Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

J enna

The sun was warm on my face as I woke up from a blissful sleep. Vincenzo's arms were wrapped tightly around me, holding me against his bare chest. I kept as still as I could, not wanting to wake him up.

My eyes lingered over his sleeping form. His face was softened in slumber, his strong jaw relaxed, and a hint of a smile played on his lips. His dark hair was messy, falling slightly over his forehead.

He was so unbelievably handsome.

My fingers traced a light path over his chest, feeling the coarse hair that covered the hard expanse of muscle. Just then, I felt his hold on me tighten slightly, and his eyes fluttered open.

Vincenzo looked down at me, a sleepy smile spreading across his face.

"Morning, beautiful," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

I blushed, feeling the warmth spread through me.

"Morning," I whispered back, my eyes locking onto his.

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "You look even more stunning in the morning light," he said, his gaze filled with affection.

I couldn't help but smile, my cheeks flushing even more. "You're just saying that because you're half-asleep."

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. "No, I mean it. You're beautiful, Jenna. Every moment with you feels like a gift."

His words made my heart flutter, and I looked away shyly. "You always know how to make me blush," I admitted.

Vincenzo gently lifted my chin, bringing my eyes back to his. "Good," he said softly. "I love seeing that blush on your gorgeous cheeks."

He leaned in and kissed me again, this time on the lips, a sweet, lingering kiss that made my toes curl. "How about I make you breakfast?" he suggested as he pulled back, his eyes still locked on mine.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What are you going to make?"

"Bananas Foster French toast," he said with a smile. "I know it's one of your favorites."

My mouth watered at the thought. "I'm not going to say no to that."

He grinned and gently disentangled himself from me, sitting up and stretching.

"Alright, stay here and relax. I'll have breakfast ready in no time."

I watched him get up out of bed, admiring the tight globes of his ass and the long lean line of his thighs.

Fucking delicious.

He looked over his shoulder, catching me, and I blushed harder.

"Be good," he said with a wink before he pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants and disappeared out of the room to go to the kitchen.

After a few moments, I decided to take a quick shower. I got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom, enjoying the warm water as it pounded over my sore body. The steam and the scent of the lavender soap were soothing, and I enjoyed it for quite a bit longer than I intended.

Once I was done, I wrapped a towel around myself and headed to his closet to find something to wear. I rummaged through his clothes and found one of his shirts, a soft, oversized button-up that smelled like him. I slipped it on, the fabric falling to mid-thigh, and buttoned it up.

As I was about to head downstairs, I heard his voice from down in the kitchen. Curiosity got the better of me, and I paused at the top of the stairs, listening.

"I need you to keep an eye on Jenna while I handle a few things," Vincenzo was saying. "I don't want her left alone, even for a minute."

I tiptoed down a few steps, careful not to make any noise. He must be on the phone, and I didn't want to disturb him.

"Make sure the perimeter is secure," he continued. "If anything happens, you contact me immediately. Understood?"

There was a pause, presumably while the person on the other end responded. I couldn't hear what they were saying to each other, but Vincenzo's next words were clear.

"Good. I appreciate it, Tony. I'll be back as soon as I can. Just make sure she's safe."

I felt a surge of warmth at his concern for me, but also a pang of guilt for eavesdropping. I took a deep breath and continued down the stairs, trying to appear casual.

As I entered the kitchen, Vincenzo looked up from his phone, his expression softening when he saw me.

"Hey there," he said, ending the call and slipping the phone into his pocket. "You look good in my shirt."

I blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pleasure. "Thanks. I hope you don't mind me borrowing it."

"Not at all," he replied with a smile. "It looks better on you anyway."

I walked over to the island where he was preparing breakfast. The smell of caramelized bananas and cinnamon filled the air, making my mouth water.

"Who were you talking to?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but I couldn't help myself.

Who did he want to watch over me? To be honest, it kind of annoyed me because I didn't really think I needed anyone to watch me.

I could take care of myself. I'd done it all my life. My mom and dad were never around, too caught up in their careers to give a damn whether I ate or drank or slept. All they cared about was that I didn't end up dead, or at least I hoped they did.

"Just one of my guys. You'll meet him soon," he said, not missing a beat as he flipped a slice of French toast in the pan. "I have to take care of a few things today, and I want to make sure you're safe while I'm gone."

I nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and annoyance at his presumption that I couldn't take care of myself.

"Is everything okay?" I pressed.

He glanced at me, his eyes serious. "I'm handling it. Don't worry."

"Okay." I shrugged with a smile.

I wished he would tell me more, but when he didn't say anything else, I decided to drop it. If he didn't tell me now, he would soon, or else I'd go looking for answers myself, and I was pretty good at that.

He slid the French toast onto a plate and handed it to me. I smiled, inhaling the rich scent.

"Here, try it," he offered.

I sat down at the kitchen island, slathered it in syrup, cut a piece off and took a bite.

"Wow. Ten out of ten, for sure," I said through a moan.

"Good," he said, smiling. "I'm glad you like it."

As I ate, he leaned back against the counter, watching me with an easy smile. The silence was comfortable, the two of us enjoying each other's company for a little while before he made himself a plate and joined me.

For a little while, I let myself pretend that we were a normal happy couple.

Except you're not.

I ignored my inner voice, the part of me that knew we shouldn't be together and eventually the world might drive us apart.

But that was a problem for another day.

Not today.