揝top!?she screamed.
I swerved the car over to a diner parking lot and came to a halt. I unbuckled my belt and turned around. 揥hat抯 wrong??
Anna unbuckled her belt, leaned toward me, and grabbed my collar. Then she pulled me in for a kiss.
My body sprang to life immediately. No hesitation. No professionalism.
揑 need you. Now,?Anna whispered between kisses.
She tugged harder at my shirt. I angled my body around and half fell through the gap between the front seats. I climbed on top of Anna. We began tugging at our clothes, needing to feel naked skin.
Only the tinted windows protected our secret from the outside world. It was too risky but neither of us cared.
When I plunged into Anna, our bodies flush together, I knew I抎 take whatever Anna was willing to give me, for however long. Maybe it would be enough.
After our time together in the car, I arrived at lunch with Luisa fifteen minutes late. I promised myself that the fling in the car was a one-time thing, a last goodbye.
It became clear very quickly that Santino and I couldn抰 stay away from each other. Our connection was like a magnetic pull neither of us could resist. Why else had he agreed to stay my bodyguard?
Only a day later, we found ourselves in the back seat of the car again. We were both breathless and my sweaty skin was sticking to the leather but I couldn抰 wipe the smile off my face.
I was pressed up to Santino抯 side, relishing in the feel of his warmth and his unique scent. It was a scent I associated with safety.
揥hat now??Santino asked.
揥e keep doing what we did in Paris.?
揑n Paris we didn抰 have dozens of watchful eyes on our back. We could be together relatively unperturbed. Everything we do in Chicago is a risk. We won抰 be able to be close in public and even meeting in secret will be difficult. We can抰 fuck in your room. And we can抰 keep fucking in the car on public parking lots.?
I pushed up with a teasing smile, wanting to disperse the heaviness of our conversation. I didn抰 want to give room for the worries that had been bugging me ever since our return to Paris had come closer and had now manifested since we were back in Chicago. 揥hy not? The risk will make it extra hot. I like the naughtiness of the car, and doing it in my room will be even naughtier.?
Santino抯 eyes cut into me with their intensity. He raked his hands through my hair. 揟his will add another layer to our betrayal.?
揇oes it really matter??I whispered. Mom and Dad would be disappointed either way if they ever found out, which they wouldn抰。 揕et抯 be each other抯 secret for however long we can.?
揑 never minded being someone抯 dirty secret, but I really wish I wasn抰 yours.?
揑t抯 all we can have.?
My hands were sweaty when I entered the Clark mansion with Mom, Dad, and Leonas. Dolora celebrated her fiftieth birthday and of course, we were all invited. It was the first time I抎 see Clifford again, which made me feel unreasonably anxious, especially because Dad had chosen to take Santino with us and not Enzo.
Clifford and his mother greeted us while his dad was busy talking to a couple of senators. Dolora hugged me briefly, which felt awkward, especially when her gaze cut to Santino right after. Did she think he抎 give her a special birthday present?
He wouldn抰。
Right?
Were we still exclusive? Or had our kind-of-break-up in Paris changed things?
The mere thought that Santino might touch another woman made me see red. Clifford stepped up in front of me, forcing my attention toward him. A brief moment of awkwardness followed, which Clifford cut short by leaning down and kissing my cheek. It was a brief peck, nothing that screamed couple, but it still made me feel guilty because Santino had to watch it.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him walk across the room to take up position there, his eyes expression stone, but his eyes burned with jealousy.
揌ow are things??Clifford asked with a polite smile. He seemed less boyish than I remembered, calmer and more confident, and not just because he was dressed in a posh suit.
揋ood,?I said, accepting his extended elbow. He led me toward the buffet.
揥ill he cause trouble??
He didn抰 have to elaborate, it was plainly clear whom he meant. I allowed myself the briefest glance toward Santino who was scanning the room in a professional manner.
揘o, why would he??
揥ill any of the girls you dated in the last few years cause any trouble??
揌ardly.?
揝ee,?I said with a firm smile. 揈verything is good.?
I would have never thought I抎 wish to be back in Paris. I抎 missed Chicago, and I was glad to be back in my city, but being here meant I could no longer be with Anna. Now we had to sneak behind everyone抯 back to catch a moment of privacy.