ELENORA

Rico exhales, panting. "I never thought I'd say this, but...I think you broke it, woman."

We're both out of breath; his heart races under my ear as I lay on top of him.

I rest my chin on his chest, chuckling. "I seriously doubt it." I begin kissing and then biting his peck.

"Aren't you tired?"

"Should I be?" I run my hands over the hard planes of his chest then his chiseled eight pack.

"We've been going at it all night, mia patatina, aren't you at least hungry?"

"Not for food." I grind over him. Rico laughs before he hisses.

"Yep, you definitely broke it." He groans and then pulls me down over him as he rolls so he's on top now. He kisses my neck then he pecks my lips three times before he moves to the side and brings me up against him.

There's a loud knock at the door. "That's probably the Dr." Rico sighs as he moves his legs to the side of the bed and stands pulling his boxer briefs over himself. "She wanted to follow up with you yesterday, but I told her to come today instead." He heads to a dresser and pulls out a pair black sweats. I sit up, stretching my arms above my head and lift my hair up as I yawn; okay, maybe I'm a little tired.

Rico stands there watching me and I notice he's angling his phone towards me. "Are you taking pictures of me?" I lift the sheet over me, but he reaches out and pulls the sheet out of my hands.

"Yes, you look so fucking beautiful and I want to be able to remember how you look right now whenever I want to." He leans over the bed and holds my face, giving me a slow kiss. There's another knock only louder this time. Rico groans as he pulls away and walks out of the room.

I fall back on the bed, smiling and chuckle to myself before I get up and head to the bathroom and wash up. I smile at myself in the mirror as I brush my hair, it's a tangled mess. Aside from the slight shadows under my eyes and the healing bruises, my face is flushed and my lips are swollen.

One thing is for certain, Rico was not lying when he said he could make me forget whatever was bothering me or on my mind. But then it was like the floodgates were open and there was no closing them again. Something deep inside of me awakened and I couldn't stop reaching out for him during the night.

There was some sleep here and there in short stints, but the night was spent exploring each other. Memories of our moans, groans, and sighs make the butterfly fluttering effect in my stomach spread.

I smile, remembering his words and his worry about hurting me, but he did anything but that. Whether he realized it or not, he made love to me. His hands caressed and stoked fires all over me as his mouth also worked its magic, sending shivers throughout my body.

All the time I spent wondering what it would be like to be with someone so intimate, was worth it, to be with Rico. I throw on a robe and head out to meet with the Dr, but it's not her voice I hear.

"Please Rico. Just hear him out. That's all I ask."

"No."

"Stop being an asshole, Federico. He's your family."

Rico's cold laugh sends a shiver through me. "Family? Really, Angela?"

"You owe me. You forget I know things about you, Rico. Things you don't want certain people to know."

"Are you threatening me?"

"If that's what it takes for you to talk to Gabriel then yes." Angela laughs. "Okay, fine. You know I would never say anything. But seriously, just talk to him. You can even bring Elenora with you."

"That's not happening."

"You can't keep her hidden forever, Rico. She doesn't strike me as the type of woman who likes to be locked away from all the evils of the world even if you're the knight in shining armor who stands guard."

"I'm no fucking knight."

"Don't I know it! So, have you told her, yet?"

I figure that I've listened long enough and pull the bedroom door open.

"Told me what?"

"Holy shit, are you okay?" Angela rushes over to me as her eyes roam my face, before her hands start doing the same.

I blink, unsure how I should be reacting right now. "Um, I'm fine, it looks worse than it feels."

"I heard what happened, but you look like you went to the mattresses with the hulk or something. Good for you though, girl." She squeezes my hands and I look down.

"Ah, I see you still don't like me." Angela pulls me over to the couch and has me sit next to her.

"What are you doing, Angela?" Rico sits down across from us, his eyebrows pinched together.

"Setting the record straight, since you clearly didn't."

"Rico told me you're only friends."

Her eyebrow lifts as she looks at me. "But you don't believe him."

I glance over at Rico and adjust myself to face Angela. "I'm not saying it's not possible for men and women to be friends, but historically speaking when you have two extremely attractive people constantly around each other...things happen. Your past attests to that."

"First, thank you." Angela winks at her. "You're gorgeous, too by the way, it's no wonder you caught stonecold, Rico's eye. Second, yes, we messed around when we were kids but it was a one time thing. We both realized it shouldn't have happened. But he is my friend even though he likes to say he doesn't have any."

"Angela is like the sister I knew I never wanted," Rico adds, but fails at trying to keep his face serious when Angela throws an accent pillow at his face.

"Anyway, you don't have anything to worry about, Elenora. And I'm glad he's off the market now, he's the worst wingman. Hopefully, you can get him to go out a little and enjoy life. He's quite the workaholic."

"I'm afraid I'm the same. About work that is. But I'm an awesome wingwoman, you'll have to ask my friend Clara. You two would get along perfectly."

"From what Domani's said about her, I'm sure that's true. Although, Rico's not a fan of hers."

I nod my head. "I figured as much, but to be honest she's not a fan of him either, so..."

I force myself to keep my eyes on his face instead of the way his ab muscles constrict and move when he leans back sighing. "She's a bad influence on you and I'm not sure Angela would be any better."

"Ouch, Rico. That hurts."

I smile watching them. "So, what were you two arguing about? And what were you supposed to tell me?"

Rico's eyes flicker to Angela and then back to me, but Angela responds. "Gabriel was just blowing smoke out of his ass about what he said at Serafina's birthday. And that he and I are seeing each other again."

"You are? That's great. His eyes lit up when he talked about you at the birthday party."

Angela looks down with a sad smile. "There's a lot of pain in our past, but I think we can work through it now that we're older, and a little bit more mature." When she looks up her eyes are glistening. "He's...he's the love of my life."

"That's beautiful."

The elevator dings and the Dr. steps out. "Thank god," Rico mutters and hurries to greet her.

Angela and I look at each other and begin laughing.

"Good morning, piccolo." Dr. Fidianza  kisses Rico. "Sorry, I'm late, traffic is a nightmare. Ah, good morning, ladies!" She smiles at us and walks towards us.

"Elenora, you look so much better and you have some color in you now."

"That's not all that's been in her, Doc." Angela winks before she hugs the Dr.

"Oh, is this one of those, 'that's what she said' jokes?" The Dr chortles.

"Not quite, Pia, but close."

My face grows warm, while the two women laugh.

"You're not here to make jokes, Pia."

Rico grunts when I pinch his arm. "That hurts!" He turns his arm trying to look at the area on his tricep I pinched.

"Don't be mean then."

Angela snorts. "Oh yeah, this is going to be fun to watch Rico figure his way through uncharted territory, right Pia?"

"He'll do fine, but he has his work cut out for him. I may not know her that well, but I can tell Elenora is no wallflower. She's going to give him a run for his money."

Rico and I watch them talk about us for a moment like we aren't standing a few feet away from them before Rico's had enough. "Angela, I'll call you later about what I decide on Gabriel."

"Guess that's my not so subtle hint to hit the road." She rolls her eyes at him and then kisses Pia's cheek and says goodbye. She then gives me a hug, too. "We'll have to get together and talk shit about Rico, though I think you do that enough with your friend Clara."

"The more the merrier." I shrug. She laughs before she kisses Rico's cheek then heads out of the penthouse.

"Alright, cara, are you ready for me to look over you?" The Dr. guides me over to the kitchen and has me sit on a stool. (dear)

"I'm sorry I was so..." I wave my hands next to my head in a jumbled gesture. "...out of it. Last time, you saw me."

"No need to apologize. Considering what happened, I think you're more than justified to have been in shock." She smiles at me. "But it's good to see you smiling. Were you able to get some rest?"

Rico looks up from his phone behind her and my face burns as my head does some kind of shake and nod movement. "Sort of."

She smiles and by the look on her face she knows why. "Well, make sure you rest today. Bed rest, Dr. orders, nothing strenuous or... overstimulating," She says sternly but the corner of her mouth lifts.

"For how long?" Rico questions and I roll my eyes.

"She needs to give her body real time to decompress, so hands off for at least twenty for hours, Federico." She scolds him.

Rico approaches and kisses my head. "It's not me you should be worried about, Pia; I can control myself." He grins at me before he kisses my nose. He walks towards the phone in the room and orders room service.

I'm sure I'm red as a tomato right now, but I push through the embarrassment, and clear my throat. "Um Dr. Fidianza," I begin.

"Pia. Please call me, Pia." She smiles as she feels around my throat with her hands and fingertips.

"Okay, Pia, I was wondering if you had, um, something I could take like...the morning after pill. We weren't exactly...consistent about using protection." I sense Rico looking over at us through my peripheral vision, with the phone still in his hand.

"Don't look at me like that Rico; I doubt you're ready to have little Rico's or Nora's running around the place. I'm sure as hell not ready."

His face registers a sense of surprise at first before something else comes over his features, but finishes giving his order to the concierge.

Pia clears her throat. "Well, I have to run to grab you what you need. It may be a good idea to consider other forms of contraceptives unless condoms are your preferred choice?"

I blush again, but I remind myself we are all adults. "I mean, I don't want to obligate Rico to always remember to use them."

He looks deeply into my eyes. "You're not obligating me to do anything, mia patatina. And I should have been better about using them, even if you were insatiable last night and well into the morning," He smiles at me and a wave of warmth ripples through me with how he's looking at me.

The elevator opens and Ciccio walks in, he nods at me before he addresses Rico. "Boss, there's a video message from Renzo and Gabriel."

"Relentless motherfuckers." Rico clenches his jaw. "Have Mickey reply that I'll be in touch later today." Ciccio nods and turns to leave.

I turn back when Pia begins talking. "I'll return in about a half hour with some samples, is there anything about your medical history you'd like me to know or consider when it comes to which contraception is best?"

"Oh, um. I don't know if it's important but I'm Anemic."

Rico's eyebrows furrow together. "Are you sick?"

I shake my head, but Pia follows up with a question. "Do you know which type of Anemia you have, cara?" (dear)

"I was born with an iron deficiency and take supplements, but I haven't had them since...everything's changed." I turn to Rico. "It's why I bruise easily and sometimes get nosebleeds or feel extra tired." He looks over the bruises on my wrists, arms and face as if he's understanding or seeing the bruises for the first time.

"Okay, well that narrows down the options significantly. Usually with Anemia an oral contraceptive is the best option but you'll have to stop taking the iron supplements. And the challenge is remembering to take it everyday and it's best to do it at the same time as well. But we also have the option of the Depo shot."

"I've never been on anything, are there side effects?"

Pia nods. "There can be side effects, but everyone varies on what they experience if anything. Most common are—"

"She won't be taking anything. I'll be careful going forward." Rico cuts her off.

"All due respect, Federico, it's her choice."

"It is, but I don't want her taking anything that could affect her health more than it already is. And she shouldn't have to stop taking the iron supplements because of taking another form of medication that isn't necessary, if we can avoid it."

"It's fine, Rico." I rub his arm, but the look he gives me tells me it's far from fine.

"I'll bring some samples and give you some time to discuss and decide." She begins to gather her bag and walks out of the suite.

"Why didn't you tell me you had Anemia?"

"You didn't ask." I hop off of the stool, but I catch him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration as I open the fridge to find something to drink.

"And it's not really something you can squeeze into a conversation, Hi, I'm Nora, I like binge watching TV shows, ice cream, I like the color mint or a soft sea-foam green, I read smutty novels, oh by the way I'm anemic." I pour myself some pineapple juice. "See, it just doesn't flow."

"Elenora."

I exhale after I gulp down the rest of the juice. "Ahh, I didn't realize how thirsty I was. Speaking of thirsty, am I going to come across any of your speed dial fuck bunnies anytime soon?" I frown picturing the woman from the club, and I hate that jealousy surges through me.

Rico comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. "Why are you making a face like you ate a lemon?" His lips move from my ear down to my neck.

"Because I pictured everything you did to me, you've also done with others, like that girl from the club," I confess.

He leans his head on the back of mine and sighs. "Elenora, what you and I did was more than I've ever done with anyone, including her. This is going to make me look bad, but I don't even fucking remember her name."

I look over my shoulder. "You don't remember her name?"

"Something tells me, it'd bother you more if I did, but I don't."

"What is her name saved on your phone then?" I pour myself another glass of juice, preparing myself for what he'll say.

But instead of responding he leans closer to me and sets his phone on the counter and then picks up my hand using it to unlock his phone. He just gave me his phone password!

He uses his other hand to sweep my hair to my other shoulder and places a soft kiss on my neck. "The girl from the club is saved as 'hoops' because she wears those ridiculous large hoop earrings." He uses my finger to block then delete her contact.

I lift the phone to my face. "Who's 'man hands'?" I chuckle and lean my head back against him as he presses wet kisses along my throat.

"A girl with really large hands. Believe me guys don't feel the same about large hands like you women do." Once again he uses my finger to block then delete the contact.

"Lazy eye?" I start to laugh, but I moan as he nips at my neck then my ear. This continues on for each different name I find. Scary Bush, Hairy lip, Claws, Coffee breath, Chin hair, Howler, etc.

"This is worse than I thought, because now I wonder how they all look."

"I think my creative way of remembering them paints a pretty good picture. But it doesn't matter, Elenora. I meant it, I've never done what you and I shared last night with anyone."

"And I might have held back in fear of hurting you and now that I know why you bruise easily, it will never be like that."

"Great, so now having sex with me is boring, too." My irritation is reaching another level.

"Far from it." His hands slide over the robe as he cups my breasts. "But I do like this jealous side of you; it's turning me on." He turns me around and pulls at the sash opening the robe revealing my naked body to him. He lifts me up onto the counter and kisses my neck and my chest, softly. "I know I teased you about not getting enough, but I find you so fascinating and..." He dips his head and covers one of my breasts with his mouth, groaning as his tongue moves over the taut peak.

"Rico, the Dr said no—" I gasp as his finger slips inside of me while his thumb circles my sensitive bud of nerves.

"You know I'll stop if you tell me, too." His voice is thick with lust against my neck.

I arch my back as he moves to the other breast. He kisses down the center of my chest, my stomach and then his mouth replaces his fingers and he swirls his tongue around my clit before he covers it with his mouth and begins sucking.

My hands rake through his hair pulling it. His moans and groans against my sex, are leaving goosebumps all over me. Rico thrusts his tongue into me as his hands grab my ass and pulls me into his face more.

I moan out his name as an orgasm crashes over me but Rico doesn't stop. He keeps devouring me like he can't get enough, making my toes curl, and I tug at his hair, feeling another swell building deep in my belly. I cry out as it ripples out within me soon after.

Rico pulls me up and kisses me hungrily; he presses me against his toned body while his hand holds the back of my head and neck. The kiss is full of need, desperation and passion but I have no control of my body—my limbs are heavy and languid; if he wasn't holding me I'm sure I'd collapse onto the floor.

"Federico!" Pia's stern voice startles him. "What did I say?"

Rico breaks the kiss and I lean heavily against him. "That was no a half hour, Doc, and technically, we didn't have sex."

"Look at her, she's completely worn-out! Come, bring her over to the couch."

Rico carries me to the couch and lays me on it; tying the robe together before he moves back. "Poor thing."

"Is she okay?" Rico sounds concerned.

"Considering what she's been through, with little to no sleep the last couple of days and what I can only assume you were doing last night, she's exhausted and mixing in intense, sexual gratification her body might be in a coma-like state to recover."

"You shitting me, Doc?"

"No, I'm not shitting you." Pia holds my wrist for a moment before something cold is on my chest. A bright light is shown in both of my eyes as I hear them converse. This is the strangest experience I've ever had, it's like I'm awake but I'm not.

"But she was so full of energy even after going at it all night."

Pia chuckles. "Some women feel energized and others tired but eventually your body will give out if you're going on no sleep and the emotional rollercoaster I'm sure she's had being around you, doesn't help, Federico."

"So, what do I do?"

"Let her sleep. And I mean it, Federico Di Maggio, ease up on the sex."

"Pia."

She makes a chittering sound. "Anyway, I brought the samples of contraception."

"She won't use them."

"It's fine if she doesn't but let her make that choice, caro."

My consciousness is getting harder to maintain and I start to give into the comfort of the relaxing state I'm in and willingly let myself slip into darkness.

***