Enchanted and Desired (21 page)

I burst out laughing, remembering all the times I’ve given him shit over the past few months for how head over heels he is for Lily. “I guess I deserved that one.”

“No shit Sherlock! She’s the one?”

It brings a smile to my face just thinking it. “Yeah man…she is. I’m going to ask her to move in with me when we get back from Italy.” I see a fleeting look of worry pass across his face. “She’s a different person than when we met. She’s not afraid to tell me she loves me; we spend every night together at her place or mine, and her shit is already taking over my apartment. It’s more of a formality than anything. I wouldn’t ask her if I didn’t think she was ready.”

“Well then, I’m really happy for you both. I know Lily is thrilled to see Jess so happy, and she’s always been rooting for you to be the guy that got past the façade. When we get back from our honeymoon the four of us will need to celebrate. It’s a big step I never thought I’d see you take…not after Sofia.”

The atmosphere changes as we acknowledge the gravity of what he’s just said.

“I know. I never thought I would be able to get past it, but Jess is worth the fear; worth the heartache. It’ll always be there in the back of my mind, the worry that I might not be able to protect her…but I’m not 14 anymore, and I will fucking die trying to protect her from anything that could hurt her.” I hate the knot that forms in my stomach at the mere thought of anything happening to her. I need to stop thinking about it or I will drive myself crazy.

“I need to lighten the fuck up right now. Let’s go get our girls and take them out for the day.”

“Fucking great idea.”

We text the girls and tell them to be ready in twenty minutes for a day of adventure. They spent the night together at Jess’s apartment, so it makes it even easier to grab them and go. We have a great day together, laughing and joking, and excited about our trip to Italy for the wedding of the century…that is…until I marry Jess!

Two Weeks Later

JESS

As we step out onto the tarmac at Verona Airport, I want to drop to my knees and kiss the ground. I’ve always been a great traveler, but the flight here had me breathing into a vomit bag for most of the journey. As soon as we took off, my stomach lurched up into my throat and stayed there the entire flight. Lily and Simon were fussing over me, rubbing my back; telling me to put my head between my legs, giving me sips of cold water, but nothing seemed to help. I have never been happier to be back on terra firma. I still feel like I’m going to barf, but a sleep at the hotel and a proper meal and I’ll be ready to get my maid of honor freak on!

I spend the drive to the hotel with my head in Simon’s lap, and not in a good way. The streets are cobbled and bumpy, and not at all helpful to my fight to keep down the breakfast I ate fifteen hours ago. When we finally stop, and I thank Jupiter that I made it here in one piece, Simon lifts me from the car, carrying me into the hotel lobby. I tell him to put me down so he can check us in, but he ignores me, cradling me in his arms while he organizes a key to our suite. He carries me into the elevator and up into our room, only putting me down when he reaches our bedroom.

“You need to rest baby. A few hours and you’ll feel so much better.” He kisses my head as he lays me on the bed. “I’ll go organize our bags and see if Brandon needs me to do anything. I’ll be back in a little while, but if you need me, just call my cell.” As the door clicks shut behind him I close my eyes and give in to the exhaustion my body is crumbling under; the room spinning as I drift into a fitful sleep.

I jump out of bed, running to the bathroom, just managing to lift the lid before puking my guts out. I hear footsteps behind me as I hug the bowl.

“Are you ok baby?”

I take a moment to assess the situation. “Other than the fact that I’m hugging a toilet bowl that isn’t my own, I actually feel much better.” I slump down onto the floor, the cold tiles soothing my clammy skin. “A
lot
better.”

He scoops me off the floor, sitting me on the edge of the tub while he rifles through my toiletries. He brings me my toothbrush and toothpaste, shower gel and shampoo. With the utmost care, and the sweetest look of concentration on his face, he sets to work pampering me and bringing me slowly back to the land of the living. First he brushes my teeth for me before holding a cup in front of me. “Spit.”

“I can walk over to the sink and do this myself you know.”

He kisses the tip of my nose. “Just let me take care of you Tesoro. I’ve been sitting here helpless and worrying for the past sixteen hours.”

“I’ve been asleep for sixteen hours? Holy crap! I’m supposed to be helping Lily.”

He gently strokes my hair. “I’ve got your back baby. I told Brandon to take Lily to see Juliet’s balcony before the rest of the guests arrive and he doesn’t get a minute alone with her. I’m sure he’s been enough of a distraction for her today.”

“Devious and gorgeous. I’m one lucky girl.”

He turns on the shower, stripping out of his clothes; facing me and holding my gaze as his pants drop and his thick, hard cock springs free. “I won’t argue with you there baby. You are pretty lucky to have all this at your disposal.” His hands roaming his body as he speaks; he makes his way over to me, carefully undressing me before lifting me into the shower.

The water cascading over my body is a welcome, refreshing, glorious feeling; made even better by the presence of a hot, naked, and very wet Simon. I reach down to run my hand over his cock when he grabs my wrist. “No baby. You’ve been ill. I just want to look after you.”

“But I think this would
really
help me to feel better.” I make him laugh as I pout and bat my eyelids at him; shamelessly stroking his cock at the same time.

“You’re something else, you know that?”

“Yes…and that’s why you love me!”

His eyes turn from playful to smoldering in an instant. He grabs my ass, lifting me off the floor and pressing me up against the tiles. “I do love you…and you love me. It’s all that matters Tesoro.”

“I love you Simon Mantovani. Make love to me; own me…fuck me.” There are no more words, only desperate kisses, clawing, caressing, and loving. We lose ourselves to the sensations that swirl around us, between us and through us, and we find each other in the calm that comes from our bodies joined as one - the eye of the storm.

An hour later, after a handful of toe-curling orgasms, I feel so much better, and I find myself ravenous. The sound of my stomach rumbling has Simon dressing me, somewhat grudgingly, and taking me out for a fantastic meal in the Piazza Vicino. We watch the crowds as they get ready for a night at the open air opera in L’Arena. This is where my best friend will marry the love of her life in two days’ time, and I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for their fairytale to become a lasting reality.

I’ve eaten my own weight in pasta and had a few glasses of the best Chianti I have EVER tasted. Simon orders everything in fluent Italian, chatting and laughing with the waiter as if he was meant to be here. He’s in his element, and it’s a beautiful sight. I could get used to Italy…with Simon.

I find myself creeping out of bed as quickly as I can without waking Simon. When I make it to the bathroom, I close the door behind me and sink to my knees…again. Last night’s pasta is NOT good when you’re seeing it in reverse. As soon as I’ve emptied my stomach of its contents, I feel 100% better. I’ve never had a bug like this before. Yeah I’ve puked, and I’ve felt awful for days at a time, but I usually feel like crap the entire time. The fact that I felt amazing last night, and starving too - it’s just not like me. Realization dawns…oh shit.

Oh shit.

OH Shit.

OH SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT.

This CANNOT be happening to me. I have a goddamn IUD fitted. I CANNOT be pregnant. As I wage a war inside my head, I already know I’m fighting a losing battle. I know this feeling…

I’ve felt it before.

A knock on the door startles me. “Jess baby, are you in there?”

I scramble to my feet, flushing the toilet and quickly brushing my teeth. “Yeah. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Are you okay? You’re not sick again are you?”

I don’t want to lie to him, but I have to. “I feel great Si. Stop worrying. I just want to get a head start on today. Lots to do.” I open the door and rush past him, eager to get out of this room that feels so oppressive all of a sudden. “Got to go meet Lily and do the final prep for tomorrow. Then I need to make sure everything is set for the rehearsal dinner tonight.”

He slinks up behind me, snaking his arms around my waist as I pull on my jeans. Running his hands down to stop me from zipping them, sliding his hand inside. “I’m sure Lily could wait a half hour.” He starts kissing behind my ear, which he knows will weaken my resolve…but not today.

“I really have to get going. I’ll make it up to you later. I have
so
much to do today.”

“And I don’t? I’m the fucking best man Jess. I just wanted to spend a little time with you before it gets crazy.” I can’t cope with this right now.

I do the only thing I know how to, my go to setting…being a bitch to push him away. “Boo-freaking-hoo. Cry me a river so I can float the fuck away.”

“What the fuck is your problem today Jess? I swear to God you can go from being the sweetest person I’ve ever met, to being a complete bitch in two seconds flat.” I’ve hurt him, and it’s the last thing I wanted to do, but I need to get the hell out of here before I freak out. “Go do whatever bullshit you think is more important than me. I get that you want everything to be perfect for Lily. I feel the same way for Brandon; he’s been my best friend since I was born, but don’t use it as an excuse when there is obviously something else eating at you.”

I reach out to touch him, to offer some sort of comfort, some small apology for my outburst but he flinches; my heart breaking a little at the sight of it.

“Just go Jess. I have shit to do, and I don’t have time for your games today. I’ll see you later.” He grabs his clothes and a towel and heads into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.

I feel like a colossal bitch right now…because I am one. Simon has been nothing but amazing to me, and so understanding of my hang ups and insecurities. If only I had told him the full story when I had the chance, maybe this would be easier. Me being me, I had to make it harder. I couldn’t just lay it all out for him and see what happened. First thing’s first, I need to go and buy a goddamn test and see if my suspicions are correct.