CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"What about this one?" Leo asks me for the fifth time holding a black lingerie set. We were standing in a lingerie shop for some reason. In my perspective, it was pointless. Yet for her, it was the most significant part. I peek outside the store and look at three guards sitting at a close watch.

Leo had to call Arcadio for them because they were so hell-bent on following his orders that they were not going out of the store.

All this because Arcadio wanted us to go on Wedding Shopping. What I can't understand is, it is not even a real wedding then why is Arcadio so assertive about it? I'm sure even after our marriage, he is going to see Layla as his mistress. Aren't Mobsters unfaithful to their wives? However, the thought about Arcadio with some other girl makes me cringe and somewhat hurt. Why? I have no idea.

"Okay. I'm exhausted. Now I'm done asking you for opinions and am going to select these myself. Thank you for no advice," Leo mocks me.

Before I could say anything further, she picks seven, eight pieces in her hand and moves it forward to me. "Try them on." Her Arcadio side comes out whenever she bosses anyone around. Right now, I could see more similarities between them.

Without arguing with her, I move to the changing stalls. And try on the first set. It is maroon in color. Everything that Leo picked out has lace on it. I see myself in the mirror. I have never tried lingerie like this before. I trail my hands over the hem of the bra, and out of nowhere, Arcadio's image comes to my mind.

I bite my lip to stop myself from moaning his name. Suddenly the curtains of the stall open, and I see Arcadio standing. "Thinking of me, Tesoro?"

My eyes meet his, leaving a shiver down my spine. There is hunger in them I've never seen before. His eyes travel down my body, and I squirm, closing my legs. He moves closer to me like a predator making me his prey.

I come to a halt when my back in met with a wall. "No running away now, Piccolo Ragazza." My breath gets hitched when Arcadio's hand slowly trails the same hem of my bra. His body comes so close to me that I feel his hardness poking in my stomach. I gulp, "Arcadio wh...what are you doing...."

A dangerous smirk plays on his lips. "You thought I would leave you alone when I heard that you were going to try out such hot lingerie? You think I must be crazy, Tesoro." His finger moves towards on top of my bra, then on circles the nipple.

I control myself hard, but a moan leaves my lips. Arcadio slowly leans in closer and whispers in my ear, "You like that, don't you, Tesoro?" I couldn't even answer him.

His lips move to my neck sucking, and leaving feathered kisses down to my cleavage. I feel so exposed to him. My hand takes a grip of his shoulder because of the overflowing emotions.

I could feel my new panties were getting wet. I tried to move my hands all over Arcadio's back. When unexpectedly his free hand grabs both my hands and raises them on top of my head. The abrupt move only makes me writhe with a want.

Somehow the words leave my lips, "I want you."

He stops nibbling on my neck and raises his head. "What was that Picollo Ragazza?" While his one hand pinches my nipple harder, making me cry out, "I want you!"

A knock came from the side, interrupting us. "Ellie, are you alright in there?"

Leo! I gasp in horror. If she saw him here then? I observe around and find myself alone. Where did Arcadio go? Was he even here to begin with, or did I dream about him right now?

Shaking my head, I wear my clothes. Grabbing the set bundle, I move out. Leo frowns at me. "Are you okay? You appear as if you've seen a ghost."

"I...Can we go please I am not feeling well," I reply, handing the sales girl the clothes.

"Yeah sure. Let's go." She says to the salesgirl, "Pack them all." I don't want to stop her at this moment.

The whole ride home was not silent. Leo kept talking about the things she had crossed off her list. Everything except the wedding dress, which was forbidden for me to see before the actual wedding. Her rule applied to Arcadio as well.

My mind was still wondering about my daydream. How can I dream about a man who has kidnapped me? Who threatened to hurt my family if I didn't marry him? Who isolated me from the world? Maybe this was all a Stockholm syndrome.

We enter the house. "You two are here early. Did you get everything?" Arcadio's voice stops me. He is walking down the stairs towards us. My heart flutters, making my insides clench, seeing him wearing a white shirt for a change. His cuffs were folded, showing off the veins, and his hair slightly damp from the shower.

"Ellie was not feeling well so, we came back," Behind me, Leo answers because I was in no state to answer him, especially after seeing him in my dream.

He scowls and moves closer to us. He raises his hand and checks my forehead. At the contact, I tighten my fist because all I want to do is jump at him. Naughty thought, Ellie. What if he pushes you after you jump, huh? Can you live with that embarrassment?

"She seems to be fine." He says to Leo, then turns towards me, "Did you eat something bad?"

"Oh, shit." Leo curses. "We forgot to have lunch because we were busy shopping."

He immediately glares at her, "how can you forget?"

"Didn't you say anything?" He inquires me. I shook my head, "I...forgot...as well."

"I can't believe this! Yet you two call yourself adults. Is this how adults behave? We forgot." Shaking his head, he holds my hands and pulls us towards the dining room. Goosebumps travel all over my body. I am supposed to run away from this man, yet here he was forcing me to have lunch.

He said something to the chef and gazed at me. "Are you alright? Your appearance is a little flushed."

I shouted mentally. Of course, I was going to be flushed. I practically imagined you making out with me. I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"She's been like that from the moment we left that lingerie store," Leo exclaims. I glare at her so hard. "Are you kidding me?" I stand up and shout. My mouth widens at my reaction.

"I'm sorry, but I have to excuse you." Without looking back at anyone, I sprint towards my room. Locking the door, I sit on the bed. What the fuck just happened?

My head is in my palms, and I am contemplating everything from the very beginning. I shouldn't have saved Arcadio!

Someone bangs the door. "Go away," I yell.

"Ellie, it's me. Open the door," Leo screams from the other side.

"Leo, leave me alone!"

"I'm not going to. Open the door, Ellie. Otherwise, I will use the master key Arcadio gave me. You cannot keep me out of my room!" I sigh but eventually get up and open the door because I know she's not lying.

Pulling her in, I shut the door in a hurry and lock it. "Woah there, tiger. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I reply and settle back on the bed.

"Ellie, tell me. What happened?" She is so concerned for me.

Taking a deep breath, I reply. "I'm honestly fine."

"Then the shout? You don't shout like that."

Shutting my eyes tightly, I blabber out, "while I was inside the changing room, I might've dreamed about Arcadio there."

She stares at me for a whole minute. "You're kidding, right?" I shake my head.

"Ellie, you know you are going to marry him. It's fine if you have dreams about him," she scrunches her eyebrows.

That was the moment I realized I shouldn't have said anything. Because according to Leo, we are marrying out of love, and dreaming about him is supposed to be predictable. I mentally hit my forehead with my palm. Great confession, Ellie.

"I'm sorry I panicked without reason. It may be because of that missed lunch." I reply to her.

She smiles, "no worries, Ellie. It just means that you love my brother. Also, I know I'm going to regret asking this question but have you and my brother ever?" She hesitates.

"No, we are waiting, after marriage." I smile half-heartedly. I can't even share anything with my best friend. Aghh, I hate you more, Arcadio!