I double my efforts and he lets me go with a sigh. Fuck, why do I feel lost without him the moment I’m out of his arms? “I told you no, Enzo. Why the fuck can’t you listen? No, damn it.”
A hand goes around my wrist, pulling me up against him. Damn it, I melt instantly. His lips are against my cheek. “Say it louder, say it with meaning.” The words won’t come; my fractured breathing won’t allow for more than gasping breaths. “It’s a storm all right, but this could never be contained to a teacup.”
I give in, hating him, hating myself as I move to press my lips at the edge of his. He rewards me with a blinding smile that steals all the air from my body. This kiss is softer, sweeter, and I’m dying for more when he ends it.
I’m in a sweet haze all the way back to the office, with barely any memory of the passing time until we’re walking into the building. I try to pull my hand from Enzo’s, surprised to find he has it, only he doesn’t let me go.
Once we’re in the elevator, he pulls me
tight against him. “I want to see you tonight.”
I’m shaking my head before he even finishes talking. “This is crazy. I don’t think—”
“Then don’t think.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“You think I want to be attracted to a bitter, broken beautiful woman who is a smartass and who will do her best to make me earn every single step forward we take and pay for every single error I make? It goes both ways. I’ll call you.” I had no idea the elevator had stopped at my floor and he was holding the door open until he gently pushes me out.
I’m left staring at the closed doors as I turn over what he said. I’m not bitter and broken. Am I broken? Well fuck him, so is he.
8
Chloe
I’m pacing my living room, wondering where the hell Russell is and why I’m home. Enzo knows where I live and it’s almost seven o’clock. What the hell? He says he wants to see me tonight then nothing, no call or text to ask or even per Enzo’s usual MO, to tell me when he’s picking me up. It doesn’t matter anyway because I’m not going. No, this is done. Like done, done. I’m not bitter, but damn it I am broken, and I don’t need Enzo breaking me anymore.
The asshole. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what he said for longer than ten minutes at a time. I’m not even a little hurt that he thought I was a bad idea, but he was willing to overcome his doubts in order to fuck me. What the fuck ever, all he had going for him was he was rich and okay he was gorgeous, but those were superficial things, and okay his cock did feel like he was—enough, stop thinking about that. Crap, I’m wet again. This is such bullshit. See, it’s happening again, one kiss, okay, two, but two damn kisses and I’m all tangled up again. Which is exactly what I didn’t want.
My phone rings from where it’s sitting on the ottoman we use for a coffee table. I jump but don’t go near it, it’s Enzo’s ringtone. Nope, I’m not touching it. I hit the overhead lights in the living room, sending the room into darkness, then make a run for my bedroom. In my room I have blackout curtains, so I turn on the bedside lamp and huddle into the middle of the bed. Pepe jumps onto my bed, meowing at me; I’m pretty sure I hear judgement in his meow. Cetta nuzzles me then she bats at my face. Cetta isn’t much for chatting.
I can hear my phone going off with texts but I don’t move. Crap, I left my car in the driveway instead of pulling into the garage. Oh well, he’ll get the message.
Then again, maybe not, as he starts banging on the main door. I wonder how long it’s going to take him to fig—and he has the door open. We don’t keep the door locked because of the mailman, but we’re supposed to lock it when we’re home for the night. What the hell?
“Exactly? What the hell are you doing not locking your damn doors? And why the fuck are you lying here when I’ve been calling you for almost twenty minutes?”
“Because I’m not going anywhere with you. I thought I locked the door, never mind, that doesn’t mean you can come in here. Go away. There are bimbos galore out there weeping at the loss of you. I’m not. Me and my broken ass are fine here without you.”
I refuse to pant at how fucking sexy he looks in a tux that fits him to perfection. His sigh makes me want to hit him. “I knew I should have kept my mouth shut because you’re the only one allowed to have doubts or reservations. I’m supposed to want only one thing from you, and all that matters is I get it. Tough shit; you aren’t the only one who wondered if this is a good idea, but the problem is it doesn’t matter what I think, I’m not walking away from this. And neither are you. Get your ass up and get dressed. We have forty-five minutes to get to the opera.”
It doesn’t matter what he just said makes me melt a little, that he basically just promised he’s not going anywhere one of us has to be the smart one. Shaking my head, I refuse to budge. I can’t believe it when Enzo wraps his hand around my ankle and yanks me to the end of the bed. Thank god I’m in yoga pants and a long, loose shirt, but still, I’m splayed out in front of him. Those black eyes glitter as heat hits me low, right where he’s looking. “On second thought, maybe we should stay in.”
I yank my foot away from him and roll off the bed. “Fine, god, you’re such an asshole.”
He laughs. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Get dressed, I want to see you in that purple dress again.”
I slam the door closed on him. I’m not wearing the purple dress, it’s not opera attire.
At my dressing table, I turn on my flat iron, then wipe my face clean of the light makeup I had on for the day. With an eye on the time, I straighten my hair. For my makeup I play up my eyes, which I’m aware are my best feature, then end with a pale pink lipstick. In my closet I grab the dress I fell in love with the moment I laid eyes on it, even though I couldn’t think of a single place to wear it. The silk taffeta gown has floral sparkle embroidery in jewel colors that stand out against the ice blue. A full skirt with an extended train combined with a high collar give it an elegance I can only hope I do justice. I give in to what the dress calls for and step into strappy silver sandals with a stacked two-inch heel.
When I open the door to my bedroom, I find Enzo pacing the length of the living room. He stops when he sees me. It’s unnerving the way he simply stares at me. A small shake of his head and his hand wraps around my wrist, tugging me to him. “You’re so damn beautiful you make my whole body ache.” His hands go down to my waist. “I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier I was in New York trying to wrap up a deal. For a minute there I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it back in time.”
I sway into him, loving the feel of him against me even as the electricity running through me scares me a little. “Did you close your deal?”
“No, they pissed me off. I walked away. It was either that or not see you tonight.”
It takes a minute for the words to compute. “Wait, you walked away from a deal so we could go out tonight?”