No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 46

"Just a dream Ana, it's not real," Vincenzo murmurs, gently picking me up and placing me in his lap.

A strangled sob rips through my throat as I hear their screaming again, my hands coming up to cover my ears.

"Make it stop," I beg, shaking my head as Vincenzo gently rubs my back.

"It was just a dream Ana," he repeats, his strong arms wrapping around me.

"No it wasn't," I say in a bitter tone, my eyes closing as he leans me against his chest.

"Yes it was sweetheart, it's just you and me here," he says softly, a tone I've never heard him use before.

"Deep breathes fiore," he whispers, his hands running up and down my arm as I lean my body against his.

"I can't," I gasp, feeling as if my lungs are closing in on each other as I try to suck in air.

"Yes you can amore, follow my breaths," he repeats, his tone gentle as his lips skim my forehead.

"Listen to me Ana, I'm the only thing that's real right now," he says, his fingers tracing lines on my arm in an attempt to calm me down.

"I'm listening, I'm listening," I whisper, not sure if I'm talking to Vincenzo or myself.

"In and out Ana," he murmurs, pressing small kisses onto my forehead as I feel my body relax.

I hum in response, my eyes closing as I do what Vincenzo says; breathing in and out.

"Thanks," I breathe out, letting my body lean against Vincenzo's as his arms loosen around me.

"Everyone else has gone out for breakfast," he says, as if not knowing what else to say.

"Oh," I say, heat burning my cheeks as the events of last night replay in my mind.

"I'm sorry about last night," I say, my eyes darting away from his as I feel embarrassment flood me.

"Call it even now," he chuckles, leaning against the bed head as I feel his body relax beneath mine.

It's now that I realise I'm still on his lap, muttering a "sorry" as I scramble to the spot beside him.

"Hungry?" he suddenly asks, looking down at me with a look I can't quite explain.

I nod, "Do you know where everyone went for breakfast?" I ask.

"I was thinking it'd be quicker if I just made us breakfast here," Vincenzo says, his eyes darting across my face as if searching for my approval.

"If you're happy to do that," I say, my stomach flipping for a reason I don't know.

He nods and gets out of the bed, waiting patiently for me to join him as we walk out of my room and to the shared kitchen on the top floor.

I can feel the tension between us, thick enough to cut through with a knife.

I told him how I truly felt about his last night, feelings I've hidden for so long, feelings which embarrass me and make me hate myself. And yet they're feelings he didn't shoot down.

In fact they're feelings which he reciprocated. I heard what he said last night when he thought I was asleep.

A few simple words which make my knees weak, like a giddy schoolgirl with a crush.

He likes me.

It sounds so pathetic to think, let alone say out loud, and yet they're words I want to hear again.

But I can't. Not now. I can't let anything distract me right now. I've seen what love does to people, how it can be exploited, used to kill people.

I saw how love ended up for Mom and Dad, and I sure as hell am not ending up like that.