Page 15 of A Treasure To Keep
Chapter 13
El
After getting dressed, Andrea leads me to the guest room in silence. All we manage to do is undress to our underwear as we get in bed, facing away from each other in silence.
This was the worst fucking idea ever. We should never have done this. I’m fucked.
Chapter 14
Andrea
El and I climb into bed after coming back from Marco's room. While normally we would cuddle up to each other, we lie there in silence, the sound of the ceiling fan filling the space until we fall asleep.
I should have listened to my gut when it said this was a bad idea. What did we do?
Chapter 15
Marco
Iwake up in the morning, still thinking about what happened last night. Hands down, sex with El and Andrea is the best I’ve ever had. My gut tells me that I know that sex with them is different from sex with anyone else. The internal buzz that runs through my body with them is insane. It’s nothing I can explain, even to myself.
Eventually, I decide it’s time to get out of bed, noticing it’s ten when I pick up my phone. Hopefully, Andrea and El have left already, and I’m safe to venture around the house.
I take my sweet time getting dressed, taking every second I have to leave my room as silently as possible. It’s only when my stomach gives in, letting me know I’m hungry, before finally heading downstairs.
Once I’m in the kitchen with my laptop, I click around the cameras on the property. I’m halfway through a sip of my coffee when I see Andrea and El almost on top of each other in the hallway that’s closest to the kitchen. Maybe El is right. I am a voyeur. They’re acting as if last night fixed everything, andmaybe for them, it did. Now I’m the fucking fool sitting here hung up over them.
I could get one of those hats that jingle and dance around. Jester’s cap, I think? That way, my appearance will match how I feel.
Luci’s reflection appears on my computer. Why is she here? She’s Alessandro’s problem, not mine.
“Alessandro is working.” Please go away. Please go away. Please go away.
“I know. What are you doing?”
Fuck, I wish she would get the fucking hint. “Working.”
“You do security, right? What does that normally include?” What does that include? What the fuck does she think it includes?
“What do you want, Luci?”
“You’re Alessandro’s best friend. I want to get to know you. Also, you seem upset.” I don’t miss how her expression changes, her voice more hesitant at my curt tone.
I slam my computer closed, louder than I intended to, and Luci jumps at the sudden sound. “I’m fine. Now, what do you want to know?”
“Anything. How did you and Alessandro meet? How long have you two been friends? How does he act with you and his other friends when he’s not the boss?”
“Stai mettendo alla prova la mia pazienza.” God seriously wants to test me this morning. Is that my punishment for not going to confession? “My papa worked for Geno and would take me to work since my mamma ran off and we had no babysitter. Alessandro and I became instant friends. That’s a lie. Alessandro took one look at me, punched me, and ran off.”
She gasps, caught off guard that Alessandro would do that. Trust me, at the time, it surprised me too. “Why?!”
I laugh at the memory of when I first met Alessandro. We were both punk kids with bad attitudes. “He said I had a punchable face. His words, not mine. Anyway, after we had a good fist fight, Geno and my papa sat us down, telling us we either had to become best friends or they’d whip us. You can imagine we chose the first option. My papa died when I was a teenager, and I moved in with Geno and Alessandro after that. Geno became a father figure to me. Technology always came naturally and when it was time for Alessandro to come to America, it only made sense for me to come with him. To answer your last question, he’s earnest and can be ruthless about work, but is pretty open and relaxed when he and I hang out. Until you came along. From the moment we put you in that car, he’s been obsessed. I’ve never seen him act this way with anyone or anything, including his family or business. You bring out a different side of him. I can’t tell you how many times he’s threatened to beat me or shoot me if I touched you or spoke poorly of you. That part might be my fault. It’s fun to push his buttons. Regardless, Alessandro is in love with you.”
Oh fuck. That part is supposed to be a secret. Her brows furrow as she shakes her head. She’s fighting with her feelings toward Alessandro in the same way he is. It’s spread across her face. All that’s missing is a massive sign above her head saying, ‘I’m falling in love with my forced fiancé.’
“No. I’m a collection, his fiancée, but I will never be his love. He made that clear the first night I was here. He’s not the type of man who would believe in love at first sight.” She can’t read Alessandro the same way I can. It’s Alessandro’s detriment that I can read him the way I do. Luci is still standing there, the words I said processing through her head. Now I’m too deep in this shit to back off. I can’t pussy out now.
“He doesn’t believe in love at first sight. It still happened to him. I’ve known Alessandro for over half my life. You’redifferent. Different from any girlfriend, different from any fuck, different from even Geno and I. If you saw the look he gives you when you’re not paying attention, you’d understand. Trust me.”