Chapter 49: Chapter 49

"How nice of you to join us, Leonardo."

Leonardo raised his head and frowned at his cousin.

"I thought you are done with pools today, especially after what happened. Perhaps you are here for another round?"

Holding his breath, Leonardo stole a glance at Paige, who was frowning at Alberto in confusion. Leo released his breath. Obviously she did not understand the implications in Alberto's words.

If Alberto was irritated, he was here. So was he. He was also irritated, not to mention jealous when he found out Paige was going swimming with him. In nothing but that piece of cloth, she called a bikini.

He didn't know the deal with Alberto. If he was just curious about Paige or if he liked her. Whatever the case, he didn't want to allow any opportunity for anything to develop between the two of them. He was jealous of anyone who so much as smiled at her for more than a few minutes.

It would be alright to say he wanted the girl all to himself. And he would have been more secure if he were already dating the girl. But he had a lot of loose ends to tie up. A lifestyle to straighten before he gets to that end.

He wanted an opportunity to woo her first. He wanted to keep his path clean so that by the time he asked her to date him, he would have already reduced the chances of being rejected. Before then, anyone who stands in his way becomes an obstacle. Including Alberto.

"I was feeling hot so I came downstairs to cool off." Cut and simple, he dismissed Alberto. He knew his excuse was flimsy, but who cares.

He allowed his back to touch the cold blue water, letting himself to float on the water, and sneaked a glance at Paige. She had grown very quiet. He hated when she went quiet like this. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. Earlier today, she was spitting fire in their bedroom. Where was that same energy? Or was she also annoyed he was here? Damn it.

With a simple flick of his hand, he threw the ball on his stomach at her, losing his balance in the process. and she caught it, somewhat surprised. He resurfaced, water falling from his hair and onto his face and naked chest. He has gotten her attention now. Good.

He turned to Alberto, who was eyeing him. Alberto was resting by the porcelain marbles. A little further away, a little detached from him and Paige. Leo ran his hand over his face, grinning. He needed to rest this issue once and for all before it turned into something else.

"Alberto," he called. "It turns out Lolita was paid to seduce me after all." Paige's head snapped in his direction. Leo had just phrased that statement in a manner that suggested he and Alberto had been discussing it before and he just recently found the confirmation they were looking for.

Alberto's brows furrowed, and he bent down until his head disappeared under the water and did a few laps. When he surfaced, water dripping from his hair, he used one big hand and wiped his face down. "By who?"

Leo fought the urge to turn to Paige as he said to Alberto, "My sister, Rosa, paid her to seduce me."

"I'm not surprised," Alberto muttered.

From the corner of his eyes, Leo eyed Paige. There was a thoughtful frown on her face. Leo's heart beat. What he said now wasn't for Alberto's benefit. It was for her. He turned his head and caught her gaze. She had been staring at him. She tried to turn away, but he held her captive with his eyes. Paige opened her mouth and closed it."So you see, i had nothing to do with that woman."

Her cheek was the first to turn red and then it spread to her ear and she stole a glance at Alberto. Biting her lips. He could imagine her groaning in her head.

Ah, perhaps she didn't want Alberto to know the two of them have been having a mini, unspoken, silent quarrel about what had happened in the pool today.

Leo swam to where she was, sensing she would want to speak with him privately.

As soon as he got to her, she opened her mouth, and she had nothing he wanted to hear. "Why do you insist on telling me? Why do you persistently insist? Have you forgotten we are only…."

His brows drew down. "Don't say it." He held her gaze, annoyed somehow.

She closed her mouth, and they stared at each other. The water in the pool had turned her blond hair a shade darker, and it plastered on her skull and neck. Her lips directly under him in that upturned face appeared pink, as well as fresh he wanted to lean down and kiss her. The need to do that was urgent. In fact, his face was hovering a few inches away from hers.

Alberto looked from one to the other and groaned. "Man, the suspense is killing me. What are you two whispering about there for? Can one of you at least say something out loud so I can hear it am part of this conversation you know?"

Ignoring Alberto, Leo leaned even further down. His hand reaching up to cup her shoulder. He rested his forehead on hers, his voice growing low. "Can you for one moment, or one day pretend the situation is different." He was referring to her unfinished statement earlier about their relationship being fake.

As though imitating him, her voice grew low as well. "Only for just one moment, or just one day?" That question begged to be answered.

Leonardo frowned. Was it even a question, or was she confirming something for herself? What was she trying to tell him? In fact, he felt he knew. But couldn't place what. The answer kept coming close to the surface of his mind, but when he tried to reach it. It eluded him.

It was frustrating. Leo tried once more. He was almost there when Alberto's voice killed the moment and he groaned in frustration, and turned his head, and flashed angry eyes at him.

"Shut up Alberto. Or better still, can you go?"

"What did I do? I only said you guys should share what you were talking about. On the other hand, I invited her here so why should i…

"You know that yacht you always liked," Leo's voice cut across Alberto's. "You can have it."

Talk, about something of that caliber could be the only thing to tempt Alberto now. Alberto, like himself, was also rich, and mentioning money to him wasn't going to do it.

Paige gasped, and Leo's attention returned to her once more. She might not have known what yacht they were talking about. But a yacht wasn't something you can easily trade for a flimsy situation like this. Ah, but for her, he was willing to go that far.

Finally gaining his voice, Alberto rasped out, "Holy cow. No way Leonardo, you really liked that yacht. You can't be thinking of…" He faltered.

"Just give us some time, please. And it's all yours. Per favore."

"I don't know what's gotten into your head, man, but am glad it's working in my favor. Anything that would add to my collection." Alberto grinned and started towards the stairs.

"This is ridiculous. Why will you do something like that," Paige whispered.

"You mean why am I hellbent on explaining this?"

Sometime later, Alberto must have left because he didn't hear any other sound from him.

"That woman, Lolita, was my first girlfriend. The first one to break my heart. I have told you about her, haven't I?"

"So she is the one that…"

"Yeah. So don't punish me for what i do not know. Il mio tesoro," He muttered, knowing she wouldn't know the meaning of that word, and that was why he could comfortably use it around her.

Her blond head lowered. "I don't know Leonardo," The tension in her, easing out and her shoulders slumped. "What do you want from me?"

Now, the question he has been waiting for.

"I want you to acknowledge there was something in that kiss."

Her bottom lip quivered, and she turned her face away. Leo cupped her chin, and she turned those baby blue eyes at him. Lowering his head, he kissed her.

Sucking at her lower lips and then her upper lips.

One hand came to rest on her face cupping her cheek. The other one pulling her close until their wet bodies met and her breast pressed against him.

She must have known by now that he was aroused to the point of ravishing her in this pool. Because his cock was pushing insistently at her stomach. She wiggled her body and Leo groaned loudly into the air and felt her whimper in response.

He pried her lips open gently, and in went his tongue, searching for hers. Savoring the sweetness of her mouth and alive with the tempest of need.

His large hand on her back went exploring, and he drew it down her body, cupping the firm, rounded flesh of her buttocks, squeezing it. They both groaned in unison.

Leo realized that if he continued kissing her like this, their skin touching the way it was. With time, he wouldn't be able to control himself anymore.

It was a temptation that would test him. So he pulled her away from him, his hand on her shoulder breathing heavily, but she rose on her tiptoes and put her arms around his neck. "Please don't stop Leonardo," she cried and clung to him. Drawing his head down. Leo met her lips with a hot one.

The sensation was one he couldn't deny now.

And the kiss that came later was one that explained everything he wanted with one rub. She whimpered slightly, but welcomed him, wrapping her arms around him, her fingers playing into the hair at his nape, nails digging into his shoulder at the force of him against her.

His hand moved up to her breast. Right under it, but he didn't go any further. He kept it there as he kissed her. His body reacting in the most primal way.

He bent her until her back was touching the cool water, one hand behind her back preventing her from falling, and nibbled at her neck. One hand sneaking up to cup her breast. He squeezed and rotated it in a circular motion. Pinching one nipple through her bikini. Then he bent down and took her nipple through her bikini.

She cried out in passion, her finger biting into his back, but he didn't care.

"Oh, Paige what you do to me." He brought her flush to his body again, savoring the feel of her skin on his.

He couldn't bear it anymore. He looked down and met her eyes. "Paige, I don't think I can hold myself anymore I want to…."

"Do it," she said with passion

"What?"

"Make love to me. Isn't that what you were going to say."

Leo nodded his head.

He was going to ask for permission but she did just given it to him. How did she know to read his mind like this? He nodded his head and hoisted her into his arms. Taking her out of the pool.

He carried her bridal until they stepped into the palazzo and then, not being able to control himself, again bent down and took her mouth in a kiss, which she responded to right away, her hands going behind his neck.