Ayla
“How long am I supposed to keep this up?” I asked.
Maddie lay down beside me and stared at the ceiling. “You have to make him work for it.”
“I don’t think I can keep this façade on any longer.”
“Just a little longer.”
After the Nina drama, Maddie lectured me for an hour, telling me how I should and shouldn’t act with Alessio. Every single day, I struggled to be nonchalant around him.
Every time he smiled and I didn’t, I felt guilty. I could see he was losing hope and growing frustrated each day. I hoped Maddie’s plan worked and all this drama wasn’t for nothing.
Sitting up, I brought my knees up and laid my chin on top of them. “Maddie, I don’t understand. How is this going to work? I…like…him…” I stuttered the last words. It was hard to admit, but it was the truth.
“What do you mean? If you want him and he feels the same way about you too, then what’s there to think about?”
I sighed and got up from the bed, standing in front of the window.
“How does a relationship work?” What I had with Alberto wasn’t a relationship. I didn’t know how to be in one.
The relationships I had read about or saw on TV, I could only dream about them. They were never my reality.
“You’ve never been in a relationship before?” Maddie asked.
I closed my eyes tightly against the wave of pain. Placing my hand over the glass, I steadied myself and tried to calm my racing heart.
“I have been in one,” I whispered.
Maddie’s forehead was creased in confusion and she stared at me patiently, waiting for me to elaborate.
“But it wasn’t the same as the one in there,” I said, pointing at the book in her hand. “I don’t think you could call it a relationship. He hurt me a lot.”
Tears blinded my vision. I never thought I would admit such a thing. When I was still living with Alberto, I thought that was how a relationship should be. Even though I knew it was wrong, I accepted it.
What I had with Alberto was dysfunctional.
He destroyed me. Heart, body, and soul.
But in the short time I had been living with Alessio, I began to think maybe I could be fixed. I could be happy.
Maybe I could be happy with Alessio.
“Ayla.” Maddie got up and walked over to me. I was about to swipe my tears away but she did it for me.
Leaning forward, she placed a kiss on my forehead and then wrapped her arms around me.
She pulled away from me and then gave me a wan smile, trying to lighten the mood. “A relationship…hmmm…” Her eyes twinkled. “I would say a relationship is when both partners support each other, comfort each other, bring happiness and laughter to each other. It’s a connection filled with love, acceptance, and understanding. You don’t have to love someone to be in a relationship. Sometimes love comes later. Alessio is a stubborn man, but he is crazy about you. I can see it in his eyes. It is so obvious. He has feelings but he just needs a little push. I don’t know how a relationship will be with Alessio, but he loves deeply. He loves with his heart. Something he’s scared of. But you can change that. You can be his strength.”
“He is mine,” I whispered. “He is my strength.”
“Alessio will realize it soon. And when he does, he won’t be able to stay away from you. Fuck, he can’t even stay away from you now. Do you see him? He always follows you like a little puppy. Oh my God, that was such a bad comparison. Alessio is nowhere close to a little puppy.”
I laughed.
“We wait for him to make a move,” Maddie said.
“He has been making a move for the past three days.” He had made several attempts to talk to me.
“Well, he needs to make a better move then. If you know what I mean.” She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously.
“Maddie!”
She shrugged. “No, seriously. Maybe he should bring you flowers again. Or maybe just another kiss. This man is driving me crazy.”
I didn’t know what I was going to do without Maddie. She always knew how to make me feel better.
“We wait then,” I said with a smile.
She winked and I laughed.
I would wait…because I needed him.
***
I walked inside the piano room to wait for Alessio. He was the never late. He was always there at exactly ten.
I could play the piano even if Alessio wasn’t here, but I didn’t.
I wanted to play for him. I wanted to bask in the warmth of him watching me as I played.
Sighing, I looked down at the phone for the time. Any minute now.
Something caught my eye. My gaze shifted to the sofa chair I usually sat on and I let out an audible gasp.
Bringing my hand up, I covered my mouth in shock. But I couldn’t stop the smile that played across my lips.
A single white peony was lying on the seat.
Slightly bending down, I took the peony in my hand and brought it close to my chest. Straightening up, I held it there.
Alessio.
He was so sweet.
I couldn’t believe he put the peony there for me. This wasn’t a big bouquet. It was just a single peony, but it held the same value and meaning. It still made my heart flip, and my cheeks were hurting from my wide smile.
“I can safely assume that you love the peony.”
My eyes widened and I quickly swiveled around to see Alessio leaning against the door, his arms crossed over his chest. His head was cocked to the side, a small smirk on his face.
I wanted to say that I hated that smirk…but truly, I didn’t.
I tried to hide my smile. “I…” I paused and then sighed. I couldn’t lie. “It’s beautiful. I love it.”
He slowly walked toward me, his eyes intense as he kept his gaze on me. As he got closer, my heart went wild and my stomach twisted with butterflies, a feeling that I always got when he was close.
Alessio stopped in front of me. I could feel his warmth on my bare skin. I looked up into his eyes. He was so tall.
His gaze, filled with need, shifted to my lips and I instinctively licked them. Alessio took a step closer until we were barely an inch apart. I sucked in a deep breath and my chest brushed against his.
He brought his hand up, trailing a finger down the length of my bare arm. I shivered and my fingers tightened around the flowers.
“Alessio…”
“Ayla,” he whispered, leaning his head down.
We stared at each other, and then he leaned closer until his lips were only an inch from mine. “I’m going to kiss you,” he said.
“Okay…”
I saw a little smirk on his face and then he lowered his lips to capture mine. My breath caught. His lips brushed gently against mine and I sighed.
Alessio slowly moved his tongue on my lips, waiting patiently for me to open my mouth. He coaxed me gently, unhurriedly. He put the slightest pressure on my lips, and I gasped. He took the opportunity to slide his tongue in. Softly brushing against mine, he kissed me slowly, as if to savor the kiss.
This time I boldly returned his kiss. I had grabbed hold of my courage and put it all on the line. I didn’t think that kissing Alessio was something I’d ever grow tired of. It felt like I had been starving for his kiss.
His hand slid up my neck, to just beneath my ears, and his fingers splayed out, his hand cupping my jaw. His other hand glided through my hair, tilting my hair slightly upward for better access to my lips.
I placed both hands on his chest and leaned closer into his body, letting his warmth envelop me. In his embrace, I felt safe. I felt wanted.
Alessio didn’t rush and he let me direct the kiss. He licked the seams of my lips and I let out a small sigh. So soft, so warm, so sweet.
I was drunk on his kisses.
He gently bit down on my bottom lips and then he claimed my lips again. This time his kiss was a little harder, a little more demanding.
And I gave it to him.
We were both breathing hard when he pulled away. Alessio laid his forehead against mine as he fought to catch his breath.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of kissing you,” he said, his voice gruff.
I blinked up at him to see his gaze already on mine. His eyes were soft and filled with adoration, a look that stole my breath. In the depth of his gaze, I saw his need there. His want for me.
I was completely transfixed by his eyes. His hand moved from my face, down to my hips. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me close into him, anchoring my body into his. My heart was pumping wildly and my knees grew weaker at the fervor in his gaze.
He held me as if I was precious. He looked at me as if I was the only thing he could see.
I felt beautiful.
“Alessio,” I said. I didn’t know what else to say.
He leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the lips before stepping away. He nodded toward the piano with a smile. “Go,” he urged.
My lips stretched in a wide smile and I nodded, quickly hurrying toward the piano with the flower still in my hand.
Our gazes stayed connected, both of us completely captivated by each other as I ran my fingers over the keys.
I didn’t close my eyes even once. I didn’t look away from Alessio.
When I was done, I let my hand rest on the piano key and swallowed hard, suddenly feeling nervous and shy under his penetrating gaze.
“Are you not going to read tonight?” he asked.
“Oh.” I smiled and then got up.
I walked over toward him and stopped in front of the coffee table, picking up my book. “I will. I’m in the middle of this one. I can’t wait to finish it.”
He chuckled. “You sound excited about it.”
“I am,” I replied, taking my seat on the sofa chair next to his. “It’s a really good book.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
I opened it, and felt Alessio’s eyes on me the whole time I was reading. It was so hard to stop myself from peeking up at him.
And I lost that battle many times.
Whenever our eyes met, Alessio would smile and I would send him a smile of my own.
My heart was doing flips. My stomach was filled with butterflies. I felt light with euphoria. And a sense of peacefulness overcame me.
I wanted to stay just like this. But then I yawned.
“You should go to sleep,” Alessio said, sounding wistful.
“Hmm.” I closed my book. Alessio leaned forward and brushed the few hair strands out of my face, letting his fingers linger on my cheeks longer than needed.
He brushed his thumb over my jaw and then suddenly leaned forward. I let out a soft whimper when he pressed his lips on mine. He gave me a quick peck and then leaned back, letting me go.
I missed his touch almost immediately.
Placing my book on the coffee table, I got up and stood in front of Alessio. Smiling down at him, I whispered, “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he replied.
Biting on my lips, my shoulder dropped at the thought of being away from him after spending such an exquisite time with him.
Giving him a final glance, I started to walk away but I felt an arm wrap around my waist, pulling me back. I yelped when I fell on Alessio’s lap. My eyes widened in shock and I looked up at him.
He gave me quick peck on the lips and then pulled back with a smirk. I couldn’t help but giggle.
He sucked in a sharp breath. Placing a finger at the corner of my lips, he whispered in complete amazement, “This is the first time I’ve heard you laugh.”
I ducked my head shyly and pressed a hand on his chest.
Alessio placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head up again. “You should do it more often.” He brushed his thumb over my lips. “You have a beautiful laugh.”
Before I could say anything, his lips claimed mine again, this time almost possessively. He pulled at my bottom lip, demanding entrance. His arm was like a band of steel around my waist and his other hand came up to cup my jaw.
He kissed with such intensity that my heart stuttered and I melted into him.
His kiss eventually slowed and I sighed against his lips. His eyes were intense with need. His touch was fire, and his kisses were intoxicating.
He was all I could think about.
I closed my eyes and lost myself in his kisses and sweet, gentle caresses.