A Touch of Sin |18+|

17

ALANI

Pounding.

My head was pounding.

"Ah," I groaned, rolling over to my back as I held my hand to my forehead. There was pulsating pain on both sides of my head and when I tried opening my eyes, it worsened. Any movement triggered the ache and I laid there for a while, regretting the previous night more than ever.

Oh my God. So painful. I always had the worse headaches but luckily, I always managed to recall every single event.

And I clearly remember falling asleep next to someone last night.

My eyes shot open, wincing immediately as I blinked a few times. The spot next to me was empty and for a second I thought that I had dreamt it. The slight indentation on the pillow next to me said otherwise.

His subtle cologne still lingered on my sheets and I remembered how well he took care of me. Took me home, made me a meal—put me in bed. All after the both of us screamed at each other. I scoffed a chuckle, realising that I really needed to thank him.

Had he left? I wouldn't have been surprised. I waited for a bit, trying not to move too much while I gathered myself. I took a deep breath in, pausing when I heard a sound coming from the kitchen.

If that wasn't Valerio...

I looked to my side, too lazy to push myself out of bed but the glass of water on my night table had me sitting up immediately. Valerio must have left that for me.

My hand wrapped around the frosted glass, still cold as ice clanked in the liquid. When the water rushed down my throat, I closed my eyes and drank until the glass was empty.

Nothing could compare to how good that felt.

Except...

When I was done, I felt ready to get up and I dragged the covers off me, twisting to the side as I let my feet touch the floor. I grabbed a hoodie, sliding my arms through it and the hem fell over my ass. I kept the hood over my head as I used the bathroom to freshen up.

The closer I got to the kitchen, the clearer Valerio's voice became. He was shirtless, dressed in a black pants with his back facing towards me. He had his hand on the counter, his head hanging low as he held the phone to his ear.

His body was tense as he conversed in the language I couldn't understand. In the morning, his voice was deeper—huskier. I didn't know I could be attracted to a voice until then.

I sat at the table and Valerio turned around, still speaking on the phone as he set a steaming cup of coffee in front of me.

I took it gratefully, wrapping my cold hands around the warm cup. I remembered that I promised to make it up to Valerio for leaving when he had made breakfast the previous day but there he was in my kitchen—taking care of me again.

The conversation sounded important and Valerio sighed, looking at me apologetically and I waved him off, telling him not to worry about it.

When he was done, he pulled the phone away from his ear and slid it into his back pocket.

"Good morning," Valerio whispered, the frown disappearing as a smile took place. He bent down, clasping his hand around the back of my neck and then his lips were on mine. The kiss took me by surprise—the good surprise.

I stretched my neck, kissing him back immediately. There wasn't anything sexual about it. We were kissing...for no reason and I liked it. Probably a little too much.