“What’s wrong?” I press, lying down on the bed next to her, propping myself up with my elbow.
“You constantly surprise me. Every time I think I’ve got you figured out, you do something I don’t expect. I don’t really know how to handle it all.” Her lip quivers slightly, and I pull her into me. Wrapping my arms around her, I nestle her against my chest, covering us with the duvet.
“I know. I’m quite incredible. I don’t know what you did to get so lucky.” I kiss her head softly with a smile, holding her tighter. I think I’ve smiled more with her in the last few weeks than ever before in my life.
“And then you speak and I remember why I prefer you to be silent and nice to look at.” She settles further into my hold, and for the first time in what feels like ages, I fall asleep without war waging in my mind.
nineteen
I wake up alone,the space next to me cold and empty. Yesterday, Sebastian took me shopping in Rome. Even though I’m not much of a shopper, it was nice to walk the streets of a beautiful city on the arm of a gorgeous man, while shopping for anything and everything I wanted. People parted like the Red Sea when Sebastian walked through the streets. At first, I thought it was the way he simply commands attention everywhere he goes. But it didn’t take long for me to realize it’s actually because everyone, every man, woman, and child, knows exactly who he is here. We walked down the streets and they treated him like royalty. We ducked into shops and they fawned over him as if it were a visit from the King. And I suppose, to them, in a weird sort of way, it was. Sebastian bought me the most beautiful black silk dress I’d ever seen in my life. It came from a local shop where the owner was most definitely flirting with him, but I didn’t care. The dress was worth the jealousy.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I see a note sitting on my nightstand.
I didn’t want to wake you, but I had to leave. Enzo will take you anywhere you want to go. Please be safe. I left you a gift on the balcony.
Seb
I could get used to this boyfriend thing. Is that what Seb is? My boyfriend? It seems like such an odd word for a man as intense as him. Boyfriends are silly creatures who toy with your emotions and leave you on read when you piss them off with foolish things like affection and feelings. Sebastian doesn’t play those kinds of games.
Kicking the blankets off my legs, I stretch my arms over my head. Padding across the room, I push open the double doors to the balcony and find the most beautiful view I’ve ever been fortunate enough to see. The hillside seems to stretch on forever, the sun rising over the landscape, bathing every inch in a golden glow. This feels like a place where time softens, not just passes. The countryside rolls out in gentle, velvety waves of green, the hills layered one behind the other like brushstrokes, fading into the hazy blue of the morning sky.
The sun is low, spilling gold across the land, turning the fields into something almost luminous, like they’re glowing from within rather than simply being lit. Narrow paths wind lazily through the hills, and workers walk by each other calmly, not truly in a hurry to get anywhere. It’s incredible. I understand now why Sebastian felt so homesick. I’m going to miss this beauty so much when we go back home.
I don’t have to search long to find the surprise he’s left for me here. A new yoga mat, foam blocks, and grippy socks sit on the table to the left of the door, and I can’t help but smile. The man is learning what makes me tick. I rush out the door of Seb’s room,hoping my suite isn’t hard to find from here. Instead of finding a wide open corridor, I run straight into a wall of solid muscle. Enzo grunts as we collide, gripping my arms so I don’t fall back on my ass as I bounce off his chest.
“Mi scusi, Miss Vanessa,” Enzo says, helping to steady me.
“That’s okay, I should’ve been looking where I was going. Can you help me find my way back to my room?” I ask, and he looks a little hesitant. “I just need to grab a change of clothes. I’m not making a run for it.”
I don’t know why I feel the need to explain myself to Enzo, but something in his expression tells me Sebastian didn’t want me going back to my own space. Honestly, I’m completely fine with that. I’d rather spend the rest of this trip wrapped up in his arms every night. But I can’t exactly wander the halls naked or in the same clothes every single day, so I have to restock.
“Of course, ma’am. Right this way.” Enzo turns, walking down the hall.
I expect to follow him through turn after turn in this labyrinth of an estate, so I’m shocked when we turn one corner and stop at a familiar doorway. My room was less than twenty steps from Sebastian’s this entire time.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I mumble under my breath, and Enzo scoffs.
“He’s ridiculous, you know that, right?” Enzo just shrugs, knowing his boss is more than just controlling, while also understanding he can’t be changed.
Whirling through my room like a tornado, I grab a few changes of clothes, change into my spandex workout shorts and sports bra, and slip an oversized t-shirt over my head. Grabbing my hair care products and scarf from the bathroom, I toss them into my bag and head back to Sebastian’s room. Enzo doesn’t meet my eyes when I walk down the hall, and does everything he can to avoid looking at me as I walk in front of him.
“Something wrong, Enzo?” I ask, confused by his sudden change in attitude.
“No, ma’am. I just value my eyes. If the boss knew anyone else saw you dressed this way, I can’t say what he’d do, but it wouldn’t be pretty.” He nearly runs straight into the wall, but stops short, turning and looking away as I lean on the frame of Seb’s doorway.
“I see. Well, I would never want to get you into trouble. But I answer to no man, and most definitely not when it comes to what I wear.” Pushing off the door frame, I leave the door open, walking straight outside to the balcony and pulling my t-shirt over my head. I may be a curvy woman, but I’m not ashamed of my body.
I’ve never worked out in any other clothes besides these, I see no reason to change now. If Sebastian wants to be with me, he’ll have to adjust to my lifestyle, just like I will to his. Rolling out the new mat, I sit in easy pose in the center. The landscape surrounding the villa is incredible. I’m beyond lucky to be experiencing such a beautiful place with almost nothing to worry about. Closing my eyes, I spend a few moments meditating. The one thing I’ve always loved about yoga was the ability to clear my mind of all the noise and heaviness of the world around me, even if only for a few moments. I fold into child’s pose, my hips sinking back toward my heels. My torso drapes over my thighs like it’s finally allowed to rest. My arms stretch forward as far as I can reach, my shoulder muscles relaxing slowly. I feel the tension unfolding in my lower back as emotion builds in my chest.
Moving into a runner’s lunge, I take a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before releasing it. My spine lengthens as my chest lifts, oxygen carving space through the front of my body. I feel the energy flowing through me, the weight of the world sloughing off my shoulders as I release shaky, deep breaths.Despite my best efforts, tears sting the back of my eyes. Pushing through the emotion, I stretch into upward facing dog. My palms press firmly into the mat beneath my shoulders, arms straight and firm as my chest arches forward. The tops of my feet root down, my thighs hovering just off the mat. My back curves into a deep bend, my shoulders spreading wide as my heart lifts toward the rising sun. Tears stream down my face in earnest now, but I ignore them. I’m getting so tired of the emotional dams continuously breaking in this fucking place.
I fall into hero pose, kneeling with my knees together and sit back between my heels. The tops of my feet press into the mat as my thighs settle, heavy and grounded in place. I rest my hands on top of my thighs, palms down to steady myself. I wanted this to be relaxing and cleansing, but I can’t understand why my emotions keep getting the best of me. Breathing deeply, I empty my body of every sensation that feels unnecessary. Hopefully, I can get back into my regular yoga routine, and this won’t feel like such an intense experience.
“Miss Diaz?” Enzo’s voice breaks the silence, and I wipe my eyes.
“Yeah? You can come in, Enzo. And please open your eyes. I don’t need you breaking your nose and convincing Sebastian I’m abusing his staff.” I laugh, and I think I actually see Enzo crack a smile.
“Would you like to see my favorite part of the villa?” He asks, still avoiding eye contact.