I feel hot and flustered, excited, very unlike me.
An awkward silence falls over the room.
“Francesca, why don’t you show Giuliano around the property?” Enrico asks her.
She gives me a shy smile and I feel it all the way to my toes. “Okay.” She gestures to the door and I follow her. We go out onto a large patio area and down some steps, then we walk out across the lawn toward the lake.
She stays silent and seems nervous, while I can’t take my eyes off her.
Seriously, she’s the hottest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. She makes me feel nervous and I’m never fucking nervous.
“Hello,” I force myself to say.
“Hi.”
I try to hide my delighted smile and fail miserably. “And to think I didn’t want to come today.”
Her brow furrows. “Why do you say that?”
“Well.” Before I can stop myself, I whisper, “If I didn’t come, I wouldn’t have got to meet you and…. You’re just so—” I shrug as words fail me, “—beautiful.”
Her eyes widen as we walk down to the water’s edge, we look out over the lake. “It’s beautiful here.” I say.
She smiles, “It is.” She points to a house we can see in the distance, “I’m going to live in that pink house one day.” She announces proudly. “It’s my favorite house in Lake Como.”
I smile as I look at the house across the lake. “It's gorgeous.”
Like you.
We walk around the side of the house.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
She gives a nervous shake of her head.
“Enrico is your brother?”
“Yes.”
How have I never seen her before? “Do you live here?” I ask.
“No, I live in Milan.”
We walk up the back staircase and arrive into a grand hallway. I look up and down. “How many bedrooms are there?”
“Eight.”
“Where’s the bathroom?”
A frown crosses her face, why did I ask that?
Where’s the bathroom, is that the best you can do…seriously?
Fuck, ace it up.
“It’s in here.” We walk in and I look around, it’s super modern and all white. A large stone bath is in the center of the room. Being alone with her in a small, confined space changes the mood between us and something comes over me as I instinctively close the door and step toward her.
“What are you doing?” She frowns.
I have no idea, but I can’t fucking stop myself. The pull to her is next-level, like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
“I want you to kiss me.”
Her eyes search mine. “I’ve never kissed anyone.”
Fuck yeah…she’s untouched.
I lose control of my head and cup her face in my hand. “I’m a good teacher.” Before she can reply I kiss her softly. My lips brush against hers and she doesn’t seem to mind, I kiss her again.
She’s soft and sweet and….
Oh….
Every hair on my body stands to attention.
Fuck.
She smiles softly against me and parts her lips ever so slightly.
“That’s it,” I whisper. I trail my fingertips down her arms and feel the scatter of goose bumps on her skin. I take her hands, and she closes her fingers around mine.
She likes it.
We kiss again and again. “Open your lips,” I whisper.
She does as she’s told, and my tongue gently swipes against hers. “Oh,” she murmurs as if surprised.
I smile against her. “You’re a very good kisser, Francesca.” I hold my forearm out. “Look, goose bumps to match yours.”
She bites her bottom lip to stifle her smile. “Do you always kiss strangers in bathrooms?”
“No.” I lean forward and kiss her again. “You’re the first.” I snake my arms around her, and we move closer together.
The blood is rushing around my body at high speed and pooling right between my legs. Her eyes widen when she feels it.
Shit, she’s not this kind of girl.
What am I doing?
“I’m sorry,” I apologize as I take a step back from her. “I don’t know what’s come over me. I can’t help myself, you’re just so beautiful.”
She steps toward me, closing the distance. “You think I’m beautiful?”
“My God, yes.” I kiss her again as I hold her tight. This time she kisses me back immediately, her hands trail up over my shoulders and I…my eyes close.
Fuck.
For someone who’s never kissed before, she’s doing a damn good job of it.
“Can I see you again?” I murmur against her lips.
“I’m not allowed to date.”
I pull back to look at her and frown. “Says who?”
“Everyone.”
“Can I call you?”
“I don’t have a phone.”
“What?” I screw up my face. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not allowed to have a phone.” She seems embarrassed.
I stare at her in confusion. “Are you brushing me off?”
“No.” She goes up onto her toes and kisses me. “I promise, I’m not allowed.”
I stare at her, everyone has a phone. Is she lying?
“You have to believe me.”
“Why can’t you have a phone?”
“Because I have a guard with me at all times and—” She cuts herself off with a shrug.