Hot Chocolate

by Charlotte De Pace

  ***

  The sweet aroma of dark chocolate and hazelnuts tantalised Alessandro’s senses before he even opened the bathroom door. After a long week at the hospital, he’d headed straight for the shower as soon as he’d got home. In that short time Annabella seemed to have created another culinary delight.

  Wrapping a towel around his waist, he followed the delicious scent into the kitchen.

  Returning from the hospital to find Annabella cooking in his kitchen was like coming home. Before she’d entered his life so dramatically, Alessandro’s loft was simply a resting place, a stopover between meetings. But now, it was a welcome sanctuary.

  During an emotionally draining week by his father’s bedside, he’d relied on the comfort that Annabella had provided. Somehow she’d become his confidante and his solace.

  ‘This is a scene I could get used to,’ he drawled, leaning against the kitchen counter. The sight of Annabella in her oversized T-shirt standing beside the stove, stirring some delicious concoction, had his blood pumping.

  ‘Very funny. Good shower?’ she asked.

  ‘Uh-huh. But could’ve been better,’ he said suggestively, walking up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and peered over her shoulder as Annabella delicately folded whipped cream into velvety dark chocolate. ‘What’s this? Chocolate mousse?’

  ‘Yes, I thought you deserved a little treat.’

  ‘Mmm, music to my ears.’ Ale held her tighter, pressing against her pert behind, and nuzzled into the nape of her neck. She tasted like coconut, his new favourite flavour.

  ‘Wait.’ Annabella turned to face him. Her moistened eyes glistened up at him. Ale’s chest tightened as he realised she’d been crying.

  ‘Bella? What’s wrong?’

  ‘I was just talking to my sister before you came home. Why didn’t you tell me? That you paid for Sofia’s trial and arranged a specialist for her?’

  ‘Oh,’ Alessandro said surprised. He’d instructed the clinic that his donation was to remain anonymous. ‘You weren’t supposed to know about that.’

  ‘Sof has ways of finding things out.’ Annabella smiled up at him. ‘Why didn’t you want me to know?’

  ‘I didn’t want you to think I had an ulterior motive.’ Ale brushed a loose strand of hair behind Annabella’s ear and looked in her inquisitive eyes directly. ‘I imagined Sofia’s condition would be soul-destroying for her, but for you too. She’s your sister but your partner also, no? And your mentor.’

  Annabella nodded, her welling eyes on the verge of overflow.

  ‘Bella, the pain in your eyes, in your voice, that night when you told me about Sofia? I just wanted to ease that pain.’

  Alessandro couldn’t have articulated his motives at the time, even to himself. As a chocolatier he’d been touched by Sofia’s story but Annabella had an effect on him, even then, that he couldn’t describe. He’d seen an opportunity to help her and he’d seized it.

  ‘But why didn’t you use it? To get me to do what you wanted.’ Annabella looked at him uncertainly.

  ‘Really, bella? You know that’s not my style. We had a contract for that, remember?’ He smiled at her and she laughed softly. ‘I just wanted to help you and I didn’t want to complicate our agreement. I hope that’s not why you’re upset.’

  ‘I’m making you mousse, aren’t I?’ She tenderly cupped his cheeks in her hands. ‘That was the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me. Knowing that Sofia’s going to get the treatment she needs, and a specialist we could never afford, is such a huge relief—’ Annabella stopped abruptly with a sudden intake of breath.

  Alessandro instinctively drew her in against his chest, cradling her head in his hand. ‘It’s okay.’

  She sobbed heavily, unable to contain her emotions any longer. He hadn’t realised just how much pressure she’d been putting on herself to help her sister.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said as she slowly pulled back from him. ‘It’s just that Sofia gave up so much for me. I owe her everything. When our mother passed away she became my guardian so we wouldn’t be separated.

  She turned down a scholarship in Paris because she wouldn’t leave me. Then she taught me everything and eventually we went together. We’re more than a partnership. I don’t think I could function without her.

  ‘And I’ve been so guilty for so long. To be able to give Sofia the chance to have the future that she sacrificed for me. It’s just … incredible. I couldn’t have done it without you.’

  ‘Bella, it was nothing.’ Ale pulled her close again and stroked her hair, longing to give her the comfort she needed. ‘Why did you feel so guilty?’ he asked softly.

  ‘The car accident.’ She stood back to look up at him. ‘It was my fault. If it wasn’t for me, Sofia would be fine. Living her dream as one of the world’s greatest chocolatiers.’

  Alessandro reached for a tissue box on the counter. He offered her one then took another and gently patted away her tears. ‘Oh bella mia. Why do you say it was your fault?’

  ‘A couple of years ago, we were at a party, Sofia was exhausted so she left and waited for me in the car. I was waiting for my fiancé, ex-fiancé, Nic. We should have got a taxi. But I let him tell me he was fine, just one more drink then we’d leave.’ Annabella stared ahead blankly as though she was back in the moment.

  ‘Several drinks later we were in the car, Sof was asleep in the back and Nic was drunk. I should have stood up to him but I let him drive.’ Annabella’s voice cracked and she breathed heavily, her body shaking. ‘And it wasn’t the first time, we’d just been lucky before.’ Annabella exhaled forcefully as tears pooled in her eyes, she shook her head disbelievingly.

  ‘I never stood up to him. I loved him and that made me so weak.’ Annabella hung her head a moment, taking a breath before looking up at Ale. ‘And as it turns out, he didn’t care about me at all. He didn’t even visit Sofia in hospital. Never accepted any responsibility. He just disappeared. It took two years of rehab before she could walk again. And Nic was long gone.’

  Alessandro’s blood coursed through him with growing rage at the thought that anyone could treat Annabella so recklessly.

  ‘Lucky for him he disappeared or he’d have me to deal with,’ he said darkly.

  ‘I don’t care where he is now. But I’m sure he has his own guilt as punishment. And I have mine. Ale, I was just as much to blame.’ She looked up at him gravely. ‘I knowingly put Sofia in harm’s way.’

  ‘Bella, it was an accident. You can’t blame yourself.’

  ‘But it was an accident I could have prevented,’ she said firmly, raising her hand against her chest. ‘I know that, I live with it. So the best I can do is take responsibility for it and try to save Sofia now. And you saved her for me, Ale, and I can’t thank you enough.’

  She pulled him into a tight embrace, resting her head against his bare chest. The rise and fall of her breath on his skin awakened the protector in him. He longed to shield her from further pain and comfort her as she had comforted him.

  Ale wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers. ‘Oh bella. You don’t need to thank me. You would have done it all on your own. You’re stronger than you know.’

  He leant back and gently turned her face upwards to look at her directly. ‘And you wouldn’t be the first person to let love make you do foolish things. Look at my father, no?’ He bent and softly kissed away the tears on her cheeks before holding her gaze again. ‘And look at me.’

  Annabella looked up at him in surprise. Had he really just said that? He couldn’t believe the words himself. But he couldn’t deny he wanted more of her, much more. More than a business deal.

  He drew her into his arms again; lifting her up onto her tiptoes to meet his mouth, he kissed her deeply. They melted into each other in mutual desire. Somehow closer than ever before.

  ‘Now,’ he said, drawing back from her. ‘Time for my treat.’ He grinned.

  ***

  Alessandro rea
ched behind Annabella and dipped his finger into the creamy mousse, offering it to her mouth. She slowly sucked his finger clean, closing her eyes and relishing its sweetness. The classic Piedmont combination of dark chocolate and hazelnuts.

  ‘Deja vu?’ He grinned, reminding them both of their first kiss in the De Costa kitchen.

  ‘Uh-huh,’ Annabella whispered. It seemed like a lifetime ago. But this time there was a closeness that wasn’t there before. This time it wasn’t a test, there was no uncertainty. Kissing and caressing Alessandro felt completely natural. Sofia was right. This was love.

  Alessandro lifted Annabella onto the countertop then slowly raised her T-shirt over her head, exposing her bare breasts. He reached for the bowl again, he looked at her intently, his mouth crooked in a grin as he slowly covered each of her pert nipples with mousse.

  ‘A match made in heaven,’ he growled. Annabella arched back while he slowly savoured each breast. His sensuous touch enlivened her entire being beyond physical need. He possessed all of her, mind and body.

  He trailed his hot kisses down her torso and paused between her legs. His lips brushed softly against her inner thighs, the tingling of his stubble against her delicate skin sent shivers throughout her body.

  Ale teasingly sucked through the lace of her knickers. She moaned with aching desire, longing for him to rip off her underwear; she wanted him closer, closer than ever before. But not just yet. She summoned all her strength to draw her herself away from Ale’s electrifying touch and sat up.

  ‘Not yet,’ she said. ‘It’s your turn.’

  Annabella hopped off the counter and smiled at him cheekily, cupping his face and drawing him to her mouth, kissing him passionately as she tugged at the towel around his waist, letting it drop to the floor. ‘Sit up here.’ She patted the countertop.

  ‘With pleasure,’ he drawled, hoisting himself up onto the bench.

  Annabella thrilled at the sight of Alessandro’s erection that virtually throbbed with need. Electricity pulsed through her body as she took control. She reached into the bowl beside Ale and scooped up a small handful of the silky mousse. She spread the confection down the length of his shaft, her small hands working their way around its girth. Alessandro groaned with animalistic need.

  ‘Now, let me taste you,’ she said huskily, holding eye contact as she took his velvety tip into her mouth.

  As though unable to contain himself, Ale closed his eyes and arched backwards. Annabella took him fully into her mouth, delighting in the sweet chocolate taste as well as the obvious pleasure she was giving him. His delight had her own body pulsing with a deep need in her moistening core.

  ‘Oh bella, I can’t take any more.’ Alessandro jumped off the counter and swiftly lifted Annabella into his arms. He strode them over to the bed on the other side of the loft. The bed that had so intimidated Annabella only weeks before was now a welcoming haven.

  Alessandro lay her down gently on the soft linen. He kissed her deeply on the mouth while he swiftly sheathed his erection. Annabella impatiently wriggled out of her underwear and pulled Alessandro on top of her as he began circling her glistening opening and teasing her aching bud.

  ‘Now, Ale, please.’ She raised her hips to meet his, closer, always closer.

  Needing no further invitation, Alessandro groaned and finally filled her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and moaned with pleasure. Her voice, her body, was no longer under her control, she was on a one-way trajectory and she was soaring.

  She rocked in time with Ale’s thrusting movements, heightening the intensity of their mutual pleasure. They locked their gaze, lost in each other, as they swayed back and forth, their bodies entwined, becoming one. Rising together forever upwards into the blissful unknown, building to the ultimate crescendo and coming in harmony.

  They finally collapsed into each other’s arms and lay quietly beside each other as they descended into a peaceful slumber.

  ‘I’ve got so much to tell you,’ Annabella whispered as she nestled into the crook of Ale’s arm, her head on his chest, soothed by the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat.

  ‘Shhh, bella,’ Alessandro said sleepily as he stroked her hair. ‘Go to sleep. We can talk in the morning.’

  Cocooned in Alessandro’s comforting embrace, Annabella realised she’d been crazy to think she’d be able to let him go.

  ***

  Annabella pulled up a bar stool and sat at the kitchen counter as she sipped her espresso. Her morning lethargy was slowly giving way to the awakening memory of last night. The warmth of Alessandro’s arms wrapped around her, so secure and calming, soothingly lingered on her skin.

  Last night with Ale had been different from before. Just as intense and passionate, but this time tempered by love. She’d never felt so close to someone both physically and emotionally. Had he told her that he loved her? There was a definite sense of love. From both of them.

  Annabella read the note that Ale had left on the counter. Amore, Gone to get breakfast x. He’d be back soon. Then it would be time. Time to tell the truth at last.

  Finishing her coffee, she put the note aside and opened her laptop. No doubt Sofia would be waiting for an update and Annabella could do with a pep talk.

  But suddenly her courage and hope evaporated, replaced by rising dread. An email from Roberto Conti glared at her from the top of her inbox. A searing heat enveloped her body as his threatening words from yesterday suddenly played over in her head. You have no choice. Annabella had no doubt he would follow through with his ultimatum unless she accepted his terms.

  Since her altercation with Roberto, Annabella had been blissfully blindsided by Alessandro. Again lost in his tender embrace, and unable to summon the strength to finally reveal herself to him fully. And now, as she stared at the computer screen, she feared it might be too late. The email subject line said it all: Arrivederci.

  Immobilised by fear, she hesitated a moment before forcing herself to click the email open. No message, just a series of pictures from Italian magazines from twenty-five years ago. Headlines screamed: De Costa Traitor; Conti Temptress Flees; Bonaparte Departs in Disgrace.

  Annabella struggled to control her breathing, her heart pounding with hurt and anger as she scanned the magazine photos of her mother trying to shield herself from the cameras. How dare that family ruin her mother’s reputation and career. Annabella wouldn’t let them do it again. She wouldn’t let another man tell her what to do and suffer the consequences.

  She jumped as the front door slammed and she quickly closed her laptop.

  ‘Something to hide, bella?’ Alessandro asked coolly from behind her. Surely he hadn’t seen the images?

  ‘Ale, you startled me. I was just going to contact Sof.’

  ‘Ah yes, your sister, your reason for all this deceit, no?’ His voice was steady, but the intensity of his piercing stare told her all was far from calm beneath the surface.

  ‘Ale, what’s wrong? What are you talking about?’ Annabella stood up hesitantly, sensing she shouldn’t approach him.

  Alessandro threw the morning newspaper on the counter in front of her. On the front page was a montage of photos of her with Roberto Conti. Kissing hello. Shaking hands. Embracing. Then the headline: Conti scores another De Costa champion! Annabella’s stomach knotted, it looked as though they were making a deal.

  She looked up at Alessandro’s questioning face, clouded with anger and disbelief. But she was unable to form the words she needed to say.

  ‘Deja vu, no?’ Alessandro glared at her, and any trace of love seemed to have disappeared.

  Chapter 9

  Alessandro stood firm, clenching his jaw as he waited for an explanation. He breathed heavily as he struggled to gain control over his growing rage. Rage at Conti for threatening the best thing that had ever happened to him.

  But there was also a rising fear at the part Annabella may have played in this betrayal. He knew how the paparazzi twisted the truth but Annabella hadn’t said anything to h
im about meeting with Roberto, or even knowing him.

  ‘Ale, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for you to find out like this,’ she said shakily. Not exactly the emphatic denial he’d been hoping for.

  ‘So it’s true?’ Alessandro’s voice cracked, unable to control his disbelief.

  ‘No, it’s not like they’ve implied.’ She looked at him pleadingly.

  When Ale had seen the headlines, the thought that Annabella had deceived him had been too great to comprehend but now, devastatingly, he could see remorse in her eyes.

  ‘But you did meet with Conti and embraced my enemy?’ His chest tightened at the idea of her in Roberto’s arms.

  ‘Yes but—’

  ‘It looks like you know him well, no?’ Ale struggled to control his trembling voice but sensing Annabella’s guilt, he couldn’t help but fear the worst. Instinctively, his defences were up.

  ‘No, it was the first time we’d met.’

  ‘Okay.’ He paused, clinging to this morsel of hope. ‘So you’re not making a deal?’

  ‘No.’ Annabella paused a moment and looked at him helplessly. ‘I mean, kind of—’

  ‘What? After everything I’ve told you about that family, you went behind my back and …’ Ale swallowed hard, barely able to form the words. ‘Made a deal … with Conti?’

  ‘Please, Ale let me explain. Roberto stopped me outside the building, he embraced me. I didn’t want him to.’

  ‘What do you mean? Did he hurt you?’ Alessandro said, stepping forward. The thought of Conti harming Annabella sent a sudden wave of fury through him.

  ‘No, not like that.’ Annabella looked down at her hands a moment, before looking across at Ale with resolved intent. ‘I hadn’t met Roberto before but I knew who he was. And when I saw him I was in a state of shock. I couldn’t move when he embraced me.’

  ‘Why? Did he threaten you? Because if he did I’ll—’

  ‘No Ale, it wasn’t like that.’

  ‘Then tell me, Annabella, please, what was the deal?’