Monte Negro

CHAPTER 11 Lily’s POV

Warning: Anxiety attack

We are all laying on my bed. I just finished telling William and Andrea that Salvy and I kissed. Both of them have their eyebrows furrowed and staring at me with weird expressions.

“He-hey say something. Stop staring!” I said. Why are they looking at me like that, Is kissing him wrong? I buried my face on the pillow.

Andrea removed the pillow on my head and sighed. I sat up and looked at her curiously. “You kissed a guy and you just met him last Friday. Plus you only have seen him twice, Don’t you think this is too fast?” she says with a worried expression.

“But she looks happy, I think go for it. Maybe saving someone’s life is a good accelerator on a relationship” William says, pushing me back to bed.

“What a sudden change? You hate him” she said with venom. She tried to smack him but ended up smacking my chest. My poor lemons, I winced in pain. “Fck sorry love” trying to console me. I just smile at her.

“And you are his cousin. You’re even scared of him.” he says, nudging Andrea’s head. “I talked to Dad and Salvy informed Dad that he has intentions of pursuing you. That is why I kind of like him. You also looked so happy every time he was around or every time you received a text from him.” he released a heavy sigh. “Do I like it? Hell no!! Am I planning his murder as we speak? Fcking yes!!”

“Wh-what? He did that? Wh-why?” I stammered, blushing hard while imagining how Salvy looked like when he talked to Dad about me.

“Look at her face, Her face is redder than her hair on the mention of Saliva and She is the gingerest person I know.” He says trying to make a point.

“Dumb Blonde!” Andrea threw a pillow at him. “Is gingerest even a word?” she asked me. I nod my head and William smirked. “My point is get to know him better first. Kissing is okay but don’t get too far, try to also slow down your growing affection for him please?” She pleads to me.

I understand what she is saying but as if I actually have the courage to just grab Salvy and tie him in the bed. I might be a horny woman but I’m also a walking anxiety, I still can’t even talk to him without occasionally stuttering. To be honest, It might sound sh!tty but I am relying on him to make all the moves. But what if in the future he will just get tired of me, will he also hurt me? Force me? Like Matteo?

My hands started to sweat and my breathing became uncontrollable on the idea of Salvy doing the same thing Matteo did to me. What if he will hate me too? Until when can he like my stuttering? I’m getting dizzy and disoriented.

William sat up and lifted me on his lap. He hugged me. I can hear them talking to me but I can’t understand them. I close my eyes. I tried to picture a happy place. I can see myself in a garden full of flowers. William, Andrea, Chloe, Ethan, Andrei and Salvy sitting on the grass smiling at me. I imagine the feeling of the itchy grass on my feet. The sweet smell of the flowers in the garden. The prickling sensation of the sun ray in my skin. After a few more minutes of trying to control my body. My breathing slowed down and I opened my eyes.

Two pairs of worried eyes are staring at me. My throat is dry and beads of sweat pouring down my face. “W-water” I whisper. I feel Andrea stand up and I can hear her running out of the room.

“Lily I’m here. We are here for you. You will be okay” William says while wiping the sweat and tears on my face. I nod my head.

Andrea handed me a glass of water and I drank it, enjoying the relief of the water in my throat. William lay me down on the bed again. Andrea wipes my neck and face with a wet cloth.

I feel so exhausted, my body getting heavy. I close my eyes and Let sleepy take over me, not wanting to think of anything for now.

I feel a big warm hand lightly touching my face. I slowly open my eyes and see Salvy looking at me with a concern look. He is sitting beside me on the bed with a laptop on his lap. He looked so posh wearing a black suit with a loose tie. He looked tired but still managed to look sophisticated. l smile at him and tiredly sit up.

“He-hey. You look so ahmm posh? Why are you here?” I question while rubbing my eyes.

“I went here after my meeting. You did not reply to me for hours and I want to see you.” he says while gently tracing my freckles with his thumb.

I looked at the window and it was already dark outside. “I’m sorry. Did you wait for me to wake up?” I say leaning to his touch. He nodded. “So sorry about that” I apologized.

“No need to apologize my angioletto. You look tired and I enjoy watching your expression while you sleep” he smiles at me.

My room is dim but I’m sure he can still see the blush in my face, just simple words from him is enough to make me flustered and feel wanted. He closed his laptop. He stood up and walked to the side of my bed. “Let’s get something to eat. I can take you anywhere you like.” he says offering his hands to me.

I took it and jumped out of the bed. “Seafood? Can we eat some seafood?” I ask him.

“Seafood it is.” he answered, I tried to finger comb my hair and looked a bit decent.

This is the first time that I had a bright mood after an attack and I like it. We went downstairs, we saw William, Andrea and Enzo on the living room couch watching a movie.

“We are going out for dinner and No you guys can’t come but I will bring some take outs. Sounds good?” he announced.

They all look in our direction. They all nod happily to Salvy, they are like kids and Salvy is their father who just offered them tons of candies. Salvy rolls his eyes. We went out of the house and he helped me in his car.

I fell asleep in the car and felt Salvy giving me light kisses on my face. I smile at his action. How can this man make me so happy? Should I be scared?

“Wake up my angioletto. We are here.” He whispers to my ear. The sensation of his warm lips on my left ear made me blush. I finally open my eyes. He stepped back and offered his hands to me. I gladly took it. He helped me out of the car, holding me with such gentleness that made me blush from my neck to ears. He smirked at my reaction and planted a sweet kiss on my left cheek.

We went to a very fancy restaurant. I stop walking and let go of his hand, I suddenly feel conscious. I did not think this through my hair is untamed and my whole appearance is too out of place, I am only wearing a big sweater and black leggings.

He looked at me. “Are you okay? Are you hurting anywhere? Why did you stop walking? He asked with a gentle voice. Eyeing me from head to toe with a concern look.

I snapped out from my overthinking. “Eeer ahmm I don’t think I’m dressed appropriately for a place like this.” I lowered my head. “I don’t want to embarrass you” I whisper.

He chuckled. I gave him a questioning look, is he laughing at me? I feel a pain in my chest. “My angioletto I don’t give a fck on what you are wearing. You will always look ravishing” he kissed my forehead “bewitching” he kissed both of my cheeks “adorable” he kissed my nose “and the most beautiful thing I have seen in my life” he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “that is why you don’t need to worry about what you look like or what you are wearing. Are we good?” he says placing his forehead on mine.

I bit my lips and met his eyes. He is looking at me with such sincerity that it melted my worries away. “Ye-yes S-sorry” I stuttered.

He stands straight and steps back a little to give me space. “You don’t need to apologize my angioletto. I don’t mind reminding you on how amazing you are in my eyes” he grinned. He holds my hand and we walk inside the restaurant.