The Courage of Italy

~7~

Chloe couldn't have been more content than sitting in the library on the beautiful day. Book in hand as she cozied herself in the reading nook overlooking the land, she felt at ease. From the party days ago, to reading in the library, she was quite content.

Finding volume after volume of literature, both her and Briana shared reviews of books and offered ones read from past to the other, passing the hours of the day giggling and wondering of the fantasies that laid within the pages.

Yet Chloe found herself in the same boat when it came to the story, the sweet fairy tale ending of romance and adventure, yet within those pages laid other things she wanted to explore. The thought of Feli bare before her sent a rush to her cheeks as she tried to rid the image. Yes, her mind had dived into that realm as of late, wanting to be pressed into the sheets by him as she felt the world fade away. It didn't help that Briana already dove into that world with Lovino as she spoke briefly about their encounter, the woman blushed at the memory. Jealousy could be a word yet she was also a little worried of Feliciano. Not that she was a virgin, hell far from it yet with his naive nature she started to think that he never even ventured past first base.

Shutting the book and looking outside, she gave a heavy sigh as her desire dwindled down to a mere fantasy in play. A time only she could release for herself.

A door caught her attention as it opened and closed below her. Moving over to the banister, she looked down to the office room and saw Feliciano moving around the table, readying papers for the meeting for later that day.

She couldn't help but marvel at him. How his hair fit him perfectly or how his eyes always seemed to be bright and shining; a smile always plastered on his face, no matter how bad the day. How he was just right in build to her, not too skinny yet not too big, sitting in that perfect middle and... her eyes ventured farther to notice that his burgundy was slightly open to her, giving her the grace of the top of his chest. Well, that was inspiring. She tried to tear her gaze from him and focus back on the book yet the thought of his shirt open like that was killing her mood. She gave a low groan as she shuffled back to the nook opening the book back to the unread pages.

She tried. She tried to focus on the words, the story, hell she even tried to remember the title and author yet nothing helped, her cheeks grew hot as her mind flashed naughty images at her.

"For the love of god Chloe, quit thinking that way." she scolded herself.

"Thinking what way?"

Chloe gave a startled scream as she saw Feli next to her, "Jesus Feliciano, you scared the hell out of me."

"I'm sorry bella, I didn't mean to."

"I know you didn't Feli, I'm not mad."

He hummed and smiled at her, "So what were you thinking?"

"What?" dear god, she hoped he didn't see through her.

"You said not to think a certain way, what were you thinking?" he asked sitting next to her.

"Oh." she hoped she could come up with a white lie in seconds, "It was nothing, really. Just self-assuring myself."

"You still calling yourself fat?" he gave her that pouty look, fuck he was adorable.

"No." she giggled, "No it was something else. A little too out there to worry over."

She knew he was giving her that look, the one of puzzlement and wonder as she felt the book move from her hand, "Oi I was reading that."

"The Betrothed." he said flipping it back and forth, "A good one."

"It is and I was continuing."