Mr. Vincenzo | 18+

seventeen

e l o i s e

Not knowing how to face Vincenzo, I had pressed the button for the ground floor, intending to take a taxi and go home. But the elevator stopped on the third floor and he stood in front of me. His gaze met mine and his look instantly changed into an emotion so soft, so understanding that I couldn't help the fresh wave of tears that pooled in my eyes.

He said nothing. He took a step in, held my hand, entwined our fingers, and walked us out.

"Vincenzo..."

"Shh," he said but once we entered Aryanna's apartment, he closed the door and wiped away my tears with the pad of his thumb. He tenderly placed a kiss to my forehead.

"What did Anna say to make these beautiful eyes shed tears?"

It formed a fresh knot in my throat. Bland grey was not beautiful but rich, dynamic aquamarine.

"Baby?"

"You can worry less now..." I tried to put on a smile. "Arya trusted Reyansh. She won't be sad anymore."

"And what about you?"

"She'll come around. I have hurt her a lot. It's only right—"

"What did she say?"

"Nothing. I just got overwhelmed—"

"Why did you think I don't know she tends to say the most hurtful of things wherever she's angry?"

Just how had she hurt Vincenzo? Him of all people?

"Baby, come here." And he embraced me. He rubbed my back and held my head against his chest. I clutched the back of his shirt and the tears suddenly rushed in harsher.

"She said I tried to frame Reyansh. She thinks I did everything intentionally."

He exhaled a breath, held me tighter. "I will talk to her."

"You don't have to or she'll think even her Dad is against her."

"If she's doing something wrong, then I must tell her that she's wrong."

Would he again tell me we were wrong too?

Was this wrong? What we had done this morning? How we were standing now?

It only felt right.

"She will come around." I said. "I'm happy it at least didn't damage her relationship."

Nor did you let it damage ours, whatever it was between us.

"Thank you, Vincenzo."

"What for?"

I shook my head. For just being you.

I crushed his ironed shirt between my fingers. Why was I leaning onto him for emotional support? Why was he giving me that? Shouldn't we just remember each other when we were horny?

"I'll talk to her. Don't worry, okay?"

I sighed and looked up at his handsome features. "Guess its success rate."

He pressed a kiss to my lips. "Did it go up?"

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly. He pecked my lips again. "Now?"

"No."

He did it one more time. "Now?"

"Maybe up to 20 per cent."

Vincenzo put his finger under my chin and joined our lips in a kiss that immediately made my toes curl. Somehow, it did not seem to have a sexual undertone. It was soft like the one we shared under the shower this morning, only our lips sharing the feel of each other, not tongues trying to dominate over. I closed my eyes and let him wash over me, drown me in himself.