Chapter VI

Ten days day. Ten bloody days I had spend in that God forsaken apartment with just Alessandro as companion. Salvatore made a habit of leaving in the early morning and coming back somewhere late in the night. And it was drawing me crazy. Not only his somehow immature acting of avoiding me but also Alessandro himself was most unbearable person I had chance to meet. He was as annoying as a little child and it was impossible to think that I was stuck with him as my bodyguard. To that I had spend New Year’s Eve with him. Though in fact I spend it on crying in bed.
“I want to go out.” I demanded standing in front of Alessandro that was just watching some TV show while cleaning his gun. He was just as bored as I was. There was just so much books I could read and cleaning I could do.
“Finally!” He let out a heavy sight but there was a smile of happiness in the corner of his lips. “When and where?”
“When you’re ready. I want to go to Whole Foods, to the Library and maybe some other place.”
“Give me ten minutes.” He said with now the brightest smile.
It felt good to finally feel some air blowing into my face even though it was freezing cold still – there was this big balcony back at penthouse but I refused to walked out on it, 32nd floor was a bit too high for me. As we were passing by many people and all this nice stores still dressed up for Christmas I couldn’t help but feel better. It was nice to finally leave the house and somehow have some freedom. And I was also thankful for Alessandro that was there to carry all of my things.
When we got back to the apartment, it was already dark and after everything was put in it’s place I’ve decided to it was best idea to make gingerbread. Christmas season might have been over but this year I didn’t feel it at all around my house so I needed just a one little moment of it that I could enjoy. I pulled the red jumper that I got from Marco for Christmas, over my white dress and started moving around the kitchen preparing batter and dinner at the same time. A piece of me dreamed that Salvatore could be there with me instead of Alessandro. I really wanted to get to know him better. After all he was my husband and by the few spare moments we shared I got interested in him. And It wasn’t like I was going anywhere.
Evening passed like any other lately, Alessandro was either watching me from his spot at the table, saying anything that he thought would be worth letting out of his mouth or he was on the couch running through channels. He was definitely the most unlike bodyguard I had ever seen but I wasn’t complaining – I preferred his irritating self then someone that would just be a shadow around this place. In the end we ate dinner and I left my only friend – if I could call him that – on the couch, eating gingerbread cookies.
I wasn’t exactly sure at first what had woken me. My body was heavy and I felt nicely warm but the darkness of the room told me it was way too early to get up. But then I heard it – soft sound of piano. It took a lot of power from me to lift my body from bed and turn on the lamp on the nightstand. In my cotton nightie and negligee wrapped around it I made my way towards the door. When I got to the end of the hallway I just leaned against the doorway, not wanting to interrupt Salvatore that sat on the piano bench, surrounded by few candles that stood on the tall holders, his white shirt undid almost fully, bottle of scotch and glass standing on the closed flap as he was playing, his eyes closed.
It was quite amazing view and I caught myself not only watching but admiring. The passion that was written all over his face was something beautiful and so was the melody. There was sadness and melancholy in it that made my heart ache a bit.
I froze when Salvatore’s eyes snapped open and right away found mine. I was more then certain I would get yelled at, but he just continued playing. A moment later he gently nodded towards the bench so I took it as a permission to join him. Even though it felt somehow weird to be this close to him I walked towards the piano and sat right next to Salvatore, our legs touching slightly.
“Sorry I wake you.” He was the first to speak and I could help but to stare at his lean fingers that were moving so smoothly through the keys.
“That’s alright. It’s a pleasant thing to be woken to, actually.” I looked up at him and smiled gently though he just quickly looked away, ahead of himself.
“How long have you been playing?”
“Since I was eleven. There wasn’t much to do while being home-schooled so I asked for piano lessons.”
There was a longer moment of silence and surprisingly it wasn’t unpleasant. Sitting like this, listening to him playing – I would certainly get used to that.
“Can you play anything? Or sing?” Salvatore asked softly
“No. I always wanted to play piano but father wouldn’t let me. And I sing but it’s more like howling as Marco named it.” I giggled gently and to my surprise Salvatore let out a small laugh that was even more beautiful then I dreamed it would be. “I used to take ballet lessons from age 5 to 7. I don’t remember much but I liked it.”
Salvatore just nodded before falling silent again.
“Bianca invited herself for dinner tomorrow night with Ataleo. Hope you wouldn’t mind. She was always so…intrusive.”
“Intrusive is a big word. Even though she is. But I don’t mind. I love her. It will be nice to have them for dinner.”
“Good.”
I didn’t know why suddenly I felt so good with him and why it felt in right place to share a bit with him as part of getting to know each other better.
“My father - he always loved to make me miserable. As if all this time he was taking a revenge on me.” I bit on my tongue right after the words spilled. I shouldn’t have been so straight forward and opened. That was simply embarrassing and blush crawled up my neck right away. Salvatore probably didn’t want me here in first place and now I acted as if he was some therapist.
“Revenge?” He asked softly, his fingers suddenly stopped playing. Instead he moved his hand to take still full bottle of whiskey and open it just to pour a bit into the glass that he brought to his lips.
“He hates me. Just because I wasn’t a boy. You see…he wanted to impress all his life. Mostly your family. He wanted to be the best and pretend he is one of you so it was his biggest dream to gave a masculine first born. But there was just me and he considered it a failure. My failure.”
“Your father is a fool, I already told you that. And he will never understand that despite being a soldier of Familia he is still no one.”
“If he is no one then why am I your wife?” Words spilled out of my lips as I watched him almost choking on whiskey. He put the glass back down on piano with a loud thump.
“I think it’s time for you to go back to bed.” He said harshly, closing the flap over the keys before standing up.
I wanted to push him, wanted to demand an answer but instead I almost run back to the bedroom shutting the doors behind myself. Salvatore was so confusing and adding the loneliness I was feeling it was only getting worse.
***
Next morning I woke up in the chair at the window, book on my knees, body heavy with sleep and bones slightly aching. I couldn’t fall asleep last night and Salvatore never came to the room so I started reading. As usual there was no one other downstairs then Alessandro that was already taking care of his breakfast but was nice enough to share his oatmeal with me. I met Mrs. Mead and after longer consideration I asked Salvatore to give her vocation for now. It was necessary for her to be around since I was always at home and cooking and cleaning was my only entertainment.
I wasn’t quiet sure what to prepare for dinner so I’ve decided to take my chances and even though I had the strongest feeling that I pissed Salvatore good time last night - ask him. I took my phone and found his name that somehow appeared there after the accident. For long moment I was hesitant, thinking that perhaps he wouldn’t want anything to do with me but decided that most he could do was just not answering.
What should I make for dinner?
Replay came only few minutes later:
Whatever you want, though Bianca hates seafood.
Will you be joining? – I pressed send with a heavy heart, biting on my lip nervously.
I will be back around 5 and they should come at 7.
After a quick journey to the nearest grocery store with Alessandro I got to preparing dinner and before I even knew it the front doors opened and Salvatore stepped in. He just finished talking with someone on the phone and put it in his pocket.
“Hello.” I said with a small smile from above the pot, trying to hide my nerves – I still thought how we left things last night and hoped that he wasn’t all that mad at me.
“Hello.” He nodded but looking at Alessandro. “You are free to go for now. And I mean somewhere else then apartment.” He said with a small smirk, taking off his black coat and then suit jacket.
Soon enough Alessandro – that was more than excited about his free time - was gone and Salvatore joined me in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. He had his shirt’s sleeves rolled up and tie was gone, two top buttons undid.
“You need any help?” He asked taking a piece of tomato that I was chopping.
“I have everything under control, thank you.” I said with a smile that was all true since I was surprised but also flattered that he offered help.
“Then let me pour us some wine.” He said and made his way towards the pantry. Just few moments later he handed me glass filled with white wine that I happily took. If Salvatore had some talents that I knew of so far – it was certainly gift to choose a wine. We stood there in comfortable silence, me moving around the kitchen and stirring in pots while he was leaning against the kitchen island, his eyes never leaving me.
“I don’t eat meat.” Salvatore said out of blue making me look at him surprise at so sudden statement.
“Oh?”
“It disgusts me. It always did. No one knows about it besides my parents and Bianca. I would get laugh so I’m avoiding any official meals and if they happen I sometimes do eat though I don’t enjoy it. Actually, I remember when I was about thirteen and ate turkey on Thanksgiving. Next thing I knew was puking my guts out half of the night.” He smirked and my heart melted at the realisation that he just shared something so personal with me.
“Then I will keep it in mind. And today’s Alfredo will be all vegetarian.” I said putting pancetta back into the container sure that Alessandro will gladly take care of it later.
“I’m sharing this because last night you shared with me. You told me about your father and I’m considering this as something you don’t tell around so it felt only natural to tell you my secret.”
I stopped in front of him, glass in my hand. I felt this weirdest urge to give him a nice hug or even kiss on a cheek as a thank you but I wasn’t sure on what terms we were today.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Salvatore just nodded in answer, his eyes fixed on my. I wanted to move away but I was just too caught up into the magic of him and before I knew it, Salvatore leaned in, his lips that tasted of wine brushing against mine.
At first it was soft, unsure as our lips were brushing against each other ever so slightly but then, he moved closer to me, lips pressed harder against mine and within a moment there was also tongue involved. My body felt pleasantly hot and I found myself drifting away some place else where was nothing but this amazing sensation. It felt even better then kiss we shared back that morning after wedding. This was more passionate, more hungry. And I found myself liking it more then I thought I would. This moment his touch was welcomed, not feared and I almost wined when his strong arms wrapped around my middle, pulling my closer, though only our upper bodies were touching – he kept his hips away from mine and I was grateful, not ready for what can wait there.
In the heat of this passionate kiss as I was reaching to tangle my fingers into his brown locks just as I dreamed it for a while now, I forgot about the glass of wine in my hand that reminded of itself crushing against the floor loudly. I jumped away from Salvatore, startled. For a moment I haven’t caught what happened and then I felt even more embarrassed.
“I’m so sorry…” I whispered but all that answered me was a laugh. A genuine, beautiful laugh, that made me only laugh myself as I took paper towel and kneeled to clean the mess though a hand around my arm stopped me from doing so.
“Don’t. I will do it. You will cut yourself and we wouldn’t like that.” Salvatore smirked and just the next moment he was the one on his knees, picking up bigger pieces of glass from the wet mess. And all I could think about was how he kissed me and how much I liked it.
Later that evening I sat with Bianca on the couch, going through countless amount of chocolate truffles that she brought and another bottle of wine. After dinner Salvatore and Ataleo departed to first man’s office while we cleaned after dinner and settled on couch with our own party. My head was spinning slightly and my mood was way better then usually. And God knows I giggled way more than necessary.
“So…how are things going?” Bianca asked pouring more wine to our glasses and by that smile on her face I knew what she meant. No amount of alcohol in the world would make me speak up about my – non existing – sex life. I just looked away taking a sip that only made her laugh even more. “You are no fun!” She shook her head and not even knowing what was so funny anymore we both started laughing.
“Well, someone is having fun here.” Ataleo said with a half-smile as both men walked back into the living room. Salvatore has his black suit back on though there was no tie and few buttons were still undid.
“You don’t even know how much! But she won’t spill beans. She is no fun.” Bianca shook her head, sadness written all over her face what only made me giggle.
“I think you had enough for one evening, my love. We should get going.” Blonde man smirked.
Short enough – after goodbye that Bianca was prolonging – we were left alone. I sat back down on the couch with all the intention to finish up my glass of wine but that was taken away from my hand.
“You look like you had enough too.” Salvatore stated sitting on the edge of coffee table.
“Are you always so boring?” I let out without thinking and I didn’t regret it. Instead I just leaned further into thick, comfy pillows.
“Excuse me?” He raised his dark eyebrows and though he was looking surprise I saw that tiny, little smirk on his lips. He was laughing at me.
“You are killing the fun. And you are confusing too.” I muttered feeling my eyelids growing heavier. Maybe it was good that Bianca left. It wouldn’t be in good taste to fall asleep with your guests around.
“Enlighten me, please.”
“As if you don’t know!” I gasped, my eyes snapping open at once. “We live with each other like what, two weeks? And I know you like two months maybe and first, you save me, then you are cold, then on the wedding day you send me the most beautiful pearls and that note. That note! See the man, turn fear into love and all that bullshit. And then you say you didn’t even chose pearls and it’s always like this. One time it’s kissing, the other it’s not talking and I don’t know anymore. Besides! If I may give you one advice – you can’t be like Erik was. You can’t just come and think that I will be yours forever just because you said few nice words and give me flipping amazing kiss. No, no, no, young man. You need to be less confusing. And let me get to know you better. Not only thing about eating meat – though that was dope, I’m glad you’re sharing at least a bit – aaaand! You could take me out on a date. Instead of leaving me all the time with Alessandro. Because who knows, who knows…” I finished with a giggle at the idea of what an outcome it would be for wife to end up with a bodyguard just because her husband didn’t give a flying crap about her. Though, wait, it wasn’t really funny.
“I am confusing you. Then my apologies, my angel.” He smirked standing up from his place. Before I knew it, I was up in air, arms wrapped around my body securely. I haven’t got any power anymore and I was thankful that he was carrying me back to the room since I would just fall asleep on the couch. I let out a reveal sight when he laid my body on the comfy matrass. Just then I noticed that he had all the intentions to leave but I caught his hand.
“You are doing it again. Instead just stay and sleep with me.”
There was hesitation but finally he took off his suit jacket and laid next to me. I moved closer to him and fall asleep pressed tightly to his body.