Chapter 29: A Night of Truth and Desire.
Leonardo’s POV
"Rafael, can you take Aurora to her room?" I asked, my eyes still fixed on Alessandro's smug face.
Rafael nodded. "Yeah, sure."
But Aurora waved her hand, signaling she'd go alone.
"Don't worry, I'll go alone."
With one final glance at me, she turned and walked away, leaving me and my brothers in the room.
As soon as she was out of sight, I stormed towards Alessandro, my anger boiling over.
I grabbed him by the shirt, my fists clenched.
"What the hell are you trying to pull, you ass!"
I growled, my voice low and angry. Alessandro smirked, and I could see anger in his eyes.
"Just telling the truth, brother," he mocked.
"You're not as perfect as you seem."
I tightened my grip on his shirt, my anger threatening to spill over.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," I growled, I showed my teeth.
"Aurora is mine, and I won't let you ruin it."
Rafael and Gabriel stepped forward, their eyes flashing with warning.
"Hey, Leo, calm down,"
Rafael said, placing a hand on my shoulder. But I shook him off, my focus still on Alessandro.
"This isn't over," I hissed, before releasing him and turning away.
I stormed out of the room, leaving my brothers and Alessandro behind. I needed to calm down, but my anger and possessiveness towards Aurora were getting the better of me.
I couldn't let Alessandro's words get to me, but they had. I felt a surge of jealousy at the thought of anyone else having her attention.
I walked down the hallway, trying to shake off the feeling of rage that had taken over me.
I needed to see Aurora, to make sure she was okay and that Alessandro's words hadn't affected her.
I reached her room door and raised my hand to knock, but hesitated as I didn’t know if she would want to see me.
What would I say and how would I start?
I stood there for a moment, my hand raised to knock, but then I hesitated. I looked at the door, thinking about Aurora's exhausted expression earlier.
She had been through a lot today, and I didn't want to add to her stress. I decided that it was best to let her rest for the night, to give her some space and time to process everything.
I would find a way to talk to her tomorrow, when we were both calmer and clearer-headed.
I turned away from the door and headed back to my room, feeling a sense of resolve.
I would make things right with Aurora, but for now, I would let her sleep.
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"A Cinema in the woods?" she said, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Yeah... it's actually very well known for its secretive location," I explained.
"But it's where a lot of couples come to just enjoy each other's company. So I thought we could do the same just enjoy each other's company and then talk later..." I trailed off, my grip on the steering wheel tightening slightly.
She looked out the car window, taking in the scene before us. The cinema was indeed secretive, hidden away from prying eyes.
But now, as we drove up, she could see several couples talking and laughing, some sitting on blankets, others strolling hand in hand.
The atmosphere was romantic, with twinkling lights and soft music filling the air.
"It's beautiful," she said, her voice low. I smiled, relieved that she liked the idea.
"I'm glad you think so," I replied, pulling into a parking spot.
"Let's go enjoy the movie and each other's company." I turned off the engine and turned to her, my eyes locking onto hers.
"We can talk later, I promise."
She nodded and then removed her seatbelt and got out of the car, while I did the same. It was Wednesday night, but despite being a weekday, this was a popular movie and the cinema was still crowded.
The film was due to start in five minutes.
We walked towards the entrance, the sound of soft music and gentle chatter filling the air.
The cinema was surrounded by tall trees, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. The sky was a deep shade of blue, with stars beginning to twinkle like diamonds.
As we reached the entrance, I turned to Aurora and smiled. "I'm glad we're doing this," I said, my voice low.
"I needed to get out of the house and clear my head."
She smiled back a little. "Me too," she said. "I love it here. It's so peaceful."
We went inside and found our seats, which were cozy and intimate. The screen was set up in front of us, and the projector was already rolling.
We settled in to watch the movie.
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As the film started, I couldn't help but steal glances at Aurora. She was completely absorbed in the movie, her eyes fixed on the screen. I smiled to myself, feeling happy and content.
But as the movie went on, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Alessandro's words kept ringing in my mind.
I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the present moment, determined to enjoy the evening with Aurora.
The movie ended, and we walked out of the cinema. The night air was cool and the stars were shining brightly above us.
We strolled through the woods, enjoying the peacefulness of the surroundings.
"I had a great time tonight," Aurora said, her voice soft. "Thank you for bringing me here."
I smiled, feeling happy and relieved. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," I said. "I needed this too."
We walked in silence for a while, the only sound being the rustling of leaves beneath our feet. Then, Aurora spoke up.
"Leo, can I ask you something?"
"Of course," I replied, my heart beating slightly faster. "What is it?"
“Do you want to go somewhere? Like an hotel?” she asked in a low tone.
I nodded. “Yes.”
Together, we walked out of the woods and into my car. “I know a place very close by.” I said, as I ignited the car engine.
As we drove, the tension between us grew thicker. I could feel Aurora's eyes on me, but I didn't dare look at her. I didn't want to assume anything or read too much into her suggestion.
After a few minutes of driving, I pulled up to a small, cozy hotel nestled in the heart of the woods. It was a secluded spot, perfect for a private getaway.
I turned off the engine and turned to Aurora. "We're here," I said, my voice low.
She nodded, her eyes fixed on the hotel. "It's beautiful," she said.
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Let's go inside," I said, getting out of the car.
Aurora followed me, her hand brushing against mine as we walked towards the entrance. I felt a spark of electricity at the touch, but I didn't pull away.
Inside, the hotel was warm and inviting. The receptionist greeted us with a smile and handed us a key. "Room 314," she said. "Enjoy your stay."
I took the key and led Aurora to the elevator. As we rode up to the third floor, the silence between us grew thicker. I could feel the weight of unspoken words, of unexplored emotions.
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out into the hallway. I found our room and unlocked the door, pushing it open for Aurora.
She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room. It was small, but cozy, with a large bed in the center.
I followed her in, closing the door behind me. And then, we were alone.