As our relationship has progressed, I’ve felt more comfortable vocalizing how he makes me feel. And it seems to spur him on when I do.
This morning, it’s over way too quickly for my liking. Apparently even I hadn’t realized how much I needed this. But I know Angelo, and I know he’s nowhere close to done with me. He crawls back up between my legs and pulls me into a tender, passionate kiss. I moan into his mouth as our tongues twist and tangle, holding him as tight as I can and arching my hips in a silent plea.
Slowly, gently, he slides inside me and starts to move. He’s always gentle and sweet with me when we make love, but there’s something about today. It’s like everything is stepped up a notch. Like he’s trying more than usual to make sure he isn’t being too rough with me.
But the love? The passion? That’s there, with every kiss, every touch, every sweet nothing whispered to me in English and Italian.
As I curl up next to him afterwards, I wonder again if he knows my suspicions. Because he pulls me close, cradling my stomach like it’s precious cargo. Or like he knows it might be carrying precious cargo.
As I ready myself for our date tonight, another wave of nausea hits, causing me to abandon my array of dresses and sit on the edge of the bed as I comfort myself. Angelo is in the shower, allowing me the time to take deep breaths and ease the sickness. When I’m in his presence, I try to hide it so I don’t worry him.
Only this time, I won’t be hiding anything.
I drop the dress that’s in my hands and rush into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet in time.
“I’m sorry,” I cry, and sit on the floor with my back resting against the cool tile.
He exits the shower, tousling his hair with a towel before wrapping it around his waist, and sits beside me. He gathers my hand, lacing our fingers together and brings it to his lips.
“Do you want some water?” he asks.
I nod, ready to get the taste of vomit out of my mouth.
We keep a glass by the sink for taking painkillers and sleeping pills. After he draws a glassful of water, he hands it to me and sits beside me again while I take sips.
“Talk to me, baby,” he says, leaving kisses on my cheek.
“I’m fine. Honestly,” I say, resting my head on his shoulder.
“And that’s why you hurled just now.”
I chuckle weakly. “Do you trust me?”
“Always.”
“Then believe me when I say I’m fine.”
He releases a heavy sigh. “Okay, angel. Do you still want to go out tonight?”
“Yes. A little bit of sickness won’t stop me.”
As he rises, he turns to offer me a hand and helps me to my feet, pulling me into his embrace. Even with the cool beads of water on his skin, heat radiates from him.
“You’re making me wet,” I say as the water seeps through my shirt, then instantly regret it when I feel his…excitement through the towel. “Not like that.”
“I have no idea what you’re implying,” he teases.
I lean away and gaze at him through my lashes. His features emit innocence and I can’t help but giggle.
“If I hadn’t just thrown up, I’d kiss you right now,” I tell him.
He cups my face between his palms and pulls me to leave a tender kiss on my lips. “I love you, Eva. Puke and all. Now let’s get ready or we’ll miss our reservation.”
Right before eight o’clock, we pull up outside Uliveto. As I peer through the windshield, the memories of our first date filter into my mind. A smile graces my lips.
“We haven’t been here for a while,” I remark.
“Nope. And since we have such fond memories of this place, I figured you might like to revisit them,” he says.
“Starting with a kiss outside the car?”
One corner of his mouth hitches up. “Of course.”
As he exits the car, I can’t contain my giggle. I watch him circle the hood and open my door, offering me a hand. I feel we’ve traveled through time, back to our first date. He envelopes me within his arms and leans close, allowing our noses to touch before sliding the tip of his down the length of mine. My eyes flutter closed, just as I feel his soft lips against mine.
“Let’s head inside,” he says, banishing the hypnotic spell.
Well, that was unexpected.
I ignore the oddity and allow him to gather my hand and lead me inside. I nuzzle against him, allowing the soft fabric of his suit jacket to caress my cheek.
A young woman with short blonde hair stands beside the podium. She’s adorned in a black skirt and white blouse and wears a beaming smile as we approach.
“Angelo Cappellini,” she greets him. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re here!”
Over the course of the two years we’ve known each other, I’ve found it more and more irritating when women trip over their tongues. And it seems most women have tried to make him their conquest now that he’s “off the market.” As expected, she flirts with him, fluttering her eyes and accentuating her bust, but as always, he turns a blind eye to it.
“Yeah,” he says curtly. “Reservation for two.”
She seems completely unaware of his aversion as she continues to gaze into his eyes.
“Of course,” she says dreamily. “Right this way.”
She leads us to a corner booth, away from the other guests. Angelo gestures with an open hand for me to sit and joins my side. Only, he doesn’t rest his arm along the back of the sofa as he normally would. Instead, he rests his laced hands on the table.
“Can I get you a drink?” the woman asks Angelo.
“Johnnie Walker.”
“Orange juice,” I say, before she turns on her heel.
“Oh, yes, of course,” she says, looking surprised to see me sitting beside Angelo.
I arch one eyebrow and chew on the inside of my cheek as a surge of animosity flows through me. Angelo focuses on the burning candle centered on the table.
I lean forward, running my fingers up his back. “Is everything okay?”
“Hm?” he says, looking at me but still distracted.
“You’re not…you.”
“Oh, I’ve got a lot on my mind. I’m fine,” he says absentmindedly.
One corner of my mouth curves. “Liar.”
He chuckles and leans back to drape an arm around my shoulder and draw me close to him.
“Let’s just enjoy the evening and I’ll tell you later,” he says, leaving a kiss on my head.
I gaze up at him. “Is it bad? Work related? Other work related?”
Even after two years, I’m still not comfortable saying mafia out loud.
His laughter rumbles. “It’s nothing to worry about.” His lips brush against my ear and he lowers his voice. “And not mob related.”
I turn my head to face him, resting my lips against his. “Kiss me or I’ll think you hate me.”
“I could never hate you, angel,” he says, enclosing his arms around me to kiss me tenderly.
He’s still not his usual self. Even when he’s gentle, he still passionate.
After we order our meals, Angelo restlessness heightens. He drums his fingertips in an intermittent beat on the table while glancing around the room.
“What’s wrong? Afraid your wife will see us together?” A grin spreads across my lips.
“Huh?” He looks at me with a distant stare, causing my smile to fade.
“Okay, seriously, what’s going on?” I demand.
He opens his mouth to respond and promptly closes it again. He releases a long sigh and collects his tumbler to drain the amber liquid and returns the glass to the table.
“All right,” he begins, focusing on me for the first time tonight, “I’ve been doing some thinking, about you.”
He lowers his gaze to his nervous fingers that find comfort in one another.
Oh, my gosh. Is he breaking up with me?
My breath shudders as I try to stay calm.
He gazes at me
through his lashes. “Well, I know you’ve said that you don’t like your last name. Have you ever thought about changing it?”
I narrow my eyes. All this anxiety is over me changing my name?
“Well, yeah, plenty of times,” I say, confused. “But do you know how difficult it is to come up with a new surname? It’s not like I can pick one out of a hat.”
He chuckles and gathers my hand, brings it to his lips and leaves a kiss behind.
“Why? Do you have any suggestions?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I always thought Cappellini had a nice ring to it.”
I giggle. “Yeah, but I don’t think they’d…” I trail off and feel my eyes grow wide as I comprehend what he’s saying. Or at least what I hope he’s saying. The hummingbird’s wings flutter furiously. “Wait, are you…?”
The mischievous grin materializes as he raises his eyebrows briefly. “Eva, I know I’ve told you all this before, but since we first met, I knew you were different. I knew you were someone special and so beautiful. You took my breath away. Maybe I was selfish, but God, did I want you, right there and then.”
My free hand flutters up to conceal my giggle.
“Yes, you confused the hell out of me. At least, I was confused about the way you made me feel. I didn’t know what to make of it, but I did know I wanted you with me all the time. It’s why I had you in to work every night.”
I bite on my lower lip as my smile widens and suppress another giggle.
He kisses my hand again. “The moment I accepted that what I was feeling for you was love, that was it for me. I knew where it would lead me. Where it would lead us. But after the scare for both of us at Don Bellini’s…I tried, Eva. I tried to let you go. I knew how wrong and selfish it was to bring you into this life. But it’s like there’s this invisible cord tying me to you, pulling me back when I get too far away. Keeping me where I belong: at your side.
“Eva, since the day I met you, all I’ve wanted in the world is to love you, to keep you safe, and spend the rest of my life with you.” He releases my hand to reach inside his jacket and retrieve a small black velvet box and takes a deep breath before gazing into my eyes. “Will you marry me, angel?”
I clasp my hands over my mouth. A rogue tear slithers down my face. And I focus on the box as he opens it to reveal a white gold ring with a small diamond.
“I know you don’t like flashy things but I figured you might like a small ring,” he chuckles nervously.
My eyes flutter back to his. All the love he has for me permeates the room. I nod and convince my hands to fall to my lap so I can speak.
“Yes,” I whisper.
I hadn’t noticed my hands were trembling until he gathers the left one to slip the ring on my finger. He gathers me in his arms, chuckling.
“Ti amo, angel,” he whispers.
“Ti amo anch’io,” my voice quivers.
And then he seals our words with a kiss. The room around us fades as we meld into one. All the passion and love I’ve grown so used to returns to him. I feel it coming through in every brush of his lips against mine, and I wish we were home so we could lose ourselves to it completely.
As I select my attire for today, I run my fingertips along my array of dresses. Today isn't a day for fancy clothing, considering I'm meeting Alice in town. Though Angelo prefers to wear a suit every single day, I still find my jeans a more comfortable choice for such outings as this.
After slipping into them and fastening the button, I wonder how many months I'll have before exchanging my clothes for maternity ones. Even though I've yet to take a pregnancy test, I seem to have developed every possible symptom, and that’s enough to tell me that Angelo and I are going to be parents. I stand before the full-length mirror and turn sideways, resting my hands over my stomach. I wonder what I’ll look like when I start to show.
I’ve yet to tell Angelo, though I was tempted last night. After leaving Uliveto, I couldn't abate the joy emanating from my face.
“Have you ever thought about children?” I had asked Angelo the moment we entered his car.
“Why? Aren't you satisfied with me?”
With the darkness shrouding us, it was impossible for me to see his expression, though the moment his warm hand nestled into mine, I knew he was wearing his mischievous grin.
“Honestly, I haven't thought about kids,” he said. “But if you want a baby, we could try after we're married.”
I wondered about his strange behavior this morning, his tender kisses on my stomach. Maybe it was because it’s all I can focus on right now and I projected it onto Angelo.
I guess we should get married sooner rather than later if he wants to be married before we have children. Angelo knows me well enough to know I would never want a large wedding. In fact, he knows I would only wish for Alice, Mario, and Frankie to be there.
Once again, he utilized his telepathic abilities, though.
“Did you have a date in mind? Like, next week?” he had asked.
“I'd marry you tomorrow if I could,” I’d told him.
“Don't forget, we need to get a marriage license, but after that, anytime, angel.”
I called Alice the moment we stepped through the front door and told her I had news to share. She begged for me to tell her over the phone but I’d rather tell her in person.
The bell rings, indicating my taxi is here. I put my hoodie on and slip on my leather jacket before grabbing my bag and heading downstairs.
With my nose pressed against the window of the taxi, I observe the busy streets of our bustling city. Though they appear the same as I saw them yesterday, something is different. Even as the driver idles outside the pharmacy, waiting for his fare, I notice a change in the air.
As I exit the taxi, the warm rays of the sun kiss my face, while the light breeze caresses my locks. Though the sound of heavy traffic saturates my ears, the sound of a songbird pierces through the noise, and I have to glance around to search for the bird, only to find the heavy traffic and pedestrians.
Once I enter the pharmacy, my heart hammers against my chest as I search for the pregnancy test. My stomach seems to flip, like the baby is excited to make its presence known. I plan to take the test before I meet Alice, finding I can’t keep the news a secret any longer. As my fingertips grasp the box, my heart sings.
You're going to be a great mom, I think, which causes a glowing smile to radiate from my face.
A cafe is a few feet away from the pharmacy. This is where Alice and I arranged to meet. This is where I plan to take the test.
With every step, my heartbeat quickens, causing my body to quiver as the exuberant joy intensifies. I'm not sure I'm capable of waiting till I'm married to tell Angelo, though I'm sure he will bask in the same joy I'm experiencing.
As I stroll down the busy street, I glance down at the ring Angelo placed on my finger last night. Oh, how much my life has changed since moving to Twisted City. To most people, this is a place known for corruption, yet for me, it's a city filled with love.
My hair cascades around my face and I glide my fingertips through it, to secure it back behind my ears. As I glance ahead, I find a group of men approaching.
A voice within me cautions my steps to slow and tells me to hide within the crowd, though I can't understand why. However, I've learned to listen to Mr. Thompson and every warning he gives me.
After slowing my steps and allowing the crowd to shroud me, I notice a man approaching with a mop of chestnut hair and caramel eyes. A man I know all too well. A man who still occasionally haunts my nightmares.
For now, he hasn't noticed me, and I silently plead with him to pass by. But to my dismay, his intense glare fixes on me, causing my steps to falter, and I stumble.
All the joy I have experienced for the past two days disperses, allowing trepidation to take its place. I avert my gaze from John as I try to blend into the crowd, ever fearful of his hands burning my skin.
A few steps further with no evidence of John's pres
ence, I search for him, to discover he's disappeared. My hand flutters to my chest as I take deep, relieving breaths. Maybe it wasn't him. Maybe it was just my demons playing tricks on my mind to tarnish my joy.
Yet, Mr. Thompson's voice persists to warn me of the danger that is looming.
As I approach a bus stop, the crowd before me disperses and I see the couple sitting on a bench. Once again, my heart thrums it's deafening beat in my ears as I observe the couple. The man with the gaunt face and a devilish grin turns to penetrate me with his piercing, ice-blue eyes.
My feet become stuck in wet cement, refusing to liberate me or let me run. The violent quivering of my body intensifies. This can't be possible. It must be another dream.
The crowd creates a curtain to hide me from my parents. Once the cement liberates my feet, I escape the vicinity and continue to urge myself onward, to flee far away from them.
Call Alice, says Mr. Thompson. Get off the street and call Alice. Now!
With haste, I dive my hand into my bag in search of my phone. The moment my fingertips find the cool metal, I breathe a sigh of relief as I clutch hold of it and draw it from my bag. I find her number and bring the phone to my ear. Within two rings, Alice answers her phone.
“Alice, where are you?” I ask, unable to hide the quiver in my voice.
“I'm almost at the café,” she says. “Is everything okay?”
A clothed hand covers my mouth and nose while the other hand grabs my wrist, tugging the phone away from my ear. I try to scream, yet find my world fading.
Within the distance, I still hear Alice’s voice. “Eva? Eva, are you there?”
To be continued...
While you’re waiting for Twisted Lies, check out these books by some of my friends!
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Sealed With a Kiss series (must be read in order)
My Lips Are Sealed (FREE to download)
Twisted City: (Twisted City Book 1) Page 37