Temptation in Tuxedo

Chapter Three

Chapter 3 | Walking A Tightrope

*****

Sunlight filtering through sheer curtains kissed skin, stirring me languidly awake. Silk sheets pooled around my waist as I stretched, reveling in tugging reminder of last night's acrobatics. I rolled into fading body heat, expecting to find Lorenzo's sculpted body...yet my seeking fingers only discovered cold empty bedding again.

I cracked reluctant lids just as footsteps echoed nearer followed by the vision of Lorenzo shirtless, balancing a wooden tray holding a carafe and mugs.

"You're awake, finally." A heart stopping dimple flashed as Lorenzo perched along the rumpled duvet. Up close, faint smudges of fatigue shadowed his dark eyes. "I come bearing coffee again, sleeping beauty. Clearly you need caffeine to function at dawn like a normal human.”

I sat up gingerly, warmth spilling through me at his solicitous gestures despite rough teasing. "Has anyone told you that you'd make an incredible house husband?"

Lorenzo nearly choked mid-swig from his mug. I grinned unrepentantly, poking at his washboard abs. "Seriously. You in an apron, catering to my every whim? Perfect fantasy.” I leaned up, nipping along his sharp jawline. “Sure I can’t convince you to quit this whole finance mogul thing?”

Lorenzo’s resounding laughter filled the sunlit room. Setting his mug aside, he gripped my waist, effortlessly manhandling me atop muscular thighs. Molten embers already kindled within his umber gaze. “Mio dio ... you continue delighting me at every damn turn.”

As I lost myself within fierce lips and wandering hands once more, a prickle of unease persisted amidst my bliss bubble. Much as I wished suspending reality here forever with playful banter and lush distractions, creeping doubts about where I stood with Lorenzo wouldn't dissolve so easily...

Almost as if following my spiraling thoughts, Lorenzo gentled our kiss, cradling my jaw and smoothing thumbs along my cheekbones reverently until I met his earnest gaze again.

“Stay with me today?” Raw vulnerability shone starkly across his chiseled features. “No work, no family, no outside bullshit. Just you and me before this goddamn world tries intruding again.” His mouth grazed tenderly along my temple, lips warm against my skin. “Let me make things up to you properly, Marco. Please.”

My misgivings crumbled swiftly. No lover versed in casual flings extended such naked entreaties... I covered Lorenzo’s broad hand with my own, turning until I could dust a fervent kiss to the center of his palm. “When you ask so nicely, how could I refuse?”

Fiery triumph blazed through Lorenzo’s answering smile - before he dragged me down mouth-first, steeping us both in blistering, toe-curling rapture. And for long blissful hours after, wrapped wholly in Lorenzo’s singular focus, I willfully ignored the gathering storm awaiting our idyllic interlude outside these silken walls.

* * *

Much later, we meandered along a cobbled path wending through Central Park, foliage above us just hinting at autumn's arriving palette. Lorenzo had insisted on properly wining and dining me amidst Manhattan landmarks despite my protests such grandeur exceeded necessary wooing efforts. Still happiness swelled inside me wandering hand in hand beside my gorgeous suitor through golden afternoon light, trading teasing barbs and fervent kisses when no one lingered close by.

Yet as we paused along Bow Bridge watching sunlight glitter across the lake below, my tongue burned with the question I'd resisted all afternoon. I steeled myself, peering up at Lorenzo’s striking profile and how inky strands lifted gently in the breeze, clinging to his creased brow.

“Not that I haven’t enjoyed playing hooky immensely today...” I wet my lips, pulse quickening as I breached our idyllic bubble at last. “But don’t you have some financial empire to run or something?” I nudged his shoulder playfully when Lorenzo met my probing look. “I mean, most corporate bigwigs don’t spend random work days canoodling through the park, right?”

A crease formed between Lorenzo’s winged brows. He turned, calloused palms framing my hips to pull me nearer across the polished stone ledge separating us. “I hardly consider being with you random or meaningless, Marco,” he admonished quietly, sincerity burning through his tiger-eyed stare now. “But you’re right - my family likely wants my f*****g head by now for neglecting duties since we met.” One shoulder lifted in an elegant shrug before Lorenzo drew me tighter still, leaving no space between us. “So let them wait. For once in my goddamn life I’m taking something just for me...”

His smoldering declaration sank bone-deep, kindling liquid yearning through every vein as his sculpted mouth slotted firmly over mine. We swayed together trading lush, wine-soaked kisses until Lorenzo gentled our lip-lock at last. Eyes still closed, he rested his forehead against mine, tension lingering around his sensuous mouth. My chest constricted at fresh burden dimming his beloved features.

I smoothed my palms across his crisp button down, fingertips tracing every ridge of lean muscle beneath. “Hey, talk to me,” I coaxed softly, waiting until his downcast gaze lifted reluctantly back to me. “What’s really going on that you’re avoiding dealing with?”

Lorenzo hesitated, throat bobbing sharply until he glanced away with a ragged exhale, bracing both arms against weathered stone. His broad back radiated frustration.

“Just constantly appeasing the old wolves snapping at my throne while I keep expanding the family’s goddamn kingdom, per my father’s bidding...” Lorenzo dragged a harsh hand through his tousled mane. “I’m just so f*****g tired, Marco.”

My heart splintered at hearing formidable Lorenzo Delfino sound so defeated. I curved my body along his spine, winding both arms around his lean waist and squeezing fiercely. After a taut moment Lorenzo’s muscles unclenched as he loosed a shuddering breath then covered my interlocked hands with one of his own. I pressed fervent kisses between his shoulder blades through smooth fabric.

When Lorenzo faced me once more, steely determination hardened his angular profile. “But I swear nothing will jeopardize this fragile thing blooming between us, il mio bellissimo,” he grated fiercely. “Not this time.”

I frowned, grappling for context around his cryptic remark. Before I formulated a response, Lorenzo framed my jaw in both hands almost roughly, branding my lips with a searing kiss that stole rational thoughts. We clung fiercely beneath slowly drifting foliage, the outside world fading away until only Lorenzo existed thrumming hot and vibrant against me.

By the time we came up for air, the sun sank low behind Manhattan skyscrapers in a haze of violet and vermillion. The ethereal** reflected off familiar watchful eyes now too as Lorenzo led us toward where his sleek town car no doubt waited beyond park gates.

Yet our steps slowed in tandem when raucous laughter carried faintly from across the wide lawn we traversed. I glanced up involuntarily toward the lively group arranging themselves atop the massive stone steps nearby - then my lungs seized, senses tunneling violently as I registered familiar features amidst the sea of strangers.

"Oh god,” I wheezed, staggering to an abrupt halt. Beside me I felt more than heard Lorenzo make a low wounded noise just as the beautiful man draped casually atop my ex twisted toward us. Emerald eyes I once adored collided with mine across the divide. Shock widened Diego’s classically handsome face before his sculpted mouth hardened into contemptuous lines.

I swayed dangerously but Lorenzo clutched me tighter against his side, squaring his shoulders almost defiantly as Diego extricated himself from clinging limbs and prowled down the steps toward us. My ears rang louder with every slap of expensive leather on granite.

This couldn’t be happening now... Intellectually I knew ending things with Diego weeks earlier exempted me from any accountability on his part - but emotionally still struggling to shake lingering ghosts of that toxic relationship, shame flooded my insides at being discovered wrapped up with someone new so soon. Even if that someone did make me happier than I could recall in ages...

Diego halted paces away, brazenly eyeing up Lorenzo’s protective stance sheltering my body partially behind hard muscle and expensive wool. A cruel smirk I knew all too well twisted Diego’s handsome mouth then he slid that emerald glare disdainfully down my mortified frame.

“Well, well...look what the cat dragged in.” Diego shook his golden head, disgust etching his patrician features now. “I should’ve figured you’d latch onto the next 26 Armani suit to blink your way, Marco. But seriously?” He scoffed, eyeing Lorenzo derisively again. “Slumming with Delfino? You always did aim high chasing sugar daddies, you little gold digging slut...”

My mouth dropped in dismay, outrage snapping my spine rigid - but then a feral snarl tore from Lorenzo’s chest. He shifted sharply forward, menace radiating off every tense line of his imposing body.

"You better watch your f*****g mouth when speaking to him, understand?" Lorenzo bit out each syllable with lethal precision but Diego merely sneered, crossing both arms insolently over his designer sweater.

"Or what? You'll sic your attack dogs on me?" Disdain dripped from Diego's curled lip. "We both know you’re nothing but a mob thug playing dress up, Delfino...once street trash, always gutter fil--"

Diego didn't get to finish the slur. With serpentine speed Lorenzo struck, fist cracking brutally across Diego's smug face. Cartilage crunched wetly as scarlet spurted in a wide arc from Diego’s mangled nose. He collapsed limply to scuffed bluestone with a garbled shriek just as pandemonium erupted around us.

Numb detachment fogged my brain observing the chaotic scene - Lorenzo looming over Diego’s crumbled form, flexing his bloodied knuckles while their friends shouted threats and scrambled anxiously. Crimson stained the pristine collar of Lorenzo's shirt as he glared down pitilessly at Diego writhing in agony...

The ruthless enforcer from my worst imaginings fully embodied at last. Rage and ice water flooded my veins realizing the ugly specter I’d overlooked while drowning blissfully in Lorenzo's seduction these charmed weeks. Fury and betrayal scalded any shock or lingering hurt.

I grappled Lorenzo’s shoulder roughly. Our eyes collided - rich amber bleeding violent crimson - before I gritted out tightly, "Take me home. Now!"

Without a word Lorenzo steered us briskly toward the curb and his idling town car, deaf to the continued commotion raging behind us. The leather interior embraced me stiffly but any comfort seemed trivial now. Lorenzo slammed the door sharply, engine rumbling to life as we pulled recklessly into chaotic New York traffic.

"Marco--" Lorenzo reached for me tentatively once we straightened from inertia hurling us both against buttery leather. I cringed away sharply, cradling my throbbing temple and blinking back scalding moisture beading traitorously along my lashes despite rage still simmering through every taut cord.

A wounded sound punched my eardrums. Lorenzo stared beseechingly when I finally met his ravaged expression but scarcely dared reach for me again. "Tesoro, I swear I didn’t intend for things to get so f****d up back there--”

I slashed one hand sharply through stifling air between us. "Can we not do this right now?” Glass edged each syllable. “Just get me home, Lorenzo. Please."

We endured excruciating miles cloaked in misery until the sight of my shabby complex leaked slow relief into my veins. The sleek town car idled to a smooth stop across cracked sidewalk lining worn brownstones and neon bodega lights welcoming me home.

Yet before I made good my escape, Lorenzo snatched my wrist gently. I stilled, pulse hammering as his burning fingers circling delicate bones seemed to brand straight through to my marrow even now.

When our shadowed gazes locked once more, raw devastation carved new furrows across Lorenzo's proud features. "He will never speak another vile word against you again or I’ll tear out his f*****g silver tongue myself next time, Marco,” he grated arctic calm belying the tumult in his stare. “I meant what I said...no one hurts you and lives."

Fresh outrage spiked through me yet words lodged bitterly in my throat. I managed one terse nod instead then slipped free of feverish nearness, his blistering vow chasing me from polished opulence into familiar dingy halls. Taking the stairs two at a time, I ignored Mrs Ortega’s nosy greeting until collapsing breathless across my lumpy mattress behind a shabby door that somehow never felt more like flimsy sanctuary than tonight.

Only once safely barred from outside chaos did my composure finally shatter. I muffled ragged sobs behind my fist, scalding tears leaking free as my entire body shook violently with the traumatic evening’s events. What the actual f**k just happened? And how could someone I was falling terrifyingly fast for reveal such ugliness beneath charming polish?

Perhaps everyone carried darkness...yet I didn’t know if even bright flickers of happiness with Lorenzo proved enough to eclipse the monsters lurking inside him after tonight.