ELENORA

The day has gone by fast. Almost too fast. The events from last night preoccupied my thoughts most of the day.

From the dinner, the inappropriate sexual public encounters, both of them, to the near death experience on the way home, to what seemed like a bonding moment afterward with Rico. I remind myself not to confuse the sexual awakening and emotions, for more than what it is. I don't even like him...most of the time. Not to mention the disturbing revelation that he's some kind of vigilante psycho.

I mindlessly peruse through a few dresses that I consider wearing tonight when my phone alerts me to a text.

Rico: I'm respecting your wishes. I'm solely letting you know I'm sending a car to pick you up.

Me: Thank you for the consideration but I'll find my own way there.

Rico: When will you stop being so fucking difficult, Elenora? You know it's dangerous to be out alone. People want you dead.

Me: If I die, I die. Everyone dies.

Rico: How prophetic of you. I'm still sending a car for you.

Me: Do what you want. Just don't act like I didn't tell you I'm finding my own way. Now, if you don't mind, I need to get ready.

Rico: Fine. Just don't get yourself killed in the process.

Me: One can only hope.

I pick out the dress, it's longer than the ones I've worn recently. A spaghetti strap ruffle dress; the bottom half is sheer but the inner lining keeps it from being see-through.

After I finish my hair and makeup, I put on some simple jewelry and then apply a nude lipstick to finish off my look before I call for a Lyft and make my way down to the lobby.

"Elenora, you look stunning, dear." Mrs. Jones smiles back at me when the doors open.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jones." I step out as she walks in.

"And where is your prince charming?"

Probably murdering someone as we speak.

"Oh, he's meeting me for his cousin's birthday party."

She tsks her tongue. "He should know better than letting you wander the streets at night."

"I'm taking a Lyft."

"That's even worse! Don't you watch the news? Women get in those and end up in some abandoned building violated or worse, dead!" Her eyes grow wide and she begins to apologize and walks back out of the elevator to hug me.

I shake my head at her. "You're fine, Mrs. Jones, but I'm prepared, see?" I show her my knife and pepper-spray.

"Well, let's hope you don't ever have to use those, dear." She pats my face and walks back into the elevator. "Say hello to that gorgeous hunk of yours."

"You look beautiful, Miss Nora, be safe out there!" George calls out from the front desk.

"Thanks George, I will." I step out of the building and I get into the waiting Lyft and give her the location of the event hall near Time Square.

On the way there I respond to a few texts from my sisters and one from my mom, guilt tripping me by saying I'm avoiding her and that she needs to see me so she remembers what my face looks like and she invites Rico and me to dinner tomorrow.

I send a quick response, not making any promises and she replies with a bunch of crying face emoji's.

As we pull up to the event hall I look up at the entrance of the venue; a few people linger, talking with each other. I'm feeling self conscious because I don't know anyone, but I take a deep breath and step out of the car.

The ceilings and the architecture of the interior is old but the upkeep looks modernized. The lighting is bright in the hall but after walking into the event room the lighting is dimmer and there are blue and purple lights shining throughout the room.

The main level has spacious hardwood floors for dancing and expensive looking lounge furniture is spread throughout the room. Several tables with gray linen cloths sit at the edge of the room with low tea candle lights.

I decide to take one of the two staircases leading down to the main floor. I look over my shoulder as several people stop to watch me; I don't want to assume anything or that I'm the reason everyone's gawking but there's no one behind me.

Someone yells in excitement as I reach the last step and I follow the shriek. Serafina rushes towards me. She hugs me and gives me air kisses. "Yes! I'm so happy you're here. This dress looks amazing on you, where'd you get it?"

"Um, Amazon, I think."

She laughs. "Gosh, you're one of the funniest people I've met." I smile even though I wasn't joking. "I've told all my friends about you; come, I'll introduce you."

I find myself surrounded by several people; girls and guys around my age; most of them are still studying in college and we converse about the likes and dislikes of college life.

"Elenora, so glad you could grace us with your presence tonight, cara." (dear)

Turning around, I greet one of Rico's Zia's. I try to remember, in vain, her name as she gives me a brief hug and air kisses both sides of my face.

"This is a different look than the one we were so privileged to get on our first encounter. I do hope you are able to contain some of that exuberance tonight." Her smile doesn't reach her eyes.

I give her a charming smile. "Oh yes, I only save those dresses and first impressions, for special occasions."

"Rosetta, ease up on Elenora." Serafina pulls me back into her group and there's a few more people she introduces me to. I look around wondering where the hell Rico is.

"Sera, who's your beautiful friend?" A heavily accented voice comes from behind us.

"Don't even think about it, Renzo." Serafina eyes the handsome stranger and hooks her arm in mine. "She's with Rico, so unless you want your face rearranged, walk away."

"Rico, doesn't own me," I tell her. "Hi, I'm Nora." He smiles as he picks up my hand kissing it. "Buonasera, mi chiamo, Renzo. Rico's cousin." (Good evening, my name is)

"Another cousin?"

"Yes, we're from the 'clean' side of the family."

"Clean, my ass," Serafina snorts. "You're just as far gone as Rico and you know it."

"Isn't Rico in finance?" They both look at me and laugh, they must know about his moonlighting vigilante habits.

"Sure, we'll go with that." Renzo chuckles again. "Well, seeing as my prick of a cousin is nowhere to be found, we can't have this good music go to waste. A dance?" He holds his hand out to me. I contemplate for a moment and then remember Rico's refusal from yesterday; I might as well take advantage of someone wanting to dance with me.

After a couple of songs someone else asks to cut in. The guy I'm dancing with now is named Grayson.

Grayson is a third year med student at NYU and wants to specialize in Pediatrics. We laugh a few times about some of his embarrassing clinical experiences.

Afterwards, when we are talking among Serafina's group of friends, her eyebrows rise and I know Rico's making his way over to us. I glance to the side; he's with Domani. His dark eyes are on me before they move to Grayson who's standing next to me.

"Hey cuz, we were wondering where you were." Serafina smiles at him. I freeze as he dips his head in a swift motion. For a second, I think he's going to kiss me, but he tilts his head to the side, down to my neck and inhales as his beard prickles my skin. His hands hold my waist and hip.

"You look beautiful," he whispers before he kisses my neck and then leans away but his arm comes around me as he pulls me into his side.

I blush, but notice all the girls are staring at him with hearts in their eyes, while the guys shift on their feet, and avoid his intense glare, intimidated by his presence.

"Hey bro, where's Brittney? Or was it Whitney?" Serafina questions Domani.

"Don't be a brat just because it's your birthday." Domani glares at her and she just shrugs smirking.

A popular line dancing song comes on and Serafina grabs my hand, ripping me away from Rico. "Come on, we're dancing."

I laugh as I turn the wrong way a couple of times and face people when I should be facing the opposite direction. Afterward I head to the bar and ask for some water.

I dance to a couple of more songs with Serafina and her friends before I have to use the bathroom and as I step out into the hallway, I'm pulled back.

Rico glares at me. "You can't keep avoiding me all fucking night."

"I'm not avoiding you, stronzo, I'm dancing. You don't dance, remember? Excuse me for having some fun instead of sitting at a table looking down my nose at everyone like you are. Let me go, I need to use the bathroom." I pull out his hold and walk into the bathroom. (asshole)

I expect him to still be standing there when I walk out, but he's not. I can't find him in the main room either. Maybe he left.

Oh well, good riddance.

"Hey girl, Rico had to take care of a call. He said he'd be back later and told me to tell you not to leave." Serafina tells me.

I shrug in response and decide to grab a drink and relax on one of the couches. Renzo approaches with a couple of friends and asks me to dance again.

"So how long have you and Rico been dating?"

"Not long."

He chuckles at my response. "It's not like him to have a girlfriend. Girls, flings, three-ways, escorts—of course, plenty, but he's never been a one woman man," Renzo shares. "You're also not his usual type, no offense."

"He's not mine either," I confess, which makes Renzo laugh hard.

He moves my arms from his shoulders to his neck as he trails his fingers back down over my arms and then he skims them down my back, going lower and lower.

"So what is someone like you doing with him?" Before I answer we hear Rico's cold, low voice.

"Renzo."

Even though Renzo appears cool, the hard swallow he does, gives off his anxiousness.

"Federico, what's good, cuz?" He turns to face Rico.

"Move."

Renzo chuckles, but that only makes Rico step closer to him and I move away; they're nose to nose now and Renzo loses his smile.

"Relax cuz, we were just dancing; no harm no foul."

"You're touching what's mine."

I roll my eyes. Rico has a couple of inches on Renzo, but that doesn't stop them from staring each other down.

People are beginning to watch with curiosity. "Rico, don't cause a scene."

But it's Renzo who steps back. "Mie scuse, it won't happen again." (My apologies) He gives me a slight nod before he walks away from us. I start to walk away too before Rico grabs my wrist, he doesn't use as much force like he has in the past and he pulls me to him.

"No one fucking touches you, except me."

"You arrogant, son of—" He catches my other fisted hand, that's inches away from his face. We stare at each other for what seems like the longest moment before he lets go of my wrist. He tugs on my hand so I stumble into him, and places his hand on my low back. He begins moving and I realize we are dancing.

He's dancing.

Our eyes haven't moved away from each other and he brings my other hand that's now relaxed to his face, holding it there for a moment. He spins us and I hold on to him, not wanting to lose my balance.

It's clear he knows what he's doing as he moves us around the dance floor; it feels like we are the only ones there. He's very graceful—yet the movements are sensual. He dips me low, and my head falls back; a soft gasp passes through my lips as his nose and lips graze down the middle of my chest, and then he trails back up, his warm breath against my skin sends a shiver down my spine.

As he straightens us, his smoldering eyes move to my lips, he leans in. The kiss is slow but there's heat underlying it. Rico's body seems to shudder against mine and then realization comes over me and I surprise us both when I pull him closer to me and return the kiss.

He deepens the kiss as his hands move over my body and I run my hands through his hair.

He pulls away and I'm slow to open my eyes. "It was you; you kissed me that night at the hotel."

He leans in closer, resting his forehead against mine, closing his eyes. "God, I've wanted to kiss you again ever since that night." He's breathing heavy. "I've never tasted anything as sweet as your lips, Elenora. Well, that's not true...the restaurant..." He lets his words hang, and a deep blush paints my face with the smile he gives me.

He brings his lips to mine again and just like the kiss that night, it's passionate as he bites my bottom lip yet he's also tender; something I didn't think he was capable of being, but then I hear someone clear their throat.

Whoever it is, clears their throat again; louder this time. Rico leans away, but he keeps me close to him as he leans his head against mine.

I'm feeling light headed not only from the kiss but the fact that Rico is the faceless man I've been having dreams about, not understanding why it was his face I would see.

I lean against his strong frame, steadying myself; I glance over his shoulder and find his Zia Rosetta is standing next to us.

"This is not the place for your inappropriate intimate display of...affection, Federico," Rosetta admonishes him.

"No one asked them to watch," Rico replies, keeping his eyes on me.

"Are you kidding? It's like driving by a damn train wreck. You can't help but look at how you're pawing at her, nipote." (nephew)

"Then we'll leave." He turns us away from his Zia, holding my hand.

"Don't lose your focus, Federico. Stop thinking with the head in your pants instead of the one on your shoulders."

Rico stops.

"If you leave now, you know it will hurt Serafina. And I'm sure your amore can pretend to have some civilized manners for a couple more hours."

I let my hand drop from Rico's in shock. I'm sure his family thinks I'm a hot mess and I'm making it worse it seems. Yet, I'm also thankful for the reality check.

Less than twenty four hours ago I wanted nothing to do with him; and here I am playing tonsil hockey with him like it's all normal.

"That's enough, Zia." Rico begins stalking towards her.

I hold onto his arm. "I should go." He shifts his dark eyes from his Zia to mine.

"No. We stay together."

Rosetta glares at me before she walks away from us. Welp, she hates you.

"Don't worry about her, she's very traditional and modest when it comes to relationships."

"She doesn't know you very well, then, does she?"

Rico grins back at me. "Oh, she's very much aware of who and what I am, Elenora. But you are the first woman that she's seen me with longer than a day or a few nights."

He sighs and then steps closer to me. He lifts his hand, his fingers brush away at the loose hair around my face. "I know this might seem hard to believe, but when I commit to something or in this case...someone, I'm all in." My heart begins to race with how he's looking at me.

"I'm not seeing or messing around with anyone while we are in this arrangement, Elenora. So you're stuck with me, patatina mia." (my little potato). He places a soft, slow kiss on my lips.

But I pull away after a moment, trying not to get lost in the way it feels to be kissed by him. "Why...why do you keep kissing me like that?"

He cups my face. "Perché la mia bella ragazza, how can people believe our love is real, if I don't find you irresistible?" (Because, my beautiful girlfriend)

"I'm not your girlfriend." I anxiously stare back at him. "And our love isn't real, Rico." He looks at my lips, his thumb brushing against them.

"The more you fight it, the more it won't seem real, Elenora" He leans in to kiss me again.

There's no denying Rico is a great kisser. He can be passionate, like how he kissed me earlier and how he kissed my neck at the restaurant yesterday, but he's also sweet and tender like he's being now; moving his lips over mine.

I'm getting lost in the kiss again and the lines that I keep trying to establish between him and I are blurring. His hands move from my neck to my hair. I'm becoming enslaved to his taste which is dark, rich and heady; an intoxicating combination.

I pull away. "I think we've given everyone enough to talk about for a while, Rico. And aren't you worried it'll go too far? That we won't be able to find the line between reality and fantasy?"

"Are you afraid you'll fall in love with me?" There's a light in his eyes I haven't seen before.

I narrow my eyes at him. "Who's to say you won't fall in love with me, if you haven't already?" I cross my arms. "You just made a vow to keep your dick in your pants, did you not?"

Rico laughs, and I glance around at the curious looks we're getting when he doesn't stop. "Enough, Rico," I say through my teeth.

He chuckles, as he looks at me. "I will say you are the craziest, and one of the funniest people I've met in a long time."

"That seems to be a popular opinion tonight," I mutter, scowling.

The lights dim and then everyone in the room begins singing Happy Birthday to Serafina. A large cake is carried out by the staff and they take it to the refreshment table.

Rico grabs my hand. "Come on, let's get closer." He pulls us towards the table and we see a happy Serafina standing near the table waiting as the cake is brought closer to her and she smiles at everyone as we all sing to her.

Rico positions us near the side and places me in front of him, interlaces his hands with mine and brings our hands around my stomach. This is so weird to see him be so touchy with me, but when I hear him singing to his cousin against my ear, I join in.

Serafina claps along with everyone as the song ends then closes her eyes before she blows out the candles on her cake. She turns to the crowd and thanks everyone who took time to come and celebrate her birthday with her.

Slices of cake are given out to everyone and Rico leads us to sit on a large couch and soon others join us.

"Rico, is this your girl everyone's been talking about?" A guy with a short mohawk sits down on my other side. I had just taken a bite of the cake and smile in return, covering my mouth.

"The one and only." Rico winks at me.

"We have not had the pleasure of meeting. I'm Gabriel, a cousin of Rico's." He holds his hand out to me and I take it but then he turns my hand placing a kiss on it.

"How many cousins are there?"

"We have a big family. But I'm surprised I haven't heard mention of you until today," Gabriel informs me.

"We haven't known each other long."

"I heard you've been together a couple of months, long enough to meet family don't you think?" Gabriel is still holding my hand in his.

"Well, I have met Luca, Serafina, Domani and his Zias, and Zios," I inform Gabriel as he begins moving his hand over mine. I squeal in surprise when I'm lifted up from my seat and Rico sets me on his lap, away from Gabriel.

Gabriel shares a look with Rico. "Ah, you've met most of his father's side of the family. Well, I'm from his mother's side. Though I'm not surprised, we are often overlooked." He smiles, but I can't tell if he's joking or not.

"I thought Rosetta was your mom's sister?" I turn to Rico.

"She is, but Rosetta's always thought she was better than everyone, so I'm not surprised you think she's from his father's side," Gabriel responds.

"Gabriel is Renzo's brother," Rico informs me as his hand glides up my back and through my hair. I try to keep my focus on the conversation but he's making it difficult as his other hand rests on my leg.

"Renzo said you are from the clean side of the family," I turn back to Gabriel and he laughs in response.

"What's your name?"

"Elenora," Rico answers.

"Nora," I say at the same time. "It's Elenora, but I go by Nora. Rico just likes saying the full thing." I take another bite of the cake, it's one of the best cakes I've eaten. I'm about to eat another bite when Rico grabs my hand and moves it to feed him.

"Why don't you get your own?"

"Sharing is caring." He smiles after he eats the bite of cake.

"I heard you were feisty," Gabriel comments, looking at us amused. I go back to eating my cake, shrugging in response.

"That and you're easy on the eyes; they weren't lying. Though...you're not Rico's type." Gabriel smiles at his cousin, while Rico glares in return.

"People keep telling me that. What are his types?" I feed another bite to Rico who takes it with caution now and I fight the urge to laugh at the expression on his face.

"Rico likes women who have legs for days and he's a tits man, the bigger the better, for him anyway." Gabriels smirks at me. "And he likes blue eyed, blondes."

"That makes sense. That describes Angela to a 'T', " I eat another bite.

"Angela?" Gabriel sits up. "You've met her?"

I nod. "Yeah. Rico keeps telling me they're just friends. But come on. Have you seen her? And no offense but when someone argues they're 'just friends' so much, it typically means the opposite. I mean hello? Jim and Pam, anyone? Harry and Sally? Ceecee and Schmidt? Sam and Diane? Rachel and Ross—"

"You made your point, Elenora." Rico's mouth is a tight line.

Gabriel chuckles. "So, how did you two meet?"

"At a speed dating event, where I overheard him tell Luca Barone, that I'm a hot mess and have the personality of a wet mop." Gabriel chokes on his drink and grabs a napkin to wipe at his suit.

"And you've been proving me wrong ever since that night, tesoro mio." Rico grabs my face and kisses me. (my darling)

He pulls away enough to kiss my cheek, away from Gabriel. "Reign in your crazy, Elenora. Or you'll regret it later," He whispers; then leans away looking at me like he likes me, but his warning screams the opposite.

"Anyway," I address Gabriel again, turning away from Rico. "It sounds like you know Angela,"

"You could say that." He leans back in his seat and throws a look of disgust at Rico. "She was my girlfriend before Rico stole her from me."

I begin choking on my last bite of cake.

*****

Hahaha, just when they were making progress! ;)

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