shield, Max dives back in. He’s relentless, driving me to a second orgasm. It’s exactly what I needed after such a horrible day. He made all my thoughts disappear, replacing them with relaxation and a new wave of fatigue. I’m expecting him to push his slacks over his sexy hips and sink his cock deep inside my core, but he surprises me again.
Leaving his clothes in place, he crawls his large frame up the bed to lay behind me. He pulls my exhausted body into his, tucking his arm around my waist while closely snuggling his front against my back. With an exhausted yawn, he murmurs, “Sleep, Isa, I’ve got you.” And I do.
I love you as certain dark
things are to be loved, in secret,
between the shadow and the soul.
– Neruda
I wake, anticipating there to be awkwardness between me and Maximillian. He did agree to my famiglia dying, and I shot him in return, so of course it’d be weird. Right? Only, I discover the bed empty, aside from myself, and that sends a resounding feeling of emptiness through my body. I don’t understand why I’d want to see him after everything that’s happened between us. Yesterday was more than enough, firstly at the funeral and then again last night. It had to be the middle of the night, and I haven’t any idea how he knew where I was or how to get into my room. Giovanna will lose it if she finds out, so I’ll have to attempt to not spill the details to her.
I head for the shower, taking a quick one to wash my body, but leave my hair dry. If I smell Max on me, it may give me away or else cause me to blab to my closest friend the moment I see her. I hop out, put some gel pads under my eyes for the puffiness, and style my hair. I’m supposed to go into work for a half day today, and I’m really trying to keep my shit together without falling apart until I’m alone again tonight. I understand the grief process isn’t quick, but I have to be able to cope and focus while doing my job. My famiglia was extremely proud of me for what I accomplished with my career, and I don’t want to start letting them down now.
I’ve got more issues than I care to acknowledge at the moment, so I don’t. I take it one step at a time, until somehow I come out of my borrowed room looking somewhat like my old self. There’re still the bags and bloodshot eyes, but I manage, and that’s more than I’ve been able to accomplish in the past two weeks. I find Giovanna in the kitchen and offer her the resemblance of a smile. She fixes another cup of coffee, handing it over. I’ll never forget how she’s stepped up to help me through this time. “Thank you.”
I take a sip, drinking in the rich flavor with a hefty dose of sugar mixed in. “I swear you were a barista in your past life,” I comment and sit on the barstool in their small kitchen. It has a homey feeling, and I’ve always been at comfort here, but maybe it’s the presence of my friend above anything else. I’m fortunate she’s still alive, too far away from my father’s immediate famiglia to be slaughtered with the rest. There are a few more out there, but I’m afraid to reach out too soon and they end up dead as well.
She stands on the other side of the counter watching me get settled, wearing a warm smile. She snickers at my compliment and sets her cup down. “Well, good thing I’m not, or I wouldn’t have the office right down the hall from yours.” That’s another thing I’d miss desperately, not having her presence at work when I’m bored out of my mind or need to spill the tea.
“True. This way I get the best of both worlds. Danny’s lucky he landed a babe with skills.” I tease, making her laugh again. It’s the least I can do after being so moody and miserable to be around lately. Grief will do that to a person, pull you under and make you bitter, but at some point you have to start breathing fresh air again.
“Are we going to talk about last night, or act like it didn’t happen?” Her brow jumps, and I give her the deer caught in headlights sort of