揟hat抯 what I抦 hoping to do. Rethink old trends and try to create something new and exciting with secondhand pieces. At least, I hope that抣l work out. I don抰 know what to expect.?
揧ou always do your thing, Anna. I doubt a French fashion professor can stop you. And from what I抳e seen you always look good with your secondhand pieces.?
揟hank you,?I said, surprised. 揗any people think I抦 crazy for loving to shop in secondhand stores because I could afford the most expensive pieces.?
揧ou could, but then you抎 look like all the other rich girls. You always manage to stand out.?
I set down my glass with a smile. 揇id we just manage to have a conversation without fighting??
揇on抰 get used to it. I抦 sure we抣l find something to fight about soon enough.?
揑 have to say, I enjoy both, the fighting and the talking.?
Santino regarded me for a moment and I couldn抰 read his expression which made me unreasonably nervous.
The waiter arrived with our starter then, cutting our strange moment of peace short. We ate in silence, but it wasn抰 an uncomfortable silence where you抮e grasping for a topic to talk about and every scratch of the cutlery echoed painfully. This just felt cozy and nice, us both enjoying the delicious food and occasionally exchanging a look when someone with odd clothes caught our eyes. One cock of Santino抯 brow said more than a thousand words, and when I answered with a roll of my eyes that gave him his answer.
After dinner, we headed to a bar that also had a club on the floor below. I didn抰 think Santino would join me on the dance floor. Over the years he抎 always avoided dancing but this time he followed me to the center of the club where the beat had taken hold of the crowd, turning dozens of bodies into one pulsing mass. 揑 thought dancing wasn抰 part of your job description,?I shouted into Santino抯 ear. That was one of his favorite phrases whenever I asked him to do something. Not part of my job description?
He bent down to answer over the music. 揟his is an extraordinary situation. Don抰 get used to it.?His lips brushed my ear briefly and I shivered pleasantly. Our eyes met. We were close, too close to be socially acceptable in our world, but these rules were suspended for now.
I wondered if Santino realized it as well. That in this moment, he could be whoever he wanted to be, and not limit himself to being my bodyguard. He straightened, bringing a bit more distance between us, but not nearly as much as he would have in the past.
I shrugged and allowed myself to let the music dictate my movements. My eyes closed, basking in the here and now. I rarely let loose. Dancing at social events in our circles was a statement and show for everyone around. I was being judged constantly and I acted accordingly, but here, amid a crowd of fun-hungry tourists and Parisians alike, I didn抰 have to put on a show or pretend. I could be an unfiltered version of myself.
Someone bumped into my back, followed by Santino抯 warning growl, and then I felt a strong, warm hand on my back. I didn抰 have to open my eyes to know it was Santino. I could feel his protective presence close to my back. Still, I couldn抰 resist a quick peek to see him as he danced at my side, tall and strong, shielding me from everyone around, not just with his body but also with his warning expression. I got a little thrill. Our eyes met and I smiled. It wasn抰 meant to provoke or tease, for once I just wanted to show Santino my appreciation, for the chance he was giving me to do this, even if it had taken some light coercion.
Maybe it was my imagination but I thought he lightly stroked my back in response, even as his face remained unmoving. The music changed, becoming slower, and the dance floor filled even more, forcing me and Santino even closer together. His hand moved to my side lightly. The touch was still protective but I felt it everywhere. I leaned back, pressing my back to Santino抯 front and my head to his chest.
揂nna,?Santino growled.
揕et me enjoy this moment. It抣l pass soon enough.?
Santino lightly squeezed my hip. I wasn抰 sure if it was warning or agreement but he didn抰 step back and so we swayed to the gentler beat, body against body, his heartbeat pounding against me. His heat scorched me, and the crisp scent of his aftershave flooded my nose. I could have stayed in this moment forever but the music changed once more, back to a fast tune, and we drifted apart. Eventually we moved back to the bar for another drink. Santino settled for something non-alcoholic, always on duty, but I opted for another cocktail.
I could already feel the alcohol take effect, enhancing this new feeling of unbridled freedom.
When we walked home in the early morning hours, me slightly tipsy and Santino as vigilant as always, I could tell that something felt different between us. Maybe it was that Santino for once treated me like a normal woman and not a petulant child and bother. He was almost relaxed and I too felt comfortable in a way I did with very few people. Santino felt a bit like family, in the way that I knew I could trust him and be myself around him. But definitely not in a related way. Nothing about my feelings for Santino was chaste enough for that.