Eleanor's Desire

09. Torment

Chapter 9

"Indulge me then, tell me about the mysterious woman"

Drawing in an impatient breath Lorenzo shook his head, a twinge of humour and annoyance prickling inside him, it was the fifth time he'd got asked by the men working, course they would. After all the town was small and a chatterbox, it was naive of him to think otherwise.

"Dio, Lucca, your worse than the town women,"

Instead of being offended the blasted man barked a laugh, "That I am and no shame about it, in fact I wagered we would have a pleasant boss today, seems like I got the end of the row.. who is she then? A former mistress? Or perhaps a wife we haven't heard of? If that's—-"

"Good god, is that the kind of words travelling around?" With a hard shake of his head he smiled thank heavens that Nora didn't speak Italian, because he knew she would run the opposite and flee, the thought oddly not sitting right with him, "Don't be coy, blow the gaff.. or spill the beans as they say nowadays" Lucca impatiently spat,

"I don't have any gaff and no beans, now if you want me to remind you that this is work hours and I don't pay you for tardiness or prolonged conversations" Had it been another subject Lorenzo knew he would not care for time and why he befriended the man he didn't know.

"Protective of her aren't you? I see I've touched an unwelcome territory, but fret not if it's a claim i hear i gladly back off,"

Claim indeed... If anyone knew the kind of sick puppy he had been the past few days, doing all the silly things to hear that laughter, see a smile so beaming his heart squeezed painfully... god just thinking about the woman got him twisted, feeling uncomfortable he shifted in his seat and gestured to the pile of paper, "If you have nothing of importance to say, you can find your way out,"

"As you say boss... that temper of yours seem to never change after all," he muttered with a snicker strolling out of his study,

Instead of picking up his pile of work that awaited, Lorenzo found himself chuckling, deep in his thoughts about the previous day...

  "You insufferable—-" her voice faltered as she shrieked when he drew closer, "Don't you dare! No!"

Lorenzo barked another laugh as he closed the gap between them his hand grasping the book she seeemed so determined to hid, "Afraid I'll know all your darkest secrets, Cara?" His breath tickling her ear, the bonnet who once covered her hair had tilted, because of the breeze and her fast reflexes, her mouth went dry, "Sir, I— I am not afraid," the quiver in her voice betraying that very fact

His lips twitched in a grin, "I will not trespass your privacy this time, knowing that did me no good in the past," he murmured still standing very much into her privacy, Eleanor had not realised he meant the notebook that was still clasped with a death grip in her palm, "I would also appreciate if you could do the same in my personal space.. your—"

Her words halted and her breath hitched as his body hovered over her, her eyes dropped to his lips, his followed suit,

Lorenzo found it hard to breath, he had wanted to make her smile and laugh as she did when they were out in the ocean, his eyes couldn't stop looking at her, like a child coming back for treats he didn't seem to be able to shake himself not knowing why this particular woman held his interest,

He was in a trance... completely to her mercy

Her pink lips, lush and soft looking.. it would just take one—-

Before he knew it she moved so swiftly he almost grasped the air, "I— I suppose another day, the market can wait—" stammering through her words his gaze flickered back to her eyes, the lust and desire he could read for a second was gone,

"Nora—-"

He hadn't a chance finishing before she flew

And now Lorenzo was tormented by the thought, what almost happened had it not been for her retreat.. He wanted to kiss her, taste those lips and dreamed about it. Cursing softly he wondered how in hell he could go through three more days before he accompanied her to Rome. He hardly could recall the time he had ever been besotted over a woman, even in his early teens he had self control, but god mercy she was intruding ever aspect of his life.

Rubbing his forehead he sighed remembering the feel of her inside his arms, her scent, the whole reason of where they supposed to go gone from his mind,

He really needed a grip. She was a distraction he didn't need, she was merely a person who needed help, who he wanted to help, see to safety. After she was gone his life would go back to order, no sleepless nights, no disturbing dreams that awakened him with a hot need.

With that knowledge he pushed his thoughts aside and dived back into his work praying that the week ahead would not torment him as the previous one already did.

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