Temptation in Tuxedo

Chapter Five

Chapter 5 | Perilous Chance

*****

I groaned weakly beneath pounding spray needling my shoulders, forehead pressed to slick white tiles while ragged exhales fogged the rainfall shower's sleek confines. Harsh half-moons from my fingernails likely marred flawless skin as I clutched desperately at flexing muscle...

Behind me Lorenzo snarled encouragement through gritted teeth, piston hips snapping ever ruthless until liquid pleasure spilled again from my throbbing member. I whimpered brokenly as intense body-racking spasms finally ceased and slumped forward - but Lorenzo's firm grip halted my near collapse.

"Easy, amore...” Lorenzo nipped my slick shoulder. "I've got you...” His rumbling tenor washed warm as the water sluicing our trembling forms. Those calloused palms swept reverent shapes across my chest once the last quavering aftershocks abated. Lovingly Lorenzo cleaned sweat-damp sin from my limbs with gentle passes of a sponge in contrast to our earlier violent coupling.

Despite contented euphoria still fogging all thought, guilt needled sharply through the sated haze. This stolen luxury high above Manhattan seemed lifetimes removed from growing threats looming over us once our blissful bubble shattered inevitably at dawn...

I reluctantly unfolded from Lorenzo’s solid frame as stream dwindled to a trickle, accepting the thick towel he proffered. My lover wasted no time swaddling us together once more though, ignoring lingering moisture slicking his raven waves as he drew me mouth-first under the plush Egyptian cotton. Familiar blistering tongue slid alongside mine - yet inexplicably Lorenzo almost seemed...desperate surging against my body with harsh urgency compared to gentle hands cleansing us just moments before. I gentled the frantic kiss, cradling his striking face between damp palms.

"Hey - shhh I’m not going anywhere yet,” I soothed though icy dread clawed up my spine too at encroaching daylight. “It’s just one hurdle with your father, then he’ll accept how serious we are...”

Grim acceptance weighted Lorenzo’s proud profile at my shaky reassurances. He captured my wrist, brushing tender lips to the frantic pulse beneath delicate flesh. The intimate caress sent a dangerous wistful pang through my core before he guided us into the open bedroom where our personal belongings awaited neatly arranged atop rumpled silk sheets, courtesy of ever-present hovering hotel staff. My throat constricted spying Lorenzo's sleek gold watch deliberately centered atop his folded clothes - elegant ticking countdown until we faced his condemning dynasty...

Silently we donned designer and thrift shop garb alike until Lorenzo stood imposing once more in sharp double breasted navy, rakishly backcombed ebony waves framing his stoic features. He crossed the luxurious divide and clasped my nape almost fiercely. Already maelstroms churned behind espresso irises boring into me.

“Listen very closely, il mio tesoro...” Urgent intensity rasped those lyrical Italian pleas sending prickling unease down my spine. Lorenzo smoothed his thumb across my furrowed brow, warm palm anchoring steadfast against my hammering pulse. "No matter what vitriol gets spewed later or how convincing the lies my family spins appear, do not forget what waits here still between us...” His searing focus dropped to my kiss-swollen mouth. “They cannot dictate my reality any longer or who owns my goddamned heart...”

I curled trembling fingers at his breast. “Lorenzo, you’re scaring me...W-We’ll get through this mess together like we already promised--”

My splintering vows died swiftly beneath his crushing mouth slotting fiercely to mine. Lorenzo's carved granite edges collided almost painfully to my soft yielding planes as if striving to memorize my soul’s texture by kiss alone. I clung back desperately until we broke apart panting raggedly.

"Just remember that, no matter what may come...” Lorenzo's scalding palm cradled my jawline almost brutally. Impossibly his voice dropped lower still, dire words ghosting my flushed skin. "I have never belonged to anyone, Marco - but I am irrevocably yours now if you still want this fractured heart...”

I shook bodily, striving to curb overflowing sentiments suddenly choking my throat too tight. After daring to imagine golden sun-soaked days stretching unbroken ahead for us, facing the maelstrom awaiting at his family’s manor seemed unimaginable again. Yet surrender lived nowhere inside Lorenzo’s fierce countenance - and would not make its home inside me either.

I lifted slightly to brush my mouth over his downturned own, a silent sacred vow passing soul-deep between us. Lorenzo's massive frame shuddered powerfully before I withdrew just shy of dizzying lips parting for more. Determination roughened my whispered promise meant for him alone now.

"Mi amor...” Spanish from my mother’s heritage I hadn’t uttered since childhood flowed untapped once more. “Siempre voy a luchar por nosotros...”

Billowing marble and iron wrought gates revealed the formidable Delfino family crest when Lorenzo’s sleek town car breached the exclusive upper East Side neighborhood after tense miles logged. I peered between imposing Italian sculptures flanking the driveway curling toward a distant modernist mammoth.Priceless artworks no doubt peppered vaulted halls within reminding all who passed here that woeful peasant roots remained long behind Delfino heirlooms now.

My ribcage squeezed painfully. Beside me, Lorenzo shifted closer, his large hand finding mine clenched bloodless atop my knee and gripping fiercely through the winding drive up to his gilded palace doors. I latched onto familiar olive tones like a talisman against gathering darkness, steeling fortified walls inside myself too. This was mere obstacle to weather before resuming brighter horizons long denied my formidable lover...

I silently absorbed the intimidating scene once we exited sleek leather confines. An architectural marvel of iron accents and sleek modern lines contrasted sharply with historic nobility somehow welded seamlessly together - much like the imposing figure towering in dramatic silhouette between us and the carved doors beyond. With haughty features shrouded in shadow and hands clasped rigidly behind his tailored back, even I recognized the Don when he stepped forward, chill November light etching harsh lines now across proud patriarchal features that reprimanded silently before a single barbed word fell.

“So the rumors proved true after all...” Don Delfino bit out without preamble. I stiffened as his flinty stare raked over me with palpable disgust. “I prayed your dalliances weren’t bringing shame to our name by sullying it with another man...much less some trivial commoner plucked from the gutter.”

“Father--” Lorenzo moved sharply forward but fury radiating off Rio’s imposing frame stalled his instinctual defense of me. Simmering russet eyes sliced back to his heir, venom dripping from each clipped syllable now.

“Did you truly believe Cavallaro excess could possibly justify dragging your indiscretions before the Five Families tomorrow?” Rio demanded, temper swelling his imposing frame larger. “I tolerated your taste for fripperies before, but to flaunt a cheap fetish so publicly spits at generations of honor preceding your self-indulgence, Lorenzo!”

Ice flooded my arteries hearing Lorenzo’s ironclad surrogate denigrate something so genuine as our connection with such crass idioms and convenient excuses wielding duty as blades against our exposed hearts. Anger ignited rocket fuel in my blood. I shook free of Lorenzo’s crushing grip, striding nearer with shoulders flung back defiantly then speared Rio with my most blistering glare.

“You can insult me until you lose your goddamn aristocratic voice, but I refuse letting you vilify something as beautiful as Lorenzo and I finding each other!” I flung out a rigid hand as Rio’s mouth peeled back to savage me next. “NO! Your heir is the greatest man I’ve ever known despite being raised by tyrants clearly. So say whatever the hell you want about me, but Lorenzo deserves defending after thirty years under your goddamned narcissistic thumb--!”

My impassioned tirade died abruptly beneath the resounding crack splitting my head. Hot blood flooded my mouth seconds later. I found icy marble with my knees and one palm, agony ricocheting through my skull from Rio’s signet ring splitting skin. Distantly Lorenzo’s raw scream pierced the foggy haze swiftly narrowing my plane of vision...

Rio loomed nearer, his sneer carved deeper with disgust while crimson trailed down his knuckles. “Ungrateful swine - I provide the very ground you crawl on and yet filth like you believes itself entitled to my personal affairs?” He spat vibrant red nearby. Behind his shoulder two hulking guards emerged wielding pistols with silencers screwed menacingly in place.

Dread finally pierced the protective buffer of adrenaline and outrage once. I swayed weakly still on the ground, Lorenzo’s devastated features swimming sickeningly above me.

“F-father, per favore...” Lorenzo’s shattered whisper barely reached my fading senses as icy oblivion crept from the edges, narrowing the chaotic scene to just his beloved face etched with alarm. “H-He needs medical attention--!”

"Escort Mr Bianchi off property at once.” Rio didn’t even glance down. "Ensure he understands never showing his despicable face near us again once coherent...”

The marble floor rushed up brutally to meet me. Screaming agony exploded blindingly behind my eyes for several stomach-churning beats - before everything finally faded into cold silent darkness.

I drifted slowly up through viscous fog smothering mind and body alike. Blearily I registered sterile air and repeating electronic beeps first. Stiff starch crackled beneath my fingertips instead of silken sheets last recalled... Had that all been another cruel dream taunting happiness barely beyond desperate fingertips after all this time?

Yet as awareness flooded back in begins, so did throbbing radiate sharply from temple to jaw on one side. Tentatively I lifted leaden arms to investigate - just as a beloved face swam into focus haloed by garish fluorescent lights instead of our bedroom's muted palette. Lorenzo looked freshly devastated anew.

"Oh god - Marco!" In a blink he perched gingerly at my bedside, scruff roughening Lorenzo's normally fastidious features alongside rumpled clothing and raw panic carved around his down-turned mouth. Bloodshot eyes shone glossy taking in what must be new injury marring his lover's appearance given Lorenzo's stricken expression now. With utmost care Lorenzo enfolded my chilled hands between both of his larger palms, smooth lips finding my knuckles fervently.

"M-My father will face consequences for daring to strike out against you now..." Unspoken torment roughened that dulcet baritone until icy realization speared through me next. None of what landed me here left nightmare realms any longer but instead vowed just commencement of our looming tribulations...

I dragged in a thin inhale, veering sharply from that paralyzing notion, then gentled my ragged tone only for Lorenzo right then. "Hey...I'll recover from far worse than a split lip down the line I'm sure. Just another sexy scar until it fades...” I attempted a lopsided grin despite shredded nerves and pounding skull. “Besides, shouldn't heir apparents avoid threatening violent patriarchs openly? I like your gorgeous head attached still..."

A wounded noise caught sharply in Lorenzo's broad chest. He surged forward without thought, urgent mouth slanting fiercely over mine until I forgot fleetingly anything else existed beyond this man wholly eclipsing the outside world's wrath for us. All consuming desperation fueled our tangled tongues and clutching hands for endless moments more. I poured my very life force back into Lorenzo through lush connection, determined he would not face coming darkness alone ever again...

By our third knock urgent rapping finally permeated our private bubble. Lorenzo hesitated still as we unlocked from slow lush kisses, his stare boring intently into mine with liquid drops beading his ink black lashes though none spilled over yet. My heart splintered recognizing glaring evidence of how trauma truly gutted my formidable lover as well once his stoic armor cracked.

I palmed Lorenzo's chiseled jaw, thumbing over his prominent cleft tenderly. "Let them come and say their piece if it keeps suspicions away for now,” I reasoned gently. “Just don't vanish on me again...”

Lorenzo clutched my hand still cupping his rough cheek almost desperately for several taut heartbeats more. I watched myriad conflicts rage behind tiger-striped irises until finally dread reality proved unavoidable any longer. Lorenzo stalked the short distance to allow his father's judgmental heralds entry with fury barely contained vibrating through his imposing frame.

We Endured condemning glares and pointed insinuations about my solitary ER admittance tossed about. I bristled hearing these suited thugs masquerading as inquisitive hospital admin pepper doubts over 'accidental injuries' suffered on Delfino family grounds. Their thinly-veiled threats poorly masked forced me to parrot some fiction of a bad fall while checking final event details. Still I bit my swollen tongue stoically during their inquiry since causing further scandal would only bring hellish rains down upon Lorenzo's handsome head next.

But privately I vowed Delfino's heartless henchmen would never sway me from righteous anger for their boss and Capo brutalizing us both without just cause. And once reunited with my formidable lover once more I meant to ensure decisive plans got hashed before anymore of our enemies bloodied either of us further...

True to his whispered oath Lorenzo arrived hours later looking impressively nonchalant beneath a smart gray overcoat and clutching an elegant bouquet of stargazer lilies tied with a silvery ribbon. His mouth lifted seeing the blooms' glow reflected in my widened gaze. I shifted gingerly against the bed's adjustment panel trying not to appear too desperately eager before Lorenzo's warm palms cradling my jaw stalled all thought.

"Let me look at you, il mio bellissimo...” Lorenzo’s thumb traced the tape covering split skin with featherlight care. Simmering emotion roughened his dulcet voice analyzing damage his sire callously inflicted. “Fottuto bastardo will know my wrath before long for daring to mutilate this gorgeous face...”

Despite revenge no doubt raging through Lorenzo’s fiery bloodstream from my attack, warm relief still flooded my battered body simply having him near once more. I covered his restless hand with my own, pressing a fervent kiss to Lorenzo’s broad palm then holding on earnestly a beat longer until his riotous energy calmed marginally as well. “Hey, hey...I’m still mending just fine thanks to you. We’ll deal with your family's bullshit later together alright?"

My simple entreaty seemed to drain the frantic tension from Lorenzo’s impressive frame at last. He perched along my bedside gently mindful of jostling healing limbs, all feline poise and lethal grace on display contrasting wildly with the half-feral warrior bursting through hospital doors earlier seeking my arms. Now steadiness lined his regal profile instead as Lorenzo drew me delicately nearer until our foreheads touched, sharing breath and sweet silent promises alike that nothing lingered broken between us after all.

I smoothed my palm across his nape, fingers tracing taut sinews and silken nape now bared with raven waves pulled neatly back. Vulnerability shone clearer than ever within Lorenzo's tiger-eyed stare boring so desperately into mine. My voice dropped quieter meant for only him now. “You being here is everything to me still no matter their sabotage attempts or ugly threats yet to come...”

Lorenzo loosed a sharp exhale like my tender words winded him unexpectedly. "Their sabotage ends today, Marco...” Granite edged his solemn vow now. “I’m getting us the hell off the grid and out of my father’s firing range for good before any more damage gets done...” His fingers flexed almost painfully where we intertwined atop my lap. "We'll let the old sharks circle amongst themselves - but after uprooting my entire existence until now nothing can stop me from building something better with you by my goddamn side..."

His fervent promise sent my battered heart into overdrive. Daring once more to dream about coming out of this nightmare stronger together seemed almost too much to hope for after dire threats by Lorenzo's powerful enemies. Yet granite certainty shone in my lover's eyes daring me to trust his convictions burning so brightly between us now. Hope unfurled its fragile green tendrils up my spine as visions of idyllic seclusion wrapped in Lorenzo’s singular focus took root next...

I cradled Lorenzo’s striking face between both hands, smoothing away lingering shadows of past demons haunting him. “Then take me away with you, my love...” I brushed my mouth to his, adoration and unbreakable faith searing every place our skin met. “Anywhere outside their toxic reach we can start fresh and just be together without looking over our shoulders.”

Lorenzo’s answering smile kindled pure warmth spilling through my weary bones. He slotted our lips more firmly together, cementing silent unspoken promises as our heartbeats soon quickened in time. No more running or sacrificing happiness on the altars of Lorenzo’s unfeeling elders. The future stretched vibrant and welcoming before two wayward souls daring finally to chart our own course.