CARMELO
"Tell me something about you," I wiped my lips. "What do you want to know?" she returned the question, swiping and deleting pictures on her phone because she complained about taking quite a lot earlier. "Anything," I said, getting up and placing the empty plate on the washing sink. But instead of returning to sit with her, I folded my sleeves further up, wore the gloves and began to do the dishes. Marina wasn't returning for the day and I couldn't leave dirty dishes to rot until tomorrow morning. It was only nearing evening.
I glanced at her because she became quiet all of a sudden. And I lived to hear her voice. Maybe I shouldn't have asked. I was about to dismiss the topic on the air when she finally got up and walked to the sink. She took the towel and stood beside me, drying the dishes.
God. I took a deep silent breath. My heart was expanding in my chaste. I swear it was. This moment was fresh from one of my many dreams of us. My stomach was doing that weird thing again that only happens when she was near me. "There is not much to know about me," she began, "I'm just a woman who loves shopping and spending money." I smiled at that, "I already know about that," I nugged her shoulder, rinsing a plate and handing it to her. "And… are you disappointed?" She raised a challenging brow.
"Disappointed… isn't the right word. Glad. I'm glad I have all the money that you'll ever need, tesoro." I said in all honesty. I could care less what she spent on or if she was into money so much. In the past, different women threw themselves at me. Obviously because of the name, money and the prize boyfriend. But I felt no connection with any of them and some didn't even appeal to me. It was mainly a one night stand or a few weeks' time relationship that earned them a modelling deal or a hundred thousand followers on their social media.
But with Chiara, damn I just adored this woman so much. Her boldness always left me awestricken. She didn't hesitate to say what she wanted. At least she made it clear from the beginning that she was into money. Maybe I was trying to reason for her just to keep her by my side. Or maybe, the connection I felt whenever our skin touched or our eyes met was… real.
"I have two siblings, one who never ceases to prove to me that he hates me and the other one…" she trailed off, a genuine smile gracing her lips, "the other one is pure fresh air. Even so, I always had this urge of protecting both of them from their own father." And just like that her smile vanished. I wonder what else Antonio did to her. Only the thought of it made my blood boil. I wanted to take out that old hag so bad.
"I fear we have the same thing in common, protectiveness." I said, trying to clear her mood. I'd learned about mood swings and I was learning hers slowly, slowly, day by day. Sometimes she was a sunny day with pure glow, and sometimes, like a stormy cloud with thunder and lightning. "I guess," she said, drying off her hands now that we were done with the dishes. We stood there looking at each other. Minutes felt like hours, and all I wanted was simple; close the stupid distance between us and have my ways with her, right here in the kitchen. I don't know what she saw on my face but she gulped, her cheeks reddening.
No fucking way. Did I say it out loud? My pulse rate increased at a crazy speed. Shit! "I—" I was interrupted by the beep. I forced my gaze from her and landed on the cooker. The fucking savior! "I'm going to get that." I rushed to it. What the hell have I done? I thoughtlessly opened the cooker and pulled out the tray with my bare hands. I howled the next second sending the cookies and tray flying across the kitchen.
"Fuck!" I hissed, squinting at the red burn that formed on my fingers. "Shit. Are you okay? Let me see." Her voice came and I was just turning around when she bumped into me and I lost my footing. The next thing we were crushing hard to the ground with her on top of me.
Our groans echoed in the entire kitchen. God, could it get any worse?