“Good morning,” he whispered gruffly, his voice laced with sleep.
I opened my mouth to say something but quickly snapped it shut. Glancing at my palm that was still resting on his cheek, my teeth grazed my lips nervously.
Oh no, I got caught.
My fingers flexed on his cheek and I was about to move my hand away when suddenly his hand was over mine, trapping my palm against his cheek. I gasped and stared into his mesmerizing eyes.
When Alessio’s lips tilted up in a small smirk, I ducked my head shyly as my cheeks heated in embarrassment. As I hid my face in his chest, I felt it rumble with a small chuckle.
He was such an aggravating man. I couldn’t believe he was laughing at me.
I tried to move my hand away again but he held on tightly, entwining our fingers together.
“You didn’t say good morning back. That’s rude, kitten,” Alessio murmured in my ear.
So, I was back to being kitten.
“Good morning,” I mumbled. He laughed and released my hand. I tried to move away from his comforting embrace, but his arm tightened around my waist, refusing to let me move even an inch.
Instead, he pulled me closer until my breasts were pressed against his chest. I could feel everything. Even his hard-on pressing into my stomach.
I was completely mortified. Pressing my eyes closed tightly, I took a deep breath through my nose.
“Ayla, look up at me,” Alessio demanded.
I shook my head and pressed it harder into his chest.
“You know I’m not letting you go until you give me what I want,” he teased.
When I didn’t answer, he pressed his fingers gently into my hips. “Hmm…or maybe you just want me to keep holding you.”
At his words, my eyes snapped open and I looked up quickly, staring widely into his eyes. Another chuckle bubbled deep from his chest at my reaction. His eyes twinkled mischievously and he gave me a wink.
“There you are.” He whispered so softly that it made my heart ache. “Don’t look away from me again.”
I nodded. I didn’t think I would ever be able to look away even if I tried. Alessio had completely captured my full attention.
With our eyes still locked together, I felt his arm start to loosen around my waist until he wasn’t holding me any longer. I took a deep breath and slightly moved around, testing my freedom.
But as I moved away, I realized that I didn’t like it.
I liked it better when he was holding me. When his arms were wrapped safely and gently around me. Such conflicting feelings.
Giving Alessio a final glance, I sat up, pulling the covers to my chin and looked away.
“You are looking away from me again,” he mumbled.
He was so frustrating.
Releasing my breath in huff, I turned toward Alessio and looked at him straight in the eyes. “There,” I said.
“Better.”
“Why are you in my room?” I asked, bringing my knees up to my chest.
I saw Alessio’s eyes widen in surprise as if he just figured out that he was here. He quickly sat up and cleared his throat. “You fell asleep in the piano room and I brought you back to your room.”
I was silent, waiting for him to continue. I saw him swallow nervously and he got off the bed.
“I was putting you to bed but you wouldn’t let go of my jacket. And I didn’t want to wake you up,” Alessio grumbled. He looked away and then cleared his throat again. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“Okay.”
Alessio sent me a look from the corner of his eyes and then he walked away without saying anything else. I fell back on the bed as soon as the door closed behind him.
Alessio had kept me safe in his embrace, pushing away all the bad memories. I had been cocooned in his warmth and as I laid back on the bed, I felt strangely empty. I faced the side where Alessio had been sleeping.
I placed my palm over the mattress and slid it up and down, right where he’d been just moments ago.
My heart was doing the same pitter-patter dance as whenever Alessio was near, while my body felt light. Placing my other hand over my chest, I closed my eyes.
What is this feeling?
***
After all the men were seated at the table, Maddie and I stayed behind, ready to offer help if needed. My fingers were playing with the hem of my black dress as my feet shifted beneath me.
I didn’t think it would be this nerve-wracking. Being this close to Alessio but avoiding eye contact with him. We were a few feet away, yet it felt like he was right beside me. I could feel him staring. His gaze burned into my skin, marking me.
“Ayla.”
Alessio’s voice broke through my thoughts. He gave me a teasing smile and then nodded to the basket in the middle of the table.
“Can you bring this for me?”
I looked at Maddie and saw her hiding a smile behind her hand. With an annoyed sigh, I got the basket and brought it to Alessio.
After he took the toast, I was about to walk away but his next words stopped me.
“Thank you, kitten.”
My mouth fell open. I couldn’t believe he called me that in front of everyone. His words were spoken low, but still. I hoped they hadn’t heard. When it seemed they weren’t paying attention, I sighed in relief.
I said nothing, and placed the bowl back in the middle of the table.
The rest of breakfast was uneventful. Alessio’s eyes were on me most of the time, but I avoided him.
When all the men stood up and left, my shoulders dropped in relief and I finally relaxed. “Why is he so…” I started to ask Maddie, but couldn’t find a word to describe Alessio.
“Infuriating? Annoying? Frustrating? Hot? Sexy as sin?” Maddie said.
I glared at her. “The first three.”
“He likes to tease you, but I think it’s payback.”
“Payback?”
Maddie nodded. “For ignoring him before.”
“He is so infuriating,” I grumbled, as I helped Maddie clean the table.
“I know.”
***
Maddie was talking animatedly when we heard a knock on the door. Both of us turned toward it with a confused expression. “Come in,” I said.
The door opened and Alessio stood in the doorway. My eyes widened and I quickly sat up while Maddie tried to look busy with the book in her hand.
“Do you want to go to the creek?” he asked, his gaze slightly shifting to Maddie.
My heart soared and I nodded with a smile. “Yes.”
“I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he said, stepping out and shutting the door behind him.
Placing a hand over my mouth, I tried to hide the giggle that threatened to slip out. “You are too cute for your own good, Ayla.” Maddie laughed.
I quickly jumped off the bed and was almost at the door when Maddie’s voice stopped me. “Wait.”
“What?”
“Why don’t you change? Instead of wearing your uniform?” she suggested, sitting up on my bed.
“I don’t really have any other outfit,” I said. “Except the pair of jeans and white shirt that Lena got me.”
“Not a problem. Give me minute.” Maddie got off the bed, and ran past me and out the door.
As I waited, I grew nervous and more impatient.
After a few minutes, she ran back into the room holding a dress. She gasped for breath and shoved it into my hands. “Hurry. Go change.”