He meets my gaze again. “You’re not going to have to worry about that anymore.”
I furrow my brows again. “What are you talking about?”
He shrugs. “Don’t worry so much. I got it.”
Don’t worry so much? I take a deep breath and swallow hard. “I can’t let you do that.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Let me?”
I’m about to say something else, but a man around Michael’s age, dressed in fine attire, comes up to us. Or rather, up to Michael.
“Mikey! How are you, brother?”
Michael stands up. “Rob! So good to see you. How’s the family?”
They embrace one another in a manly hug.
“Good, good. Thank you,” Roberto says. As they part, he takes notice of me and gasps. “Oh, Michael!” He turns to face him. “Who is this beautiful angel?” Roberto’s eyes roam over me, and immediately, I wish my dress wasn’t so revealing.
My eyes lock with Michael’s. He doesn’t respond for a while, just takes me in again. “This is Eliana Russo.” Michael puts his hand out, willing me to rise out of my seat.
As I do, Roberto’s eyes widen and I wonder what that’s about. Without another moment’s hesitation, Roberto comes forward and grabs my hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Eliana.” He places a kiss on my hand and then lets go.
I quickly get a glimpse of Michael, but he looks incredibly annoyed right now, like he could literally claw someone’s eyes out. Maybe he could.
I bring my gaze back to Roberto. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. I’ve heard many wonderful things about your restaurant.”
He lets out a hearty laugh. “Thank you, my dear. We’ve gotten so much recognition in the last three years, it’s truly a blessing.” He looks over at Michael and his whole demeanor changes. Then, looking back at me, he offers me another small smile and adds, “I hope you’ll be enjoying your meal tonight.”
I nod. “I’m sure I will.”
He licks his bottom lip, and slowly brings his attention back to Michael. “Well, please excuse me. I have some urgent matters I need to attend to. I’ll let you two kids get to it. Enjoy your evening. Nice meeting you, Eliana.”
Michael glares at him, and it’s honestly chilling. What the hell is going on? Didn’t he say they were best friends? He’s acting very possessive over me right now, like a lion does over its prey after it’s been hunted down and another lion is trying to steal its meal.
I’m about to respond, but Michael speaks before I have the chance to. “Thank you, Rob. We’ll talk later.”
Once he’s gone, Michael and I sit back down. His eyes are glued on me yet again.
This time, I can’t pull my gaze away. I want to, because looking at him looking at me is making me feel things deep inside I haven’t in so long. But something about the way his eyes bore into me doesn’t let me pull away. Again, I swallow hard.
“You’re very beautiful, piccola mia. Everyone can see it.”
His term of endearment is claiming me, calling me his. But I’m not. This is only a date, and a first one at that. He knows nothing about me. I know nothing about him.
Yet he’s claiming me.
Not for nothing, but I want him to. I want him to do so many things to me. Him marking me as his own is literally making me soaked down below.
Is that wrong? God, I don’t even know what he does, who his family is, but I can’t help feel this strong connection between us. We don’t even need to speak. The tension between us makes me want to jump on him, completely and fully giving myself over to him.
Geez, when had I turned into such a whore?
“Eliana?” Michael’s voice rips me out of my reverie.
“Yes? I’m sorry.” I look away, embarrassed by my thoughts. Does he know?
“May I call you piccola mia?”
Well, I wasn’t expecting that. He had already done so, causing my core to ache. Now he’s asking me for my permission? Fuck, he definitely knows what I was thinking. I take a deep breath. “Yes.”
His smug grin is back and as he looks at the waiter who has just come up to our table, he says, “Good. Now, let’s order.”
After dinner, we find ourselves back in the car. To say the food was amazing is an understatement. Roberto’s restaurant surely delivered, making all the buzz about it truthful. It was scrumptious, exquisite, and I had never tasted anything quite like it in all my life. Those Michelin stars had been well deserved.
The atmosphere in the car is making my heart race. Michael’s body is facing mine and, if I’m not mistaken, he looks like he wants to kiss me, right here, right now. The beeping horns from cars in the busy streets break the trance between us.
I look away, but his words bring me back to his glance.
“Is there anything else you’d like to do this evening? Anywhere else I can take you?”
To the stars and beyond. I really want to go with him anywhere he’d want to take me, but as much as I want to, I don’t have it in me yet to tell him I want him for the night.
I hesitate before stating, “I should really get home … I have studying to catch up on.”
He looks disappointed, but he nods nonetheless. He picks up the phone attached to the door of the car and lifts it to his ear. “Will, please drive us back to the dorms. We’ll be taking Ms. Russo home.”
He hangs up, and instantly, I want to kick myself for not telling him I want to spend the night with him. But I can’t. I should at least try to hold out a little longer so he doesn’t think I’m so easy. I’m honestly not. Never in my life have I felt like this about anyone. This is totally a first for me.
He leans in closer, allowing me to get a nice whiff of his musky scent again. Fuck, he smells so good. He doesn’t say a word but all he does is stare at me through half-closed lids saying more than words ever could.
When we’re just about to reach my building, I let out a breath I had been holding for God knows how long. The way he’s been staring at me the whole ride home made it hard for me to breathe, but in the best way possible. I desperately want to stay right here with him.
“Tell me, piccola mia, what are you studying?” he says, breaking the silence. Yeah, he’s asking, but the way he’s leaning into me, with his eyes full of desire, I don’t really think he cares in this conversation.
“Political Science,” I whisper.
“Political Science, that’s nice,” he says in a hushed tone.
“Uh-huh,” is all I can say. I can’t manage anything more. The way he’s sitting so close to me, the way he smells, the look in his eyes. It’s all too much, and I want him like crazy.
The car pulls up to a spot in front of the building where my dorm is located. I don’t want to get out of the car and leave, but I know I have to.
Surprising me, he reaches out and, with two fingers, caresses my chin. “Mmm, piccola mia. May I see you again?”
My heartbeat speeds up. “Yes. I would love to see you again.”
A devilish grin forms on his face. He then bites down on his bottom lip, and before I know it, he leans in even closer and his lips smash into mine.