"No... this just makes me more sure. We're good together. We get each other. Please, Marcello." The way she's pleading with me makes it hard to say no.
"We'll talk about this. I must discuss with Benedicto." I add, even though I know that Benedicto will more than welcome the match. It had been his intention from the very beginning. Still, knowing that makes this whole situation even more questionable. Why do I feel like there's something more? Something that Sisi isn't saying?
If I find out Rafaelo coerced her... I will not stay still.
I exit the room, trying to calm my own rising temper. Sisi is clearly distraught by her miscarriage, and I don't want that to influence her decision.
Feeling like the situation is simply above my paygrade, I do the only thing I can think of.
I call Catalina.
THE MOMENT I SEE HER sauntering over to us, I lose all sense. It's like water for a parched man. And I drink her up. She's wearing a pair of dark jeans, a first for her, paired with a tight white blouse that emphasizes her curves. Damn if I'm not gawking.
She's even more beautiful than before.
She stops in front of me and we both stare at each other awkwardly. I don't speak and neither does she. Her mouth parts slightly, her tongue wetting her lower lips. I think I might grow hard just from that sight alone.
To prevent any embarrassing incident from happening, I take the lead.
"Sisi is there. You should go." Her eyebrows knit in a frown at my words. Damn! I should have remembered that my voice is not as it used to be.
She stares at me for a second, her mouth still agape, before nodding. She reluctantly moves, going inside Sisi's salon.
"What's with you two?" Venezia asks when I take a seat next to her.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you like getting divorced?"
"No, we're not."
"Cool. That's cool." She nods, redirecting her attention to her phone.
It's around an hour later that Lina comes back, closing the door to us.
"How was it?" I inquire, trying to keep the excitement in my voice to a minimum. This is about Assisi.
She shakes her head.
"I'll just go see her now." Venezia looks between the two of us skeptically.
"Sure." I nod to her.
"Would you like to grab something to drink?" I turn to Lina once more after Venezia's gone.
"I'd like that." She replies, a slight blush staining her cheeks.
We go to the cafeteria and we get a cup of coffee each, and finding an empty table we take a seat.
"So," She starts, her gaze on the cup of coffee in her hands. "How have you been?"
"Good... I've been good." Why am I anxious? And why am I replying with the most basic things? I shake my head and I tell myself to just go with the flow. There's no reason to be fretting about this, even though it takes me all my willpower not to sweep her off her feet into the closest janitor closet and fuck the life out of her.
God! I cringe internally at the direction of my thoughts. What have I become?
"Marcello?" Lina leans forward, looking at me with worry in her eyes.
"Yes?" I blink in rapid succession, trying to ground myself.
"I asked you a question."
"Sorry I didn't hear." I grimace. I don't want her to think I'm not paying attention to her when that's all I'm doing.
"Did you know about Sisi and Rafaelo? I just can't believe that they..." She trails off.
"Had sex?"
"Yes." That blush makes another appearance, bringing her freckles into focus... making me want to kiss each one of them... one by one.... I shake myself again. Why am I such a horndog? It's only been two months! Last time it was ten years, and I had no issues.
"I didn't realize either. But if she wants to marry him. I won't stand between them."
"That's good. She deserves to be happy." Lina adds, her fingers fidgeting. That's the one thing that tells me she's not quite at ease either.
"I missed you." I suddenly say, not being able to hold this in much longer.
"I missed you too."
"I've been working on myself and I think I'm on the right path." I admit.
"I'm glad, Marcello. I meant it; you know. I forgive you." She stretches her arm across the table and places her hand on top of mine.
"Come with me!" My voice is urgent, and I tug her to her feet, leaving our untouched drinks on the table.
"What..."
I walk fast, remembering a small door we'd passed by. It's a long shot but... I open it, and it's a tiny storage closet. But it's enough to fit the two of us.
I drag her inside and shut the door.
"Marcello?" Lina's voice has a breathless quality to it, and it's only making me harder. Damn it! I should have more restraint than this.
"God, Lina!" I groan, backing her into the corner. "I can't believe you're here." I breathe in her scent, trying to convince myself this isn't a dream.
"We shouldn't do this... not until you're ready."
"I'm ready. So ready." I rasp, knowing fully well we're not talking about the same type of readiness. I take her hand and I press it on my cock, wanting her to feel how ready I am for her.
"Oh." She gasps, and for a second I think she's going to pull back. But she doesn't. Her fingers wrestle with the zipper of my pants, and reaching inside, she takes me in her hand.
"God!" I moan breathlessly, and in a frenzy my mouth seeks hers.
She keeps on touching me, her fingers gripping my shaft tighter.
Her tongue in my mouth is the flavor I never knew I was missing in life. We kiss like two desperate people on the brink of a precipice.
My hands go lower until I reach the opening of her jeans.
"What the fuck!" Someone bellows from behind.
I barely have time to tuck myself in and zip up as a crowd gathers around.
"Shit!" I mutter, hugging Lina to my chest so she won't be seen, I lead her away from the closet. There are whispers behind us, and people laughing.
Fuck!
She's going to be mortified. What was in my head, really? I mentally berate myself for my lack of self-control. It's only when we're back in the hallway of Sisi's salon that I let go of her, expecting to see disappointment on her face. She looks at me wide-eyed before she giggles, bending forward with laughter.
"Lord! That was..." She starts, but can't stop laughing.
"You're not mad?" I ask tentatively.
She shakes her head, tears at the corners of her eyes from too much exertion.
"No... not at all." She says and gives me a knowing smile. I can't help but return it, and we stay like that for a bit.
It's at that moment that Venezia comes out of Sisi's salon, a look of bewilderment on her face.
"Sisi's asleep." She narrows her eyes at us, and both Lina and I can't help but grin. "What's with you guys?" She shakes her head, taking her seat and plugging her headphones in.
"We should tone it down. For Sisi." Lina says and I nod. She's right. We need to focus on my sister right now. But that doesn't mean that I'm not taking her home tonight.