A Condemned Lust [Lionel Messi]

Chapter three (Part one)

Leo's POV

"Are you still in pain?" Antonella asked, turning her head to face me.

"No the ice numbed it, don't worry."

"Im glad."

She opened her mouth again, wanting to say something but the words didn't get out.

"What is it?" I asked.

She swallowed before hesitating between the words. "I'm going to see Enzo tomorrow."

"Alright." Is all i said, hoping that this wont turn into a discussion.

"Hey, talk to me." She reached out taking my hand in hers.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Leo.. i'm-"

"Shh. Stop." Rubbing her hand with my thumb, i whispered, "we both knew what we signed up for and now it's over. Let's sleep."
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Two hours later, and i'm still wide awake. My thoughts were too loud to let me sleep.

How can i sleep when my mind is so chaotic at the moment. Laura, Antonella, the kids, the injury. It's like everything picked the perfect time to fall apart. Ugh. What am i getting myself into?

She was haunting my thoughts. Every thought was telling me that i was in need of her. A need that ignited a desire within such a short period. I've never felt so out of control, not being able to stop gazing at her. Let alone entering her room and kissing her. If anyone would've warned me of it just few days ago, i would've thought they're crazy. It turned out i was the crazy one.

Standing there in her room, i thought i was weak for needing her right then and there, until i saw how she simply let me in. One sentence, one look, one touch, is all i needed to make her give in. After all, maybe she's the craziest.

And now, I can't even be around her without thinking of touching her, without tasting her lips on mine. But what if all of this, is just amplified now. What if I'm only caught up in the moment, needing her to not feel weak. Wanting her to get my mind off of worse things, off of losing my stability, my home.

Nothing was making sense anymore. I was starting to lose track.

Nonetheless, i couldn't stop. She intrigued me. She's a big puzzle. I've been trying to put the pieces together in the last 24 hours but the only answer i've found, doesn't make sense. It defies rationality. However, I saw it in her attitude, in her smile, in the way she looked at me. She wanted me just like i wanted her. But she needed me. She needed me far more than i needed her. This can't be a simple crush, there was far more. It wasn't a moment of weakness, it wasn't just desires, there was something pure. Very pure.

She kissed me like she had been waiting for it her whole life. Like it was her only chance. Her heart was going to burst out of her chest due to a simple touch. Is it possible? No. It cannot be. How can she love me? Why would she love me? How can she want me and she barely knows me? That's not it. There must be something else.

I closed my eyes trying to shut off my thoughts to fall asleep. Sudden footsteps were heard outside. I focused on them, listening closely, confirming that someone was awake.

Antonella was in a deep slumber by now. So i got out off bed posing slightly on my injured foot. "Minimal walking until further notice." The voice in my head reminded me of the doctor's orders. Well yeah, minimal walking it is, only to see if she's awake.

Getting out of the room, there was no one in the hall. And no sound was heard in the house. I was starting to think that this is a bad idea, and that the noise i heard was nothing but the work of my mind, when suddenly a creaking came from the children's room.

I opened the door careful not to scare them in case they were awake. But at my surprise, both of them were sleeping peacefully, and there she was, sat next to Thiago. She instantly looked up at me in surprise, not expecting me to be awake, yet managing to break the eye contact fast. I saw her rubbing her hands nervously, all her focus on them.

"Why are you awake?" I whispered.

"I was worried about Thiago having nightmares." Her voice was so low, so soft, triggering the need she only controlled. And i knew there was more to it than simply the answer she gave.

I sat on the bed next to her, watching her picking on her skin with her fingernails, her eyes still clear of me.

"Why- why are you awake?" She asked.

"I don't know." I lied obviously, not wanting her to know she was on my mind.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Her eyes turned to my foot, a concerned look traced her face.

"I'm okay, Laura. I'm okay." I reassured her.

She still didn't want to look at me. Why was it so hard for her to face me?

"How-" she let out, her voice cracking, before clearing her throat to continue. "How did you know who Mark is?"

I knew she was going to ask at some point. But i wasn't ready to talk yet. Not before i understand the full story. Not before i solve this puzzle.

The following minutes were silent. I wish it was easier. I wish i could talk. My eyes were shifting between scanning every feature of her face, to the now irritated spot on her hand from all the rubbing and the picking.

"Stop, you're hurting yourself." I said, approaching my hand to hers, covering it with mine.

She took her time to look at my hand on top of hers, like she was scanning it to save it in her mind for later. Then she lifted her face and looked at me. Her look was soft, her eyes gazing right into my soul. Her hair was messy with one string falling right at the corner of her eye. She followed my hand as i brought it closer to her face. She instantly closed her eyes, flinching a bit at the contact of my fingers with her skin, as i tucked her hair behind her ear. I let my hand slide down, my fingers caressing her cheek to her neck. I paused for a moment feeling her pulse rising. There was it again. The effect i have on her, that drove me crazy.

My chest started burning, with my own heart racing. I was weak again. And i thought she was too, until she managed to rise up from the bed and get out of the room at the speed of light. Leaving me alone with her sweet scent filling the room.

Walking back to my room, my head was spinning more than ever. Stepping slightly on my foot, i realized that it was hurting me the whole time, but i was too busy to notice. I lied down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. It was not where i wanted to be, only where i needed to be.
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