EricaBy the time, I exited the building my fingers were cramped and I knew what the keys on the piano were called. And also I kind of made a friend, I think, as I waved at Leo who really looked like a lost child of DiCaprio. “See you, tomorrow.” He called out as he turned to leave in the opposite direction. I smiled at him as he walked across the road and gave me a wave before turning away. I turned to make my way to the waiting car with Thor peeking out of the window which was open more than I had left. When I reached the car and opened the door, I realised the reason behind it. Ephraim was sitting in the backseat with a laptop open in front of him. His fingers were rapid fast as he typed. And his rhythm didn’t change even as I sat down and he said, “Thought you wanted Thor to be by your side. If you wanted to leave him behind in the car, you should've left him at the castle instead.”I stared at him, feeling irritated as without knowing he just made up an assumption. I said, “Of c

EricaI stared at him, dumbfounded and unable to grasp what he just asked. Do you like me? His question ping ponged around my head and I couldn’t decide on an answer. Yes. No. I don’t know. Fûck. Antonio had become something complicated that I know longer have a category for him. I don’t hate him. I don’t despise him like I did before. And yet it should be impossible to feel anything else for him.Fortunately, I was saved from replying when Mario’s cheery voice came from behind me as he stepped out on the terrace. I turned around to see him, to take reprieve from those golden eyes that were still on me, waiting for my answer. “Dessert is here.”I let out a shaky breath and jerked in surprise when Antonio said, his tone amused, “Your safeword is here.”I bit down on my bottom lip as I met his gaze while Mario replaced our plates— surprisingly white talking to him I ate everything on my plate while his was still half full, with the dessert ones. And he also refilled our wine glasses.On

Erica“My father was the cruellest man you could ever come across.”I stayed still as his words washed over me. A part of me wanted to stop him from saying anything further because it would mean knowing him, understanding him and ultimately this would pull me more closer to him than the tangled web of emotions I was already dealing with. But there was another part of me, a bigger one, that wanted to know whatever crumbs of his life he was sharing right now on his own. I didn’t know what made him talk about himself out of a sudden but I was ready to hear it.Since the moment I had met him, this man had a hold on me that I never understood. His presence, his aura and the way he behaves was something that had intrigued me and told me about the danger he was. But still all of it never stopped me from wanting to get closer to him. To touch him. To experience him. It was like when you see or hear about an exotic, wild animal and then you wonder what it would be like if you got closer to him

EricaWhen I reached my first class, I was still lost and I didn't even write down the things the teacher explained. The girl, Riley with red hair, sitting beside me nudged me and slid her notebook to me. I gave her a grateful smile and she shrugged as she said, “You can keep it and give it back tomorrow.”I took in her neat handwriting, the English words and sentences on one side and their translation in Italian on the other half of the page. She makes me miss my sister, with her red hair but hers weren’t natural. The first time we had met four days ago she had told me that she was here for a job and although she knew the language, her company had insisted that she take the classes.I took the notebook from her and said, “But we don't have this class for the next two days.” There were many people here, of all ages trying to learn Italian, but I doubted anyone here was for the same reason as me.“No, that’s why we are going to the new cafe that has opened in the downtown district.” Sh

EricaI woke up sprawled in the middle of the bed with blankets wrapped around me and sun shining through the parted curtains. Gathering my hair to the one side, I sat up and looked around the bedroom. The basket from which I had eaten number of sweet things was still on the bedside table and it reminded me of how Antonio had fed me the baked soft cookies with his own hands while I was curled up in his lap. I took my gaze off the basket to our clothes that were all over the place last night but now we’re folded and placed on the bench near the bathroom door, but there was no sign of Antonio.Deciding to get up and start the day, I slipped out of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. For the first time, I didn't sleep nakéd after sex and still Antonio had taken me in his arms, surrounding me with his big body as we slept. When I came out of the bathroom, I opened the closet door to find a selection of his shirts but there were a few dresses and jeans and tops too. I picked out a bla