Page 73 of The One
She squeezes my arm, joining in my laughter. “I promise you’ll leave here unable to choose a favorite!”
Mateo, ever the gentleman, helps me settle into my seat. I’m so excited! Looking around, I soak in the atmosphere.
This little corner of the world feels like everything I’ve been missing. The simplicity, the energy, the laughter of strangers. And Mateo, right here beside me, sharing this moment.
It’s the perfect evening.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mateo
Iwatch Mariella as she takes in everything around her. Her smile is so soft, if I wasn’t sitting down, it would knock me back a half step.
There’s something pure in her joy, something that pulls me in deeper, making me want to keep her smiling forever.
My eyes haven’t strayed far from her since I picked her up. Watching her experience everything for the first time is mesmerizing. The joy that ignites her face when she discovers something she likes, and the slight wrinkling of her nose when she’s unsure, it all captivates me.
I’ve noticed she bites her lip when she gets nervous. The women I’m usually around do this to draw attention to their mouth, but with Mariella, it’s entirely unconscious and unintentional.
Still, it has the same effect every single time. My gaze zeroes in as she pulls her plump lower lip into her mouth, and heat rises within me, my cock stirring.
I’m quickly becoming infatuated with her, making me crave more afternoons and evenings like this.
I want more chances to see her light up in delight or hesitate in uncertainty. And I want to be the reason behind her smiles.
Beatrice drops off a large tray brimming with a dozen mini pizzas, their heavenly aroma making my mouth water. I wasn’t exaggerating when I told Mariella this is the best place for pizza. I come here at least once every time I’m in Rome. Usually, Romeo is with me, and afterward, we hit one of our clubs to unwind.
I wonder where he is now. He’s been unusually quiet all day, and when I checked his location on my phone, he was in a part of town we don’t have any business in. I bet it’s where the mystery waitress lives he was so fixated on the other night, his blast from the past. I’ll have to ask him about it tomorrow.
“I still can’t believe you’ve never had pizza before,” I say, handing Mariella a slice of Margherita. “Let’s go with something simple to start with. Pure, straightforward flavors.”
She takes it gingerly, her fingers brushing against mine for just a second, and a surge of something warm travels up my arm. It happens every time we touch, and I’m starting to welcome the comforting, almost familiar sensation.
She looks at the slice as if she’s holding a small treasure. I can’t help but smile at her anticipation, and my heart does this strange thing, almost like it skips a beat.
“Go on, take a bite,” I urge, watching her face closely.
Mariella lifts the slice to her lips and takes a careful bite, her eyes fluttering shut as the flavors hit her. I don’t think she even realizes the soft moan that escapes her lips. But I notice.
Of course I do. I’m observing every little detail as if my life depends on it.
That’s before she opens her eyes again, and the sparkle in them sends my blood rushing south. And when she licks her lips before taking another bite, my cock responds, pushing against the zipper of my new cargo pants.
“Oh wow,” she whispers, as if she’s discovering food for the first time.
I can’t stop staring, completely absorbed in her reactions.
It’s such a small thing, pizza. But seeing her experience it for the first time makes it feel like so much more. Every bite she takes is like a tiny moment shared between us, deepening a connection I’ve been trying to deny.
“You like it?” I ask, though I already know the answer.
She nods, looking up at me from under her thick, black lashes. It’s a punch straight to my heart.
“It’s amazing. How did I go this long without knowing what I was missing?”
I chuckle, leaning back in my chair, still watching her with a grin I can’t suppress.
“You’ve been living a deprived life, clearly.” Not just with food, either. With Antonio as her father, it’s no wonder she’s missed out on so much.
