“Did you still want to go outside, or do you feel fine now?” I couldn’t help but hear his annoyance that I left him on the dance floor.
“Let me use the powder room, and I’ll meet you back at the table.”
He nodded and leaned in for a kiss. I tensed, and I knew he felt it.
What was he doing?
“Are you always this tightly wound when you party?” he whispered, drawing away.
“I think I’m confused with what you were about to do.” I nervously forced a laugh. “I just need a moment.” I hated that I felt the need to justify my feelings to someone.
“Well, I’ll be over there when you return.”
He left, and I let out an unsteady breath on my way down the marble hallway. Arched windows provided a beautiful view of the Olympic swimming pool that was lit with a thousand floating lights. I couldn’t help but recall the last time I saw a setup like this.
Stop.
I pushed open the powder room door, only to find it was crowded inside. Girls were spraying a boatload of hairspray and some God-awful perfume.
No, thanks.
Instead, I turned on my heel and headed down another hallway, hoping to find a quiet place to digest my thoughts.
Three turns later, and I thought I heard Piero’s voice. My feet moved in that direction, knowing that if I saw him, I would know this was real. Huge double doors were at the end of a hallway, and I stopped outside, unsure what I was going to say. What if he didn’t want to see me? Or what if it wasn’t him?
“That’s not how he should die!” someone yelled, and my hand retracted from the handle. “He deserves to feel the pain of all those he tortured.”
“I think a little trip down to the beach wouldn’t hurt anyone,” another voice chimed in.
None of this was meant for my ears. I stepped back then heard someone heading in my direction.
“Damn.” I spotted a small restroom and slipped inside, only to have someone come right up behind and press against me as the door clicked shut. The light was off, but the glow from under the mirror was just enough to know it washim.
“Sienna.” My name sounded like velvet. My knees trembled, and I locked them in place.
“Elio,” I whispered back, “how…” I trailed off when his lips brushed over the back of my shoulder and one hand slowly slid down my dress to the top of the slit, brushing it aside. In a moment of weakness, I gave in, closed my eyes, and allowed my head to fall back against his chest. His hand brushed the inside of my thigh, skimming my thong. My breasts strained against the fabric of my dress as his finger commanded my chin to turn to look up at him.
“Is this real?” he whispered.
“No,” I answered, caught up in his spell.
“Kiss me,” he hovered over my lips, “so I know it is.”
I snapped out of the moment, and I tried to move, but his muscles locked, trapping me in his hold.
“Elio…” I shook my head and pushed on his arms to free myself. I slipped around him and escaped the little room. Once around the corner, I held on to the wall.
“Holy…” I took a moment then started the hike back to the party.
“There you are.” Mariano stepped away from his friends. “Come, I want you to meet a few people.”
What?I was spinning.
Names went in and out of my head. I plastered on a smile and tried to be as polite as possible, which was hard because I could still hear Elio’s voice in my head as he said my name. It repeated over and over and nearly brought me to tears.
“Wow, son, she’s just gorgeous.” I blinked back my thoughts and tuned in to who was in front of me.
“Sienna Giovanna, this is my father Roberto.”