Guarded: Worth the Risk

Chapter 9

                                                                                        Natalia

                                                                                    5 years ago

            Just before my alarm was set to go off, I managed to crack open my eyes. Waking in the king size bed of my hotel room and noticing a sleepy Orlando next me makes me feel giddy. I’m not a hundred percent sure as to what happened last night, but there is one thing I know of for sure, Orlando Salvatore was really in my bed, butt naked and asleep.

            Shuffling around for my phone, I finally find it buried deep in the covers of my bed. 4:45am.

            Since becoming the CFO of Mezzanotte Industries, I haven’t had much time to sleep in. s**t. I roll out of bed pulling my hair on top of my head into a messy bun.

            Grabbing my phone, I make my way to the bathroom, I glance back at the sleepy Orlando as memories of last night surface. I slept with Orlando Salvatore, my companies very own competition.

            Great. Just great. Leo is going to murder me.

            However, I can’t help how I feel about him. The way he listened to me, kissed me and connected with me on another level.

            What the f**k is happening to you Natalia? Maybe it’s the feeling of loneliness I’ve experienced since my college boyfriend dumped me or maybe it was all the alcohol, we consumed at dinner last night that is making me feel this way about him. Regardless, I am feeling something for this man I barely know, and I shouldn’t be considering who he is.

            But would it be so wrong if I did?

             I reach for my phone, dialing Dimitri’s phone. As I wait for him to answer I press my fingers to my lips remembering how his lips felt on mine. Intoxicating. Unforgettably intoxicating.

            Before I get anymore ahead of myself, Dimitri’s voice echoes from the other side of the phone. “Jesus Christ Natalia. It’s 5am on a Saturday. What could be so detrimental that you have to call me this early on a Saturday when I’m off and your away at a convention.”

            “There’s a man in my bed.” At least I think it’s my bed, and this is my hotel room.

            Silence comes from the other end. “Hello?”

            “I’m here...” He say’s chuckling.

            “Did you not hear me? There is a man in my bed.” An extremely attractive one at that.

            Another pause of silence before he finally speaks. “Well, is he hot at least?”

            Hot. Attractive. Fuckable. Yes, to all three. I open the door taking a peek at the sleepy man in my bed. The flashback of his hands all over my body, doing things to me I have only ever dreamed of flash through my mind.

             I finally manage to get my thoughts together and answer Dimitri. “Yes-But there’s one problem-“ I take deep breath swallowing it down before explaining. “He’s the nephew of Giorgio Salvatore.”

            “Wait, the Giorgio Salvatore you father had the big blow out with in 1987?” he replies.

            “The one in the same.”

            Giorgio Salvatore, once my father’s partner and best friend, now turned competition. The owner of JFBR Industries and the Uncle to the naked man passed out in my bed.

            f**k. “Just saying it out loud just now sounds so wrong. Leo and my father are going to kill me.” That’s when the realization hit me. “Oh god, my FATHER!”

            Dimitri lets out a loud chuckle. “Oh, come on. How are they going to find out? Do you like him?”

            I could. Scratch that, I know I could. I spent only one night with Orlando and I am drawn to him in ways I can’t describe.

            “That could be a big possibility.” I say.

            “Well then, don’t say anything till it becomes more serious.”

            After a few more minutes of Dimitri trying to calm me down and convince me to keep my affairs secret, we hang up the phone. I peek out the bathroom door and see that my bed is now empty. Thank God. I step out into the bedroom, making my way to my closet. I open the doors and pull out my outfit for the day. Just as I’m about to head back into the bathroom to shower, I hear a voice from a distance.

            “Good Morning, Beautiful.” His voice taking me by surprise. I conceal my smile and slight embarrassment as the blush rushing into my cheeks as he walks towards me from the lounge.

            “I made you coffee, figured you could use it after all the fun we had last night.” Oh God. “I was beginning to think though that you were hiding in that bathroom from me.”

            “That may have been a possibility.”

            He smiles.

            “Okay, so I may have been on the phone. Gossiping to my best friend.”

            “About me?”

            Uh- duh. I turn my back to not make eye contact with him. I’m not sure I could contain myself if I looked him in the eyes, but then I remind myself that this could be the real deal. Give it a shot.

            “Yes.” I turn to look him in the eyes. “Trying to convince myself that what happened between us was a good thing.”

            He takes a step towards me, his eyes locking on mine. “Is that how you feel? That this was a bad idea?”

            He brushes his hands down the sides of my arms as I look away from him. The warmth of his breath on my skin as he whispers in my ear. “I think we would make a good team. At least that what I thought as you screamed my name while you cummed last night.” He then places his lips against mine, kissing me deep, rough and passionately. Like I’ve never been kissed before.

            This is dangerous.

            This is stupid.

            I have to keep my guard up around him, he’s the sworn enemy, but deep down I know this could be effortless. Beautiful. Love.