My Saving Grace
Chapter 16
"Alyssa and I are getting married," my brother announced with a wide smile at the dining table during Easter brunch. He turned to gaze at Alyssa lovingly, giving her hand a squeeze.
"Aww, it's about time," I gushed, clasping my hands together as I fought back tears of happiness.
I remembered when we were mere toddlers fighting over toys and those Friday nights spent cheering him on at his football games like it was only yesterday. Now, Nick was an engaged man. Time had sure flown by fast.
"Congratulations, you two," Dad said, his eyes gleaming with joy. We all raised our glasses in a toast. "To Nicholas and Alyssa."
Somewhere up there, I knew my mom was watching, and there was no doubt in my mind that Alyssa would be a wonderful wife to Nick. If only she were still here to meet her soon to be daughter-in-law...
Yesterday, Nick, Alyssa, and I had spent the day with Declan's family, and we took his kids to an egg hunt at the La Jolla Recreation Center. Even twenty-four year old me had had way too much fun with it.
Since the last time I saw Antonio, I hadn't been able to stop smiling. This past week, he'd started calling me more often, usually before bed, and we talked about everything and nothing. Of course, he always managed to taint our simple conversations with his dirty thoughts, but I never complained.
Ok, maybe a little. No woman wished to go to bed alone and horny.
Since it was Easter Sunday, all the shops were closed, so I spent the day at home reading and binge watching Netflix with my dad. That evening, we all went for a walk on the beach and saw the sun set. Nick and Dad had talked sports while Alyssa and I brainstormed ideas for her wedding.
So far, she and Nick were planning on getting married in December, but they were still deciding where in LA they wanted the reception held at. Luckily, it was still months away.
"Where would you want your future wedding to be?", Alyssa asked.
"Me? San Diego," I replied.
"Not LA?"
"San Diego is my birthplace. And I've always dreamt of getting married in Coronado Island. I saw so many beautiful weddings there growing up." I smiled.
"I bet. You have a boyfriend yet, Soph?" Her expression was playful.
"No, not yet...well, I mean, we see each other, but I don't think we're an actual couple yet."
"Friends with benefits?" She raised a brow.
"Maybe? I don't know. It's complicated. I like the guy, though. A lot."
Alyssa nodded in understanding, linking her arm through mine as we hurried to catch up to Nick and my dad.
"Let me know if it works out."
"I hope so."
When we got home, I packed all of my belongings back into my suitcase and while waiting for Alyssa and Nick to get ready, I sat on the front porch with my mom's blanket draped over my body.
Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I decided to give Antonio a call. I let it ring for several times and was about to hang up when he finally answered.
"Helllooo?"
"Hey, it's me," I said.
"Why are you callin? I'm busy."
I frowned. Antonio was slurring his words like a complete drunk.
"I just wanted to say Happy Easter...Have you been drinking?"
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a female moaning loudly through the phone. The connection became scratchy for a few moments then a voice was whining "Antonio" while another asked
"Who is it?".
My eyes bulged out of their sockets. He had two women in bed with him?
"I-I should go. You're clearly busy right now." I anxiously ran my fingers through my hair.
"No. Don't leave me." There was a hint of desperation in his raspy voice, and I was taken by surprise.
"Talk to me when you're sober, alright?"
"Fucking Veronica...it's all her fault," he muttered brokenly.
I heard the distant sound of glass shattering followed by Antonio's gut wrenching cry, and my breath left in a rush.
"Who's Ver--"
He hung up the phone before I could even finish my question.
For a moment, I just sat there, trying to process everything in my head. The sound Antonio had made was absolutely chilling and devastating at the same time. Never in my life had I heard such raw pain in a person's voice.
And although we'd never explicitly said anything about being exclusive, I was appalled at the fact that Antonio was still sleeping around.
To him, our "relationship" was probably nothing more than just a casual fling.
Even now, I barely knew anything about him. Did he always get drunk and pick up women in his spare time?
Something told me that all the answers to my questions laid behind a single name.
Veronica.
For weeks, I'd wondered who she was, but the next time I saw Antonio, I was definitely going to bring her up. Hopefully by then, I would gain more clarity of him. Of us.
"You ready to leave, sis?", Nick asked when he spotted me on the porch. Dad was right behind him.
"Yeah. My stuff is already in the car," I replied, standing up.
Nick furrowed his brows.
"You alright there? You seem kind of down."
"I'm always like this when we have to leave Dad." It wasn't a complete lie; I would miss him.
My dad came over and pulled me into a giant bear hug, and suddenly, I wished that I was still the little girl I used to be. Young and without a care in the world.
"I'll see you soon, Dad."
"You bet. I have a conference in LA next month, so I'll come stay with you." He smiled.
We all said our good-byes to Dad and then the three of us got into Nick's Porsche and began the long drive back home to Orange County.
***
I was at Chipotle with Peter during our lunch break Wednesday afternoon. Ella unfortunately couldn't join us because she had to report an incident to human resources regarding faulty equipment in her lab.
Just as I was about to take another giant bite of my chicken burrito, my phone began to ring, and a quick glance at the screen identified the caller as Antonio.
With a wary gaze, I excused myself from the table, heading out into the fresh air. Moments passed before I decided to finally pick up.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Sophia. Did I catch you at a bad time?", he asked.
"No, I'm just out having lunch. Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine. Why do you ask?"
"It's just, you usually don't call during the day."
He chuckled.
"I have office hours right now, but no student has walked through the door yet."
"So, why did you call?"
"Is something wrong, mia bella? You sound...off."
I sighed, watching a crowd of businessmen walk past me.
"How was your Easter?"
"Fine." His flat tone revealed nothing about his emotional state.
I waited for him to bring up Sunday night's call, but he didn't. Either he'd been too drunk to remember any of it or was choosing not to speak about it. We were both quiet as I listened to the sound of his breathing through the phone.
"Sophia?", he finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Yes?"
"Come spend the night with me Friday."
"At your place?"
"Yeah. I know Friday nights are for your friends, but just this one time. Please?"
"Well..." Uncertainty clawed at me.
"I'll cook you dinner."
"You cook?" I suppressed a smile.
"My mother taught me. How else was I supposed to survive college?"
I laughed.
"That's true."
"Anyway, I can come pick you up, too."
"You don't have to. I'll just drive straight to your place after work."
"Sounds good. I live at the Eighth and Grand, if you know where that is."
My eyes widened.
"The super nice building on Grand Ave? With the Whole Foods market?"
"That's the one."
Damn, Antonio made quite a living.
"Perfect. I'll see you Friday."
"See you Friday, mia bella."
On my way back inside Chipotle, I began to feel more optimistic than before. The fact that Antonio had invited me over for dinner had to mean something. Unless he often cooked for other women as well, which was definitely a possibility.
But still, a girl could hope...
"Who was that?", Peter asked when I plopped down on my seat across from him.
"Antonio...the college professor." I grabbed a chip, dipping it into some guacamole before popping it into my mouth.
"Nice. What'd he say?"
"He wants me to come over for dinner Friday."
"Sophia, that's great! He must really like you." Peter was beaming.
"Eh, that's debatable...All I know is that I'm way too into this guy."
Peter frowned.
"If I were a guy, I wouldn't make dinner for just any girl."
"Antonio sleeps around, though...a lot."
He gave me a reassuring grin.
"Everything will work out, Soph. Just see what happens. So, I'm assuming we're putting off half-apps then?"
"You and Ella should still go. Eat some wings for me."
"Oh, we will. And don't feel bad or anything. It's about time one of us gets into a serious relationship," he said with a wink.
I laughed nervously, taking a sip of my drink as a sudden feeling of dread hung over me at the thought of Friday night. Things could either go really well, or they could fall apart. I just had to wait and see.
***
The traffic was absolutely horrendous when I left Abbott Laboratories Friday evening. Since getting on the freeway, the fastest speed my Jeep had managed to reach was fifteen miles per hour. According to the GPS, I still had another fifty minutes to go until reaching Antonio's.
This morning, I'd dressed slightly nicer than I usually did for work. At the back of my closet, I'd found a navy sheath dress and decided to pair it with a khaki blazer. Simple yet elegant.
By the time I reached LA, my stomach was growling, and it didn't help that all around me, billboards advertising food filled the streets. My windows were rolled all the way down as the mouthwatering scent of steak and burgers coming from nearby restaurants filled my nostrils.
Luckily, Eighth and Grand was just a couple of blocks away, and when I got there, I parked my Jeep then went inside the Whole Foods market to buy a bottle of wine.
While waiting for the cashier to ring up my purchase, I texted Antonio to let him know I was here, and he replied saying that he'd meet me in the lobby.
Eager to see the man of my dreams, I practically sprinted out the door towards the apartment entrance, and the moment I stepped foot inside the lobby, my eyes widened in utter awe.
Being the daughter of a CEO, I'd stayed in many nice hotels in my life, but I had to admit, I was blown away. The tall glass windows had a dark blue tint to them, artistically blurring the outside view of the city streets. Long marble tables, adorned with ornate centerpieces, and cream leather seats filled the center of the room.
Above, thin reflective silver strands served as lights, creating a feel that was both modernistic and classical. Indeed, Eighth and Grand was nothing short of grand.
At that moment, I heard a "ding" coming from the right, and I turned to see Antonio stepping out of the elevator, looking as handsome as ever in a pair of slim khaki pants and light blue dress shirt. For the first time, he'd allowed his beard to fully grow, and it brought out his dark features.
"Sophia," he greeted with a smile, striding towards me with open arms.
"Antonio."
I melted into his warm embrace, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne as he kissed the top of my head. Then he pulled back and gazed at me from head to toe.
"You look stunning, mia bella."
"You always say stuff like that," I said teasingly.
"I only speak the truth."
I cleared my throat, trying to hide the blush forming on my cheeks.
"I brought some wine." I handed him the tall bottle.
"You didn't have to bring anything. But we'll enjoy it anyway."
He flashed me a dazzling smile, and I had to hold onto the table behind me for support. Only Antonio Rossi had the power to affect me like this, and to be honest, it was actually quite scary.
Grabbing my elbow, Antonio led me into the elevator and pressed the button for the fourth floor. During the silent ride up, stolen glances were exchanged--there was no denying the sexual tension between us--but that would have to wait until after dinner. I was starving.
"Benvenuta a casa mia," Antonio announced when we arrived at his apartment, opening the door to let me in.
"I'm assuming that meant 'welcome to my home?'"
"You're better at Italian than I'd originally thought," he mused, stroking his jaw.
I smiled then suddenly, my stomach made a loud growling sound, and Antonio let out a laugh, reaching for my hand.
"Come on, let's go feed that stomach of yours."
With hardwood-style flooring, floor-to-ceiling windows, and contemporary furnishings, Antonio's apartment looked like something straight out of a luxury home magazine. The different shades of blue and brown emphasized masculinity, fit for any bachelor.
"You have a beautiful home, Antonio," I remarked, going to stand at the windows, which had a magnificent view of the Los Angeles skyline.
I couldn't even begin to imagine how much his rent cost.
"Thank you. It gets lonely sometimes, though, with all this giant space."
He was opening the wine bottle at the kitchen counter--constructed from polished quartz--and I went to go join him. Ever since I was little, the kitchen had always been my favorite part of any home. To me, it symbolized family and togetherness.
In fact, most of my favorite memories with my mom had been made in our kitchen. We used to always bake together; it was a passion of hers.
"You could always get a roommate," I spoke, sitting down at the round, white table Antonio had set up for dinner.
There were two dark blue placemats, each containing the appropriate utensils, and an elegant blue candle served as the centerpiece. My eyes drifted to the gorgeous man standing behind the counter, and I was thoroughly impressed.
"I thought about that, too, but at the end of the day, I always prefer to just live alone."
Antonio walked towards the table, setting down two glasses of wine then returned moments later with our plates, and when I saw what they contained, it felt too good to be true.
"You made mac and cheese?"
"It's fitting, don't you think? I assumed if you loved that Kraft stuff, then you'd like my lobster mac and cheese as well." He took a seat across from me.
"It smells great," I said with a smile, my heart swelling with affection for him.
We raised our wine glasses in a toast.
"To meeting at Ralphs--which is literally a five minute walk from here," Antonio said, grinning boyishly.
"And Kraft mac and cheese," I added.
We both laughed, taking a sip of our wine then proceeded to dig into the dinner he'd cooked.
And man, was it delicious.
When we finished eating, Antonio put the dishes in the dishwasher while I wandered into his spacious living room, trying to see what else I could uncover about him. One corner of the room served as his study area, and on the wall by his desk, he'd hung his PhD degree in Chemistry.
The man was handsome, smart, and cooked like a boss--how was he still single?
Lost in my own thoughts, I made my way towards the fireplace, where framed photos of
Antonio and his family were displayed. The resemblance between him and his father was striking whereas his brother, Carlo, looked more like their mother.
I heard Antonio come up to stand beside me.
"Your family is so beautiful. You all should have been movie stars," I remarked, setting down the photo I'd been admiring of all four of them at the Golden Gate Bridge.
"I think I was, like, ten in that picture," he stated.
"Do you have more recent pictures of your family?"
"No. All the family pictures I have were taken before my parents divorced."
I gently touched his shoulder.
"That must've been a difficult time for you."
He sucked in a breath, gazing down at me.
"Yeah, it was...Anyway, I was going to ask if you wanted some dessert?"
"Sure," I replied with a smile.
We headed back to the kitchen, and he swung open the fridge, his eyes roaming over its contents.
"Let's see here...I have gelato, chocolate covered strawberries, cheesecake--"
"I'll have some chocolate covered strawberries. Please."
"Strawberries it is." He gave me a look of adoration, and my cheeks instantly grew warm.
"You don't happen to have champagne, do you?"
"What is this, a honeymoon?" His eyes were twinkling with humor.
"Of course not. You haven't even proposed yet," I teased. He laughed.
After pouring two glasses of champagne, we went to go sit on the couch, and Antonio turned on some quiet music for us to listen to--Coldplay, my favorite band of all time. Outside, the sun had just set, bathing the city in an orange-pink glow.
"My brother recently got engaged," I spoke, grabbing a strawberry from the plate.
"That's exciting." Antonio reclined in his seat, propping his legs up on the coffee table.
I watched him take a bite out of his strawberry, and he chewed for a couple moments before swallowing, his Adam's apple bobbing as his tongue darted out to lick the chocolate off his sensuous lips.
My breathing quickened, and there was a sudden ache between my legs. Only Antonio could make eating a strawberry look sinfully sexy.
"What's the matter, mia bella? You look...flustered." He gave me a sly grin.
"I'm not flustered."
"You sure about that?"
I adjusted the hem of my dress, shifting uncomfortably in my seat.
"Maybe we shouldn't have eaten chocolate covered strawberries," I muttered.
"Why not?" He raised a brow.
"Please don't make me say it." I was turning redder than a tomato.
"Let me guess, you're getting horny from watching me eat strawberries," he said matter-of-factly.
I grabbed a nearby pillow, burying my face in it as he gave a deep, throaty laugh.
"Can we please do something else?"
Antonio grabbed both of our glasses of champagne, standing up from the couch.
"I can show you around the building if you want."
"Ok."
I set the pillow down in its original position then we headed towards the door. Halfway there, Antonio gave me a light slap on the ass, and I let out a yelp, turning to glare at him.
"I hate you."
"No you don't." He smirked.
Moments later, we arrived at the large outdoor pool on his floor, and for a moment, I simply stood there, taking in the magnificent nighttime view of the city. Chaise lounges wide enough for two were placed on one side of the pool, and the water looked so blue and inviting, I resisted the urge to dip my feet in.
"Wanna swim?", Antonio asked, glancing over at me.
"I didn't bring a swimsuit."
He set his champagne down on one of the poolside tables.
"Just strip down to your bra and panties or something. The pool is usually empty at this time anyway."
"I'd rather not." I crossed my arms in front of my chest.
"I'd rather you did." His gaze turned heated, and he smiled wickedly.
I huffed.
"Ok fine. But if we see anyone coming, I'm bolting out of here."
"Whatever you say, Sophia. I'm gonna go change into my swim trunks real quick. I'll be right back."
As soon as he was gone, I slipped out of my heels and went to go stand at the edge of the pool, gazing around to make sure no one was here. Slowly, I began undressing until I was left in nothing but my black lace bra and matching panties then descended the pool stairs, submerging my body into the warm water.
Antonio returned a few minutes later wearing a pair of gray swim trunks, his glorious bare torso on display for my eyes to admire. He tossed two towels onto a chair then turned to face me.
"How's the water?", he asked.
"Perfect." I smiled.
Next thing I knew, he was diving into the water, looking like a Greek god as he swam the length of the pool to where I was standing at the end.
When he emerged from the water, I grabbed his face and pulled him in for a kiss, feeling the water droplets in his hair rain down on my cheeks.
"What was that for?", he asked with a smile, slipping an arm around my waist.
"I just missed kissing you," I said lazily.
His eyes briefly glanced down at my bra, which had turned see-through from the water, before landing back on mine.
"You look sexy, mia bella." His voice was low and husky, making me ache with need.
"Not as sexy as you," I whispered, my hands sliding down his wet abs. But before I could reach
the V of his stomach, he grabbed my hand, pushing it away.
"Not now, baby. Later, I promise."
I pretended to pout, splashing water in his face then began to swim away as the sound of his laughter rang in my ears.
We spent a good half hour in the pool before getting out to dry ourselves. I wrapped the towel securely around my body, and grabbing my clothes, I followed Antonio back into his apartment.
"There's a second shower in the bedroom next to mine. Unless you'd prefer to shower with me," he spoke.
My body suddenly felt a million times hotter beneath his lustful gaze.
"What do you want?"
"You already know the answer." He smirked.
As soon as we both stepped into his shower, I was a ball of raging desire, ready to combust at any moment. Antonio took his sweet time washing my hair, massaging my scalp with his fingers, and I hummed with pleasure.
I didn't even care that it was men's shampoo.
Grabbing the body wash, he poured some into his hand and formed a generous lather, his eyes soft as they gazed into mine.
"Turn around, mia bella. Let me take care of you."
My heart swelled, and I did what he asked, pressing my back against his front as he began to stroke up and down my arms. I let my head fall back onto his chest and released a moan when I felt his hands at my breasts, kneading gently.
"Antonio," I whimpered.
"I'm right here," he crooned, kissing the top of my head.
He poured some more soap into his palm and washed my stomach, his hands traveling lower until they reached the aching flesh between my thighs. I spread my legs involuntarily, and when I felt the invasion of his long finger, a cry escaped my lips.
Antonio held my trembling body up with his strong arms as his finger slowly slid in and out of me, and his growing erection pressed against my back further heightened my arousal.
"Damn this shower, I need you now," he rasped.
Once all the soap was washed from our bodies, we stepped out of the shower, drying ourselves off at lightning speed then Antonio picked me up, carrying me to his luxurious king-sized bed.
The bed he'd fucked those two girls in Sunday night.
My blood boiled at the thought as I pulled him down on top of me, our lips colliding in an urgent kiss full of lust and desire that sent my nerves spiraling out of control.
Tonight, I was going to fuck his brains out until he realized that he didn't need any other woman to fulfill his needs.
With that burning thought in mind, I pushed his body off of me so that he was lying flat on his back then I climbed on top of him, straddling his hips.
"God, what a view," he drawled, his hands folded behind his head.
I leaned down to place a chaste kiss on his lips as his hands squeezed my ass. Reaching towards the nightstand, I grabbed a condom from the top drawer, ripping it open before sliding it onto the tip of his length.
I positioned myself on top of him and slowly began to sink down, savoring every inch of his thick flesh as a moan escaped my lips. His fingers dug into my hips, guiding me.
"Ride me, baby," he growled, arousal thickening his voice.
I started out at a slow, leisurely pace to torture him, make him beg for more. He simply lay there like a king with that smug smile of his, but eventually, I began to ride him faster and harder until he was groaning loudly with pleasure.
"Fuck, just like that. Give it to me, baby," he grunted, holding my hips as he thrusted relentlessly from beneath. I could feel him buried to the hilt inside of me, and I panted wildly, my vision blurring.
Next thing I knew, I was flipped onto my back, and Antonio lifted my leg onto his shoulder before pounding into me like a crazed man. Within seconds, I came like never before, and he swallowed my moan with a rough kiss.
Pulling out of me, Antonio collapsed in a heap at my side, our chests rising and falling rapidly.
"That was fucking incredible," he said breathlessly, turning to give me a smile.
I reached out to trace his jawline as I prepared myself for what I was about to say next.
"There's something I've been wanting to ask you..."
His gaze became wary.
"What is it?"
"Who's Veronica?"
He drew a sharp breath, his eyes flashing with alarm for a brief second before turning cold.
"That night at my apartment...you were muttering her name in your sleep."
He was silent, averting my gaze.
"And on Sunday night, I called you. You were drunk...and having sex with two other women," I continued. Even now, the memory felt bitter.
Still nothing.
"You also said something about Veronica being at fault then hung up on me."
I reached for his shoulder, but he brushed my arm away. The rejection hurt more than I'd thought possible as I fought back tears.
"Antonio, speak to me. Please," I begged.
He exhaled sharply.
"Does it matter who she is? But if you're so desperate to know, Veronica was my best friend."
"Oh..."
"And former fiancé."
His answer was like a punch to the gut, but before I could say anything, he swung his legs out of the bed, standing up to look down at me.
"Where are you going?", I asked quietly, clutching the sheets to my chest.
"I'm going to go do some work in the living room. Go to sleep." His tone was hostile.
I watched him head to the bathroom, and the second the door shut behind him, I allowed the tears I'd been bottling up to fall.
