*Bianca*
I got a few more hours of sleep after Leo left, falling into a deep dream that I couldn’t quite recall when I woke up but I knew had been a good one. I couldn’t stop smiling as I rose out of Leo’s bed, the comforter still slling like him and his musty fragrance that I didn’t realize until now that I’d beco intimate with him.
I was smiling as I gathered up my clothes from last night, even as I slipped out of his room in nothing but an oversized shirt I’d stolen from his closet. By the ti I got to my room, my cheeks hurt from how wide my grin was but I couldn’t help it.
Butterflies were nothing. A whole flock of birds had taken shape in my stomach, leaving giddy and feeling like I was floating rather than walking. This was like a windstorm, a hurricane coming crashing into every part of and I was weightless as it washed away into the eye of the storm.
I’ve been in love before- I had felt it so tenderly and deeply I thought it was a wide ocean. With waves so torrent they push you so deep you can feel nothingness like it was your everything.
But now, standing in the middle of my room, I realize I was wrong.
That ocean had simply been a raindrop.
This was love. This crazy, burdenso, and wild feeling made want to scream out his na until everyone in the world could hear while simultaneously holding it so close and so tightly that not a single soul would be able to take it from .
It was contradictory and confusing and...
So wonderful.
I couldn’t even count how many tis I sighed as I went straight for the shower, the steam of the hot water coating as I stripped down to nothing. I was still sore and heavy from last night so I rubbed my muscles, lathering with soap as my hands followed the paths that he had trailed across my body last night.
From my neck down to my breasts, my fingers spreading across my belly- I made sure to wash every inch of my body very thoroughly and the longer I stood under the hot water, the more I thought back to last night and how absolutely wonderful Leo was.
Not just in bed but with .
I’d never had a man as kind and considerate as he was, never had soone who would always put first, my pain and my pleasure, making sure to take care of my needs first and his own second.
I knew Leo liked . I’d known it since the first day I’d arrived. How could you not when a man looked at you with stars in their eyes, like they would pluck the heavens out of the galaxy and bring it to your feet if that was what you asked.
Leo was everything I wanted and so much more.
And now I finally was brave enough to accept those feelings.
I wrapped myself in a towel after the shower, heading out to get dressed but as I headed for the closet, I heard a polite knock on the door. I jolted in surprise, nearly losing hold of my towel, but I firmly tucked it against my body, my heart beating wildly in my chest.
“Miss?” a soft voice called from the other side, “I have a surprise from Mr. Leo.”
I recognized the maid’s voice. It was Sophie, the maid who I always asked for anything when I was a bit lost. She was a sweet, cheerful girl who I’d gotten rather close with over the past few months living here.
“Um, yeah, just, uh, one mont! I need to get dressed!” I yelled panicky as I rushed for the closet but Sophie’s next words halted in my tracks.
“No need, Miss! Mr. Leo has sent you sothing to wear already! He said it was for your date tonight. May I co in to help you get ready?”
I blinked in surprise, vaguely rembering Leo ntioning sothing about a surprise tonight but a date? My cheeks flared up with heat and I relaxed, finally relenting. It was embarrassing to have soone see like this but I did want to look my best for our first official date.
“Uh, sure,” I hid the embarrassnt behind a cough and the door opened, showing the rather young maid with her cheery disposition holding boxes and bags all with fancy label designs on them.
I gawked at the amount of the things she brought in, holding them like it was nothing as she set them down on the bed, shutting the door behind her with her foot masterfully like she did this all the ti.
“Well, let’s get started, huh?” Sophie grinned widely, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. I gulped.
It turned out Leo didn’t buy an outfit- he bought an entire store’s worth. My mouth dropped open as Sophie showed off the dress, which was gorgeous but also the several pairs of shoes ranging from heels to flats in multiple styles, the jewelry which was worth a fortune by the looks of it and so many accessories it made my head dizzy with price tags.
All of it massive designers that even I, who wasn’t the most fashion forward, had heard of. I couldn’t believe how different my life was since I had left Italy - going from being trapped to Matteo to now being pampered like this with Leo.
It was insane.
But I couldn’t deny the way my heart was thumping with gratitude and excitent.
Mia was the only person I knew with this kind of money and ever since she and Alessandro had gotten together, my cousin had started showering our forrly poor family with glamorous gifts like this. She’d claid it was because of Alessandro’s job, which to be honest, I still didn’t know what he did for a living but sothing had seed fishy about it.
Mia had paid off all my college expenses and paid for my tuition as a birthday gift and now Leo was buying a new closet just for a date. It just seed too similar to be a coincidence. I still wasn’t used to accepting such amazing but expensive gifts or having much money in the first place so it felt odd but maybe just one day it would be okay.
Leo had been so kind to , that I didn’t want to turn down his generosity. Still, I couldn’t let this be an everyday occurrence. I tried to make it out here in LA on my own two feet, not relying on Leo or Mia for an easy life.
Sophie helped get ready for the date and I ended up choosing a rather short long-sleeve burgundy dress with a neckline collar but an open back and pinched waist. It was tight around the bodice but the skirt flared out in loose swirls at the bottom ending near the thigh.
Sophie helped to style my hair - a loose curl with a small braid on the right and side-swept bangs, then we chose jewelry, a pair of gorgeous black athyst gem drop earrings, a more simple teardrop bangle with only one diamond in the middle. Then the makeup and shoes- I chose a pair of lace burgundy flats which were more comfortable than I thought they would be.
By the ti we were done, Leo had gotten ho and as I descended the stairs towards him, I saw the loving look in his eyes as he saw . He didn’t look half-bad himself, cleaned up in a suit and tie that matched my own dress, hair brushed back, and face clean-shaven.
He kissed my hand, murmuring how beautiful I was and I glowed at the gentleman before , hooking my arm between his as I was ready to go anywhere with him.
“Any hint as to where we’re going, handso?” I asked teasingly as he led out to his car.
“Just out.” He grinned, sending a flirty wink.
It turns out that what Leo ant by “Out” was by taking to Providence, one of the most expensive and fanciest restaurants in LA. I was in awe just sitting in the parking lot, which for so reason was quite empty from what I thought it would be.
I didn’t realize until we got inside that it was because the restaurant was empty. The servers were attentive, giving us the famous private chef’s table which included a tasting of all the nu. Each platter was rather small but they added up quickly.
Sashimi and crab, black cod and king salmon, duck and rabbit, each with their own wine pairing and more delicious than the last. Leo even dared to try the caviar they placed and though I was hesitant, knowing exactly what they were, I wasn’t about to back down from a challenge.
And what I thought would be a fishy gross taste was absolutely not. It was salty and briny, yes but also sowhat sweet and buttery, bursting in the mouth sowhat like tiny boba balls that I oddly enjoyed.
We shared a decadent dessert, a slice of chocolate cheesecake decorated with actual edible gold flakes.
“This is the most delicious and beautiful al I’d ever had,” I couldn’t help ntioning, moaning as I took another bite of the cheesecake which was quickly becoming my top favorite dessert of all ti.
“Well,” Leo grinned, watching with a lovesick look on his face, “you know who gets the most delicious and beautiful als like this all the ti?”
“Who?” I played along with a grin.
“My girlfriend,” Leo whispered in my ear like it was so kind of secret advice he was giving , “And it just so happens the position is vacant at the mont. I’m accepting applications, but just between you and , you’ll get first priority if you want.”
I laughed, beaming at him as I pulled back.
“You’re so silly,” I said with a grin, digging my fork into a bite of the cheesecake.
“Hmm... And why is that?” There was a hint of vulnerability behind his levity, almost like he was afraid I’d say no or laugh in his face but there was no way I could ever do that. Before he could overthink it, I stuffed the fork into his mouth, letting him taste the chocolate as I grinned brightly.
“I’m afraid that position was already filled by , Leo. You’re a step behind, I’m afraid. Get with the program,” I smirked and I watched his eyes widen, brain whirling to catch up with and I lted as I saw his eyes fill with sheer joy, lighting up like Christmas had co early.
I’d made my decision the mont I’d snuck into his room last night, probably before that even.
He was mine and I was his.
And nobody was going to get between us.
After our drinking, Leo called soone to co get us just to be safe and I curled into his embrace in the backseat, sleeping off the alcohol which had quickly drugged my brain into sleepy mode.
We stumbled back into the compound, both too drunk to do anything but sleep as we collapsed onto Leo’s bed, curling up next to one another. I couldn’t help but hold his hand as Leo passed out almost imdiately, gently tracing every line on his palm to mory.
I’d never felt happier or safer than when I was beside him. I knew I’d made the right decision to leave Italy, to leave Matteo and co here to be by his side. I was exactly where I needed to be.
Fate or luck, it didn’t matter, I was beyond thankful anyway that they’d given him to .
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