I lay down once more and I toss and turn. It’s futile. I can’t get my mind off Sal’s hard as fuck body, and it’s making me restless and agitated. Or is it the mere insinuation that he and Carla might get back together?
The moves we make on the mats practicing and his deep voice when he calls me ‘tiger’ is all I need to send my hormones crazy with lust.
Dammit, I don’t have a vibrator either.
I need to get off or I’ll go insane, so I reach down between my legs and caress my nub with one hand and play with my nipples with the other. It’s not hard to imagine Sal’s strong hands cupping my breasts, tweaking my nipples just so before he leans over to kiss me, gentle at first. Then, he’s claiming me as his woman for everyone to see.
Arching my back, I close my eyes and envision Sal’s face as I come and softly whisper his name. It passes over my lips like dandelion fluff blowing away after a wish.
Relieved, I’m physically better but find I still can’t rest so I throw on one of my brand’s designer lounge wear and head downstairs. I can’t deny that I could feel safe in Sal’s strong arms. I get a dose of it daily when we have the opportunity to practice basic maneuvers in the yard.
The barn isn’t totally set up yet, nor is it weatherproofed, but it will suffice with some mats and a kickboxing bag until it’s finished.
Sal’s mellow attitude kept me calm when I found myself tied up in his cellar. We’ve moved past that and my hatred for him is slowly disappearing, or rather, shrinking like a violet from too much sunshine, namely his charismatic smile that makes me believe it’s just for me.
But who am I kidding? He’s friendly with everyone, he’s the oil that makes their family machine work so well.
He smooths over arguments before they become arguments. He mends the fences between bosses, and I’ve only been his shadow for two weeks.
The sound of his voice before he enters a room cheers me up and his presence only makes me want him more. I find myself like all the other women he encounters, pathetically yearning for him to touch me, kiss me, or hold me in a situation that doesn’t involve work or me passing out.
What am I going to do if I find out my family set me up and that the Michelis aren’t as evil as I thought? What do I do with my life then?
I head to the kitchen and make a tomato and olive oil sandwich. Matteo joins me and I ask how late we’ll be.
He shrugs. “One never knows.”
I can tell he’s not particularly happy about the turn of events either.
He suggests we suit up and I put on my new pant suit and jacket I bought to hold my ID and weapons. When I check my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognize myself. I look like a CIA OP one sees in the American TV shows.
It’s dark when we roll out, I walk behind Sal and realize I just screwed myself as soon as I get a whiff of his earthy cologne. I’m relieved when Matteo opens the car door for Sal. I hate to be more subservient than I already am. Matteo drives as we make our way down the hill and into town.
Along the way, the men talk. Me? I’d rather have a relaxing night at home reading a good suspense book. I try to control my thoughts but I’m a bit miffed that Sal is taking time out to get laid, while Sofia is still missing.
My issues aren’t the Michelis' priorities, and I get that. They have a huge family to manage and I’m not one to them. If they don’t start looking for Sofia soon, I’ll have to escape, and risk being hunted by everyone.
We arrive at a quaint late night wine bar and before I enter, I can tell Carla is already here. She a stunning blonde, pretty enough to model, waiting in a cozy booth in the back. She’s speaking in Italian as Sal greets her with a kiss on both cheeks and sits. The waiter approaches. Sal orders a bottle of red wine.
I let out a heavy sigh as I cover the restaurant being left alone to witness the two while Matteo checks the perimeter. My legs need to move so I walk past them getting reacquainted and check out the kitchen before returning to the dining room.
Matteo and I find a table across from Sal and sit facing opposite directions. We are not expecting trouble, but we need to be ready to fly into action all the same.
Matteo asks the waiter to bring us some coffees and speaks to Carla across the way because they know each other from former liaisons she’s had with Sal.
I use it to feed my anger and leverage it to keep the walls around my heart closed. They need to be refortified. And I need to get out of here like last week.
I turn away to dodge any introductions while Matteo glances at me before sipping his coffee. Talk about weird and awkward. Yesterday’s lunch was enough family for me.
I’ve never had a normal family gathering that wasn’t about work, the next score and outbursts from Dad and him fighting with Mom calling her a whore and a useless piece of shit are my memories.
Then, he’d take shit out on me, like if the sauce wasn’t hot enough he would slap me in front of my brothers and dinner guests. Dad never cared how anything looked, the messier, the better.
I shouldn’t be surprised my brothers treat me the same way, only it’s not physical as I would kick their fat asses. Their need for money is a close race with a need for more pasta in my opinion. They are playing to their strengths, the street smarts that I wasn’t privy to growing up.
Out of the corner of my eye I take in the reunited couple, and I can’t make out every word, however it sounds as if Sal is trying to finesse his way back into Carla’s life.
It doesn’t sound sincere, so why is he even bothering to meet? It’s possible Carla wants him, or they both just want sex. Can’t blame either of them as I turn my gaze back to the street and the front door of the establishment.