Chapter 6: Goodbye Rome

To Layla's disappointment, she didn't hear back from Atreus in the next couple of days after they had dinner. She had tried her best to not let it bother her that she had gotten ghosted, but that was proving to be difficult. Especially after the amazing kiss that she and Atreus had shared that night.

Nonetheless, Layla went about the rest of her trip trying to enjoy her last days in Rome. While she did have an amazing time and plenty of laughs with Mia by her side, her betraying thoughts kept going back to Atreus.

On their last day, the two girls were in their hotel room packing their belongings and getting ready to catch the plane back home. When Layla picked up the dress that she had worn on her date with Atreus, Layla's melancholy turned to anger. She rolled up the shimmering gown and chucked it into her suitcase with a huff.

"Whoa," Mia said from across the room. "Was that a mini temper tantrum I just witnessed?"

Layla continued to stuff clothes into her suitcase without saying anything.

"Dude, forget that guy," Mia, said crossing the room and putting her hand on Layla's shoulder. "If he is such a tool that he can't see what a catch you are, then screw him."

Layla sighed and turned to Mia. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I've never been played like this before. It would be one thing if it was just some guy, but I really had a connection with him. For a second, I thought he felt the same way," Layla said with a huff and threw her toiletry bag into the suitcase. "I guess I was just too starstruck to realize that it was one-sided."

"You just need a change in environment. As soon as we get back home and you can get back to your regular routine, you will feel better," Mia said, consolingly.

But the thing was Layla didn't want to return to her regular routine. Going back home now after having experienced even the one night with Atreus, it all seemed so bland.

Layla pouted her lip childishly.

"Aw, do you want to go get another gelato from the place down the street one more time before we leave?" Mia teased, also pouting her own lip.

Layla nodded with a whisper of a smile.

"Ok, let's go get you a gelato," Mia said, her voice like a mother consoling a child.

With a giggle, the two girls walked out of the room arm in arm.

***

Layla and her classmates all arrive at the airport a couple of hours later. They are going through bag check when Layla felt that familiar electric sensation on the back of her neck. She glanced around the airport terminal which was bustling with people. Her eye scanned the crowd, part of her wishing she would see Atreus there.

But this wasn't a rom-com where the guy chases the girl down in an airport to profess his love.

With one more fleeting glance across the room, Layla vowed right then to leave all of the emotions that were dragging her down in this city. She wasn't going to let them follow her back home.

With that determined thought, Layla picked up her carry-on and walked away from Rome.

After a long twelve-hour flight and an hour cab ride that she shared with Mia, Layla was finally home. Having said goodbye to Mia minutes ago outside of her dorm room, Layla walked up the steps to her own apartment. She unlocked the door and slipped inside the dark room. She dropped her luggage unceremoniously right inside the door and flipped on the lights.

Everything seemed to be exactly as she had left it. It was a studio apartment with simple furnishings. Her small white desk was covered in memorabilia while a few paintings her friends had done in their art classes lined the walls, and a flat-screen TV sat directly across from her alluring bed with its silky purple comforter.

Jet-lagged and starving, Layla made her way to the bathroom to shower and change into her pajamas. After her shower, she flopped onto her bed and flipped the TV on for some background noise before ordering takeout.

It wasn't long before she fell asleep watching late-night cartoons.

***

"So you think you can escape me now that I've found you?" That familiar low voice brought Layla out of deep sleep.

Layla gasped as she sat up straight in her bed. She looked around the room, the TV was shut off and darkness filled the corners with shadows. Her eyes landed on the glowing eyes coming from the chair next to the bed. This had to be a dream because she wasn't scared at all.

"Who said I was trying to escape?" Layla retorted, sliding her legs off of the bed and facing Atreus who watched her quietly. "You never came back like you said you would and you didn't give me a way to contact you either."

He sat there with his legs crossed and his chin on his hand, looking ever so casual in her bedroom.

"I told you I would find you," he said simply.

"Well now that you have, what do you want?" Layla asked, putting her hands on her hips.

Atreus was quiet as his eyes bored into hers. A smile lifted his lips.

"Take off your clothes," he said, his voice husky.

Layla stared at him for a moment before returning his smile.

"What if I say no?" she asked daringly.

"Love, you don't want to find out." His voice was dangerous and it sent a thrill of pleasure through her.

Layla did as he commanded and slowly lifted her silken nightshirt above her head, revealing the naked skin of her breasts before tugging at the waist of her pants and slipping them down her thighs. Atreus watched her hungrily as she straightened in nothing but a pair of lacy panties.

Layla had always had some insecurities about her body, not having the lithe figure of a model, but with voluptuous curves at her hips and a*s. Those insecurities were none existent under the roving eyes of Atreus. He drank her in as if he were thirsting to death.

"Come here, Layla," he said, gesturing with his finger.

She did as she was told and walked over to him slowly. He didn't make a move just yet as he continued to examine her naked body which glowed in the moonlight.

"You are like a goddess, do you know that?" Atreus muttered quietly as he lifted his hand and ran a single digit down the curve of her hip, his eyes never leaving hers.

Layla bit her lip as the coolness of his touch sent a thrill through her. Gently, Atreus took her hand and guided her closer to him. When she was close enough, he grabbed her by the back of her thighs and pulled her into his lap in a straddling position in one swift movement.

Then he slid his hands along her naked back until they reached her hair. Tangling his fingers into her silken locks he brought her mouth to his in a fervent kiss. They stayed like this for endless moments, drinking in the taste of the other with swift and precise movements of their tongues.

Layla brought her hands up and ran her fingers through his ashy blonde hair, enjoying the growl that she had elicited from Atreus' mouth. This caused him to kiss her deeper, hungrier. Just when Layla didn't think she could take any more sensation, Atreus thrust his hips into hers causing Layla to gasp into his mouth.

Atreus ran his fingers down her back and gripped her hips and guided her into a rocking motion and Layla couldn't help the moan that escaped her. She could feel his hardness against her center and it did nothing but make her want him even more as she rocked against him over again.

As if he could hear her thoughts, Atreus wrapped his arm around her waist and slipped one hand under her a*s then effectively lifted her into his arms and walked them both to the bed. Layla wrapped her legs around him, needing him closer still.

Atreus delivered her to the bed and started to kiss and nip her chin, neck, and collarbone. Layla tossed her head back in pleasure as he dropped his small bites against her skin. She could feel the dangerous sharpness of his canines as he grazed her tender flesh.

But that was nothing compared to when he reached down and slipped his hand into her panties. Layla squirmed with a moan of pleasure as his fingers pressed gently into her hot wetness. Her insides squeezed with desire as he slowly pumped his digits in and out of her.

His mouth moved lower as he pressed kisses to her hips before nipping gently at her inner thigh. Layla's mouth dropped open as she gasped his name. In response, Atreus peeled her panties from her hips and tossed them aside.

She looked down at him as he peered up at her with a lust-filled gaze before dropping his mouth and licking her clit in a slow languid motion. Layla cried out in pleasure as he kissed and sucked at her center.

Layla knew before she opened her eyes that she was dreaming. Again. With a loud sigh of disappointment, she stared at the ceiling alone and under her covers. Although she knew it was all a dream, her body did not. Her skin was electric to the touch and her core was tight and wanting.

"F*ck," she muttered, before burying her face into the pillow.

It seemed that her desire for Atreus had followed her from Rome after all.