Shadow Love

08||Beach

◇Lilac◇

I was  the last one to  enter the dining hall today. After we kissed, embarrassment hit me like a ton of bricks. I stared at him for a few seconds before sprinting to my room. For the rest of the night, I stayed locked in there. 

“Morning.” I avoid Lorenzo's hard stare and sit in the middle of Rio and Hudson. Pouring myself some juice I join in on Hudson and Kai's conversation. “The beach doesn't sound bad.” It was too hot to stay in the house all day anyway. 

The hairs on the back of my neck raise, sensing Lorenzo’s gaze. It was fixated on my cheek and stayed there the duration of breakfast. 

“We'll all meet up at the foyer in an hour.” Kai says. 

Everyone left for their rooms. Everyone but Lorenzo and I. The chair shrieks as I stand. “Excuse me.” I barely make it to the door before I feel his warm, rough hand gripping onto my elbow and pushing me back against the wall. 

Caging me in between his muscular arms, he attacks my lips in a kiss. The kiss wasn't like last night. It was more hungry, rough. A moan escapes my lips when he softly bites it.

We pull away to catch our breaths, both breathing heavily. “You look heavenly with your lips swollen and bruised, Mia Cara.” 

[Translation: Mia Cara- My dear]

“Mia- What does that mean?” 

He chuckles, kissing my left cheek before disappearing. Like some ghost. 

I lean against the wall for a couple of minutes before going back to my room. 

Thank god I packed bikinis.  Laying out all the bikinis I have on the bed, I play a little game of elimination. In the third round, I make up my mind. 

I make sure to wear lots of sunscreen. Sunburn was not a nice thing. The last time I had sunburn I was unable to sleep on my back for weeks. 

☆☆☆

The car barely comes to a stop before the Hudson, Kai and Rio eagerly run to the water. We were at Lido Di Jesolo. One of the most famous beaches here in Venice. 

Yup, you heard it right. I am in Italy! It's always been a dream of mine to come here one day. However, one of dad's rules was that I was not allowed to leave the country on my own. The only time I ever went on vacation was around five years ago. We flew over to my grandparents in Las Vegas because my grandma was ill. 

A sigh of content escapes my lips when my back touches the towel which was laid out on the soft sand. While the men disappeared into the calm water I decided to catch up on reading. For the past few days, I've left my books untouched on one of the shelves in my room. 

Someone kicks a ball and it comes flying straight at me. “Ow!” I shriek. It hit my book which fell directly on my face. Turning to my left, I spot a group of snickering teenagers. Fake smiling, I grab the ball and throw it towards the water. They try to grab it but it's too late. Saying something in Italian, they walk away.

I shrug going back to my book. Everything in life has consequences. Both good and bad. Theirs was bad. I mean who intentionally throws a ball at someone?

“Will you spend the rest of the day reading?” Kai walks up to me. Since everyone else was in the water, I was in charge of taking care of our belongings. He sits beside me, peeping over my shoulder trying to read the page I am currently on. Thank god the smut was a few pages ago.

Soon, the others joined us. “Move.” Lorenzo glares at Kai. Putting his hands up in surrender, Kai scoots away. With ease, Lorenzo sits behind me, pulling me to his chest. His veiny hands rest on my hips, rubbing soothing circles. 

I try to ignore everyone's expressions. I was just as shocked as them. 

“First one to water has to eat Mayo!” Rio shouts. Dropping my book, I take off sprinting with the rest of the guys. Lorenzo stays back though. 

“I am not eating Mayo.” I shake my head. Mayo is disgusting. I throw up by even smelling it. 

“You have no choice-”

“If she doesn't want to, she doesn't have to.” There's a sense of finality in Lorenzo's words. 

I find reasons to crush on this man everyday. Who knows, I might eventually fall in love. 

We played Volleyball for a few hours and Hudson and I won. “Give me a hand five!” I shout. 

I stay back with Lorenzo while the boys go to the restaurant on the beach to get us a table. 

“Ah!” Lorenzo pulls me to his chest, wrapping his hands around me. 

I never took him as a hugger. 

“What are you doing?” I pull back slightly, peering up at him. Instead of responding, he pulls me back against his chest, his hold much more tighter. “Why are we hugging in the middle of a beach?!” I struggle in his hold. 

“Stop fucking moving!” He commands. “You're entire boob is out for the entire fucking world to see.” He grits his teeth. 

My eyes widen and I look down. Oh my god! My whole left boob was hanging out of the swimsuit. It must've happened after or during our game. “I can't fix it here!” There were so many kids running around. I really hope I didn't flash anyone.

Lorenzo's arms move to my legs and he hoists me up. I wrap my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life. He leans me against some random tree, shielding my body with his. Before my hand even reaches up to fix it, Lorenzo brings one of his hands up to my chest carefully fixing my swimsuit back in place. 

“Next time don't wear something so revealing.” He smiles at my embarrassed expression. 

“Where did they go?” I hear Kai’s voice.

“Right here!” I wave, scurrying out of Lorenzo's arms.

This might've taken the cake for the most embarrassing situation I've ever gone though. I would rather have him see my bloody sheets from during my period than what happened today.