Page 56 of Indulging Temptation (Tempting the Heart #1)

SANTINO

T he day has come and gone since arriving back in the city. Since we didn’t spend the day at Lorena’s mom’s house like I assumed we would, I could have gone into the competition after all, but it’s for the best that I didn’t. I haven’t been able to concentrate whatsoever.

Between the silence that filled the car throughout the entire drive, and the silence that has continued since we’ve been at Tomás’, I decided to make the best of it.

Use it as an opportunity to rehearse what I’m going to say to her, when the time is right.

Which I’ll make sure is soon, because I can’t go on like this that much longer.

I know she has her timeline for us, and her rules, as well as a mountain of issues that she refuses to address, but I’m tired of wearing my heart on my sleeve, only for her to toy with it, when I know she feels the same.

She can deny it all she wants and choose to default to the cold front she knows how to put up so well, but whatever she keeps to herself regarding me, her body shouts to me in silence.

Sex may be our way of connecting on a physical level, but it’s also how she talks to me when her mouth isn’t moving.

The looks she gives me, every orgasm, every whimper, cry, and plea for more, lets me know that I’m not crazy, that there’s more to her, to us, waiting.

And I’m going to get her to tap into that, whether she likes it or not.

I deserve it. She deserves it, and the days of her pretending that’s not the case are ending immediately.

But before I can deal with any of that, I need to figure out who the hell sent me these text messages.

Unknown: I don’t know when you’ll learn Amato

Unknown: But I’m fucking glad you haven’t

Unknown: Your endless fuck ups are forever my gain

I know I should tell her, given that this is a potential threat to the image she is so focused on improving of mine, but I also don’t want to burden her with yet another Tino screw up.

That and it’s starting to become embarrassing how, despite how hard I try, I keep finding myself in situations like this.

I’m already mad at myself for letting my emotions get the better of me with how I acted at her mom’s house. I need to calm down, and fucking smoke, get my head on right, then I will deal with this text and her later.

I have a guess to who it is. I immediately thought DeStefano, but I unfortunately have that motherfucker’s number already in my phone. So, unless he got a new one, I don’t think it’s him.

Just as I close my phone, it vibrates with a text message. Opening it, I see a slew of numbers I recognize, including mine, Lorena, Dante, Tomás, and Gabriella.

Dante: Salsa night tonight

Tomás: I’ll be there

Tomás: I’m leaving my mom's house within the hour. Should be back in the city soon

Dante: Cool. What about everyone else?

Gabriella: I can’t. Todd wants to stay in tonight

Dante: Perfect…let him. He can watch Luci so you can get a break

Dante: Actually, no fuck that. Luci would be better off here

Gabriella: At a bar? Please

Gabriella: Sorry, next time

Dante: You’ve been saying that for the past eight times I’ve asked

Tomás: Leave her alone, Dante. Damn

Gabriella: Thank you Tomás!

Dante: Whatever. Miss you is all

Christ, my brother is just as bad as I am with holding in how he feels, especially when it comes to Gabriella.

Though with her being our niece’s mother, it brings with it a whole other level of complicated that my situation with Lorena doesn’t come close to.

My thumbs hover the keyboard, trying to jump into the group chat when Lorena’s name and message grab my attention.

Lorena: Count me in. I could use a night out…

Lorena: And a drink

Seeing my way in, I go for it.

Me: Yeah, me too

I should leave it there, but the silence and all the things I want — and need to say — are starting to spill over. So my thumbs take the initiative and tap away.

Me: That is if you don’t mind me being there Lo

Lorena: Do what you want Tino

If only it were that easy.

Lorena: It doesn’t matter to me

Here we go. The second things become too close for comfort she defaults to pushing me away. To acting cold and indifferent, when I know damn well that this thing between us has progressed mutually to more than a casual fling. Yet here we are.

I know why she’s doing this but it’s triggering me more than I thought it would.

And maybe it’s the adrenaline still coursing through me about that anonymous threat, combined with how she has made and continues to make me feel.

But if getting her to admit her feelings is my goal, I sure as hell know playing along with his antics isn’t going to be the way to get her break.

Me: Cool. So then it’d be fine if I bring a date?

I hit send, and my stomach drops. I know that was below the belt.

I wouldn’t dream of bringing a date when the only one I want to date, to fuck, to let me in, is her.

But I’m not fucking superman. I can’t keep feeling like I’m headed down a one-way road with her.

Toxic as it may seem, it’s the push I need to give her to see how far she’s willing to go to avoid admitting she wants to be more than the one I make come, but to be mine.

Dante: Uhh sure?

Lorena: Who are you asking?

Lorena: Me or Dante?

Lorena: ??

Three texts in a row? Barely any seconds in between? I’d say my plan is working. Or at least starting to.

Gabriella:

Gabriella:

Dante: Gabriella stop it

Lorena: Santino Amato…

Me: That’s Chef Santino Amato to you

Gabriella:

Dante: Gabriella!

Gabriella: Dante respectfully STFU please my life consists of watching Bluey on repeat with Luci and endless deadlines. Let me enjoy this

Dante: Valid. Continue

Gabriella:

Lorena: You’re not in the kitchen right now, so why would I call you chef?

Me: Hasn’t stopped you before…

Gabriella:

Dante:

Lorena: Whatever

Me: Yep…

Lorena: And if it’s my permission you’re asking for, you only need to do that for work related things

Me: Right…

Tomás: Ummm…just butting in here…but everything okay with you two?

Lorena: Fucking peachy

Gabriella: … laughs in unconvinced but carry on

Tomás: Fuck, now I’m curious

Dante: Fuck it…

Dante: Same

Lorena: Oh screw all of you…well not you Gabriella…love you

Gabriella: Love you too baby girl

Me: So permission granted?

Lorena: Like I said, do what you want

Me: Don’t tempt me

Dante: Okay so whatever has or hasn’t been decided … see you all tonight!

Me: Perfect

Lorena: See you all there

Tomás: Best behavior everyone

Gabriella: Love you all

My phone immediately vibrates with a message from Tomás.

Tomás: Everything good?

Me: Yeah, it’s fine

Me: Glad your mom is doing ok

Tomás: Same. Are you sure everything is okay?

Me: Yeah, it’s fine. I just got a weird message earlier

Tomás: What kind of weird?

Me: I’ll explain at Hummingbirds

Tomás: Sounds good. See you soon

I close my phone and hear Lorena open her door. She moves across the hall to the bathroom, stopping at the doorway, not bothering to turn her head to face me, but we have each other locked in one another’s periphery.

“I’ll be ready soon,” Lorena calls out.

“Okay.” I offer a short response. Stubbornly hoping it will give her the motivation I hope it will pave the way for an honest convo between us two.

“Don’t leave without me.”

I turn my head. “Why not?”

“Because if you fucking dare bring someone else to Salsa night, your reputation will be the least of your worries. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I offer her a salute as she closes the door.

That’s my girl.

Another silent car ride together later, Lorena and I walk to the entrance of Hummingbirds.

My hand on the door handle, I go to pull it forward but stop myself.

Thankfully, there’s no one waiting behind us, so I take the opportunity to gather my thoughts before letting us in, knowing that I have to break the ice and say something to her before we do.

So, I go with the first thing that comes to mind.

“You look beautiful,” I say, admiring how radiant she looks even with that slight scowl on her face.

“Thanks.” The tautness loosens in her jaw slowly, but it continues until she takes her eyes from staring ahead and focuses her attention on me. First glancing down at my crotch and then up to my face. “It’s nice to see you in something other than sweatpants or an apron.”

“Aww come on, you know you love how good my dick looks in those slutty gray sweatpants.”

“You mean my dick.” Hunger fills her gaze as she says it, and a sense of pride floods me, hearing her, in any capacity, lay claim to me.

Because she’s right, my dick is hers, to fuck, to ride, to fucking twist in those delicate hands of hers as tight as she fucking wants.

It’s all hers. I’m just waiting for her heart to get the memo.

“I stand corrected.”

“That’s right.” She takes a step back, looking around. “So where is she?”

“Where’s who?”

She stops looking around us, narrowing her eyes on me. “Your date.”

I’m not used to being petty with her, so I almost forgot that little stunt I pulled in the group chat. Though I’d be lying if I said the tinge of jealousy she’s trying so hard to conceal isn’t doing it for me.

“She’s here.”

“Oh yeah?” She angles a brow upward.

“Yep.” For dramatic effect, I look through the window, pretending to look for said date, when really all that stares back at me is Lorena’s reflection.

“Well, what is she wearing?”

I turn back to face her.

“Why?” I drag with a grin.