chapter TWENTY-ONE
It felt like bringing a boyfriend home to meet my parents for the first time, with Kevin sitting on the couch waiting for Vittorio to arrive. When we heard his car outside, Kevin jumped up to peek out the window. “Damn! Nice car! How the hell does that guy afford a Ferrari?”
I simply shrugged. I knew he afforded it easily, but was too nervous to form a coherent sentence.
I opened the door before Vittorio reached it, but restrained myself enough to stand and wait for him, rather than run into his arms. I still wasn’t entirely comfortable with being so completely enamored of a man.
Vittorio came to me and initiated the kiss.
Even in four inch heels, I had to stand on tiptoe to kiss him. It should have been a quick kiss, but my power had other ideas. I kept it under control, mostly, but it rose in my body to meet Vittorio’s. We kissed passionately. “Wow,” I breathed when we pulled apart. “I’m still amazed by that.”
“Holy shit,” Kevin said from the couch. “What the hell was that?”
Our power must have enveloped Kevin, sending shockwaves through his body.
Vittorio chuckled, low and warm, and said, “Perhaps it is a good thing you told him.”
Kevin looked a bit frightened, and I couldn’t blame him. At least he had a little warning, unlike my first cruel experience. “I’ve got beer in the fridge for you Kevin.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll get one.” He went into the kitchen, and I heard him pop open a can.
“Will he be alright?” Vittorio asked.
“Yeah, he’ll get over it.”
A few minutes later, having chugged his beer, Kevin returned. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting that.”
“I’m sorry, Kevin. Apparently I don’t quite have complete control yet.” I cleared my throat as heat rose in my cheeks, then introduced them.
Vittorio held out his hand to shake Kevin’s. After a moment of hesitation, Kevin shook his hand. He sighed in relief when nothing happened. “Nice ride.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re going to take care of Elena, right? Because power or no power, you’ll have to answer to me if anything happens to her.”
“I will take the utmost care of her.” He placed his right hand over his heart, as if making an oath.
“Good. Well, you two have fun. I’m going to go watch some wrestling.” He left before I could say goodbye.
“Guess he’s a little shocked by our display,” I said. In response, Vittorio kissed me again. “Do we have to go to The Chapel?”
“I should at least put in an appearance. Rumors are bound to be flying by now. There are others who know of the power. I do not think we will be able to hide yours from them. I trust Samuel to have said nothing, but these things have a way of getting out anyway. Will you be comfortable with that?”
“Do I really have a choice? I mean, I’m not sure about it myself yet, but I’ve never cared much what other people think about me.”
“Elena, you must understand. Before this, the women despised you because you won my affections so quickly. Of those who know, everyone will be wary of you now, men and women. New, untested power can be a dangerous thing. Some will try to woo you away from me, but they will not have your best interests in mind. They will want to use you, to mold you to their plans.”
“And what are you doing? How can I know you aren’t trying to mold me to your own plans?”
“Elena, please trust me. I would do nothing to harm you. Ti amo, mia bellezza.” He held my hands.
“I love you, too, Vittorio.” The words escaped my lips before I could think.
Vittorio looked at me in wonder. “Do you mean that?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I love you. And I do trust you.” I smiled. “It feels good to say that. But I’d like to hear you say it in English.”
“I love you, Elena.” He kissed me, and this time, I did not try to hold my power back. I let it go to him, surround him, pull him to me.
I didn’t realize I had been pulling him towards the stairs to my bedroom when he pulled away. “Elena, we should stop.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Neither do I, but you don’t have full control yet. I don’t want anything to harm you in any way.”
“Would sex hurt me?”
“Not physically, but it can be extremely intense when two people with power make love. It reaches into the other’s soul, and can be a very painful, emotional experience if one is not prepared for it.”
“How do you know?”
“I made love with a woman who had power. It was long ago, when I was still learning. I was not ready for it, and thought she would rip my soul from my body.”
I felt a tinge of jealousy, which must have showed on my face. I knew it was silly; of course he’d had sex with other women. I was no virgin either.
“Elena, please do not be jealous. It was many years ago when I still lived in Italy, and I do not even know what has become of the woman. In any case, I do not think very highly of her because of what she did to me. I do not want you to experience that.”
I sighed. “Alright. But we better go, because my self-control isn’t going to hold out much longer.”
Vittorio chuckled and kissed me on the cheek.