Page 24 of Bella Rosa
Matteo sits up and pulls me with him so I'm sitting in his lap. He strokes my bottom lip with his thumb. "Do you hear that?"
"No." I can't concentrate on anything but him though, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. A dinosaur could probably walk in and I would be none the wiser.
"Exactly. The rain has stopped." He stands with ease.
I instinctually wrap my legs around his middle so I don't fall. He places a hand on my bottom to stabilize me. "I can walk, you know." I say with a giggle, even though I'm perfectly happy right where I am.
"With one heel? There's probably broken glass all over this place. He looks down with a challenge in his eyes and raises one eyebrow.
I give a fake huff of defeat. It's not very convincing, because I haven't stopped smiling since our kiss. Who am I kidding, that was more than a kiss. We basically had sex with our clothes on.
He rewards me with a deep laugh as he carries me out of our little sanctuary and back into the real world. I can still hear the rumble of thunder in the distance, but the sky is clear above us. The moonlight shines so brightly compared to the darkness inside the shack we were just in, and I feel like I've walked out into midday sun.
He sets me down on the Vespa before he goes back over to my buried shoe and my muddy helmet. He squats down to inspect the damage. He pinches the only visible strap with two fingers and pulls it from the mud.
"I'm afraid it's ruined." He stands to walk over and show me.
He's right. There's no saving it. Oh well. I found them at a thrift store in SoHo. I take the heel from him and toss it into the mountain of trash next to the shack. I know it’s technically littering, but no one is going to notice the addition of just one heel. Plus, it's not like I can hold it on the way back to the city.
Matteo laughs and bends down to give me a quick kiss on the forehead. I feel the kiss throughout my entire body. "Let's get going before we get caught in another storm and you try to strip me of my clothes."
I give him a play slap on the arm as he fastens his helmet. He wipes my helmet off on his shirt. "Don't act like you didn't enjoy our detour. I could tell you enjoyed yourself." I gesture to his very impressive package still straining against his slacks. I finish it off with a wiggle of my eyebrows for good measure. Now he's really laughing.
"Oh I liked it, Rosa. I can guarantee you that." He takes a step in my direction to secure my wet helmet. "That's why we're going on a date tomorrow. I can't wait much longer."
His statement makes my toes tingle. I don't know if I can wait any longer either. It feels like we are at a race against the clock. Like the hour glass has been turned upside down and our time together is being taken away by the filling sand.
"Pick me up in the morning. It's Sunday, you have the day off."
"Do you have my schedule memorized, Rosa?"
He gives me a playful grin before he situates himself on the scooter in front of me. I wrap my arms around his middle and lay my cheek on his very damp shirt. He grabs my hands and gives me a squeeze before he starts the engine.
On the way back into the city I work my hands under his shirt so I can feel him. When my hands make contact with his bare chest I feel his muscles tighten and spasm. I love that I'm the one getting this reaction out of him. Something tells me Matteo is not easily flustered.
I keep my hands there until we pull up in front of Alda's. He cuts the engine just as Alda and Juli come running out the front door. Well Juli runs, Alda just meanders down the steps like she doesn't have a care in the world.
Juli reaches me first and gives me a hug even though I'm soaked to the bone. I reluctantly let go of Matteo to return her hug.
"You scared us to death! I tried calling. I'm so glad you're alright."
It feels good to have someone worry about me for once. "I'm sorry. My phone was in my bag under the seat. I didn't even think about texting when we got back to the Vespa."
We separate from the hug just as Alda joins us. She looks between me and Matteo with a knowing smile on her face. "I knew you'd be coming home soaking wet. Let's get you inside and dry you off."
She gives me a wink before coming over to pat my hand. I'm sure my face has turned a bright shade of red.
Matteo still hasn't said a word. He slides off the Vespa with the grace of a cheetah, and bends down to take off my remaining shoe. "You won't be needing this anymore."
He hands the solo heel to Juli, and she looks at it like it’s a bomb about to go off. Alda and Juli stand silently and watch as Matteo scoops me into his arms and carries me through the front door. Juli looks over to Alda with a look of confusion on her face. Alda just gives her a smile and pats her on the shoulder. Alda starts following us, but I guess it takes a moment for Juli's feet to cooperate.
"What is your room number?" Matteo asks me.
"Four. All the way at the end."
When we reach my room I help him open the door. He doesn't put me down until we are standing in my bathroom. He sets me down on the small vanity. We still haven't spoken. His face has turned even more serious than usual. I watch his muscles tense under his shirt. He's facing away from me when he finally speaks. "My mother abandoned my father and I when I was fifteen."
I'm shocked, but I don't say anything. He doesn't need my pity. He just needs someone to listen. He swallows slowly before he continues.
