Chapter 11 Renzo

Mila

Foster has way too much self-control. He kisses me and ends it like he's not burning up inside for me like I am for him. Despite the sexual frustration, we've been "getting to know each other" really well. Best week of my life. I've never been so happy as I am when I'm with Foster.

I've left the door to the solarium open, and I've been waiting for him for fifteen minutes. If he doesn't show up, it would mean he's afraid to face his fears, and he didn't think enough of me to say goodbye for the summer. But if I know him at all, he won't be able to resist the challenge and he'll want to spend every last minute with me.

We never talked about why he was holding back, but I'm telling myself it was the bruises and he was waiting for them to heal. The bruises are gone now, and he has no excuse not to make out with me on our last night together.

I'm sitting in a lounge chair staring at my sandals when I hear the rumble of a motorcycle up the drive.

Butterflies flit around in my stomach like they do every time I know I'm going to see him.

He walks into the solarium. Yes! He's wearing swim trunks. That means he's at least open to getting in the pool .

"Hi," I say with a smile. His trunks hug his trim waist and he's his usual casual-sexy self with his old surf tee.

"Hi." The wry reluctance in his tone doesn't deter me. I know I'm looking at a fight here.

"Ready?"

"This is not necessary." He points to the center of the pool.

"But it is." I pull off my cover up and sigh inwardly at the physical reaction I draw from him. His eyes darken and he's devouring me with them from across the room. He doesn't even have to touch me for me to feel the warmth of his hands on my skin. I walk to the steps at the shallow end of the pool. "Come on."

"No one's home?" He glances into the house at the empty stairs.

"Nope. Everyone went back to Manhattan. We'll stay in the shallow end. Promise."

With one hand behind his back, he grabs his tee and tugs it over his head. He's freaking beautiful. Every muscle shaped and cut the way he wants it, tattoos rounding his thick corded arms.

He steps in and walks slowly down the steps until we're face to face with the water up to my midriff and his hips .

"Let's go for a ride. I'll buy you some gelato." He hitches his thumb over his shoulder, pointing back to the door he came in through. He's trying to get out of this.

"Mmm. Red velvet cones and double dark chocolate." I tilt my head and purse my lips. "After."

"Why do we need to do this?" He glances around the pool area again like he's checking to make sure we're alone.

"I feel like you need it."

"I don't." He shakes his head and drops his hands into the water. For the first time, I see a break in Foster's confidence.

"You may not need this, but maybe I do. Kay?"

He reaches over and takes my hand. "Why do you need to see me swim?"

If I want him to do this, I have to lay it all out there, so here goes nothing. "A while ago there was a party here. Donnie pushed a waiter into the water. Poor kid panicked. Lost his glasses. I felt terrible."

As I'm talking, his face changes from crinkled in confusion to eyes wide in surprise. As I finish my story, his eyes soften and his lips quirk up into that self-deprecating smile that looks so good on him. "Why do you need me to swim?" he asks cautiously.

"Part of me needs to make it up to that boy. I never want you to be in that situation." If he can't swim, he could drown and I wouldn't want that to happen to someone as awesome as Foster.

"I avoid water. I'll never be in that situation."

"What if you can't? What if you end up in the water and need to swim? I want you to be confident enough to do it."

"I am confident. I could do it if I had to."

"Show me."

He frowns.

"First float on your back."

He crosses his arms.

"Please. It'll heal a lot of old wounds in me."

That gets him. He looks to the ceiling as he slowly lies back and extends his arms.

"Good. Lift your feet. Back straight." He lifts his knees and straightens his legs. His chest looks so sexy as the water covers the bumps and curves. "You're doing it. Move around."

He paddles his arms and turns in the water.

"See? Easy."

He stands back up and smiles at me. "I can do it. I just need the right motivation." He leans down to brush his lips against mine. My cheeks heat and I have to look away from his intense gaze .

"Now follow me." I take off and swim to the deep end. When I get to the edge, he's shaking his head no. "This pool is only six-feet deep. You can reach the bottom."

He crosses his arms and smiles. He wants to do it. I can see it in his eyes. It's time for some drastic measures. I know one thing that is sure to break his self-control.

"I'll take my top off," I say with flirtation in my voice.

That gets his attention. He raises his eyebrows and nods. He's daring me to do it. My heart pounds in my chest. I've never casually taken my top off in front of a man and I've never skinny dipped before. But Foster is special and tonight is unique. I'm going for it.

I unsnap my top in the back and slip it off over my head. I drop deeper into the water to give me some coverage, but he got a good eyeful of my naked breasts.

His eyes bulge out and he licks his lower lip. He shakes his head and laughs like he can't believe I did it. He dives forward, no fear at all. I guess I found the right motivation. He's awkward in the water. Windmilling his arms too fast and too hard. His legs are hanging low and he keeps his head dry, but he's doing it.

I'm laughing like crazy by the time he makes it to me. He grabs the coping behind my head and starts kissing me. I kiss him back and smile. I love this. I love that he conquered his fear for me. And I love kissing him. He's a master at it and knows exactly the right pressure and speed to make my spine tingle.

He presses his hips and chest against my body, using his hands and legs to push up in the water. Up down. Up down.

Each time he scissors his legs, his hips roll against my pelvis and steal my breath. His hard cock rubs my clit and the wet fabric between us hardly provides any barrier. The water splashes over my breasts with his thrusts. His tongue dives deeper and he growls with the force of it. God, he's so hot. Nothing phases him. Even facing his deepest fear, he can still reduce me to mush as he kisses me and grinds his body on mine in a perfect wave. Holy cow.

He was holding out on me all week. Now I'm really angry he held back. We could have had more of this.

I wrap my legs around his hips and he moves down to kiss my breasts. His face gets close to the water and for a second I wonder if he'll stop before putting his face in. But no, Foster is fearless, and submerges his head to reach my nipple and take it between his teeth. He flicks it with his tongue and I moan. He resurfaces and looks in my eyes. I didn't see it before, but the light green of his eyes is ringed by a darker forest green and it plays with the blue of the water in a magical way.

"Let's go up to your room." His chest heaves and his voice scratches.

"Foster… "

"No more holding back. We're here and this is it. We may never get another chance."

So he's thinking about the end of summer too. Once I'm in Manhattan, I won't be able to see him anymore. My dad keeps closer tabs on me there. We both know it but haven't talked about it. It's too sad to say out loud.

He lifts me out of the water and plops my butt down on the pool coping. I fumble to catch my balance as he pulls himself out of the water. It drips off him like an ice cream cone in an oven. I'd love to lick every last drop.

"Okay." I grab a towel off the lounge chair and hold it over my breasts. If my dad finds out about this foolish move, he'll make us both miserable forever, but Foster and I have a special connection. If the world melted away, and it was only us left in it, I wouldn't hesitate to take him to my room and do it. It would be the best day of my life.

So for now, I'm going to pretend the real world doesn't exist, tomorrow isn't coming, and Foster is the center of my only universe.

His wet hand slips into mine and it feels important. It's meaningful. We are joined together heading to our destiny. We're saying screw everyone else, this is who we are and who we are meant to be. This is us .

As we exit the solarium and head to the stairs, footsteps and the sound of male laughter break my concentration. Someone is in the house .

Foster glances over and pulls me quickly to the stairs. We're on the third step when I hear the voice.

"Yo, Milana. What the hell?" It's Donnie.

Foster stops and steps down until he's in front of me, blocking my naked upper half. I still have the towel clutched tightly.

Oh no. It's not just Donnie. Renzo's shocked eyes are taking in the scene too.

Foster's shoulders raise and his hand squeezes mine. He's ready to fight, but I don't want that. I don't want Donnie and Foster to fight, and I don't even want Renzo to know who Foster is.

"Who's that?" Renzo asks.

"His name's Foster. The one she spent the night in the cellar with," Donnie says. "Were you guys fucking in the pool?" He sneers at us with his mocking tone. "Am I gonna see jizz seahorses in there?"

"Eww, gross, Donnie. No." With Foster in front of me, I'm able to work my towel around and tuck it under my armpits. "Can you guys just leave us alone? It's really none of your business." I place my palm flat on the sea serpent on Foster's back to let him know I'm here for him. Hopefully that will diffuse the situation.

"I'd say it's my business if you're getting busy in a pool with some random dude," Renzo says.

"It's really not."

"If I'm marrying you, it is."

Oh Lord. Please don't start with that crap right now. My father's stupid theory that I will marry the son of his dead best friend drives me crazy. Renzo is twelve years older than me, and I have no interest or attraction to him at all.

Foster's back goes stiff and his arms flare out. He glances over his shoulder at me and I give him a smirk to let him know it's bullshit.

"I am never marrying you and please don't say stupid stuff like that."

Renzo isn't looking at me. He's scrutinizing Foster. "He looks familiar." Renzo scratches his chin and slants his head to the side.

"You guys, please. Just leave. And don't tell Dad, okay?" I grab Foster's shoulder and try to pull him up the stairs, but he's rigid as a rock as he faces off with Donnie. He's challenging him with his eyes, and Donnie keeps looking away. He's seen Foster in the ring and knows the damage he would do to Donnie's face.

"Don't you know about him?" Donnie asks me.

A low growl rolls from deep in Foster's throat and vibrates through my fingers. He's like a motorcycle revving and ready to take off .

"The guy's a loser, Milana. Don't let him get in there like that." Donnie points at Foster and shakes his head.

"Shut the fuck up, Donnie," Foster says as he takes one step down the stairs and I lose contact with his shoulder.

Donnie moves behind Renzo, who is still standing in one spot, shocked and speechless to see me with another guy.

"You gonna make me do it, Foster? You forcing my hand?" Donnie says, and I'm lost. How do they know each other?

"Give it your best shot." Foster is not backing down.

Oh no. This is going to end in a fight. I can feel it.

"He's a drug dealer, Milana," Donnie blurts out.

"Shut your fucking mouth right now, or I'll shove your goddamn teeth down your throat." Foster presses one hand into the other to pop his knuckles.

"He wants in on the Bianchi business. He's working for me trying to get Dad's attention." Donnie sounds like a little kid ratting out a friend to get even.

Wait. Foster is working for Donnie? "You're selling drugs?" I ask my brother.

"Just a little pot," he answers.

"Just a little pot? And he's delivering it for you? All this is going on and nobody told me?" I can't believe what Donnie is saying. It has to be a lie. "Is that true, Foster? "

"I got pictures," Donnie says and Foster lowers his head.

Oh my God. It's true?

"You know what?" Renzo snaps out of his daze. "I remember this guy. Is this the guy who hit on you at a party and Donnie threw his ass in the pool?"

Foster looks to the ceiling and groans.

"What are you talking about?" I ask Renzo.

"A long time ago, but I'll never forget that little shit. Hitting on you and you were only fifteen. Donnie chucked his ass in the pool."

"I remember that night," Donnie says. "Was that you, Foster?"

Now we're all staring at Foster.

He takes three steps down the stairs and faces Donnie straight on. "Wanna try it again now?"

Donnie would be smart to back down now, but he keeps it up. "You're the same guy? Have you been stalking her?"

"No." Foster holds his arms out and flexes his biceps like he's stretching and preparing to fight.

"See? He's after money. He cased the joint back then. He's probably been planning this a long time. Get close to the daughter. Do some business with the son. Get an invite to Sunday dinner." Donnie points at Foster .

I can't believe it but it makes sense. Foster isn't denying being the waiter, the boy in the pool I just told him about.

"You didn't say anything?" I say to Foster's back. "I talked about the boy in the pool and you didn't say anything?"

He looks back at me over his shoulder and the sadness in his eyes breaks my heart. "Not my brightest moment."

I'm confused. I liked Foster so much. He seemed so genuine. I thought his rough exterior was just a facade. Could he really be manipulating me to get to my dad? He'd asked a few questions, but he didn't seem to be prying.

But he's delivering drugs for Donnie? And he didn't tell me?

I'm hurt. I'm hurt he didn't trust me with the truth.

I'm angry he had connections with my family behind my back and didn't tell me. I thought he was separate from that. I thought I could trust him, but I can't. He's just like all the other guys I've dated. They always have ulterior motives. It doesn't matter. Summer is over anyway. It was just a fantasy to be with Foster. And now he's not who I thought he was at all.

"I think you should leave now, Foster."

Pain and regret fills his eyes and his palms relax. He's not fighting anymore. Now he's fighting the pain I'm inflicting. Maybe he expected me to accept all this, but how can I? This whole thing with him wasn't what I thought. We weren't connecting. He's not a fantastic person. Even if he was being himself, his motives were bad. He wanted to get something from me.

My dad spends so much time protecting me physically but this guy infiltrated my barriers and now I'm scared. My dad couldn't protect me from him or my own stupidity.

"Mila…"

"Just go, Foster. I can't trust you anymore."

"I'm—"

"It's too late now. You had plenty of chances to tell me the truth and you didn't. So just go. Goodbye."

He gazes at me for a while longer, hope in his eyes I'll change my mind. The bitter regret I see there isn't because he's losing me. It's because he got caught trying to work his way into my family's business. He's exactly the kind of man my mom warned me about before she died.

Make sure he's genuine, Mila . Make sure he is who he says he is and he won't change for nothing . Because if you tie yourself to a man who fools you into something, you're stuck there forever. There's no way out .

He stares at me with those haunting moss-green eyes, but I'm not changing my mind. I cross my arms and plant my feet.

"Fine," he spits out .

Oh yeah, he's angry at me for not giving him a chance. Too late. No second chances. He looks from my eyes down to my legs and up again. "Watch out for coffee tables."

I hold my breath and try to stop my imploding heart as he turns and walks down the sidewalk next to the pool. The same sidewalk where he fought with Donnie when I was fifteen. He swipes up his shirt, steps out the door of the solarium, looks through the window like he did the night of the hurricane, and then he's gone.

"You don't need that guy," Renzo says as he walks closer to me. I hold up my hand because I don't want him near me.

"I'm going to get dressed. Please forget this happened and don't tell my Dad. Agreed?"

Donnie and Renzo both nod. I know they won't tell because they don't want me to get a beating again.

I don't say anything as I turn and march up the stairs to my bedroom.

I haven't taken the sunflower fairy lights down yet. Maybe somewhere deep inside I was hoping Foster and I could kiss again in my room one last time.

I turn the lights on and stare at my bed. We would have been making out right now if Donnie hadn't come home.

This sucks. Why does my life suck so bad? Why can't I have anything that's mine and safe and good ?

With several strong tugs, the fairy lights crash to the ground.

Stupid bumble bee lights can't protect me.

This isn't some fantasy world where I can find someone I love and be with him. This is a dark world with no escape.