AKILA'S POV

Alessandro really loves croissants.

I watched him eat his eleventh and last croissant on the plate. I only ate three and he finished the rest, he would remind me again and again how delicious they are. I'm glad he finally got something to eat, I know whenever he feels off, he immediately stops taking care of himself so it feels lighter seeing him better.

"What time is it" he asked cluelessly as he took the last bite. He locked his hands together, slowly chewing in his mouth in hope the taste would last longer. I smiled softly at his innocent figure, who would have imagined a mafia boss would be so cute and sweet.

"Don't look at me like that" he said in a challenging tone which as much as I'm compatible, I liked it. "How am I looking at you?" I questioned his words with a small head title I know he found adorable. I wanted to reach my hand and hold his, I love how warm he always is. It creates this feeling in my body at the sudden change of temperatures, it's new and exciting.

"Come here" before I could acknowledge his words, I was pulled by my waist and now I'm sitting on his lap facing him as my hands rested on his chest. "Thank you" he spoke softly and gave me a quick kiss on both cheeks. "It's nothing Al" he slowly raised his eyebrows and looked at me in shock, "What? I can't call you Al? Alright then Mr Santoro" his grip around my waist tightened and I knew I hit something. I didn't even try hiding the smirk creeping on my lips, "Don't ever call Mr the hell he is, I've never loved the name Al more especially coming out of those full lips, that beautiful tongue that drives me insane and those straight-white, perfect teeth"

I bite into my lower lips, how could such simple words make my stomach flip upside down. His gaze landed on my lips, "Don't do this to me" he said in full surrender and as usual, I had to act innocent. Don't blame me, when a hot Italian man is that weak for you, you would want to hear it over and over and over. "Do what?" There was my amazing acting skills, he saw right through my fake innocence. "I know you're not that innocent Akila, after what happened yesterday, I've seen and felt enough to know you're not innocent, in any way" he teased as small memories from yesterday grew clearer in my mind, I tried to push them away but how could you push that away. He sneaked his hand in between my thighs and said, "it's okay, I can't get over it too"

I rolled my eyes playfully and he giggled with that devilish look on his face knowing he's right. It's not that I've never had sex, I used to seduce hundreds of men for fun. Why just kill them with a bullet when you can have fun with their heads. It never meant anything to me but, what happened yesterday with Alessandro mattered a lot, much more than it should have. I felt and not just pleasure, there were a million feelings hitting every vein in my body, leaving an unforgettable memory of that night.

I suddenly felt Alessandro standing up, "What are you doing" I said, holding onto his neck as his hand supported my weight by holding my ass. I looked back where his hands were and looked back at him raising one eyebrow, "What?" He's playing my game. "I can play clueless too, love" he whispered into my ear before kissing it, his breath created goosebumps on my neck and I shook it off. "And why keep having flashbacks from a memory when we can re-do it again"

"I'll kill you"

"Best day of my life"

I hit his shoulder with a lot of force, I'll never have something to threaten this man with, he loves everything I do. "That hurts" he admitted with a grin I wanted to smack off, "Oh yeah?" I said, hearing my own accent which caused his grin to grow wilder.

"You don't even know the way to my room" I tried acting annoyed even though I felt the total opposite. "Don't underestimate my sweet memory" he raised his hand and pointed a finger at his head, "There, everything is clear as crystal and sparkling water" I laughed and he watched me in silence. "Whenever you smile, I want to kiss those dimples until you can't feel them anymore. If that makes any sense"

This time I didn't respond, so I kissed him. He stopped walking and turned his hand back where it belonged and kissed me back. After a minute, I pulled away, breaking our kiss and looked at the ceiling as if I didn't know what I just did. "You can't do that" he told me, starting to walk again. I took my arms off his neck and brought them to my chest, "I can't kiss you? Okay then" I faked an attitude and huffed loudly for him to hear even though we're a couple inches away from each other. "I didn't mean it like that" he adjusted me on his body, as I felt his hands leave it's place so I tightened my legs around his hips not really wanting to fall. He then used his free hands to break my crossed arms and put them back around his neck.

I watched him get closer to my face and left a kiss on my nose, "You look beautiful" He looked in my eyes for a long time, taking notes and care of each small thing going on in them. I know I got special eyes, the sharp line cutting through the green and amber, not allowing them to mix. Sometimes it's dark, sometimes it's fully green and others it's the same colour as honey. But I'll never see them the way he does.

Without even realising, we were in front of my bedroom. I looked back at him, he smiled widely, proud of himself. "You just need to trust me"

He kicked the door open with one leg and closed it with the same leg after we got in. He walked us to the bed, he kissed me on the cheek again before putting me down slowly. He held the back of my head with his right hand and the other supported my lower thigh as he laid me carefully on the bed.

After settling me down and making sure I'm comfortable, he got on top of me, his eyes full of hunger. It's like he's ready to torture every part of my body with his rough kisses, leaving down his marks all over me, ready to break my back and legs respectfully.

Before he could do anything, I rested my hand on his chest as I felt his heat travelling to my body. I saw confusion and curiosity grow on his face, between his forest eyes I can't put in words. His eyes are much darker than mine, sometimes when I looked into them for a long time, I could almost see myself in them.

"I do trust you" I said, feeling chills taking over my lips. I tried biting my lips to stop the feeling but it never helped. My breath got heavier and heavier the more he kept staring at me not saying a thing. It's the first time I ever speak these words, it's the first time in my whole twenty four years of living, trusting someone.

"I'll show you how much these words make me feel" and without further ado, his face crushed into my neck and his mouth started sucking the living hell out of my skin as I moaned loudly at his touch.

[V]

I wrapped a towel around my body and tugged it nicely since I get frustrated when it keeps falling. Alessandro stepped out of the shower and I threw a towel in his face, he laughed and removed it from his shoulder and wrapped it around his lower waist. I kept my eyes on him until he looked back at me, I turned away and grabbed the hair dryer to help dry my soaking wet hair. My hair is long and thick, it takes hours to completely dry. Some days I let the air do its slow work and some days I want it to dry quickly so I use this lovely machine.

As I focused on drying my hair, I saw Alessandro from the corner of my eyes get closer until he appeared in the mirror. He hugged me from behind and rested his chin on top of my head. I'm not a short woman, I'm almost five foot eleven but Alessandro is a huge man. "Can I help" I looked at him through the mirror and he was already staring at me. I slowly nodded my head while passed him the hair dryer, he took it out of my grip gently and started running a hand through my hair while the other moved the hot air where he's working his hand.

After he finished my hair in the bathroom, we both went to our closets and got dressed. He left to his room since his clothes were there, I got that dresser right after they all left for the ball. Sneaking into the house was easy for me, it's difficult for anyone else because of the amount of guards and security cameras but when it came to me, breaking into a house no matter the amount of protection you could possibly have is the easiest thing in my way.

I also got him a few of his suits knowing he loves them so much. Not forgetting to get him shoes and anything I was able to hold in my two strong arms. I shook my head and slid on a short-tight black leather skirt. For my upper body, I wore a half sleeve, backless thin-black top that reached just below my breasts, leaving my abs and belly button shown.

I walked out of the closet and grabbed my brush. I looked at myself in the mirror as I brushed my hair carefully. I saw my cheeks rising, feeling a smile take over my lips. I feel good, I look good, everything is just right.

I tied my hair in a high ponytail, leaving my baby hair chill on top of my forehead. I thank my mother for the healthy hairline. I opened a drawer and grabbed a lip gloss before closing it again. I covered my lips with the shining liquid and set it down. I held my perfume and sprayed it on my neck, collarbone and both of my wrist. I rubbed my wrists together and walked away from the mirror. Right before I left the room, I slid my watch around my left wrist and hugged a few silver rings around my fingers.

As I closed the door behind me, I heard his door close at the same moment. I smirked and without wasting a second, I rushed down the hallway to reach the stairs before him. He can go downstairs using the other side of the stairs but that isn't the point right now, I'm arriving there first. I chuckled at my childish thoughts and shook my head in maturity, yet I'm still getting there first.

I set the first foot on the stairs and could hear footsteps far away in the air. Too bad he doesn't know I could hear from miles away.

I went down the stairs making sure my shoes don't make a lot of noise for him to know where I am. The second my legs found the ground, not a minute and I was in the kitchen where we should meet, well it's the only place he knows how to go beside my room.

I finally saw him get closer to the kitchen, I rested my elbow and held my face in my palm and watched him walk towards me. He sighed, hiding a smile curling on his lips, "Of course you win" exactly. I nodded and straightened my back, I gave him my back and got a glass to drink water. I didn't hear any footsteps which means he's standing where he is. I shoved the supposed to be cold water down my throat and set the glass down. I gradually turned around and found Alessandro right in my face. This time, I took a minute to observe him. He wore a black dress shirt that hugged his body perfectly showing his muscles through the thin fabric. The dress shirt is tucked in a pair of black trousers, he went full black just like me.

"Copycat" I whispered in his face, leaving my breath on his lips. He bit down on them and moved closer to me, "Am I?"

I felt his hand on my lower back, going deeper under my skirt. I grabbed his neck and smashed our lips together.

I kissed him for a few seconds and then held his arm and turned him around. Now his back is pushed on the wall, I broke the kiss and trapped him where he stood. I looked at him with fire burning in my eyes, the same fire flaming in his. And before he could expect it, I walked away from him.

"Where do you think you're going without me" I heard his voice behind me but I didn't answer. I kept walking and soon after, he started following me. It's now seven o'clock, it's time for dinner on the beach. I have this gorgeous place right on the ocean. It is an open bar connected to a kitchen with a grill to smoke meat. And tonight, I want to take Alessandro there and enjoy each other's company until his eyes can't focus anymore.

I walked a few steps ahead of him and he followed behind, all of a sudden I felt a body hovering around me before fingers reached my hand and connected our fingers together. I looked to my right and there was a smiley Alessandro staring at me again. "You're the leader, but now I want to be next to you"

He raised our hands to his lips and kissed the top of my hand sweetly, I dropped our hands back as he chuckled.

I guided both our bodies through the hallways, stairs and a lot of doors, and finally we reached the very back of the castle where we will spend the night. I disconnected our hands to turn on the string lights. With one switch, the place got back into life. Everything around here felt comfortable and safe, a round couch surrounded a fireplace right in front of the beach. On the right, there's a Huntington beach pier that leads to two tables with a pair of matching chairs for eating. And on the left next to the long plan kitchen, is the bar and behind it a bar-wall of every kind of my personal favourite liquor.

I took a deep breath in, smelling the salt water filling my lungs. The sound of the waves are loud and relaxing, applauding and hugging the shore. The surface looked as though it was covered with millions of diamonds crashing with the waves and kissing the sand. The moon rose high from the dark water creating waves crawling viciously in the sand. After a few minutes staring into the engaging ocean, I turned around to find Alessandro still standing where he was. He didn't dare take his eyes off me for just one second and for the first time, I felt important to someone. I didn't feel their fear-terror crashing into their eyes at my sight, I saw a man looking at me as if it's the first time he ever seen me, as if I'm not real and his mind is creating this vision, almost unreal to believe where you can't take your eyes off it, in case it goes away in a blink.

It's like you want to sit there looking deeper and deeper, discovering more and more as time takes its own time.

I tried to give him a little wave in hope to grab his attention without disturbing. He watched my small move and smiled lightly as I saw him blush which put me in shock. I don't know what is happening to this guy but hopefully he's okay because I've never seen him act like this. He's acting so gentle and holds me carefully as if I'm a glass that might break. As if I'll disappear in any minute.

And I did, more than once.

This time, I didn't wait for him to approach me. I rushed towards him and pushed all my weight on him, wrapping my arms around his back. I know he got a bit confused by my sudden move but he quickly held me in with no question. "Whenever I left, I never wanted to leave you. I denied it way too many times, but I do enjoy every second I've spent with you and any moment I'll get to spend with you from now on. I don't want you to think I'm leaving you. And if I ever have to go again, just know that I'll be thinking about you, missing you through it all" I finally stopped, taking a deep breath in as I buried my face in his chest.

He rubbed my back slowly, then I felt his hand reach my chin, lifting my face to meet his gaze. "You're making me like you a lot" his voice is so calm, like soft melodic music to my ear. A really small amount of air got stuck in my throat but I shook it off when he started smirking. "I think I'm making you like me, just a little bit" he said in between his grin and all I was able to do was dig my face deep into his chest.

"I know you're smiling" his voice kept getting louder, clearer as his words rang around us. "You know it's not very nice to hide that smile from me" I lifted my head the second I heard him say those words, "hi" he whispered softly as he looked straight into my soul. I've never felt more exposed to someone. I know he can never read me, but somehow, I felt completely revealed to him with nothing I could hide.

I ignored everything he said and stepped away from him, "Dinner" I said, raising my index finger in the air, remembering why I brought us here.

He chuckled and before I could even blink, I found him right in my face. He reached for my hand and held it tightly. He turned us around with our hands attached together and started walking towards the kitchen. I kept my gaze on him for a few seconds as we walked but then the ocean drew my attention away from him. I just love nature, aside from the burning sunlight and flowers, I loved it all. The deep forests, the darkest blue sky at night with its stars following around everywhere, the moon with not enough words to describe how captivating it is each night. And now the ocean, pushed by the force of the wind, creates massive waves reaching the pure sand.

When my gaze fell back on him, he looked so peaceful yet drowning in thoughts. The wind messed his hair and made it a little bit out of control but it still looked good. One thing I discovered about Alessandro is that he has really really soft hair, running my hands through it might be one of my favourite things ever.

We stood in the middle of the kitchen, still holding hands. I watched Alessandro take a look around the place while I thought of what to make for both of us.

I don't hate cooking, but I don't love it. It's something I do because I need it to stay alive. Just like walking to a certain point to grab something, it's something you do not giving too much thoughts into.

"Don't worry about it, I already have something in mind" he told me before placing a kiss on the side of my head.

[V]

After I was left with no words on what Alessandro said, now I found myself in the same position unable to express the pleasure feeling fulfilling the inside of my mouth.

I've tasted Alessandro's cooking a few times but this, this is something else. I closed my eyes as I took another bite of the medium rare Fillet mignon he prepared for us, long side roasted garlic mashed potato. It all just melts in your mouth like cotton candy but much much better. It's like biting into butter full of fat and juice.

I felt his eyes on me the whole time, making sure I'm enjoying this cut of meat and my god I am. I think I won't be able to cook my own meat anymore. After tasting this tender-perfect temperate carne, I can't imagine eating it any differently from his.

"Do you like it?" He asked hesitantly as if I haven't been making love with this dish. I shot my eyes open and looked at him widely, "I love it" I answered, almost shouting out of frustration. Yes I'm frustrated, how can he cook so perfectly, I want to learn that.

"I can teach you" that look of amusement creeped upon his face and I wanted to smack it away. I completely ignored the fact that he offered exactly what I was thinking and rolled my eyes. I heard him chuckle the second my gaze went back to the plate and that made me look at him again, "You think I can't cook this good" I kept tilting my head lower and lower as I waited for his response.

"I never said that" he admitted as if it's supposed to change anything, but I can hear the tease in his voice clear as water. I fixed my head and straightened my shoulders, "I hate you" the words escaped my mouth while my eyes narrowed and a small grin reached my lips.

"I know" he whispered so quietly, almost unbearable. I never considered liking or hating him, all I knew was that this asshole made me feel something I've never felt before. However, I know what hate feels like. I know how it is to hate—loathe someone with all you've got, and I also know I don't feel anywhere close to that towards Alvaro.

"What's on your mind" now, he rested his sharp jawline in his palm and looked at me curiously. A thing we have in common is curiosity. He always craves answers and I always find them.

I took a moment to study his features, his nose rose slightly along with his cheeks. Is he cold?

Probably not, if anything, I believe Alessandro never gets cold. A rush of air hit us and his hair moved in all directions. I smiled at it, not once making eye contact. I know he's watching me. After the wind messed his hair for the millionth time, it finally settled down and a curly strand hung on top of his forehead freely from the others. I stared at his hair for longer than I should have, it's this confusing colour of brown I couldn't give an explanation for. Some parts are honey, almost golden but hidden between really dark brown thick strands. His hair is a mixture between the brightest and the deepest brown to cross your sight. It's like two faced, if he comb it this way it will be golden-brown. If he comb it the other way it will be as brown as forest wood.

"Do you want to walk by the shore" I suggested randomly after staring at him for a few minutes. I didn't care, he stared too.

Without giving me a proper answer, he pushed the chair backwards and got up. I followed his movement and got up. I pushed the chair back and when I looked up, there was his hand offered for me to hold. I rolled my eyes again and took his hand aggressively, "So violent" he numbered underneath his breath knowing I could hear it. I snapped my head to meet his eyes, "Don't worry, I like it"

And before I could process anything, he pulled me away from our table and walked us down the stairs until the very last one where I felt my shoes dig in the sand.

We kept taking slower steps as we got closer to the ocean. Then Alessandro sifted both our bodies to walk sideways of the salt water. We continued walking as our hands connected under the bright moonlight.

"When is your birthday" out of all the questions in the whole wide world he could ask, he chose to ask about my birthday. "Seriously Al" I questioned his decision with a judgmental tone. "What" he replied back with a hint of smirk showing. "Somewhere in March" and then I had an idea.

"You pervert" I shouted in his face and he immediately gave me the most confused face ever. I broke into laughter and he stopped walking while I continued laughing.

I pulled myself together and slid my hand back in his hand before explaining, "You don't know my age, don't you" as those words made it to his ears, he raised an eyebrow and thought deeply about it. I giggled a few more times and he finally snapped out of it. "No, I do" of course he does.

"I'm twenty four" I said before him, and pushed his body with my shoulder. He trembled a few steps playfully and I held his wrist with my other hand in an attempt to pull him back.

"I'm not a pervert" he eventually commented on my sentence. "Why would you say that" he acted so innocent I almost believed it.

"Oh shut up and cut the act" I took a deep breath and continued, "However, you didn't know if I'm eighteen or not" I'm such a liar.

"I did know you're older than eighteen Akila and I already knew you're twenty four" he spoke with a playful attitude as his eyes rolled. "Oh yeah? How" I challenged him to speak his mind even though I already knew what he's going to say. He'll add the eleven years since my escape and the thirteen years I've spent there.

"You told me that you ran away eleven years ago, and by the time you did, you were thirteen" he finished, smiling at himself proudly. "Good job" I nodded afterwards and focused back on walking.

After a few moments of silence, Alessandro asked the one question I didn't want him to ask. "Who is Lydia"

I felt his eyes on me but I kept mine focused on our feet. He can't know, it's not fair for him.

"I want to be only honest with you" I stopped, taking a quick glance at him. He was smiling again which made the situation much easier for me. "And I can't be honest with you, yet"

I glanced again and I wish I didn't. The smile faded away as another wave crashed into the sand. "All I could tell you is, she is not my daughter nor my sister" I finally let it out, not believing what I just did. I once said I would never reveal nor talk about Lydia's case with anyone except her family but looking at it now, it's okay to tell Alessandro.

"Then how did she end up with your last name" I gave him a minute to answer his own question "It was never your real last name." I nodded again, waiting for his next question. "And Antonio is not her real last name"

I watched his left hand reach his hair and run through it slowly. I know it's complicated, especially when I can't give him answers.

I rubbed my thumb on his hand, hoping it could confront him in any way or at least easen the fact that I can't tell him this. I don't want him to think I don't trust him with it, but I can't even tell him that. So if that's what it takes, then it will be.

"Okay, ask me anything and I will answer. Aside from that" and as I wished, it made his face relax a little bit which made me feel better.

"Anything" he whispered to himself as if he's allowing his mind to take in what I said. "So do you like being on top or bottom"

Why did I agree to this.

"What the hell is your problem" he looked at me like I'm the one asking the inappropriate question. "Why are you looking at me like that" I disconnected our joined hands and stopped walking. I rested both my hands on my lower hip and waited for any answer.

"You said—"I cut him off before he could even finish, "I know what I said Alvaro" the second I finished that sentence, his eyes burned in fire. At first, for a split second I thought it was anger but I saw his cheek rising causing a smirk to appear.

"How do you know that name" that made me chuckle. "How? You're really asking me this?"

God, I wish he wasn't this fast. He got in my face, again, supporting my waist with his arm. He looked down at me, not once missing my eyes. He got to be a vampire, he moves faster than lightning itself.

His finger brushed down my lips slowly and he politely murmured, "say it again" his breath travelled around every inch of my face, not leaving one place without chills. "Please" oh my god.

My sense came back to life and my mind hit a nerve, causing a devilish smile to evade. "Fuck you" I hissed at him and his eyes widened with shock.

"I like you too" there was the playful grin approaching his face again which uncontrollably made my eyes roll.

"Your middle name is Eduardo right" he didn't move nor change the position we're currently in and I took that as a challenge. Call me competitive, I know I am.

"Yes" his facial expressions soften and this stupid, stupid feeling roamed around my stomach. Putting that aside, I searched in his eyes for anything. Alessandro is good at hiding his emotions or the rage found constantly in his eyes, however, when it comes to me, I can read him effortlessly like a newspaper front page.

"When was the first time you killed someone" he spoke again, feeling so happy for some reason. I could feel his body getting warmer by the second, and I could swear on anything that this man is blushing.

"I was fifteen" here I am again, telling him about something I once said I would never share with anyone. It's almost weird seeing how comfortable I am in telling him this. I never in my life shared anything with anyone yet telling him this and the night in the garden was one of the easiest things I had to get off my chest. It was like he's my ceiling I talk to every night or my cat who would cuddle my arms and listen to me rambling about random things.

Distracted from my thoughts, I got pulled back by the look on his face, he wants more so that's what I gave him. "It had been almost two years since I ran away. At the time, I first discovered my hacking talent so I tracked down this rich dealer to steal some money. He led me to a club and there I had to sneak in of course, no one would've believed I'm over twenty one. I successfully got in, however that wasn't the problem, this bastard tried to touch me and I immediately took him to the back of the club when he tried to rape me, then I pulled my dragged and killed him. After that I got in the VIP room where my target was, I stole his wallet and left like a ghost unseen between the shadows"

The rage now was clear, fighting the urge to break out of his eyes and destroy everything in his sight. He didn't dare to look at me anymore and I understood that but I don't need him to feel pity or any sort of sympathy for me.

I sighed and lifted his chin softly to meet my eyes, "I might understand that you're angry or upset, I might understand that it's messed up, yet I don't need you to feel bad or pity me. I've got this. I always have. And I'm not saying this to make you feel better, I'm saying this because I won't allow a person to feel bad about my past or the shit I had to live through. I'm proud of that past, yes I hate every single bit of torture and despression I was in but I'll always, no matter what, be proud of the person I was and the person I am today. I wouldn't have made it here without getting through it all and I wouldn't change a corner from it"

At this moment, I didn't care what he thought. I didn't care what he felt. All I care about is myself. Sometimes it just hits you. The realisation of your whole life, the sacrifice, everything you've been through over and over again. I spoke nothing but the truth, I wouldn't change a thing. Every happy or bad memory, every petite or big mess up in my life, I wouldn't trade it with the world. You have to go through your faith to reach the person you're supposed to be. You have to believe that in the very end, you will once again stand up with no one able to pull you back down, with no one able to stand in front of you.

Changing subjects, he seriously better not hate cats. "Do you like cats?" I let my mind speak for itself, hoping he wouldn't say no because I may have to throw him out. He stood there, thinking for a moment. What's taking so long, yes means yes and no is no. I have no patience.

"I do. Although, I never interacted with one aside from Adriano and Lilianna's cat"

It's his lucky DAY.

—————————————
[ VOTE•COMMENT•SHARE ]