Erasmo moaned into my ear as I arched my back. My own voice caught in the back of my throat. His hand wrapped tightly around my neck, grabbing it possessively as he fucked me deeper. His desperate pantings caused my body to ache with need as my toes curled. My fingers dug into the soft satin sheets beneath me as he pressed our bodies further into the bed.

"Rasso..." I moaned, desperately lifting my hands to cling to his damp shoulders. Holding on to him tightly as his hips slammed uncontrollably against mine.

"Fuck..." Erasmo moaned as he slowed downed drastically and dug himself as deep as he could inside me. He lifted himself slightly and held my face, lips parted as he watched me cum with him. "Jay..." He pressed his thumb over my bottom lip as I moaned and moved languidly beneath him. Enjoying the surge of electric tingles through my body.

I felt his lips against mine and smiled as he kissed me. Lazily moving his semi-erection in and out of me.

It was his suggestion to come here after my latest black out. I told him I wanted to go home. I needed to go home. I knew what he was thinking. I was panicking. I could barely process more than two thoughts together.

Run. Run.

But he wouldn't let me. He told me he'll take care of it. That I just needed to trust him. He'll figure it out. And that scared me more. How was he calm right now? Why wasn't he calling the cops on me? He was going to kill me. That was the only explanation. He wasn't turning me in because he was going to kill me later down the road.

Run. Run.

"In a burgulary gone wrong, late Governor Hicks wife, Breanna Hicks was found dead at the scene of the crime. More on the investigation at 10."

Run. Run.

"I have to---" I whispered. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I can't...I..." I couldn't breathe.

"Look at me. Look at me." Erasmo whispered cupping my face. "Look at me." He pressed his forehead against mine. "I'll handle it. Stay with me."

I lifted my head, my bottom lip trembling as I tried to keep my emotions in check. "I'm not a good person." I shook my head, tears blinding my vision. "I'm not a good person.." I cried, sniffling back the snot that was threatening to Niagara Falls out my nose.

He hugged me tight as I cried.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me?"

"Come to Italy with me."

"What?" My crying stopped, I was so caught off guard.

Erasmo smiled. "Let's go to Venice, right now."

And here we were.

Erasmo chuckled as he rolled off me to plop on the bed. A content smile on his face as he laid back staring up at the high ceiling in the house his great-great-great grandfather had helped build.

I gasped as I looked out the grand window that was partially opened. Blowing in the gentle breeze against the already warm sunrise. The sheets felt like butter around my body as I turned to look at Erasmo.

We'd been here for three days now. And honestly this felt like paradise. I couldn't help by smile as I watched him. His black hair disheveled, eyes closed to reveal his long eyelashes. A cocky smirk on his plump lips. His perfectly scuplted tanned body. His trimmed patch of pubic hair giving way to his now limp dick.

He squinted one eye opened and grinned at me mischievously. "Cosa?" He asked playfully.

I sat up slightly on my elbow and faced him. My naked body laid out like one of those paintings we'd seen yesterday. I knew it to be so, because he stared down my body appreciatively as he shifted his own body to face mine.

"You scare me." I admitted.

Erasmo frowned, his eyebrows knitted together before he chuckled and shook his head. "Why? No, I don't."

I nodded, tracing a small heart on the silk sheet.

"Why?" He whispered. "Why do I scare you?"

"It's scary the way you love me." I whispered, lifting my eyes to him.

Erasmo held my gaze.

"You haven't asked me about that day."

He reached out and gently ran his fingers over mine. We moved our fingers slowly over the other. "Do you want me to ask you about it?"

I stared at our fingers. His tan and veiny, mine a dark brown, hazed in a smoky black. I shook my head.

His thumb traced around the inside of my wrist. "Then, I won't."

I lifted my eyes once more to meet his.

"But if you want to tell me, I'm here." His whisper caressed my soul, as his touch lingered on every part of my body, not just my wrist.

"Either you're very sick." I whispered. "Or I've gone completely insane."

Erasmo chuckled. He sat up and hovered over me. "You understand me." He grinned. "I know you do."

I shook my head.

"It feels nice doesn't it?" He asked warmly as he ran his hand down my body, digging and. squeezing where he saw fit.

"So nice..." I whispered, immediately grabbing on to his neck as I kissed him. It turned passionate very quickly as I leaned up to wrap my arms around his neck.

We fell back on the bed and I laughed as he kissed his way down my body. The laughter quickly turning into breathy moans as he parted my thighs, his tongue flat, I felt the wetness of his tongue slid against my clit fleetingly before aiming off to the side of it. Teasing, warning that that would be it's destination in just a couple of strokes.

I closed my eyes as I felt him tug my lower lips into his mouth. He alternated to the other side, as he ran his tongue around my sex, before pulling me into a soft, wet kiss. His slurp and moan caused my toes to instinctively bend. My hands to grab his hair head in encouragement. Hips moving wantonly as the steady stroke of his tongue against my aching need.

I ran my hands over his hair as I pressed his head down further. He moaned as he sucked me into his mouth, his chin sliding across my entrance. My moaning grew louder as my body reacted. I opened my eyes to look down at him. His left hand gripped my waist, while his right hand worked steadily up and down his growing erection.

I moaned loudly as I arched my ass up off the bed. Right---fucking----there.

**

"Yes Craig, I know." Erasmo replied with as walked down the cobblestoned street hand in hand. "But if I'm trusting you with this for a couple weeks, that means that I have 100% confidence in you."

I smiled as I ran my hand over the side of my loose, spaghetti strapped, maxi dress. A calm cream, that brightened my shiny brown complexion in the Mediterranean sun. Erasmo had gotten it for me yesterday at a random mom and pop shop.

I loved it.

"Well good luck finding Lola, because she's no where to be found." Erasmo replied. He released my hand and pulled to the side slightly and I knew he wanted to talk privately with Craig.

I smiled and took a couple steps to the side to give him some space. I looked around, feeling the hungry eyes of the Italian men walking across the plaza. No shame as they walked past, giving me a suggestive smirk and double take.

Stereotypes or not, Italians were horny bastards.

And it made me feel very sexy.

I saw a fruit stand and made my way further down the sidewalk to it. Not confident in the little bit of Italian I'd been practicing, I did the typical tourist smile and pointed to the mangoes. The old man simply smiled back at me brightly. "You want a mango? Si?

"Si." I nodded stupidly. I knew how to fucking say I want a mango fruit cup in Italian. Why did I freeze?

"Pretty, lady." The old man nodded at me and grinned.

I chuckled. Was this old man trying to get it? I smiled at him and reached into my purse to pay him.

""For the pretty lady, I'll cover." An arm reached out across me. "Solo, una pagnotta, per favore."

I lifted my head to a very nice smelling older gentleman.

Staring at him like a dear cut in headlights, he smiled at me. Holy Fuck, who was this silver fox? He wore a blue buttoned- down shirt with grey slim pants. He was adjusting the button on the arm of his shirt which revealed a cuban link gold bracelet and a chronolographer Piaget watch with blue alligator straps. Now I'm not a watch connesiour but I only knew this was a chronolographer Piaget watch, because I'd only met one person with the exact same watch and asked him what watch it was.

My head snapped to Erasmo frowning as he hurried over to us.

I placed my hand in his outstretched one and he grinned as he brought it to his lips for a soft kiss. "Jaylenn si?"

"Papa! Cosa stai facendo qui?" He asked loudly clearly annoyed.

I looked back to the man that was without a doubt Erasmo's father. Holy Shit...my man was going to be a silver fox. They looked alike, his dad being just a tad shorter than him.

"Cosa?" The handsome older gentleman put his hands up in surrender, releasing me. "Voglio vedere mio figlio!" He responded. He switched his gaze to me and beamed. "Please Jaylenn, forgive my son, it seems he forgets his manners, sometimes."

Erasmo's shoulder dropped as he stared at his father in disbelief. He took a deep breath and sighed as he turned to me. "Jaylenn, this is Alessandro Marino..."

I smiled as Mr. Marino waited for Erasmo to continue.

Erasmo exhaled loudly as if it were a deep burden. "My father."

"My son sure does have taste." Mr. Marino replied as he stepped towards me, taking both my hands. I giggled, I don't know why I did, but I was mesmerized. He grinned at me.

I'm not saying anything okay! But I'm saying like....maybe in another universal, it's okay to get spitroasted by a son and his devishily handsome dad.

Mr. Marino winked at me.

Erasmo, literally smacked our hands down and glared at his father.

I quickly released his father's hand. What in the world was going on with me?

"Oh don't mind him." Mr. Marino grinned, revealing a nicely dimpled cheek just like Erasmo. "He's resented me ever since he was born." He grabbed Erasmo's upper arms firmly. "Even though he's my only son that I love more than life." He leaned his head up and planted a firm kiss on Erasmo's forehead.

I saw my boyfriend's shoulders relaxed.

"Ti voglio bene." His father whispered.

"Ti voglio bene." Erasmo whispered back.

I swear I was going to melt on the sidewalk of this beautiful town. The father pressed his forehead around against Erasmo's and patted his neck. "Stai bene?"

Erasmo nodded. "Si."

Mr. Marino released him proudly and turned to me once more. "Come darling, walk with me." He put his arm out and I easily slipped my hand through. I watched Erasmo stare at he gesture. I waited to meet his eyes and gave him a reassuring smile. To my surprise, he seemed to avert his eyes in embarrassment as if he'd gotten caught.

Wait...did he not want me to loop arms with his father?

"So tell me." Mr. Marino stated happily as we walked away from the stand. "What do you like about Venice so far?"

**

I applied the lotion contently over my face as I looked at the vanity mirror. Erasmo was in his grey briefs, sitting on the edge of the bed watching me seriously.

"What?" I asked him, confused.

"You can't fuck my dad." He replied.

I laughed at the absurdity and slowly stopped when I saw he wasn't laughing with me. "Wait---are you serious?"

Erasmo lowered his gaze to the ground as he bit down on his bottom lip.

"I'm not going to fuck your dad!" I yelled at him. Chuckling in disbelief. "I can't believe you'll even say that."

When he didn't respond, I whirled my head back around, my mouth open in shock.

"Is that a thing? Like has that been a thing?" I asked loudly.

"You seem oddly excited about that." Erasmo muttered.

I laughed and turned back around. "This is fucking crazy." I tied my head wrap around my head, after having pulled my braids back in a comfortable ponytail. "Crazy."

I dropped my hands and turned to him. "I'm not gonna fuck your dad sicko." I rushed to the bed happily flopped back on it.

Erasmo turned around and whispered. "Actually if you want we can fly out to Paris for the week and then fly back when he's gone---"

I chuckled and hit his thigh playfully. "Come on." I smiled. "You rarely ever see him."

He rolled his eyes.

"And pretend all you want but you enjoyed having him around." I giggled sitting up next to him. "I haven't heard you laugh or smile so much before." I whispered honestly. I was falling deeper and deeper in love with him.

Erasmo smiled, his eyes shining bright as he stared at me. He pressed his nose against mine with a small nudge before angling his head and pressing his lips confidently against my lips.

I smiled. "If I'm dreaming, I don't ever wanna wake up."

"BBBBRRRRRRIIIIINNNNG!" I groaned as I twisted around. "BBBBBRRRRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGG!"

"Jay dear wake up."

I groaned as I put the pillow over my head. "I told you I don't want this stupid alarm!" I sat up and angrily slammed the alarm on my table as my mom calmly walked over with a breakfast tray.

I hated being here.

I hated feeling like this.

Like I was a teenager again.

I acted like one too.

Bratty.

I didn't know why.

"No need to get all worked up about it. A schedule is good for you." Marlene Campbell responded as she set the tray down by my bedside. She straightened up and reached for my head.

"Oh Jay, maybe----"

"No, stop!" I put my hand out and knocked her hand to the side.

"What is wrong with you." My mom hit my hand back. "I'm just trying to help."

"I actually came here to get help." I whispered to her in disbelief.

"I am helping!"

"You're making me feel like I'm even crazier." I exclaimed. "Like I'm living in some twilight world."

Marlened frowned. "I told you, not to go and just stay with us." She stated clearly, her eyebrows arched. "You and your father as always, think I'm doing too much."

I groaned and held my head. "I am crazy." I whispered. My eyes widened as my heart raced. A sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. What if, I had imagined all this?

"And that annoying boyfriend of yours won't stop calling." Marlene rolled her eyes as she reached out to fluff my pillows.

I gasped, my heart skipping, at the wreckage that was my brain. No I hadn't imagined Erasmo. He was real.

"What time should I tell Peter you'll be available?"

"What?" I blinked at my mother.

"Peter." Marlene repeated. "Jaylenn dear, why are you looking at me like that?"

I felt as if I couldn't breathe, all the oxygen sucked out the atmosphere as I felt yanked through a blue void, and then I was being dropped. I tried to scream but was hit with the drastic intake of salt water. I kept falling deeper and deeper into the dark abyss, trying to scream as loud as I could.

"There we go, there we go."

I gasped. Shaking rapidly, looking around in confusion at the fragile arms that wrapped around me. The smoothing feminimen voice above me.

"Mom?" I whispered, trying to breathe.

"It's okay."

I gasped as I shot out of bed. I looked around, shaking from the nightmare, I looked up at the clock above my childhood bedroom door.

"Rise and shine." The door opened as my mother walked in with a tray of breakfast. The delicious smell caused my mouth to water. "Oh dear, you look like shit."

I wiped my face. "I had a nightmare about you." I replied.

Marlene gave me a side look and put the tray down by my bedside. "Mind your manners." she reached out and absently touched a couple braids. "Get up and look presentable, your apparent boyfriend, just showed up her without a single phone call.

My heart lurched. "Erasmo's here?" I whispered, immediately touching my face. I'd told him no. He'd called. He'd called ceasingly. I mean I had left him in the middle of the night on our trip to Italy. In my defense, It was seeing how much he loved me. Like how hard he was going to bat for this. How he truly fucking cleaned up my mess like he said he would.

Well thanks to his uncle Franck that really could make anything look like anything.

But he fucking flew me away to a little town in Italy, he pampered me, he saw me...me....he saw me. I met his dad....and I just...I was being an evil conniving fucked up bitch for being with him.

At least not in this point in my life.

Not like this.

Not feeling this....unhinged.

I didn't want this feeling.

Nothing good came from this feeling.

"Well are you gonna clean the crust out your eyes or does this little Italian man prefere it?" Marlene asked in annoyance.

"Mom." I whispered as I pulled the covers back. "Please do not be yourself." I begged as I climbed out my bed.

Marlene scoffed. "This girl really..." she whispered in disbelief.

**

"Jaylenn..."

I smiled and quickly hurried down the stairs because I could see him standing up from the dining room table. Along with Larry Campball. My dad nodded at me as I made my way to the dining room table.

"Dad." I whispered, kissing his temple, before turning to Erasmo and kissing his cheek.

"Hey." He whispered.

I couldn't blame him. We hadn't seen each other in almost a month.

"I told you, not to come. That I was okay." I whispered, tugging his arm so he could follow me for some privacy.

"Thank you sir," Erasmo replied quickly nodding at my dad as he turned to me. "I was worried about you."

We walked past the stairs to my mother halfway down the stairs, watching us with her arms crossed, a neutral expression on her face.

Erasmo nodded at her in acknowledgement but I just pulled him harder forward and out the side door.

"Erasmo...what are you doing here?" I whispered.

"I haven't seen you in a month." He whispered in disbelief. He squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them. "Don't make this look like I'm crazy here."

"I'm not okay." I whispered intensely.

"I'm not okay without you!" He whispered back and then groaned in frustration. "That's not what I meant."

"I can't be with you right now." I shrugged. "It seems shitty but we'll appreciate in the future that I haven't killed us."

Erasmo panted heavily and looked around the huge backyard. He shifted his attention back to me. "I just wanted to see okay. Just physically see, that you were okay." He cleared his throat.

I sighed and smiled. "I'm...okay."

His eyes roamed my face carefully before he allowed his shoulders to relax. "This place isn't good for you....at least not for this long." he replied.

I crossed my arms over my chest and smirked. "Erasmo."

"Just come stay with me." He replied trailing his fingers lazily down my arm before taking my hand.

"Look, I----"

"What if I told you, I wanted you to kill Ms. Hicks." Erasmo whispered lacing our fingers together. "WHat if I said I was counting on it."

My heart raced as brought my hand up to his lips and planted a soft kiss. "Does it make you feel manipulated?" He whispered, with a gleam in his eye. "Or does it make you love me more?"

I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes, staring up at my ceiling, torn between my dreams and reality. This feeling. This moment.

"I love you." I whispered as I hugged Erasmo's body to me. "I love you." Our bodies moved together wantonly against the bed.

These false memories, alternate realities. I was coming down from one of my mother's joint. I blinked and looked around my childhood bedroom. SIghing, I sat up and squinting at the one ray of light attempting to peep through the curtains.

KNOCK-KNOCK

"Yeah." I replied. Clearing my throat as I rubbed my cheek to wake up.

"You're up." Marlene replied stepping in.

"NO breakfast?" I asked surprised she didn't walk in with a breakfast tray.

"Child, this is not a bed and breakfast." Marlene scolded as she made her way over to the window and parted the curtains.

I squinted even more against the sun before sighing heavily.

My mother made her way over and kissed the top of my had before hitting the back of my head.

"Ow!"

"How are you feeling?"

"I was better." I accused.

I lifted my head to the small knock on the door and the poke of the head in.

I smiled as Larry Campbell beamed up at me.

"Morning sunshine."

"Afternoon." Marlene scoffed.

"Morning dad." I whispered as he walked away. I knew he was going downstairs to sit on his favorite couch as he read the newspaper on his kindle before his afternoon Krav Maga session in town.

I looked back to my mother with her lips pursed, eyes narrowed down at me.

"What?" I asked defensively.

"And who's this Italian man?" She asked her eyebrows arched.

I groaned and fell back with a plop on the bed. Marlene sat on the edge of my bed waiting for me to spill the tea. Don't get me wrong. I hated my mother. But I also very much loved my mother. We were inseperable before I went off to college.

"Nobody." I whispered sadly. "I left him." I put my hand up. "Like I left him, this gorgeous man, laying but-naked on the bed---"

"God help you child." Marlene whispered. "You're just like her.

"And I left him." I sighed and closed my eyes. "Because I need to be in a fucking mental ward."

"Watch your language." Marlene replied. She pulled my pillow from under me, so my head fell back abruptly. "You are stronger than you look." She replied. "Should have stayed home like I told you, but I'm kind of tired of saying I told you so."

"Are you though?" I asked sitting up.

"Not in the least." She responded promptly as she put my pillow back.

I sighed and crossed my arms over my stomach. "Jesus what do you roll in that joint?" I whispered.

"It clears your mind and chases away your demons." Marlene replied.

We both turned to my phone vibrating on the nightstand. I looked away. My mother rolled her eyes and picked up the phone. She looked at it and sighed before laying it next to me on the bed. "It's not wise to be too trusting." She turned shrugged. "But you can't ignore him forever."

Run. Run.

I took a deep breath and waited for my mom to walk out my bedroom. She gave me a knowing look and closed the door behind her. I put the phone to my ear and answered. "Hello?" I whispered.

There was a pause on the other line, I could hear in the brief inhale of breath. "I-I hope you are well." Was the firm voice on the other line, followed by silence. Absolute silence. I lowered my phone to see that he had indeed ended the call.

I closed my eyes.

I see the way she looks at him. She thinks she's so innocent. I see right through those doeful brown eyes. Of course, there's a childhood friend. There's always a childhood friend. And you don't see it but she wants you. Maybe you do see it. Maybe you have fucked her. Maybe you're friends with benefits. Is that why she's staring at me like that? Is she mad because she's the side piece? Or am I the side piece. Maybe you love her. Maybe you've always loved her. I mean we only met because of an app. That means nothing! That means absolutely nothing.

"You okay?"

Erasmo's warm touch on my lower back brought me back to us waving off Mallory and her adorable 2 year old son.

Is that your baby? Is it. Should I have to ask that? She made it look like you were really involved and invested. It's a town secret but is it yours? Is that adorable 2 year old child yours! Fuck I'm going crazy. I'm fucking going crazy.

"Yeah." I smiled and arched my cheek up as he kissed it with a smile.

"I'm so happy you're here?" Erasmo whispered, lovingly into the night as his thumb caressed my cheek.

And that's when I looked up into this man's face and knew I had to leave him tonight. I had to leave him tonight because I was going to ruin this man's entire life.

I looked down at the phone in hand. I left him a long voice note right before I boarded the plane. A cowardly way of avoiding the consequences behind my action.

At what point did I grow up?

Even on the plane ride, my fingers twitched. Mallory Hughes was his childhood best friend? That one picture on his profile. The one where he's in Venice, a couple years ago. She's there. Mallory is there.

"Of course that' not my child! I would've old you." Erasmo chuckled in disbelief.

"I know that's not your child!" I yelled back and then grabbed my head. "Fuck, I'm going crazy."

"She's honestly just a friend." He put his arms out as I walked past him. "Jaylenn! Jay---okay we fucked once when we were 15 hated it, worst ever, never felt inclined to try again, I swear It was uncomfortable for both of us and we've been friends ever since, ever since...I swear...." Erasmo grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving. "The baby's Liam, he passed away last year, and Mallory still cries at the mere mention of his name---which is why I didn't bring up Liam's name tonight." He finished breathlessly.

"This was supposed to be a perfect vacation. We can't let a stupid misunderstanding ruin that okay." He whispered. "I want to take you somewhere special tomorrow, so you need to be in a good mood." he leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

Erasmo's hand trailed down my arm to hold my hand. I held on to him tightly. "Come on, let's go inside." he grinned.

I looked up at him and I followed silently.

I was unhinged.

I knew he wasn't lying.

This made it all the more wild.

Run. Run.

I put my phone down and sighed. I stared off and then grabbed my phone again. I clicked on the message icon and typed a quick message.

My heart raced as I sent the message and dropped my phone.

"Fuck." I whispered running my hand over my face.

My phone dinged so I hurriedly grabbed it to read his message.

I'm glad you missed me... I'm actually at the stop sign before turning into your family's farm.