Chapter 16

Heather

I stared at my closet,.What do you wear to a first date with your friend, boss, and lover to be? I'm guessing something, something sexy but yet covered. A week ago Gabriele asked me to go on a date with him, I agreed without a second thought and since then I was worried.

He has been wearing his black eye with pride. Luca asked about it and Gabriele told him nicely in a lecturing way that he got it purely by standing up for something he believes in and he didn't resort to violence because he wanted to but because he needed to.

I went through the few items I had in my closet that actually looked good. None of them stood out. I plopped back onto my bed. I had to go shopping, which is something I really, really don't want to do. Why didn't I check what I was going to wear before the day of the date?

I grumbled and stood up from the bed making sure I had my phone. The last time Tristen tried to call me and I didn't pick up he sent Gabriele to check on me. I at least got a new door out of that whole mishap. I drove to a nearby mall, it wasn't anything grand but there was one special store that I wanted to visit.

I found a dress that could work, it was a simple black dress that came to my knee, it had cap sleeves. Simple yet sexy. I bought it and then I walked around for a bit grabbing something to eat. I stopped by the store wanted to visit in the first place, it was a lingerie store.

I haven't bought real lingerie in a while, I'm used to simple underwear but this place had it all.

I walked in being engulfed by half-naked mannequins, pink and red being the main theme of this store. I swallowed down the lump in my throat. I know for sure that tonight wasn't going to be the night but I eventually had to buy something nice so that I would be prepared and with that dress, it was also necessary.

I stood there a little shell shocked before a woman rushed to me.

"Hi, how may I help you?"I rubbed my sweaty hands against my jeans, what is up with me it's just underwear.

"I'm not looking for anything in particular just something..s.exy." She smiled at me, her smile was comforting.

"Is there a certain style you would like to try?" I shook my head. She studied me and walked to a rack, they had gorgeous bras, a black and red one caught my eye so I took it but then it was time for the tricky part.

Thongs. I scrunched my nose up at that word, I tried once to wear them but something didn't work and I felt like I had a wedgie the whole day. Maybe something like it but not so dang thin. I looked around and found a pair of underwear that matched my bra. I grabbed it and paid trying to hide myself.

I have issues with buying underwear in public but I'm fine with a man that wanted tie me up...alrighty then.

It was getting late when I arrived home. I curled my hair into brown curls and did my makeup very lightly, nothing too drastic, mascara and foundation with some light red lips. I contemplated wearing the underwear and decided that it was a backup just in case something happens.

I was just about done when I heard my doorbell ringing. I took a deep breath and walked to the front door. I opened the door and when I saw him, all that deep breathing helped me a whole lot of nothing and it felt like the wind was knocked out of me. I studied him from top to bottom.

He wore a suit but he didn't have a tie on, his crisp white shirt was the only thing that was contrasting his suit. His dark hair was slightly styled and his dark eyes matched his suit. I felt like I was some overly hormonal teenage girl again.

I smiled at him and let him in.

"Hi, I'm just going to get my purse." He nodded. I grabbed the black clutch from the table and walked back to where he was standing. I stopped studying his face. There was still a shade of purple around his eye but it wasn't as noticeable. I stared at him for a while until I stood on my tiptoes trying to reach his eye, I patted around the eye, he winched.

"Sorry, I just want to check how it's healing." I was about to pull my hand away but he grabbed it and placed a kiss in the middle of my palm. When his lips made contact with my skin I could feel a tingling sensation run through my body. He let go of my hand and looked at me with a cheeky grin.

"It's okay, it's nice to see that someone cares about me."He walked with me outside and stopped at his amazing car.

"Where do you get all the sports cars from?"He studied his car for a moment.

"Aiden, that guy which came to visit the other day, he has a collection of them and once in a while he owes me a favor."

He opened the door for me, I shifted into the seat feeling a little nervous as he slid in beside me.

He looked over to me and sighed.

"Why are you nervous?" I shook my head trying to play it cool.

"I'm not." He focuses on the road as he drove.

"Well you look nervous, it's just dinner and a little talking before we can move onwards. You still need to trust me and I need to prepare you." I kept quiet, I didn't want to wait. But if I didn't wait then I wouldn't be able to discover everything he has to offer.

He stopped at a restaurant that looked very elegant. He helped me out of the car and together hand in hand we walked to the entrance. A waitress quickly showed us to our table after sparing Gabriele an appreciative glance.

We sat down at a table. I looked around for a moment, this place looked and smelled expensive.

I saw Gabriele staring at me for a moment, but I didn't look up from the menu. His mother was taking care of Luca but at that moment  I felt a bit of guilt. I felt guilty that I was taking away the limited time that Luca has with his father.

I instinctively bit my lip trying to not look at Gabriele and as I did I heard a soft groan coming from his lips. My head snapped upwards, did he just growl at me?

"Don't." He demanded and with a burning gaze and shifted his eyes down to the menu. I felt offended for some reason, why would he command me like that. He let on to my now offended demeanor.

"I meant it as in don't bite your lip, sorry if that came out wrong."I let my tongue slide over my lips a bit without thinking.

"Or that, it is going to make me speed up the whole learning process for you." I turned a new shade of pink and I didn't reply.

"Have you heard from your brother again?" He asked while sipping on the red wine the waiter offered us a moment ago.

"Not really, he called once after you broke my door down, he mentioned he was in Seattle and the trip was taking longer than he expected."

"And... did he say anything about your sister?"He asked inquisitively. I sighed, I really didn't want to talk about her but what my brother also mentioned the other day was sweet revenge that I'd gladly share with him.

"Actually, he said that my parents found out she was after all pregnant. Alex got his share of karma after everything." He took another sip of his wine.

"I think I should take you along with Luca and I this weekend."

"To where?"He frowned for a moment.

"He didn't tell you, did he? We're going on a nature trail and then after that, he is going to visit my mother with a few of his friends and  hen you and I can get a bit of preparation time." I took a sip of my wine. Okay, I guess my waiting wasn't going to be long, about a day and I'd get a sultry lesson with Gabriele.

My stomach was already in a knot.

"Oh, I think I'll go with you."

The tenseness was eased when a waiter delivered the food we ordered. Gabriele thanked the waiter. He entwined his finger together looking at me intently.

"Am I moving too fast for you Miss Jackson?" The way he said Miss Jackson had all kinds of sensations shoot through my body.

Was he moving too fast?

"No, I'm just nervous about how you'll teach me." I could see his eyes darkening and he shifted in his seat leaning over the table to whisper to me.

"I'll teach you slowly and gently."I tried to look unfazed, I took a sip of my wine and nodded. We chatted about everything that was going on in our lives. We just talked and talked. I learned that his favorite thing to eat was saucy ribs and that he loved to rock climbing and camping.

We continued to chat until the restaurant was empty and we were curtly asked to leave. We walked down the street because he didn't want to go home yet and I didn't want to go back to that stuffy apartment of mine. He held my hand tightly and protectively, I spotted the coffee place I frequent that was open 24/7. I knew about it since I spent most of my midterms and finals there studying.

We ordered coffee and I listened to a story he told about his grandma in Italy. It was just after 1 AM when he drove to my apartment, he gave me his hand and led me to my door.

"This was a fun night. Thank you."

"It was, I can't wait for our little practice tomorrow night." I felt my stomach flip, me neither.

"Goodnight dear Heather" He pecked a quick kiss on my cheek. I felt disappointed, I should've given him a proper kiss but that was due in good time.

"Goodnight Gabriele." I watched as he walked to his car and then drove away.

I closed the door and slid down to the floor.

What have I gotten myself into?