Chapter Twenty-five

Rose

''You know what?'' He asks as he hovers on top of me before looking down at my face, our faces are inches apart but for some reason, we always feel far. Then, he smiles down after glancing at my lips.

''What?'' I smile back.

Without uttering a single word, he starts to lean in, meeting my lips in a slow and passionate kiss. My cheeks heat up immediately at his sudden touch but I respond the kiss with the same rhythm—giving me sparks down my spine. Then, I turn us around so that I would be on top before smiling at him once more.

As I lean my body down on his, I start to slowly meet his lips; not rushing even a little bit. He does the same by grabbing onto my head, wanting to get a better access of our kiss. There's no use in denying because we both know how we've missed each other in every way possible. We just want to show and give everything that we missed.

The way he kisses me, it takes me to cloud nine. Every single time. Maybe it has something to do with Italian men but he's the best. The first time we've been this intimate was when we were not as close, we were too caught up in lust yet he treated me as if he cared; as if he knew that I matter.

I grab onto the ends of his hair, loving the way of his touches and kisses feel. When I mutter his name near his ear, he starts to groan, leaving him grabbing onto the sides of my waist; letting me feel all sorts of emotions. Elia is passionate and rough at the same time, like, he takes his time in everything especially in bed because he doesn't want to rush anything.

Without us realising, we're already skin to skin with nothing in between. My cold skin seems to be enjoying the warmth of his body because I can't seem to move away but to only pull him closer for every single kiss that we can have—every single lusting moment that we can cherish.

''I love you,'' He whispers near my ear.

I pull his face up to mine just so that I can meet his eyes and just as I expect, they would always look at me with care and admiration. He looks directly into my eyes but one of his hand wouldn't stop caressing my thighs, causing me to smile before lightly pulling him by the neck so that our lips would meet once more.

We never realise the time we've lost whenever we're together and we can't seem to stop, either

We never realise the time we've lost whenever we're together and we can't seem to stop, either. Elia and I, we have this permanent attraction that will always remain—especially at moments like this. I can never come to resist him and he never resist me back, this time, we're filled with love to each other. Not just lust.

No matter how hard it'll be, we will try to hold on; we promised each other. A promise that we shall keep even though certain promises are meant to be broken, we don't want ours to be broken. Hours and hours of being near each other, loving one another, we finally know what its like to heal. We finally understand how our broken hearts can be mended.

One weakness. Me calling his name.

When we're in bed, of course.

As we turn to face each other, I see him mesmerising my face before running his index finger on my nose, causing me to chuckle—at how cute he is reacting. We take our time to stare at each other because we both know how something aren't meant to be said but to be shown.

''It's weird how I've come to trust you,'' He says, ''I never really trust anyone but it comes easily when I'm with you, I like that. Everything comes on easily when we're together. The only thing that was caught in between was each other—we were being denial,'' He breathes out, caressing the side of my face.

''You asked me before, why I paid one million dollars for you? I did give you an answer but I don't think that answer was clear enough. Rose, you managed to make me fall for you, just by a single glance. I know, we didn't even know each other. It didn't matter, your previous career didn't matter because I know how you were so much better.'' He smiles as he looks into my eyes.

''I've been in love before and that love was a waste. Yet, with you, I don't mind risking everything. If you end up breaking me and hurting me, I wouldn't blame you. I wouldn't even hurt you or hate you. I don't have an answer to that though but I wouldn't,'' I pull him closer for a kiss as soon as he stops speaking because hurting him has never crossed my mind.

''I would never hurt you,'' I whisper.

''I know.'' He smiles.

The next day,

I open my eyes to find Elia sleeping beside me with his hand on my waist, keeping me close. As my lips curve up into a small smile, I come to realise how he has never left me after anything intimate. During our first time, he was also beside me when I woke up. It makes me slightly happy than I already am.

Leaning closer towards him, I place my hand on the side of his face, I see that he's still deep in his slumber because he doesn't even seem affected by my touch. Slowly, I make my way towards the bathroom after putting on the clothes that were scattered on the floor from last night.

Once I'm face to face with the mirror, I come to realise how I'm actually glowing. In a good way. I smile to myself in the mirror, catching glimpses of the love bites he has given me last night—it left me the good kind of pain, the pain that I wouldn't mind feeling because it felt good. It still feels good.

As soon as I've brushed my teeth and cleanse my face, I step out of the bathroom to find him sitting on the bed, his eyes immediately meet mine in an intense stare. Yet, he takes his time to eye down my legs before gesturing for me to come closer towards him. With a small smile, I head towards him, slowly and purposely swaying my hips in a seductive manner.

As soon as I use my knees to support my body on the bed, he starts to pull me by the waist before hovering on top of me once more

As soon as I use my knees to support my body on the bed, he starts to pull me by the waist before hovering on top of me once more. He eyes down my body while I let him, knowing that I can always test him in a way that he finds it hard to resist—it satisfies me, somehow after knowing that he's actually easy to tease.

Elia breathes near my neck, causing me to give him a better access.

Then, to my surprise, I start to meet his lips in a long, sweet kiss. He kisses me slow yet he's showing something through this kiss—something that not everyone can have and show. Within seconds, he starts to pull away, looking straight into my eyes, ''You taste like mint,'' He whispers.

''I've brushed my teeth, unlike you.'' I reply which earns me a chuckle from him before he starts to stand up and leave his pants hanging low around his waist—causing me to stare from behind. Then, he glances at my direction, purposely winking before disappearing into the bathroom.

I laugh, biting my lower lip.

As I run towards the bathroom, I see him brushing his teeth but as soon as he sees me, he starts to pull me in before closing the door behind me and quickly causing me to laugh as we continue our little journey—if you know what I mean. Then again, I don't mind doing this all day. As long as we're together and happy.

He starts to teasingly kiss around my neck from behind, causing me to laugh as soon as we finish showering—it was the longest shower of my life because we ended up doing things. I turn around, cupping onto his face before purposely drop my towel onto the ground, leaving him gulping but both of his eyes are directly staring into mine.

With a smirk, I put on my undergarments—leaving him smiling down at me but he doesn't do anything to stop me. He did try to undress me back but I would push his hand away, just, purposely seducing him but at the same time, teasing him.

''You're testing me,'' He leans in.

I put on my shirt before pulling him close and brushing my lips against his but as soon as he tries to kiss me, I pull away, exiting the bedroom—leaving him standing there, with a smirk on his face. I smile at myself, knowing that he can't really have me in every way he wants because at times, I'll have it my way.

''That wasn't very nice,'' He says, stepping out of the room—fully dressed before he starts to stand beside me as I try to look for something to eat.

''How so?'' I raise an eyebrow.

Before he can utter another word, his phone starts to ring; causing him to furrow his eyebrows and decline the call. Within seconds, the phone starts to ring again, this time, I turn towards him, ''Answer it. It might be important,'' I say.

He glances up at my direction for a few seconds before answering the call, ''Yeah, what you want?'' He asks, taking a few steps away from me. Then, he frowns once more, ''What do you mean? I thought—''

Clearly, the person on the other line has cut him to it. Elia probably doesn't want me to listen anymore as he makes his way towards the balcony, closing the sliding door afterwards. I take it as a sign that he wants some space.

But I can't help eyeing him from afar.

From inside, I can see his reaction changing from the call. He's not as happier or as joyful as he was minutes ago, he seems a lot more tense and troubled. I can also see him sigh before he nods his head.

I thought the call would have ended anytime soon but that's far from what's happening. Yet, I never fail to wait him to come inside with a smile on his face, assuring me that everything is alright; that it was just a call, an unimportant one that can easily be forgotten but from what I see, that's never happening.

It takes me awhile to realise that it has been exactly fifteen minutes of him speaking on the phone before he ends the call and hold onto the railings, loosening his muscles a little bit—entering the house.

As soon as he steps inside the house, I walk towards him slowly; not wanting to make him feel like I'm invading his privacy but we have expressed our feelings to each other. That means we're probably heading somewhere, right?

''Is everything okay?'' I ask.

Elia looks down into my eyes before wrapping his arms around my waist, resting his forehead against mine and letting out a deep sigh—it shows how much he's tired of everything, ''Not quite,'' He replies.

''You mind telling me?'' I smile a little bit.

He smiles back, ''Just when I thought that things are going to get better, it never really does. Shit happened back at work, causing hundreds of my men dead. Luciano is trying to figure out who but that killer is an expert—he's really good at hiding his identity. Not just that, his work, it was neat. No evidence was left behind,'' He furrows his eyebrows.

I soothingly rub his back, ''Loosen up a little bit. I know that it's hard and I know that you haven't completely let go of everything, especially your work and I know what you're thinking right now but it's your job, I understand you, whatever your choice may be. As long as it doesn't involve—''

He cuts me off, ''—death?''

I nod my head, for some reason, I want to tell him that it's going to be okay as long as it doesn't involve his death which is selfish of me. Stupid too. Other people shouldn't die either, bad or not.

''That's impossible, amore. Death is the only solution. He or whoever they might be, killed my men. I've probably caused them chaos in the past for them to seek revenge or this is all just a game to start a war,'' He responds, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

''And you have to go, Luciano wants you to come.''

''You read me easily, tesoro.'' He pecks onto my forehead, long and full of meanings. I always feel butterflies whenever he does all these little things to me, sometimes, I think that it matters most.

''But you're coming with me,''

I raise an eyebrow, ''Why?''

''Because you're not safe. Not when you're alone. They know about you, Rose. They'll come and get you in order to get me—I'm not stupid, I won't leave you all by yourself to only find you gone or even worse, dead. I wouldn't risk that, so come with me. At least I'll protect you with my life,'' He cups onto my face, saying those words as if he means every single one.

We are currently entering Elia's territory back in Los Angeles, a smaller part and also hidden; where they keep a little bit of their weapons and where most of his men would chill, basically. He has a building in the city, that's a bigger source, where he keeps everything. From the outside, people might think that it's a regular office but that thirty-floored building is far from a regular office.

''Did Luciano tell you?'' I turn to see a man in his suit as he flicks off his cigarette before walking towards Elia and I. He glances towards my direction for a few seconds before turning to look at Elia; his face deadly serious.

''Where were you last night?'' Elia asks.

The man clenches his jaw but he does not utter a single word. He stands still, only looking at Elia before turning to look at the ground. Then again, if he was even here last night, he would've gotten himself killed too. Just like the rest.

''How many?'' Elia asks again, more demanding.

''A hundred and two, boss. Thirty were killed here and the rest were killed offshore, it happened at the same time. We found out a couple of hours later,'' He replies, ''I came in late and as soon as I did, I saw them, dead.''

Elia glances at my direction before pulling my hand as we enter, seeing corpses on the ground—all covered in body bags. I furrow my eyebrows at the smell yet Elia seem utterly calm about it; not slightly affected. Some of his men are in here, looking at us. Elia seems tense as he let out a deep sigh, ''Fucking hell.'' He mutters.

I look up at him from behind but I keep quiet; afraid if I might cause more trouble than good. Then, he turns around to look at me before picking up another call but he does not say a word, only listening to the other line.

Then, he ends the call.

All I do is look at him, seeing that he has his jaw clenched before pinching the bridge of his nose, ''Fucking hell, where the fuck were you last night when all of these shit went down?!'' He shouts at his men, even from the side, I see him trying hard to control his breaths, his anger.

''We, we tried. B—but,'' One of his men, stutters.

''But what?'' Elia takes a few steps towards him, closing their distance and I see fear appearing in his eyes, fear of Elia. The way Elia stands, show how he's very pissed but he tries everything he can, to hold back. ''You want to know what the fuck just happened?''

He gulps.

''Our money has been stolen. Fifteen million dollars. Do you want to know how it was stolen? Do you want to fucking know or do I have to remind you, that you could've done something?'' He clenches his jaw again.

''When I ask, I expect answers.'' He adds.

''B—boss, I'm sorry. I don't know, boss.'' He stutters again, trying to avoid Elia's eye contact but the death glare that he's giving, could really kill inside.

''You're lucky that you're here instead of there,'' He points at the few men—dead on the ground. Then, he sighs once more, trying his best to look at anywhere but me.

For some reason, I feel like I sympathy him. I sympathy Elia, he deserves a better life. A better everything than this; a lot more than he could have ever imagined. I head towards him, holding onto his hand and giving him a squeeze of hope.

''You're okay,'' I whisper.

When I still see him clenching his jaw, I pull him close by the waist before hugging him—hoping that he'll be feeling slightly better than this, ''You're okay,'' I repeat.

He hugs me back, making me sigh.