Slowburn

Chapter 42

         I had my leg tucked underneath me on the sofa while I faced Renzo in his own living room, which I am seeing for the first time. I got black out drunk with his family and don't remember half the night. I just can't tell if he is pissed or not. 

"Are you mad at me?" I had to ask. Renzo sat forward and grabbed the water bottle I had only just put down on his cool glass coffee table in front of us. "Bring this, let's get you something to eat to be sure all the alcohol is soaked up or you'll be sick later" he stood with the water bottle and extended a hand to me. 

I took it and followed him to his kitchen, which was a step up from the lowered living room. I leaned against the cool granite, which made me realize my skin is still warm from all the alcohol.

         Renzo hadn't answered me, but I didn't want to push him. He ended up making me eat toast so I wouldn't eat anything too heavy that might upset my stomach. I felt hungover and not drunk anymore. The pills and food, and definitely the water helped combat that. 

"Renzo, I'm sorry for intruding on your family time. It wasn't my intention when I showed up at the restaurant. I had no idea your brother's place was closed for a private party. I was on my way to the park, and I don't know how it happened but-" I started to ramble while leaning on his island in the middle of the kitchen. 

He leaned on the counter beside his sink, watching me, studying me like he'd done all night. He never lost control. He watched what me and everyone else was doing, and if he didn't like what his family was about to do or say he'd quickly say something in Italian to them. 

He held his hand up motioning for me to stop talking so I did. 

        "I saw how it played out. I know" he at least assured me that he believed me. I snorted a laugh I didn't mean to let out, but I thought back to the mayhem in the restaurant and how I was right there in the middle of it. "Dante is funny" I commented, thinking of how we were like two peas in a pod tonight. Renzo looked annoyed, so I knew to veer away from that topic. 

"Your house is beautiful. It's so...you" I said, looking up at the high ceilings and around the room again. "Me? How?" He challenged my comment. 

I looked around for another second before letting my eyes settle on his face. With him leaning onto his arms I couldn't pay attention to those muscles under that half buttoned white shirt. 

"Masculine but beautiful" I commented on the truth. His jaw clenched and unclenched as it usually does, but his expression never falters. His eyes kept me pinned in place. I stood barefoot in my sage colored mini tank, and my distressed high rise jeans, while he is 'him' and he looks like that. My hair is probably beyond unruly. 

I snapped out of this trance and shook my head. 

        "Sorry, I've taken up so much of your time. Thank you for letting me sleep it off here. I'll go now" I quickly turned on my heel to go look for my things. I guess he had no shoes on because I didn't hear him follow after me, but his hands were suddenly on me and I froze. 

He stood behind me, but he was pressed against me, and his hands were on my arms to keep me there. "Relax, you drank enough to tranquilize a man my size. Now that you've eaten and drank something go ahead and lay back down" he turned our bodies in the direction of the sofa I'd just been asleep on. His coat was still where I'd pulled it off of me when I sat up.

        My heartbeat quickened with his close proximity to me and his scent all around me. The fact that he is letting me stay swelled my chest. My eyes fluttered shut when his hands grazed down my arms in a feather-like touch.