𝐓𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞.
~𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧~

𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐚

"It is our Christian duty to welcome those that are in need," Father Josè is saying. He is standing at the side of the big dining table in one of the church 's meeting rooms. The pews are moved to the corner of the room so the big long table can fit in the middle.

He looks happy, excited as he watches us pour into the room. He has changed from cassock to oversize cotton pants, a cardigan and sandals. Although he must be tired especially given his age and today's activities, he still stands, his hands clasped together as if he is keeping himself from beckoning at us.

He pulls my mother to him and I find myself treading to where they stand. She looks sad, angry and I know its because her parents are about to sit at the same table with her.

One must be a dick to be so loathed by one's child.

"I don't know how you feel, my dear," father Josè is holding her right hand in both of his, his gaze sympathetic and loving, " but perhaps sitting at the same table might not be too bad," he whispers, "don't sit close to them though," he adds, kissing my mother's forehead.

She is stiff, like a robot, her face drawn with tired lines under her eyes.

"Say the word, Tesoro, and I will have them escorted out," my father tells her. I can see she wants to cry, and bawl her eyes out with pent-up frustration. But she shakes her head.

"That will break father Josè's heart"

My father snorts, " he will live."

"No. It's okay. I'm sure I can survive an hour or so in their presence." she says in a weak, helpless tone. I hate seeing her like this, defeated, knowing she was probably remembering her life with the asshole that was her first husband.

After a few minutes, we sit down for lunch. I'm seated next to Lia, my mother between my father and me. It was like we were protecting her, my ears and senses are attuned to her as much as they are with Lia but for different reasons.

It's an interesting gathering. A man of God, a priest fraternizing with men whose hands are filled with blood. I wonder what he tells God when he is praying, does he give Him an excuse or use that old lost sheep scripture?

After our lunch, it's time to go. The priest stands to give us his blessing accompanied by a small prayer. He looks desolate to see us leave. He misses us, especially the patriarchs, they are like his children. And in a way, they are.

He walks outside to see us out, but before my mother can get into the car, her father stands in her way, his hand digging into her arm.

"Get your hand off her." my voice is icy, my nostrils flare as I glare at his, daring him to do the opposite of what I told him.

He is shocked at my ferocity, I can tell from the daze marring his face. He drops his hand from her arm as if it was scorching.

"She doesn't want to talk to you," I add, staring him down. He is an old man living in the past, convinced he made the right decision by selling out his daughter, refusing to accept that it was his daughter's prerogative now to cut him off her life too.

He made his choice.

She made hers.

"You can convince her to speak to us. You're her husband." He looks past me to where I'm guessing my father stands, never too far from his wife in case she needs him.

He let out a mirthless laugh. "No. Your relationship with your daughter is none of my business. "

My grandfather scowls at him. Incredulously as if he can't believe my father just said that.

"But your children. You can give them permission to talk to us." oh, this old man is still archaic. He still believes a man should be the only one making decisions, and maybe that is still the case in some families, but not ours.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm staying out of it. Whatever she says, goes. And in case you haven't noticed, her children are adults, they can make their own decisions, though from what I've seen, they don't like you."

My father is right, I don't like them, especially him. He has that superior air about him, like he can do no wrong.

"I did what I had to do, Eleonora."  This time his tone is soft, gentler, pleading.

"I'm sure you think that. But you shouldn't have traded me like a piece of meat. I was your child, your daughter. Why did you do that to me?"

Neither of her parents said a thing.

"You know what's worse?" she fixed her gaze at her father, "you knew exactly how Freddie treated me. What he did to me, but you abandoned me like I was dead to you," she goes silent, then adds, "well, think of me as dead." exhaling loudly, she turns and gets in the car.

Two things I now know about my mother, she is loyal to a fault, and she can be unforgiving as hell.

***********************************
𝐋𝐢𝐚

***********************************

I'm exhausted when we arrive home after our lunch with father José, my feet are aching, throbbing, my toes feel cramped. I  lie on the bed, telling myself it will be just five minutes until I can find my bearings but I doze off until I hear Luc's voice in my ear. At first, I think I'm dreaming, I do that a lot, dream about Luca.

"Lia," I hear him call me.

"Hm," I answer in a quivering voice, reaching out to touch him even though my eyes are still closed. I can feel him, after all, I'm dreaming, I tell myself.

"You smell heavenly," he chuckles, and I feel his hand on my stomach, then a dip down of the mattress when he stretches beside me.

"I hate that you're in Italy. So so far from me."

He says nothing, I touch his cheek, my palm flat on his stubble skin. Oh, he feels so good.

"I'm right here with you,"  he whispers, his tongue touching the corner of my lips.

"Yeah, you always tell me that. But I always wake up alone, aroused, so wet it would only take a simple brush of your hand on any part of my body to tip me off."

He chuckles. Happily. Joyously as if he just discovered a secret about me. That's not possible though. I'm dreaming.

"You want me?" I feel the smirk on his tone, and I take a deep breath when he brushes his lips across my cheek. I'm burning up,my body sizzling with awareness, my heart rate too quick, breathless when he bites my lower lip.

I drank in the sensation of the thrill running through my blood, his hard body pressing me down, his tongue thrashing into my mouth, curling around mine, I exhale, trying to breathe yet not wanting to stop this intoxicating spark of fire mingling in my blood.

"That feels absolutely tantalizing," I tell him. My hands in his dark, thick mane, holding him as he runs his mouth across my body. "Oh, Luc." the throb between my legs intensifies. A growl leaves him, and it feels real, so real I go still when he slides a finger inside my pussy.

This is real, he is here, in bed, with me. Suddenly, everything comes to me, I crack my eyes open at the same time one of his hands squeezes my breast.

Our eyes meet. Mine shocked, his filled with an amused smug. "Welcome back to the living, my love." he says, archly with a raised brow. My face flushed cherry red. Embarrassed. Frozen in place as my eyes stare into Luca's, unable to move them. Enthralled by the lust in them, the desire for me so openly displayed there. Only for me.

"It's time for dinner," he tells me when I didn't say anything. I couldn't, I was still so embarrassed, and humiliated to be caught dreaming about having sex by the very object of my every desire.

"Lia,"

"I wish I was the kind to faint or whip out tears at the drop of a hat" that admission draws a smile from his lips, and he slowly leans over me, putting the tip of his nose on mine.

"Magic," I whisper, my eyes closed basking in the feel of his touch.

"What?" I open my eyes, wiggling my body, my hands on my side fighting the urge to wrap them around him. I can't remember why that is because I have unashamedly been intimate with Luc before, initiated some tumble, even one time pulling him into my closet.

"If I had magic, I would order the ground to open up and swallow me." I say earnestly.

He let out a throaty chuckle that has my toes curling.

"Dreaming with me fucking you is not something to be ashamed about."

Oh, this vile ass!

I glare at him, which makes him grin,a twinkle in those green eyes that see way more than I want them to see.

"I dream about fucking you every time I fall asleep." a thrill runs through me, I can barely hide a smile. He palms his hand on my cheek, kissing the bottom of my lips, pulling and biting it a little and I sigh with contentment, a buzz of excitement rushing through me.

"There is nothing I would like more than to continue this, but you need to get ready for dinner," I shoot my eyes wide open. I had forgotten he had said that.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Close to four hours."

"That long?" I shake my head a bit in disbelief. How could I have slept that long?

"I guess you were exhausted." Luc says, his gaze unwavering on my face. Concerned.

" I need to shower," I tell him, but I don't show any sign of getting up, I like him on top of me, his scent surrounding me like a warm blanket.

He nods, but he does not get off me either. He smells divine, delicious. One of his hands is on my waist, the other cupping my cheek.

"I like that you dream about me," there I go again blushing with the remainder of my salacious dream.

"I need to get up, Luc." I choose to ignore his words. I don't want to address it though chances are he will make me do it tonight, teasing me with his body until I do.

"We meet tonight?" it's more of a statement than a question though there is uncertainty on his face.

How could I say no when all I want is him inside me?

I nod. And he kisses me, his mouth enveloping mine in a carnal kiss, his hands start moving inside my dress, nudging my legs apart. I'm too far gone to complain.

Shit!

He groans, thrusting one finger into me.

"Oh, God!" I gasp when he adds another finger, and my eyes flicker, lips parting. I'm unable to control my breathing, I'm not even sure my heart is still beating when he runs his tongue on my neck.

"Fuck!" he groans when I clench my legs, one of my toes unintentionally brushing his aroused dick.

I turn my head, hiding my face in his neck, my arms wrapped around his neck, breathing his scent, mixed with mine and a hint of sex.

"I'm close."

"I know," he says into my mouth, pushing both fingers in urgency making me come around them with a cry which he swallows into his mouth.

"I needed that," I say with an awkward laugh.

"I figured," he chuckled, breathing hard in my ear. He is still very much aroused, which makes me feel bad because we have no time for me to get him off.

"I'm sorry."

He doesn't ask for what, he knows.

"Don't worry. You will have pretty of time later."

I smile at him, then push him gently off me before I run to the bathroom, leaving him breathless.

"I'll be out in ten minutes. "Suddenly I feel invigorated. I've just had an orgasm, the first since Luc left for Italy to prepare for Abu Dhabi.