*Bianca*
As soon as Amara and I got back to the compound, shuffling my shoes off my feet and tucking them away into the organizer, it was the glorious delicious scent of food that caught our attention first.
Even though we’d eaten out for lunch, that was hours ago and the sll of freshly roasted chicken wafting through the air sent a pang straight down to my stomach, which slowly woke up with a testing growl.
“That slls so good,” Amara said, nearly drooling as she sniffed the air. I was much of the sa, a hand over my stomach as I wiped my mouth. It slled like what you’d find in a fancy restaurant mixed with fragrant ho cooking that rivaled it.
Amara, always being a foodie, couldn’t resist and before I could warn her that this was Leo’s house and not mine and we shouldn’t wander around, she was already gone. All I saw was her back as she slipped into the kitchen.
“Amara!” I raced after her with a pale look. No matter how delicious it slled, I was more worried that Amara’s rambunctious, blunt personality might offend Leo. He didn’t seem easily offended but you never knew with Amara.
She’d gotten on Alessandro’s bad side more than once after all.
“Whoa!”
Panicked, I had no sense of decorum as I rushed into the kitchen but as soon as I t a pair of shockingly blue eyes glancing up to look at , my whole body froze as I slid to a halt, bumping into the side of Amara. I grasped her shoulder to keep from falling over, a heat rushing over my face as Leo stared at us confusedly, fork halfway to his mouth and a plate full of food on the table.
A part of hoped I could just sink right into the ground and be forgotten forever but another, more primary side of my brain saw the pile of food on the table - a whole roasted chicken so fragrant and seasoned to perfection, roasted red potatoes that looked soft enough to fall apart under a fork, garlicky green beans smothered in butter with added lemon slices and fluffy buttered dinner rolls.
My mouth watered as I stared at the food with only one plate full taken.
“Heya, you must be Leo!” It was Amara’s cheerful voice that broke from the stupor I was in and I saw the shit-eating grin on her face that had already cringing in fear of what she would say. “I’m Amara, Bianca’s bestie. We spoke on the phone that one ti. Thanks so much for inviting here.”
Contrary to my expectations, she had a very friendly but polite countenance and I had just breathed a sigh of relief as Leo smiled, setting down his fork when Amara had already blurted out her second sentence.
“That looks delicious by the way, mind if we join you?” Amara grinned widely, batting her eyelashes innocently and I sent her a glare at her shalessness.
“Amara,” I growled warningly but Leo interrupted before I could drag her out.
“Sure!” He laughed. “It would be nice to have so company. Help yourselves.”
I sent him an embarrassed look but Amara wasn’t nearly as reserved as I was.
“Thank you so much! This looks so good. Co on, try the chicken, Bianca,” She winked at , heading to end the of the table where so plates and silverware were stacked up. She didn’t waste any ti filling up her plate to the brim but I was more hesitant.
“If we’re bothering you, Leo, you don’t have to,” I tried to give him an out but he just chuckled, waving off.
“Nonsense, the more the rrier. It gets a little lonely eating alone, don’t you think?” His charming smile was more than enough for to lt but so was the buttered roll that Amara stuffed into my mouth with a sly grin.
“Just enjoy it, Bianca,” She whispered. “Stop overthinking.”
And then she stuffed a plate into my hands, already filled with my favorite foods.
I sent Leo a grateful look and he smiled back as Amara and I took our seats at the table. I was settled right between him and Amara of course.
“Oh, this is heavenly,” Amara moaned as she took a bite of the chicken.
Leo laughed, wildly and unrestrained like he truly found my best friend delightful and I smiled, giggling to myself as the atmosphere ward up considerably.
“Nice to officially et you, Amara,” he chuckled with an amused look. “I appreciate you taking the ti to co overseas to keep Bianca company. I’m sure it’s a great relief to have you here with her.”
“Nice to et you too. Bianca’s told so much about you already,” Amara said with that shit-eating grin of hers I feared.
“Amara!” I hissed, face flushed red but she just laughed, giving Leo a wink. I could see his pleased expression, almost bashful as well and it made want to crawl into a hole and die.
Luckily, Leo was a lot kinder than my best friend was.
“How was your guys’ day? Did you have fun?” Leo asked with a gentle smile on his face, changing the subject for my sake.
I sent him a small grateful look before diving into our day. He smiled brightly, listening intently as I told him everything we’d seen and done with Amara interjecting excitedly every once and a while. As I spoke though, I t Leo’s eyes every so often, so focused and attentive on , asking questions in the right places like he was actually interested in my words.
It was a first for - feeling like a man actually wanted to listen to and the longer I spoke, the deeper my cheeks flushed a deep red. I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed just spending ti with him like this and I was reluctant to head to the bed already even after our plates were cleaned and everything was put away.
“I’m exhausted,” Amara yawned, blinking her eyes slowly as she dropped at the now-cleared table. “You guys mind if I head to bed?”
“Of course not,” I replied, “I can show you to your–”
“No need, I rember it.” She waved off with a grin, getting to her feet. I’d already shown her her room which was right across from mine so I wasn’t worried she’d get lost but I still felt like I should follow her just in case. “You stay and have a nice conversation with Mr. Leo.”
Leo and Amara both chuckled as I blushed, giving her an embarrassed look at the insinuation. Leo didn’t seem to mind one bite, in fact, he was grinning from ear to ear like the cat who got the cream.
“Well, make yourself at ho, Amara,” Leo said kindly. “If you need anything, just let one of the maids know, they are great and fast.”
“Will do! Have fun you two!” Amara called out in a sing-song voice, throwing her hand up in a wave as she walked away. I blushed deeply as silence fell between us, broken only by the sound of her slowly climbing the stairs.
“I’m sorry, she’s harmless-” I tried to smooth things over but Leo just laughed, blue eyes sparkling happily like he was having fun.
“No worries,” Leo grinned. “I can tell she’s lively. Make things more interesting.”
“That’s true,” I huffed, rembering all the trouble my best friend could bring. “She’s a force of chaos.”
I softened as I saw him chuckle, leaning his head on his hand as he stared at . The look of adoration in his eyes, like he was barely stopping himself from reaching out to was almost too much to bear and I looked away, nervously playing with my fingers under the table.
“Well, as long as it makes you feel more at ho to have her here with you, I don’t mind a little chaos.” Leo smirked and I swear the heat in his eyes as he stared at was enough for to lt into a puddle if I didn’t know any better.
“It does.” I avoided his eyes, biting my bottom lip, but then I found my courage, needing him to know how much this ant to . I looked him in the eyes, hoping he could see the sincerity I was trying to convey. His eyes softened as he gazed at in return.
“Even if she can’t stay for long, it’s nice to have her here with while she can be. Bringing her here - It’s the nicest thing anyone’s done for in a long ti. I can’t thank you enough, Leo.”
“It’s no problem, Bianca,” Leo whispered softly, our eyes locked endlessly in a whirlwind of emotion that I was both intrigued to get lost in and scared to follow deeper. I broke eye contact first, rising from my chair as I quietly said, “Goodnight.”
I heard him whisper it back, but I pretended not to notice how much it sounded like he was trying to say to stay.
It was late - nearly midnight by the ti I snuggled up in bed in my pajamas, hair still damp from my shower. I settled under my covers, my eyes slipping closed as I watched my digital alarm clock slowly count the minutes.
I was just starting to drift off when my phone lit up, vibrating on the nightstand from an incoming call. I blinked blearily awake, frowning deeply as I reluctantly rose to grab it. My first thought was to just blindly answer it though that died when I saw the ID on the screen.
Blocked Number.
My heart raced in my chest. There were only a few - very, very few numbers that I had blocked in my phone. Two ex-friends, three spam numbers, and...
I declined the call, swallowing uncomfortably as I hoped it was just spam. I stared at the screen, my eyes watering from the brightness in the dark but I didn’t dare blink as my heart went a hundred miles per hour in my chest.
If this was who I thought it was, then they wouldn’t give up. Not until I answered.
The phone lit up with the blocked number again monts later. Hands trembling, I slowly accepted, putting the phone to my ear and praying with every fiber of my body that this was just a very persistent spam call.
I hated it when my bad feelings were right.
“Hey, baby.”
Matteo.
My heart sank to my feet and before my paralyzed brain could even think of what to say, my body had moved, hanging up the phone and throwing it as far as I could.
I curled up, pulling my legs to my chest as the fear ca crawling back up my throat and I felt like I was going to vomit up everything I’d eaten.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not here, not again.
But it was and my body had recognized how much danger I was in before my brain did. I threw myself out of my bed, not even knowing what I was doing or where I was going, just knowing I had to get sowhere safe - soplace Matteo couldn’t reach .
If I was in my right mind, not on the verge of a panic attack, perhaps I would’ve questioned why he was the first place my feet dragged to. Hot tears sprang to my eyes, spilling across my cheeks as I banged on the door furiously, silently begging that he both answered and didn’t.
The door flew open and Leo appeared, completely shirtless with an alard look in his blue eyes. He was like a beacon and I choked on a sob, unable to stop myself as I trembled like a leaf in the wind. I threw myself into his arms, not caring about anything but wanting to feel safe.
“Bianca, what’s wrong? What happened?” His arms closed around , holding tightly as he urgently whispered in my ear. He was so warm, the heat of his bare skin like a furnace across my cold, trembling form.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I finally felt like I was safe - like nothing could hurt .
“Matteo,” I murmured, sniffling softly. “He called .”
I felt him stiffen and warm calloused hands gently closed around my cheeks, pulling my gaze up to et his deep blue. Like a warm ocean of safety, it was hypnotizing and I was unable to look away.
“I promise you, Bianca,” he whispered so gently, his warm breath brushing across my face. “I will take care of this. You have nothing to worry about. You’re safe here with .”
I found my eyes fluttering as I leaned closer ever so softly. I heard his breath hitch, a flood of want in his eyes as he gently pulled ever so closer, hovering his lips just inches from mine like he was waiting for to make the next move.
And in a move that I knew I might regret later, I fully closed my eyes, crashing my lips onto his.
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