Turn Towards the Sun (22 page)

He thrusts deeper, grabbing my ankles and raising my legs. I feel him press into the deepest part of me, coaxing me to climax.

“I’m gonna come Ava…come with me.”

I feel the tension of orgasm building quickly and buck my hips wildly, digging my nails into his arms to brace myself.

“Ava, you look amazing right now. I love you so much.” He drops my legs and presses his body to me. “Your mine Ava, completely mine.” He whispers in my ear as he holds me tight to him, his hands tangled in my hair. 

I run my hands over his glorious muscular back, our bodies sticking together with passionate sweat. I’m grinding against him as hard as I can and know that any moment now will be sweet pleasure.

“Yes, oh God Enzo, yes!” I scream out as wave after wave of pleasure courses through my body. I feel his body tense between my legs and he finally releases, pumping hot liquid into my depths. He slumps on top of me. He’s heavy but I love the feeling of his weight on me. I stroke his hair and wait for my breathing to return to normal. He moves
on to
his side, the most breathtaking smile on his face. His eyes glow and his skin is flush with passion. He is even more beautiful now.

“Amazing.” He looks in my eyes as he speaks.

Tears of pure sexual release stream down my face. He reaches over and brushes a tear off my cheek.

“I meant what I said Ava. I’m in love with you. I always have been.”

“I know.”

He traces a finger down my torso and plays with my bellybutton.

“I meant it too Enzo.”

“I know.”

We lay quietly for a few moments. He steps out of bed and turns the music off. Climbing back in, he pulls my soiled towel out from under me and throws it on the floor.

“Buona notte Ava.”

“Buona notte Enzo.”

That was totally worth the wait.

“Rise and shine Ava.”
I stretch luxuriously in bed, the soreness between my legs reminding me of our night of passion. Enzo is dressed as usual and stroking my hair off my face.

“Bella, you need to get up and spend time with me before I leave. Remember?”

A f
rown washes over my face. Oh yea
he’s leaving again.
Reluctantly,
I get up and go take care of my biological needs in the bathroom. I shower, brush my teeth, and throw my robe on to enjoy coffee with the man who confessed his love for me. Love!

“I like that you call me bella.”

He grins. “It’s fitting
,
no?”

I shrug. “I guess I’m not entirely sure what it means.”

He pulls me to him. “It’s how you tell a woman she’s beautiful. You are actually la bellissima, the most beautiful.”

I grin. “You have a way with words you know that?”

“I have a way with you.” He kisses my neck. “Now sit down and have some coffee.”

“Enzo, last night was incredible. I hope I made you happy.”

“You always make me happy. But yes, making love to you was as perfect as I knew it would be. And now I can ravish you as I wish, no?” He laughs.

I watch
him prepare my coffee
,
adding just enough sugar and milk. I notice his expression change and wonder what’s on his mind.

“Ava
,” he sounds nervous. “Come with me.”

“Come with
you,
where?”

“To Boston. Come with me.”

I laugh. “I can’t. I just started a job three days ago
,
remember? I’m not on vacation anymore.”

“I want you to quit your job and come with me.”

“What? That
d
oesn’t make any sense Enzo. I’m
supposed to quit my job and follow you like a puppy dog everywhere you go?”

“I will take care of every need and desire you have Ava. And I want you with me. I travel a
lot,
and I don’t want to leave you here.”

This is ridiculous. “Enzo I am not going to be a kept woman. I moved here to start a
life,
and that’s what I am going to do.”

His face falls. Oh shit.

“I thought that’s what we were doing. Starting a life, together.” 

“Enzo this is just so sudden. I’ve always had a job and taken care of myself. I don’t know anything different. I didn’t come from money like you.”

His eyes widen
.
“You think I came from money?
Let me tell you something.
My mother
raised seven children on one paycheck. My father worked two jobs most of his life and sacrificed time with his family for a better paying truck driving job. They both died young, their bodies broken from
back-breaking labor
and suffering.”

He turns away from me.
His voice fills with sadness.

“I started working when I was fifteen in construction. After my parents died, I applied for scholarships all over Europe and was accepted to a design school in London where I studied architecture and English. After my schooling, I made the decision to move to America where I thought I had a better chance of becoming successful.
That’s how I
found
the
internship in Boston.”

I think back to our discussion about Lucia.

“I worked there for two years studying everything, watching everyone. I went out to the building sites and learned what I could about structures. The owner of the firm saw something in me, talent. I apprenticed with him for a
year,
and he was my financial partner when I bought my first property. I went from having holes in the bottom of my shoes to
this,
and I did it entirely on my own.”

He turns back to me and stares
into
my eyes.

“And now I’m fortunate to be able to provide for myse
lf and those I love.” He pauses and crosses his arms.
“Listen to me. I’m not asking you to give up who you are. But dammit Ava, you have to give me something. You have to try.”

My head is spinning. He’s angry and
hurt,
and it’s my fault.
I didn’t know all of that about
him,
but then I realize there is still so much I don’t know. Maybe we are rushing all of this. I feel so conflicted. Surely even the Great and Powerful Cass would agree with me on this.

“
Enzo, please don’t be angry with me.” My voice sounds weak.

“I’m not Ava, not at all. I just want you to understand where I’m coming from and what I want…what I need from you.”

I look up and meet his pleading eyes.
He won’t like what I’m going to say.

“
I hear you but I need time to think about all of this. Please?”

He sighs and places his coffee cup in the sink. He walks back towards me and kisses me on the forehead.

“Make the right decision Ava. For both
of
us.”

He grabs his phone and waves goodbye as he heads out the door.

chapter
six

That
thoroughly sucked. Why did he have to go there? Why not just let us enjoy last night without this added pressure. I know I’ve stepped into a world not like
mine,
and it overwhelms me. He’s had time to get used to
it,
but it’s all so new to me still. But, I’m not gonna lie- I’m enjoying this lifestyle I fell into.

Suddenly,
money is no object. I can do what I want, buy what I want, and go where I want. And it’s not just the money, it’s the overall upgrade. I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in my life because of this
man,
and I’m freaking out about it. He can be so intense sometimes but then turn around and be the sweetest, kindest,
and
the most vulnerable
man.

Bonus that he’s crazy hot and awesome in bed. I got Donald Trump cash flow with Armani model looks. I know I want to be with him, I just need to figure out what my place is here.
Quitting my job is a huge step.
I need some time to think. I finish getting ready for work and head to the car.

“Ava, we’re very sorry. This is so unexpected.”

My mouth falls open in shock.

“None of us knew this was even in the works.” My manager
,
Andrea
stands
at her desk, wringing her hands as she speaks.

“We don’t have a package we can offer
you,
but we will pay you for two weeks.”

I’m being laid off. Not just me but this entire office. Shut down. Corporate offered some of the senior level managers a relocation package and anyone with over a year of tenure is getting a severance. I don’t even have a week of tenure.

“We heard about the closure when everyone else did. If I even knew it was a
potential,
I wouldn’t have hired you and put you through this Ava. I’m very sorry.”

I can see her sincerity and understand that it’s just bad timing on my part.
Shit,
now what am I going to do? I walk back to my desk to get my handbag. I have nothing else to gather. I walk through the halls, heavy from the somber mood. Many people are even crying. I find Gabby sitting at her desk
,
wiping tears from her eyes.

“Hey Gabby.”

“I don’t know what I’m gonna do Ava. This is all I know. I’ve worked here since I got out of college.” She’s sobbing.

“You’ve got a lot of experience, you’ll find something. We both will.”

“The economy is really shit right now.”

This I know. You can’t turn on the TV without depressing news about the horrible state of the union.

“Well the package should help for a while right?”

She perks up a bit, nodding her head.

I smile.
“Come on, let’s go get drunk, my treat.”

We drive over to a popular Mexican restaurant and sit down. It’s eleven o’clock in the
morning,
but
we order
margaritas anyway.

“Never too early for tequila.” Gabby raises her glass to me, cheering up at least a little.

The waitress brings chips and
salsa,
and we dive in.

“Man Ava
,
I can’t believe this happened. We’ve heard rumors off and on but upper management always denied them. I’m blindsided by this.”

She’s blindsided?

“Maybe they didn’t know either. Business climates change quickly.”

“That’s true.” She gul
ps her strawberry margarita and
grabs her forehead.

“Ack
,
brain freeze!” We both laugh.

“I’m being so selfish Ava! What are you going to do?”

“Honestly I don’t know yet. I have money in savings so financially I’m okay, at least for now.”

“So did you tell your boyfriend yet?”

“No, he’s on a plane to Boston right now. I’ll call later.” I think back to our argument this morning. Well don’t you look like a
dumb ass
now Miss Independent?

“Why is he going to Boston?” I realize my answer will be very
telling,
and I don’t know what I should
say
so I stay neutral.

“Just a business trip.”

“Tell me all about yourself Ava. How did you get here?”

We
chat and the hours pass quickly,
margaritas taking the sting off the morning. I learn all about Gabby, her three sisters and her parents. I find out she likes NPR (smarty pants) and reads books I’ve never heard of. She has a biting sense of humor and occasionally drops the surprise F-bomb. I adore her immediately.