“Let’s go.”
We get to the door of the club, and he drops my hand, and we walk out as if nothing has happened. Bruno and Sav are seated on a chair near the road. “Francesca is tired, I’m taking her home,” he announces.
They both stand.
“You two stay here with the others.”
“I’ll drive you,” Bruno offers.
“Okay, but come back to Anna after you drop us off, please.”
“Of course.”
“Good night,” Sav replies.
“Night,” Giuliano replies as he walks purposely toward the car, he opens the back door for me, I scoot in and he climbs in beside me. “There’s Val and Alex arriving, took their time,” Giuliano says to Bruno as he looks across the road.
We look over to see Valentino and another man arriving, oh I haven’t seen Val for years and years.
The car pulls out and Giuliano slides his hand up my calf muscle and I flutter deep inside.
My God, what am I doing?
There’s no air in my lungs, possibly on earth and I cannot breathe for the life of me.
Arousal is pumping through my body and Giuliano casually chats with Bruno as if nothing just happened.
How can he even think when all the blood from his body is in his dick?
At least, I hope it still is.
“Just drop me with Francesca, I’ll crash in the spare room, Carlo is with Anna and it saves you doing two trips.”
“Okay,” Bruno says as he casually drives.
What?
That’s it, that’s how easy it is to get away with this?
Anna
The tall dark and handsome man is overexcited as he dances toward me, I slowly dance back.
Down boy.
Jeez, maybe I should have left with Chesk. This guy could be any old creep.
“Anna.” I hear a deep voice.
Startled, I turn to see a familiar face, Valentino, Giuliano’s friend. I haven’t seen him for years.
He’s big and brawny and…oh.
Wow.
Shocked by his beautiful face, I stumble over my words. “Valentino.”
He grabs my hand. “Borrowing her,” he says to the guy I’m dancing with.
“Hey,” the guy calls as he grabs my hand to pull me back.
Valentino glares at him and reading the signs, the guy instantly shuts up, he then pulls me through the crowd at speed. “What are you doing?” I call over the music.
“I should like to ask you the same thing.” He pulls me outside into the courtyard, once there he turns to face me and I stare up at him.
He stares right back.
It’s still there.
Valentino and I have this weird thing going on, nothing has ever happened between us. But we both know that we’re attracted to each other, it’s a silent letter on the wall.
“You’re not to go home with him,” he says.
“And why not?”
“Because….” He pauses. “Carlo is not the guy for you, trust me.”
“Wait.” I frown, surprised. “You know him?”
“He’s my friend, we came here together.”
Oh…I open my mouth to reply but no words come out.
“You go back in there and tell him to take a hike,” he demands.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, go back in there and tell him to fuck off.”
He’s jealous.
“And why would I do that?”
I hold my smile as I wait for his flirty answer.
“Because if you are with him…then nothing can ever….” He cuts himself off.
Huh?
“Nothing can ever what?” I stare at him, my interest piqued.
“Happen with us.”
I stare at him as my brain misfires. “But….” I search for the right words. “I’ve known you for ten years, Valentino, and you’ve never once asked me out.”
“What’s your point?”
“I’m saying that you’ve had ample opportunity.”
“I have not,” he snaps.
“Remember that wedding where we ran into each other a few years ago and spent the entire night talking?”
“Yes.” He glares at me as if he already knows what I am going to say.
“I was sure that you were going to kiss me good night.”
He rolls his lips.
“And more than that, I was positive that you were going to call me the next day.”
“So was I.”
I frown. “So why didn’t you?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“Not to me.”
“If you don’t know the answer to that, Anna.” He rolls his eyes in a dramatic fashion. “I’m not fucking spelling it out for you.”
“Cut the attitude, Valentino.” I put my hands on my hips in annoyance, his arrogance is beginning to piss me off now. “Start spelling.”
“You are not the kind of girl I would fuck around with.”
What does that mean?
He throws his hands up as if I’m stupid and then the penny drops.
“Oh…you just wanted to fuck me.” I fume.
“I wasn’t ready to settle down.”
Wait a minute, I’m still confused, what’s he saying, that now he is? “And tonight?”
“The timing is wrong.”
“What?”
He shrugs, not wanting to elaborate.
“You have a girlfriend?” I stammer.
He puts his hands on his hips as if annoyed. “Yes.”
Of all the nerve.
“So…let me get this straight. You don’t want me to be with your friend so I can be on hold for you in case at some point in the future you ever want to ask me out?” I shriek.