CHAPTER 73

It started with a kiss, a very playful peck on his cheek. Then she gave him a kiss on the lips, but recoiled, thinking it was a bad idea

But he didn't kiss her back to give her validation. He watched her clumsy movements, and admired them.

Her hands travelled from his face, to his jawline. She traced it with her fingers, something she had been dying to do for a long time. Her hands moved to his neckline, then fell on his shirt. She flicked open a button, then another, then her eyes moved to see his reaction

He was still, and his facial features revealed neither disdain or approval. But she was having fun. He did say she could touch him however she liked.

She ran her fingers over his bare chest. She could feel the change in his heartbeat, but she was just exploring. Her palms gently caressed his abs, and she could feel them tighten

“Sharon”

He grabbed her hand, and made her look at him

“That's enough”

He looked sternly into her eyes, with a cold expression on his face.

He didn't want to be the reason why they would lose the pure feeling they had for each other

Sharon retracted her hands, and turned her face away from him. She was hurt

“Well— I guess you don't want me to touch you. You don't love me, you never did”

He could hear her voice crack through her words

“Sharon”

Is it because I'm ugly? Is that why you don't want me?

Luca moved closer to Sharon and brought his face to hers

“You're not ugly, and I want you”

“But you told me to—”

“Fuck Sharon, I crave you, everyday! I just want us to take things slow”

“We weren't taking things slow in the toilet this morning”

“I was being naughty”

He pulled her closer to himself, and turned her face so she could look at him

“Well— I like it when you're naughty. It makes makes me feel like you really want me, and I'm not ugly”

“I love you Sharon, whether you're in a onesie, or an ugly skirt, or a tank top, or a dress, or a sack. I love you. And I might not always compliment you, because half the time I have nothing appropriate to say, and I don't want to make things weird. But you're fucking gorgeous!

“Luca”

“Yeah”

“Do you mean it?”

“Every fucking word”

Sharon looked down, trying to avoid his eyes

“Well I guess you should see me in something you like for once—”

Sharon's fingers drifted off to the zipper at her neck. She zipped down, to her belly where the it stopped

“Fuck”

Luca said in a low voice

His eyes scanned the lacy white lingerie she was wearing

“You don't like it? I can cover up if—”

Luca's eyes went dark, and he placed his hands on her shoulders. Slowly, he peeled off the piece of clothing from her, but stopped when it reached her waist.

He closed his eyes and let out a groan

“I can't promise not to do certain things, if you take this whole thing off”

Sharon's eyes glowed with a mix of fear and excitement

“Okay, I won't”

“Did you wear it for me?”

“Yes”

“I love it”

“I love you”

Luca's eyes widened. He cupped her cheeks

“Say it again”

“Say what?”

Luca grazed the lace of her bra with his teeth

“Say you love me”

“But I don't”

Luca gave her a wry smile

“Someday you'll scream that sentence at the top of your lungs baby girl”

Sharon gasped, as he wrapped his arms around her half lingerie clad body, and placed a kiss on her head

“Goodnight Stranger”

“Goodnight asshole”

******************

“Why aren't you sleeping? It's 3am”

“I had a bad dream”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Sharon shook her head slowly.

“It’s fine. I just want to make sure you're okay”

“I'm okay, I want to tell you Luca but—”

“You're crying— listen you don't owe me any explanation”

He patted her head softly.

She looked down and realised that he had zipped her back up. She looked up at him

“You were more comfortable fully covered baby girl”

“stop calling me that”

“I can't”

Sharon kicked him playfully. He grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head

“Careful”

“No!”

She screamed playfully, giving him another kick on his side

He used one hand to still her legs. Then he positioned himself on top of her.

“Apologise”

She let out a laugh. Luca placed his head on the crook of her neck and brushed his lips against her skin

“Apologise”

“No”

Sharon felt him kiss her gently on her neck, then the kiss became more aggressive, demanding—

“Luca”

She felt something sharp tease her skin, It was definitely teeth. Luca's teeth!

“Apologise”

“No”

Sharon let out another laugh, his lips on her neck tickled her slightly. The sensation quickly shifted to pain, but the pain only lasted a moment

She let a sound escape from her lips, and watched as he slowly let go of her

“Did you just bite me?”

“It's called a hickey”

Sharon ran her hands through the spot. She could feel his teeth marks

“It's on a very obvious spot. People are going to see it and assume we had sex—”

“It's a good thing”

“You're insufferable, you know that right?”

Luca lifted himself from her, and laid on the bed. His eyes were fixed to the ceiling

“I know”

There was a moment of silence.

“Hey Luca”

“Yeah?”

“You asked to know what hunts me in my nightmares”

Luca's attention shifted to her immediately, and he fixed his eyes on hers.

“Yes”

“I'm ready to tell you, tell you everything—”