Salvation

Surrender to me

The last thing Lauren remembers before her vision went black were those pictures scattering on the floor since her hands became to weak to hold them. And the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes were those captivating eyes of his. She was too week to move and stayed lying there while he caressed her cheek sitting beside her.

"You fainted.", he said almost whispering.Was that shadow of remorse crossing his face?

"It's okay. We can talk now.", Lauren said calmly because she has no strength to fight after what she saw.

He stood up putting his hands in pockets. Few first buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned letting her to see a bit of that muscular chests, sleeves rolled up, his dark hair was messy. He was so sexy and Lauren felt her heart racing. She hated him because he was affecting her that much.

Lauren also stood up, still wearing only a towel. She didn't want him to think that she was nervous in front of him so she decided to end up this conversation as quickly as she can.

" I guess those pictures would be the reason for you to call the press." It didn't sound as a question but he nodded and came closer to her still holding his hands in pockets.

"I think you should sign the contract or...", he shrugged his shoulders and let her to finish the sentence in her thoughts because Lauren was too disgusted and angry to say it out loud.

"What do you want from me? Can't you just go and find yourself another victim?", Lauren was shouting dangerously near him and before she realized he was holding her in his arms.

Alessio wasn't able to control himself anymore, he needed to have her near, to feel her body against his, to touch her skin.He grabbed her around her waist and pulled her body against his. Without thinking he wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck, caressing her silky soft skin, and kissed her.

He knew he shouldn't be doing this right now but his self-control was at low level when he is in a presence of this woman. Alessio felt her lips giving the resistance to his but it lasted only few seconds before she surrendered and returned the kiss. He was allured. She was so sweet, he has never tasted such lips before, like they were meant to be kissed by him, only him. He dragged his fingers through her wet hair and heard her moans when he deepened the kiss. His hands were now wandering across her body, exploring the beauty of it. His mind, his soul, his body were all in this kiss, this one kiss. But now when he tried her he needed all of her, completely.

She suddenly pushed him away from her, crashing the magic. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen, her hair messy and her eyes...Alessio knew she wanted him,just as much he wanted her.

"Don't you dare to touch me ever again.", she yelled at him pointing her finger in his direction."Give me those contracts and leave, I will bring them to you.Signed."

Last word was barely audible. She braced her with her arms and looked at her toes."Leave now, please."

Alessio hated himself because of this, she seemed so sad and unprotected and It was all his fault. He wanted to hug her, take her in his arms, give her comfort but instead he turned his back to her and left without a word.

***

Lauren stood there for quite some time after he left, terrified that she enjoyed in that kiss, still feeling shivers going through her body. She should be hating him for what he made her do.

She looked at the table where the contracts were lying, waiting for her to seal destiny with the devil himself. With her sign on those contracts she will loose her dignity and yet, on the other hand, she will save the family business and prevent him to publish those pictures. Oh my god, the pictures. Luckily he took them with him, or this time she would vomit. It hurts her very much and Lauren wish she could delete that image from her memory, but she can't. She has to live with this cognition for the rest of her life. Also how is she going to resist him. She took a deep breath that was consisted with frustration and sadness.

Decision has been made, she will sign those damn contracts but also let him wait few more days till she brings them to him. Now all she needed was company and a drink. She took her phone and dialed Sam's phone number.

"Hey girl, can I buy you a drink?"

"No, b***h, I don't want drink, I want drinks", she said emphasizing the last word. She has a talent to contaminate everyone with good mood and that is what she needs now.

Lauren invited her to come to her place because she didn't have strength to go out.

She came quickly, with pizza in one hand and wine in other. They haven't seen each other for few days and Sam wasn't aware of everything that was happening in Lauren's life. After they settled themselves comfortably Lauren started talking. More she talked more shocked Sam was.

"The guy from the bar proposed you?" Sam asked for the tenth time still not believing

"Yes.Well, not really proposed.It is a contract, I told you already and he has been here just an hour ago and he kissed me. Can you believe it? Asshole," Lauren said with anger in her voice.

"Shut up!Is he a good kisser or he is just hot?" she was quite excited about this part and Lauren couldn't help but laugh at her face expression.

"Sam, although I hate to admit, he is. A great one, the best one that kissed me actually.", the same feeling of sensation hits her again just by thinking about it. His hands caressing her body, his lips kissing her passionately. She hates him, Lauren tried to convince herself again. She is going to repeat that until it happens.

She managed to convince Sam to stay at her place over the night, mostly to keep her thoughts away from Alessio and all the other things he put her go through. The pictures were one detail that Lauren missed out in conversation with Sam. She wanted to forget about that, because it hurts even thinking about it and most important of all she wanted to keep that detail away from everyone, even from herself if that's possible.

She will take few days off to let everything sink in and to get some desperately needed rest.

***

It has been a week since Lauren lost the contact with the outside world and only visits were from Sam. When she came today she told Lauren that she is going on a short vacation with her coworkers. Lauren will miss her and she was already sad but she promised her that she will be okay. After Sam left she picked the contract and sat to read it. It is not that she hasn't been reading it every day questioning herself is she ready to do this. The terms were just not acceptable, but she doesn't have another choice. Lauren took both of the contracts and signed them, leaving one for her and the another one was for Alessio. She sighed heavily. At least she saved her family from bankruptcy and prevented him of throwing dirt on family's name, although not everyone in her family deserve that kind of sacrifice. It was strange, but she thought that she will be crushed when she signs them, but no. This must be accepting the faith If you can call this faith.

Ring of her phone cut her dark thoughts. When she answered and heard that deep and daring voice on the other side of the line Lauren instantly knew who the caller was.

"Hello Lauren, how are you?"

"Where did you get my number?" she heard him laughing. He sounds so sexy and she hates that.

"I have my connections.", after short pause he continued,"Have you signed it?"

"Yes, I will send them to your office tomorrow." Lauren said feeling knot in her throat tightening

"Oh, please. I would like you to bring them personally, because we also need to talk."

"Okay, I will see you. Bye." she hung up before he could hear her bursting into tears.

***

Next morning when she woke up and went to the bathroom her reflection in the mirror screamed back at her "feeling and looking like s**t". Lauren sighed and stripped her clothes of to take a quick shower. Clean and refreshed she felt little better. She puts on some makeup and goes to her closet to find an outfit for today. She didn't want to wear anything revealing or tight fitting. She puts on black fluttering skirt and white shirt, black sandals and took her bag with the contract in it. She was nervous. Lauren didn't know if it was because of the contract or for the fact that she is going to spend some time alone with Alessio. She was on the road before she even had to time to think about that twice. With the traffic jam it took hr about an hour and a half to arrive at his company. Lauren was amused by the look of the building and in the inside everything was furnished and decorated with taste. The receptionist girl greeted Lauren with smile and when she told her my name she led her to Alessio's office. She knocked on the door and let Lauren in leaving her alone with him. She felt the urge to turn and run away, far from here and him but she stayed. He got up from his seat when he saw Lauren and gave her one of those smiles of his,"Hello Lauren, take a seat." he said pointing at one of the chairs across his desk.

"Thank you." She wanted to finish this meeting as soon as possible so she took out the contract and put it in front of him."and goodbye." she said turning around intending to leave but he stopped her.

"Wait, I need to talk to you about something else too."

"I don't have time, you got what you wanted and I believe that concludes this meeting."

"You are wrong," He said coming closer.

"Enlighten me, than, Mr Mancini. What is it so important that can't wait for another time?"

He smiled arrogantly,"Our wedding, our honeymoon and our interview."

Lauren looked at him as if he was crazy,"What wedding, what honeymoon and what interview?"

She wasn't thinking about that at all."I thought that we are going to have civil wedding, no honeymoon and no damn interviews. I don't want that." She was angry now, he can't do that.

He turned her his back and went to take the contract from the table. He removed the picture from the wall behind his desk and opened the safe after entering the code, puts a contract in it and locked it again.

"You are so pathetic." she was disgusted with all of this and sick of him bossing around.

"Dear Lauren, you signed all of that. All of my rules, remember? You can listen to them now or you want to be surprised again, it's up to you." he said while taking a seat at one of the chairs across his desk.