4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Josh

As the plane comes to a screeching halt on the runway, I pack up my headphones and place everything in my backpack.

The plane ride was long. Eight hours of Layla ignoring me or giving me one-word answers.

I know she gave me an apology, and I should have just accepted nicely, but it seemed so forced. I'm giving up my time and money to fly halfway across the world for her, and all she could muster was a half-assed apology.

And now, here we are in Italy . I should be excited, but I'm dreading it.

How are we going to fill the silence of this trip if she isn't willing to talk to me? We have to spend an entire week together, and the plane ride alone has been miserable.

When we get to the train station, I find out I now have to endure a thirty-minute train ride to Como next to this ice queen. We're both clearly exhausted after the day of traveling, and our heads hang low as we try to fight off sleep .

Once we're in the cab and headed to our hotel, I let my head fall back against the seat and close my eyes. I was already struggling to get to bed last night knowing what I agreed to. I'm hanging on by a thread here, trying to stay awake.

I hear a gasp fall from Layla's mouth at the same time the warmth of her hand hits my thigh. My eyes fly open.

"Look," she whispers as she leans further over me, looking out my window.

The vast mountains surround the lake, and the crystal-clear water makes it look like a painting. As we weave through the roads, I can see large villas tucked away on the edge of the mountains.

"Wow," I gasp as we both stare out in awe of the beauty.

She leans even further over me, her mouth a mere couple of inches from mine. Her hand moves higher on my thigh as she looks for more leverage to hold herself up. My body is all too aware that it's Layla's hand on my thigh, her lips close to mine, and a growing problem is now arising in my pants.

I close my eyes and try to think of something else, anything else, but the placement of her hand. All that does is heighten my sense of smell, and I recognize her fruity, floral scent. It only makes my situation worse.

I need her to move.

"Umm," I cough as I squirm in my seat. "Yeah, it's beautiful."

She looks over at me with a smile on her face. I can see the moment she recognizes how uncomfortable I am, and her smile instantly fades. She moves back to her side of the seat. Guilt begins to gnaw at me. I hate that I'm the reason she lost that beautiful smile on her face. If only she knew why I had to put an end to the moment.

The cab driver stops in front of our hotel.

"Here we are," he says in his thick Italian accent.

We get our bags out of the trunk, and I look up at our hotel. It looks like a large palace on the side of a mountain. It's made out of some kind of white limestone with large Roman columns in the front.

Rolling into the front lobby is much of the same. I follow the red carpet up to the front desk.

"Hi, we're here to check in," I tell the woman standing behind the counter.

She looks young, maybe in her early twenties. Her name tag says Milana.

"Ciao. Benvenuti. Welcome," she smiles brightly. "Are you checking in?"

I turn to Layla. "Is it under your name?"

"Layla Williams," she ignores me, speaking directly to Milana.

"Ah, I see. Right here. A suite with a terrace and hot tub. King bed. A lovely view for your two," Milana says.

I look over at Layla, her eyes are wide. "Um, there was a last-minute change of plans. I was supposed to be here with my best friend. Is there any chance we could change to a new room that has two beds? Or maybe even two separate rooms?"

"Yes," I interject emphatically. "Two rooms would be best. "

Milana looks between the two of us with concern. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure we have an extra room available for the length of your stay. Let me check."

The silence is deafening as she types away on her computer. I don't even risk another glance at Layla. I'm still trying to come down from the incident in the cab. If that's all it takes to get me going, there's no way I could survive sleeping in the same bed with her for an entire week.

I wonder if she sleeps naked or maybe she just wears a tank top and her underwear. Fuck, I love it when girls do that.

Please, tell me there's two rooms. I don't know if I could even survive two beds, knowing she's in the bed next to me.

"We do have an extra room," she says.

Thank God! I take the much-needed breath that I was holding.

"The cost is one thousand nine hundred euros a night for six nights. Would you like me to book it?"

What the hell? What kind of hotel are we staying at? That number is outrageous. There's no way I can afford it. That's like sixteen thousand dollars. The all too familiar shameful feeling washes over me as I realize I could never give this woman next to me the life she deserves.

I'm sure her douchebag ex-boyfriend William would be able to spend that kind of money in a heartbeat. Her mom would probably love it if Layla were here with William. Just goes to show he was right all those years ago.

I have to speak up and admit the sad fact that I just can't swing that kind of money on a room .

"Are you kidding me?" Layla gasps before I can admit defeat. "That is outrageous. I knew I shouldn't have trusted Charlotte with the rooms. I know Asher told me he would handle it, but I just didn't think they would spend so much."

"Does that mean…" I start to speak but have trouble saying the words out loud.

"That we're shacking up together in one bed?" she finishes for me. "Are you willing to pay that kind of money just to avoid being in the same room as me?"

I feel like that's a trick question. If I had the money to spend carelessly, fuck yes. But I can't tell her that I don't trust myself around her. She still thinks I can't stand her, that I feel nothing towards her, and that is how it needs to stay.

"You know I can't afford that," I grind out, a blanket of disgrace washes over me.

"Well," she turns to Milana, "it looks like we are keeping our original room."

Milana nods, looking uncomfortable at our exchange. She must feel the tension between Layla and me. She makes quick work of getting us checked in.

I stand behind Layla as she holds the keycard in front of our door. As soon as we walk into the room, my breath catches in my throat.

There is no way this is our room. To say it is big is an understatement. The large king-sized bed looks luxurious with its white comforter and large pillows. The room has polished hardwood flooring, which extends to the sitting area with deep blue couches next to the windows .

Speaking of windows, they are floor-to-ceiling windows with French doors that open up to a white limestone terrace overlooking the lake and mountains.

"Holy shit," Layla whispers.

She drops her luggage on the floor by the bed and then walks straight to the doors. When they open, the wind blows around her as she walks out to the terrace. I follow her out. We both lean against the white stone railing.

"It's beautiful," she says as she looks out at the view.

"It is," I agree. "I've never seen anything like it."

"The water," we both say together.

She smiles, and I can't help but do the same. "It's so clear," I add, struck by the sight.

"Josh, look!"

I turn around and she's standing next to a hot tub. Layla next to a hot tub, the two of us alone. My brain is conjuring up a bunch of inappropriate images that I try to push aside so I don't spoil the mood.

"Shit, I think we're getting in there all week. I can't believe we have our own private terrace with a hot tub. This is insane."

"This place is like a dream," she says with a bright smile.

Relief floods me as I watch the joy radiating from her. Thank God I was able to make this trip, so she didn't have to cancel. I've watched her work her ass off for years. She deserves this vacation. She needs this vacation .

"What do you want to do first?" I ask as I glance down at my watch. "It's a little passed five right now."

I rub the back of my neck, trying to ignore the tension there. I'm still exhausted from the travel.

"What time is it back home?" she asks.

"Lunch time."

Her eyes bug out. "That's it? Why am I so tired?"

"We just traveled for like fifteen hours. I don't know about you, but I didn't get good sleep last night, nor do I sleep well on planes."

"Ugh, same. What do you think about ordering room service and getting a good night's sleep?"

"I think that's the best idea I've ever heard. We could eat out here on the terrace."

We find a menu on the table near the couches. I make a call to the front desk and order us our food and a bottle of wine while Layla gets in the shower.

I'm sitting on my cell phone, trying to connect to the hotel Wi-Fi, when I hear the bathroom door open.

I look up, and every muscle in my body tightens.

"What are you wearing?" I growl, trying to compose myself.

She glances down at herself and then shrugs. "I know. I thought it was just me and Charlotte. Or that I was at least going to have the potential to bring back some hot Italian guy. These pajamas are all I have, and after the long day of travel, I just want to be comfy. "

I grind my teeth as my eyes home in on her breasts. Her nipples are hard, and I can see every detail of them through her silk tank top. Her matching shorts are not any better, showcasing her toned legs.

"Can you at least put on a bra?"

She glances down and then places her hands on her hips. "What? Are my nipples that repulsive to you? I'm sure you can handle a little outline of a nipple at your old age."

She is so infuriating. I stand up and stomp over to the bathroom, grabbing a pair of boxers on the way. If she wants to play that game, I can play.

The bathroom is fucking insane. All white marble with a huge walk-in shower. Gold features throughout, giving it an upscale look. I turn on the shower until it's steaming hot. The water calms my muscles, which are still tense with anger.

Layla is so stubborn.

It drives me insane and turns me on all at the same time. My dick is aching as I close my eyes and picture her perfect tits again. That silk left little to the imagination.

I've been in Italy for all of an hour, and I'm already sporting a raging hard-on for her. I'm not gonna last.

But I refuse to touch myself with thoughts of her dancing around my head. That's dangerous territory. Instead, I bite my lip while I drive the shower handle all the way to the left until freezing-cold water comes out.

Shit, that's cold. But at least my dick is already shrinking up at the torturous temperature .

Once I'm done and dry off, I pull on my black boxer briefs. If she's just gonna strut around the hotel in next to nothing, I'll do the same. See how she likes it.

I open the door and walk back into the room. I spot her leaning against the railing outside, still in her silk pajamas.

My heart does a weird flutter in my chest as the beauty of the view and the woman compete for my attention.

Like she senses my presence, she turns around and looks at me. I walk further into the room until I'm at the doorway to the terrace.

"Enjoying the view?" I ask as her eyes look me up and down. The look of hunger in her eyes is obvious. It makes my dick stiffen slightly. Suddenly, I'm starting to wonder if this plan is about to backfire on me. Because Layla eyeing my bulging cock is starting to feel like I've taken this game in the wrong direction.

"What are you doing?" she grinds out, then looks away hastily, like she can't bear the sight of me for another second.

I shrug my shoulders and walk further onto the terrace, forcing her to look back at me.

"I'm just trying to understand the dress code here. It seems as if we're walking around in next to nothing."

I stop in front of her, maybe a foot away. Her breathing is labored as she looks her fill. I know when a woman likes what she sees.

"I told you," she says with a tremor in her voice. "I didn't pack anything else. "

I cross my arms across my chest. "Well, it appears we are in a bit of a pickle here. If you're walking around with your tits on display, I'm walking around like this."

Her eyes turn smoldering. "What exactly would you like me to do? I'm not going to put on a dress or fancy top to soothe your growing erection. I know you're a man whore, but can't you keep it down for this trip? At least around me."

I laugh bitterly. "There you go again, throwing man whore out at me. If that's the reason for all this animosity, I think it's a little old. You might need to find a new reason to despise me so much."

"I have plenty of reasons not to like you," she folds her arms across her tits, matching my stance.

It pushes her breasts up so high out of her top that I see a bit of her nipple popping out. I advance on her losing all reason and control.