DECEPTION vol.1: A promise made A promise broken (Turbulent Desire Series) (5 page)

She scoffed at my answer. “No biggie? Huge biggie, Sky, that boy is gorgeous! Moreover, did you not see the hot sexy body of his? I would be all up in that man crush.”

That got my attention. I sat up in my bed and looked at her.

“If he wasn’t yours of course,” Madi quickly added.

I threw off the covers and stretched. “What do you suggest I wear, Madi?”

She clapped her hands excitedly. Walking to the closet, she took out a beige floral vintage lace tank top and a pair of retro-style stretch lace-up denim shorts.

“Here, you’d look SO cute in that! Wear the vintage tank top with your pink bikini top.”

I got out of bed, glad that I’d remembered to change out of my dress last night. I stood in front of the mirror, holding the outfit to my body. Satisfied with the way it looked on me, I hung it back up and got into my bed.

“I’m so nervous about today,” I whispered to Madi.

“You shouldn’t be, Sky, he asked you out for a reason.”

I smiled at her. “You’re the best, Madi,” I said.

“I know,” she whispered back. “But you still owe me big time,” she added, laughing.

I decided to get a head start and went to take a long shower. After my shower, I made a bowl of hot oatmeal with blueberries and took my time getting ready for my day with JC. I woke up Madi, who’d fallen asleep again, and we went over our arrangement.

“Okay, Madi. What’s the plan again?” I asked her, almost sounding like a drill sergeant.

“Seriously, Skylar, I’ve got it, everything’s looking good.”

I stared at her, waiting for her to start explaining the plan to me again.

“FINE! Monserrat is going to knock on the door in thirty minutes. She will ask us if we would like to go out with my dad and her for the day. I’ll say you’re still sleeping and we’ll catch up with them later, you leave with Handsome JC, I stay here and wait for you.”

I clapped my hands and patted her on the head; she rolled her eyes and snapped at me, “I’m not a freaking
dog
, Skylar.”

The knock on the door came sooner than we anticipated, but that was fine; Madison and I were ready. I took my position in bed and Madison answered our door. Madi explained to my mother that we had stayed up late talking the night before, and our plan was set in motion.

After hearing my mother and Alessandro leave, I called JC and let him know I was ready. Soon after I hung up the phone, my heart started to pound. I turned and looked at Madison, ready to burst into tears.

“What’s wrong, Skylar?” she asked, looking at me with a worried face.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been attracted to anyone, in such a big way, it’s so … I dunno,
strange
.”

Madison skipped over to me and giggled. “I love that you’re so innocent, Sky.” She shook my shoulders, all smiles, and patted my bottom. “Stop being a worrywart, it makes your face wrinkly.”

The knock on the villa door interrupted us. Madison skipped off excitedly to answer it.

“Skylar! JC is here!” I heard Madi call from the front room. I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror one last time. I smiled, bit my lip, and walked out to meet JC.

JC stood in the front hall. His gaze snapped to me immediately, and he flashed his gorgeous smile. He was wearing faded, ripped jeans and a tight t-shirt that showed off his muscled chest and toned arms. I bit my lip at the sight of him.

“You look …
wow
,” he said, “Let’s go for a ride.”

I waved at Madi and let him take my hand he lead me out the door.

I stood open-mouthed in front of the spectacular black motorcycle. I didn’t know anything about motorcycles, but I could tell this one was special.

“Wow! You ride a motorcycle?” I asked him, my fingers running over the leather seat. “Oh, man! You’re badass!” I exclaimed in excitement.

“Badass?” he repeated in his sexy accent. He laughed. “Okay!” He shook his head and smiled. “You know about motorcycles?” he asked.

“No, nothing, except they’re
so
sexy,” I replied. I looked back at Madi, who was standing on the front porch watching us, and mouthed,
I think I’m in love.

Madi grinned. “Don’t lose my best friend, JC!” Madi called out. “I love that bitch.”

JC assured Madison I was safe then he smiled and winked at me. We got on the bike rode off.

Our rented summer home villa was on the east side of the island, close to Giglio’s harbor. We rode to the other side of the island, where JC wanted to show me the ruins of Giglio’s old Roman port. The little village was full of tourists who were visiting the shops and restaurants.

JC parked his motorcycle by the harbor and got off, removing his helmet then assisting me with mine. We made eye contact. He smirked, leaned forward and braced himself on the motorcycle seat. For an instant, I thought he was going to kiss me, but his mouth passed towards the side of my left cheek, his chest barely touching mine. He adjusted the tire of his bike then leaned back and glanced at me. I look down and blushed. He must have noticed the eager look on my face.

JC took my chin, tilting my face up to his. His flirty smile combined with his bad-boy image made me melt inside. He pointed to one of the two lighthouses and said, “Okay, first thing you need to know is the port of Giglio Isle is very small but has lots to offer when it comes to having fun; you just need the right guy to guide you.” He winked.

“The first thing you see when you arrive is the old village and the two lighthouses facing the sea. The isle has also a tower and castle,” he continued. “The castle is very medieval, I’m positive you will love it. If you like, I can give you a tour of the island.” He smiled again. “No charge,” he added in his deep voice.

I smiled, completely charmed.
Oh God, he is so gorgeous, I love his Italian accent.
Every time he spoke, I could feel my body growing warmer.

“I’ll give you
carte blanche
, JC,” I said, my voice suddenly jumping an octave in my attempt to sound flirtatious. He threw his head back and laughed loudly.

“Are you flirting with me, Sky?” he asked.
Oh God! He is laughing at me—I must have sounded so dammed pathetic
.
Oh, who cares,
I told myself.
I am going to do whatever it takes to be kissed by this sexy Adonis today.

“Yes, JC, I’m flirting with you. What are you going to do about it?” I asked, trying to sound sophisticated.

His smile suddenly vanished and his expression changed. He raised his eyebrow and licked his lips greedily.

“Run before you get hurt,” he said.

His words scared the shit out of me. His voice was thick, smoky and full of emotions I couldn’t explain. My brain was telling me not to trust him, but I listened to my heart and stayed.

JC stepped closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. He lifted me up from the bike, leaving me hovering above the ground. I’m tall, nearly five foot nine in bare feet, but the top of my head came up only to his shoulder.

We were body to body, and my was heart hammering in my chest. His expression was tender, and his gaze turned to my lips. He searched my eyes for any sign of rejection, but of course there was none—I was dying to be kissed by him. His lips parted. Very, very slowly, he lowered them onto mine. Our lips brushed lightly, hovering over each other for a couple of seconds, then his hands tightened around the small of my back.

JC’s lips felt as soft as velvet. He kissed me softly at first, then his tongue parted my lips, invading my mouth. I met his tongue with mine, and he claimed it as his. He was deep inside me, exploring every inch, marking his territory.

“Mmmm … you taste so good,” he said, his voice gravelly and deep. His lips traced a pattern over the line of my jaw. “Your lips are very soft; they feel so pure, as if I’m the first to kiss them,” he said, pressing his hips against mine.

I felt the solid length of his erection pressed against my midsection. I flushed scarlet, trying to look anywhere other than at him. He rubbed his lips against my cheek, and I felt him grin wickedly.

Does he know what he is doing to me? Does he know he is the first man to kiss me? Is he just guessing and messing with me?

“Don’t be shy with me,
Cielo
.” His serious voice drew my attention back to him. “Now you are
la mia ragazza
.”

“What do you mean, ‘
la mia ragazza’
?” I asked, his mouth kissing, biting my earlobe.

“I mean that you’re mine. My girl, my girlfriend, whatever you want to call it.” He whispered in my ear, his voice deep, low and hoarse. My skin was covered in goose bumps,

His girlfriend.
His
. Shouldn’t he have asked me first if this is what I wanted? Not that I would have rejected him; it
was
what I wanted. I couldn’t help grin like an idiot. His eyes found mine, he smiled back at me. We kissed again, then he let me slide down from his arms and my feet touched the ground. All this time, I hadn’t even realized that he’d been holding me up.

The restaurant was in an ancient stone building, as soon we entered, I felt I had stepped back in time to the days of ancient Rome. Two chandeliers dominated the room, shedding a soft, romantic glow over the dining area.

I was charmed by JC’s choice of the restaurant. Madi and I still had not visited any restaurants on the island, but my mother and Alessandro had gone to at least one since we’d arrived. Thinking about Madi, I wondered how everything was going; I hoped she wasn’t too bored. Once we got to our table, I’d call her.

As I was soaking in the romantic atmosphere, a grating voice suddenly interrupted.

“
Ma la sopresa e valsa il figlio prodigo tornare alla sua isola!
” Walking in our direction was a man who appeared to be in his thirties, maybe forties; he was well dressed and had an arrogant air.

JC’s body immediately tensed up, his hand gripped mine more firmly. His eyes were full of hatred directed at the man. The older man stood in front of us with a fake smile. JC ignored him and turned towards me.

“
Chi e questa bellezza? Chiaramente non e uno abituarsi
,” the man said to JC in a mocking tone, and then he offered his hand to me. “
Buon pomeriggio, bellezza
,” he said in that annoying voice of his. Apparently, not all Italians had voices as attractive as JC’s.

“Sorry, I do not speak Italian,” I said to the man. Before I could shake his outstretched hand, JC locked my arm with his.

“
Signori, vostro tavolo e pronto
,” the waitress interrupted.

“
Grazie
,” JC replied and turned to the man.
“Non bisogna mai attraversare di nuovo la mia strada.
” JC spoke in his native language again, but this time his voice was murderous and seemed to come from deep in his throat. A look of fear crossed the man’s face. He stepped back, turned, and left immediately.

We sat at a small table, facing each other.

“Who was that man, JC?”

“No one of importance,” he replied roughly. I looked down, sorry I’d asked.

“Hey,” he said. I looked up at him. “He is a wealthy local who wants to buy my family’s wine business, you can imagine how he took it when my father said no,” he explained. He smiled, once again all charm.

“Yeah, I can imagine,” I said still feeling awkward. “Ummm … do you mind if I call my friend?” I asked, wanting to change the topic.

“No … of course not, go ahead.”

“Thank you.” I dialed Madi while JC read the menu.

Madi answered on the second ring.

“Hey, girl, is everything okay?” I asked Madi.

“Yes, everything is going as planned,” Madi said.

“Seriously, she is the best friend in the whole wide world. I love her to death,” I said to JC while I had Madi on the line.

“Aww! Thank you!” Madi said.

“What time do you need me back?” I asked

JC glanced up from the menu and stared at me intensely.

“Five … I will give you until five; you know how the sun irritates my eyes. I’m outside in our private beachfront, tanning my perfect body,” Madi responded in her fake high-society voice.

“Yes, princess, I know your beauty comes first. Five is fine, see you then, bye.” I ended the call, JC’s eyebrows pulled together. He looked a little sad when he checked his watch.

“So, we only have until five?” he asked.

“I’m afraid so,” I replied with a sigh and a pout. JC threw his head back and laughed at my childish flirting. Then his charming, playful smile was replaced by a piercing gaze. He reached closer to me and whispered, “If you let me, I’d love to bite those lush lips of yours.”

His deep voice had become a trigger; every time he spoke, I felt a warm rush throughout my body. My breaths became heavier, and the air around us felt charged with electricity.

The waitress returned to our table and cleared her throat, apparently aware that she was interrupting something. JC leaned back in his chair without breaking eye contact with me and ordered a selection of sliced meats and cheeses for an appetizer. For the entrée, he ordered the fettuccine with mushrooms on the side and a salad. I ordered the exact same thing. He never once looked away from me.

The waitress left, once again I was alone with him. His gaze was hypnotic, intimidating, deeply sensual … finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and looked away from him.

“For how long are you and your family staying in Giglio?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“We are only staying for two weeks and then we go back to the States,” I replied, looking into his eyes again.

He was leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. He appeared unaffected by our intimate connection just minutes ago, but the sudden change in atmosphere bothered me. I was about to say something when the food arrived, and I decided to let it go.

I was full and still had half of my fettuccine on my plate while JC was devouring his last bite. I took the opportunity to study him as he ate: the way his mouth moved, the enjoyment he obviously took in his food. I felt the strange warmth creep over me again.

“Like what you see,
Cielo
?” JC asked me as he put down his napkin over his empty plate. I was sure I blushed the same color as the spaghetti sauce the gentleman across from us was having.