Page 38 of A Treasure To Keep

I give this man one more slug, knocking him out before bursting out of the basement and rushing to Alessandro’s office.

“What the fuck, Alessandro? You put Domenico in charge of my job?” Alessandro turns to me, stopping what he was doing on his computer, and rubs his temples.

“Yes, I did. You’ve taken everything Geno and I have built and fucked with things. That man currently in our basement owed practically nothing, and you’ve knocked him out. Domenico is waiting until he wakes up, getting his bank information, and taking him home after a visit from Dr. Rossi. You’re staying here and focusing on security until you can get your shit together.” I burst out of the office, heading to the gym. I play my usual gym playlist, peeling my shirt off before punching the bag. If I can’t knock out assholes, I’ll work it out here.

My tattooed knuckles are already split and bloody when I spread my blood all over the punching bag. Fuck gloves. Fuck tape. I need to feel the physical pain that’s in my heart. I never expected any of this to happen. This was supposed to be one night. Then another to get this out of our system. The longerthis went on, the harder it was to stop. Andrea and El are going forward with their lives. The last thing they need is me.

I punch the bag until my knees give out, falling to the ground as I yell, letting out every piece of anger I’ve felt over the last few weeks.

Someone’s arm loops beneath mine, helping me off the floor and into my bedroom. He drops me onto my bed before finally speaking. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m here to listen when you’re ready to talk. Always. Get some rest.”

Alessandro, my best friend and practically my brother, walks out of my bedroom, a gentle click of the door announcing his departure. Then, and only then, do I let go of every emotion I’ve held back for weeks.

Chapter 41

El

Andrea and I are finishing up a day of work with plans for date night at the movies. I place my hands on my desk, noticing how my ring shines in the light. I swear, it gets more beautiful every day. Andrea did good. Very good. Both with the ring and after we got home from the proposal. Every surface, every room, and every position until the sun came up.

Andrea wraps his arms around me and kisses my neck, making me moan in response. “I saw you staring at your ring. I love how beautiful and content you are when you shine it in the light.” I turn in his arms, wrapping around his neck and bringing his lips to mine. We’re practically ready to undress each other when Mr. Hansley walks into the room.

“What the fuck. I don’t care how engaged or in love the two of you are; this public display of affection needs to stop. If I keep catching you two together, I will put both of you on different schedules.” Mr. Hansley stomps out of the room, leaving Andrea and me giggling. Andrea, Mr. Hansley, and I know that we coulddo anything, and he won’t fire us. He can put us on completely different schedules. That’s enough of a punishment.

“Did he come in here to tell us something?”

I grab my handbag when I notice we’re running late for our movie. I can afford to be late for anything except a movie. Every second is important. “Whatever it was, it’s not important anymore. We’re going to miss all the previews for our movie if we ask him. Let’s go.”

Andrea and I climb into my car, head to the theater, grab our necessary snacks, and get into our assigned seats. He knows the best place for me is at the end of the row on the left side. This allows me to run out for more snacks if needed, with the bonus of having a light to shine my ring under. We both lean back in our seats, holding hands during the entire movie until the credits roll. Andrea appeases me by waiting until the end for potential extras, even though there might not be. You never know!

Andrea and I sit our seats back up as he lets out a short hum. That’s his ‘I’m thinking’ sound. “And why did we go to this movie?”

I cross my left leg over my right, turning my body slightly toward him. “Because James said it was going to be good.”

“And what will we tell her tomorrow at work?”

“Ummm . . . that the movie wasn’t what we expected.” I shrug as Andrea leans in, pulling me into his lap as he kisses me. He pulls away from me long enough to answer.

“That’s a perfect answer.” He brings his lips back to mine, deepening his kiss in the meantime.

I straddle his lap, my skirt flowy enough to cover us both when I unbuckle his belt and grind on him. His hard cock springs out, and he shivers when I grasp it in my hand. I pump him twice before rising on my knees, high enough to bringhis head through my slick folds. The movement brings shivers through his body as he moans.

“Mon trésor, if you don’t sink down on my cock, I will slam you down.” Hmm. Is that a threat or a promise? I place the head of his dick at my entrance, contracting my muscles as I bite my lip.

“This is your warning.”

“Yeah, sure it is.” I sink the smallest bit before pulling back. The second I let my guard down, Andrea grabs my hips, thrusting up at the same time, he slams me down onto his lap.

“We’ve been together this long, and you think I won’t act upon my words? You know me better than that. Now, remind me how you rode me the first time we made love.” Oh, goodie, my favorite night. Besides getting engaged, of course.

I close my eyes, imagining the night we finally had sex. Andrea and I had been dating for about a month, and my inner sex goddess was practically begging Andrea to fuck me. But no, Andrea had to be a gentleman. One night, I stopped in unannounced after Giovanni and Mirabella announced their engagement at a family dinner. With Giovanni being a family friend and Mirabella being my skank of a cousin, I was forced to make an appearance. Who knew the reason for the dinner was to announce their engagement? Also, not that it matters, but her diamond was smaller than the one he gave me and about half the size of the one currently on my hand. Okay, internal monologue, get back to the main storyline.

The whole time, I couldn’t stop thinking about Andrea. I kept noticing Giovanni’s cocky attitude and Mirabella obediently sipping on vodka sodas, Giovanni’s choice of drink for anyone he dates. It keeps them skinny. At that moment, I realized that Andrea was the man I wanted to be with for the rest of my life.

When I arrived at his apartment, Andrea answered the door. Instantly, I jumped into his arms, and he carried me back intohis bedroom. When he threw me on the bed, the hunger in his eyes burned into me. I sat up, unbuttoning his shirt as he ran his hands down my body. After some well-deserved and fabulous foreplay, I pulled him down on the bed, straddling him as he grabbed at my hips. It practically made me melt in his presence when he stared into my eyes, reminding me that I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. I leaned up on my knees as he positioned himself at my entrance. I swear, the moment I lowered myself was the moment we fell in love. Stupid, right? I still can’t explain it to this day. That one moment with Andrea caused more love to bloom in me than anything I experienced with Giovanni.

“I know you’re living in the past. Are you thinking of the first time we made love?” I nod my head and moan as he hits that spot he could find in the dark. I’m almost there; just a small adjustment and it would push me over the edge.

“You’re desperate to come; I can see it on your face. Let me help you.” Andrea pulls down my shirt, sucking my nipple into his mouth. The second he circles his tongue around my nipple, I tip my head back, mouth open in a silent scream. Andrea’s orgasm follows as his cock twitches, emptying inside of me.