good to hold her. Elissa moans into my kiss and locks her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist when I pick her up. We kiss against my open door. The feel, taste, and scent of her have me ready to take her on the door in the open air with no concern about who could walk by at any moment. One hand grabs a boob and the other gets a handful of her ass. The noise Elissa makes falls between a laugh and a moan. Searching for strength, I pull away, let her fall to her feet, and grab her luggage. I slam the door once I have everything inside and carry her into my room.

  My shirt flies across the room, and I’m working on my pants while Elissa tries to take in the decor.

  “Spogliati!” I command as I strip.

  “What?” Elissa asks now that her attention is back on me eating up my almost nude body.

  “Strip. Now. If you want to live here, you have to learn Italian.”

  My order was pointless. I took over when I felt she wasn’t moving fast enough. Naked, we fall into my bed, and I take a moment to stare at her.

  “What?” Her question is almost self-conscious.

  “I’m so happy you’re here.”

  Elissa pulls me in for a quick kiss before responding. “Once you started talking about moving an entire operation to Toronto just for me…”

  “No. Don’t make it sound like you’re not the most important person in my life,” I interrupt her.

  “The point I’m making, Luca, is I’m an author who can write from anywhere! Why in the hell would you not consider me moving over you rearranging your entire life?” She grabs my face making sure I look her in her eyes. “If you’re willing to move for me, you have to know I’d be willing to move for you.”

  “I love you,” I confess with everything I’m feeling coloring my words.

  “I love—oh...” Elissa doesn’t get a chance to finish the sentiment. She moans her relief and pleasure when I enter her. I wipe at the tears clouding her eyes as she speaks. “I missed you so much.”

  Being inside her is all I want and seeing her happy is everything I need. Stopping, I look at her, so she can listen. “You’ll never have to worry about missing me again.”

  ***

  Elissa

  I did it. Never thought I would, but I uprooted my life, threw the non-essentials in storage, and moved to another country for a man. Okay, not any man. I feel for Luca more than I’ve ever felt for anyone else, and the view from his balcony is spectacular. Part of me knew I’d come back to Italy one day, but the how and why never factored in an internet affair that would lead to love and pregnancy.

  The long flight and five-hour jump into the future, only to be worked over by my boyfriend, sent me into instant sleep. I awaken from my mini coma to feel Luca’s arms still wrapped around me. His beard tickles my shoulder when he kisses it. My stomach growls at the smell of food.

  “Luca, how are you cooking and in here with me?”

  “I’m not,” he informs me with a kiss to my temple. “My parents are.”

  I pop up for several reasons.

  “Why are they here now? Why didn’t you warn me? When were you going to wake me?”

  Luca pushes some of his waves out of his face as he sits up to face me.

  “They’re here because they split time between mine and my uncle’s home. I should have told you when I said it went better than expected, but I was drained. My dad apologized for being a bad parent and told me he loved me. After our heart to heart, I sat down with my mom as she expressed similar feelings. They’re moving back here.” He grabs my hand and squeezes it with his warm fingers. Luca knows he’s just hit me with a lot of information. “I didn’t warn you or wake you because your rest is more important than you meeting them. I know how hard the time change can be, and I’m not pregnant.”

  I’m glad that they told Luca what he wants to hear, but I’m also skeptical of their motivation. I hope and pray they are serious and not taking him on a ride. The protectiveness I feel makes me frown at his news, although my comments say the opposite.

  “I’m happy you got the closure you needed.”

  “I want to believe that, but your face tells a different story.”

  Luca’s observation makes me c
huckle. “I really am happy you’re getting a second chance that others don’t, but right now, my happiness only applies to you. In case I’m not explaining myself clearly, your parents hurt someone I love, and since I don’t know them, I can’t bounce back as quickly as you did. I know you love them, all your hurt showed that you cared deeply. They’ll need to be around for a while for me to get it. I’ll never be rude and disrespect them because you love them, but I have no problem cutting them if they act like the people they were before last week. Does that make sense?”

  Luca beams at me and pulls me into a hug. “Thank you for your honesty. They know it’s not an overnight fix, and so far, they have been trying their best. I understand your point, and I’m also concerned you have a thing for cutting people…”

  Being caught off guard makes me giggle. “Keep that in mind for the future. I’d hate for you to make my list.

  Luca’s phone catches his attention when it buzzes. He smiles as he reads the text. Having time to study him, I notice he is lighter in general. The dark, dirty guy that hunted me down is still there, but he’s not carrying clouds anymore. That alone could help me appreciate his parents' return.

  “My dad just texted me that they saw your luggage and will be leaving us some food. They’ll leave after they eat to give us more time alone.”

  The news makes me smile.” I like them a little more, now. Do they know I’m pregnant?”

  “No. I figured we’d tell them together.”

  Luca flinches when I hit him with a pillow. “Now, you want to do joint announcements.”

  “What?” He chuckles and takes the pillow. “We told your parents together.”

  “Is that what you call it, snitch?”

  Luca grabs me and folds me back into spooning. “Calm down before I fuck you back to sleep.”

  Chapter 27

  A Month Later

  Elissa

  I was excited when Luca announced a weekend getaway. My excitement to explore Italy with a native was short-lived when the car ride and my pregnancy lulled me to sleep.

  “Wake up, love,” Luca whispers with a peck to my lips.

  Stretching, I look around at the trees and the lush green yard looks as if it continues for miles. To my right, a wood cabin sits secluded in the woods. Usually, the idea of being in a cabin in the woods would not be ideal, but there are two factors that are helping my decision to get out of the car: I trust Luca, and I need to pee.

  Announcing the latter to Luca, I walk/waddle toward the cabin ahead of a chuckling Luca. He unlocks the door, and I would think the wood motif would be cool if I weren’t hyper-focused on locating the bathroom.

  “So good,” I moan as I empty my bladder.

  “You’re only supposed to say that when I’m doing something to you,” Luca calls from the bedroom.

  “You’ll never know what it’s like being pregnant and needing to pee. It’s—”

  I lose my train of thought when he appears wearing nothing but a smile. It’s amazing that he still has the power to make me speechless with a look.

  Damn, looks like I’m doing an Italian book series.

  “You’re funny,” he tells me as he starts removing my clothes.

  “Why?”

  “Because you look both horny and inspired to write.”

  “That’s because I am,” I confess before his lips cover mine.

  I hold on like he’s my lifeline as he walks me back and under the warm spray of the shower. We’d be fighting right now if my hair weren’t braided. My brain is all over the place these days. Breaking the kiss, I ask him a question that isn’t a high priority, but I keep forgetting.

  “How do your parents like their new place?”

  Luca cages me in, pressing his palms against the shower wall as he stares down at me. The water dripping down his body and molding to his muscles makes him even sexier.

  “I have you naked in the shower, and now, you’re concerned about my parents?”

  Picking me up, he presses my back against the cool tile. I’m trapped between the wall and his body. At their own volition, my legs wrap around his waist as if they know where they belong. Luca grabs my chin forcing me to look at him. The steel in his hold reminds me of how he was before I was pregnant.

  “I must be losing my touch.” His growl makes me wetter than I am.

  The rough man inside of him devours my lips with a kiss that has me moaning on contact. I’ve missed this, and I can tell by the way his eyes roll back when he slams into me that he misses it, too.

  “The second trimester has made you bold,” I coo as he delivers thrusts of the same caliber. Once we found out at a recent doctor visit that rough sex is okay sometimes, but it’s still best not to get too carried away, Luca was like a Cheshire cat the rest of the day. I’m surprised he’d waited.

  “Expect to be sore this weekend.”

  His announcement, the way his chest teases my sensitive nipples, and his hot tongue licking my lips have me cuming hard and screaming his name. I haven’t seen the rest of the property, and he’s already giving me my first orgasm of the weekend.

  “That was too easy,” he teases with a nip to my ear. “You better make me work for it next time.”

  ***

  My nap had me disoriented. It took a moment to remember where I was because I’m in bed alone. Sitting up, my hand hits something hard. Focusing, I notice a white box. Luca’s bold handwriting is on the lid and it reads: The Beginning.

  Opening it, I find an autographed copy of Drax’s redemption with a note.

  I wouldn’t have found you without this book. Follow the green ribbon.

  Slipping into one of his t-shirts, I follow the green ribbon into another room where I find another white box that reads: The Story.

  Lifting the lid, I find Gio’s Revenge also autographed with a note.

  This story brought us together, and there’s a little of me and you inside. Follow the red ribbon.

  Shakily, I put the book down and follow his instructions. I’m curious and emotional by the time I enter the living room. Luca is still nowhere to be found, but the next box is on the table. Unlike the other two, there is a picture on the front. I laugh when I get closer and realize It’s a book cover. It’s a picture of Luca and me and the title reads: Luca and Elissa: The Next Chapter.

  The box is lighter than the others, but I’m still surprised to find it empty.

  I feel Luca behind me. He’s not touching me, but his body heat means he’s close.

  “Our lives changed in the other cabin; I brought you to this one to do it again,” he says from behind.

  “Why is it empty?”

  “Because,” he begins as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind, then nuzzles my neck. “The story hasn’t begun yet.”

  “Why not?” I ask, my curiosity is high because of the mystery.

  “You have to say ‘yes’ first.”

  I turn, surprised, I know where this is going, I just can’t believe it. My heart pounds, my eyes water, and my hands shake as if they believe it.

  “What?”

  Luca pulls out a ring. It’s a beautiful rose gold band with an emerald cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds.

  “Agree, and the rest of our story can begin.”

  “You have to ask me first.”

  Luca grins at me and wiggles the ring. “I just did.”

  I laugh because although he’s so full of shit, this is my kind of proposal. Luca kiss kills my laughter and ignites something else, but he pulls away before I can get lost in it.

  “Put on the ring, Woman.”

  Sliding the ring on my finger, I give a ‘Luca-like’ response. “Well, if you’re not officially asking, I’m not officially agreeing.”

  “I asked and you agreed,” Luca announces in his ‘that’s final’ tone as he ushers me back to the bedroom. “Then, you and your belly will meet me at the altar sometime within the next two months.”

  “Luca—”

  “Now,
that that’s settled,” he cuts me off as he sits on the bed and pulls me into his lap. “You’re going to rest while I get some food to feed you. You will need your energy.” His words are hot, but his eyes are tender when they connect with mine. “I love you and our child more than anything, Wife.”

  Hearing him call me ‘wife’ calls forth the tears I’d fought earlier.

  “I love you too, Gio,” I tease with a smirk.

  “Very funny. Now, I’ll have to torture you until you’re hoarse from screaming my name.

  The End

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