A P H

an leggings, the curtains are lightly swaying in the early mor

p the windows. Maybe he can't slee

l a bit lighter, relaxed, a

the nightstand lamp on for my sake. The yacht sways ever so sli

. Ignazio hasn

on the couch, si

the h

did he take his clothes o

uthed beside the bed, my

r... And to be fair, his dark boxers still hide enough of

the straps of my bag as I quietly sit on the edge of the neat and soft, queen

lly. I shouldn't be this fluster

the country club. That sunny afternoon, he aggress

steps apart, it feels different.

. Inj

and

ner

me watching him sleep, I'll probably melt into a pool of no

my head around the fact that I'm in this position. That I'm all alone with him in a small room at four in the morning.

tually does work. Some

d ba

better." I clear my throat and grab one of the pillows, acting like I didn't just sta

o stifles a yaw

ing my thoughts as I feel the

mm

nna lose

e his reply. "I don't know

f what Dominico just did? "Because of me?" I bite on my thumb and winc

unk to hear his phone. Or

at? It's almost fo

ome later? O

ft yellowish glow of the lamp isn't dim enough. I'm sure he doesn't care about how I look

y n

r another eigh

pped an old, unfunny joke

read between the lines. I don't have the energy for another argument, so I

ctually," he adds, mumbling his words with his eyes still closed. His tan, hairy

logne, and the dimmed lamplight only makes his hair and lashes look darker. I redirect my gaze

's French-

y he talks makes a

ighschool i

pillow between my legs. "So

e w

her's dead?

rove her

cally insane? Or is he

nada before I graduated," Dominico

see

married m

er one time. She seems nice," I mumble with my eyes closed,

ore questions, but I don't think he wants to keep talking about his personal life.

fs loudly. "Y

ed, but the logical side of my brain's already trying to figure

N

osey. "So, you al

Spa

ly? H

he murmurs

foreign language. Maybe he learned it

e blanket to hide the n

ke me, and his parents divorced when he was just a te

the bed and look at him, my scratchy v

s nasal bridge and the tip

eeping makes me feel selfish. Guilty. Like I shouldn't be here. I sit up, s

ans

min

aphi

quickens at his close-lipped grin. I feel a bit giddy, even though it's not the f

t some

me from head to toe. I squint at the curtains and dim windows,

ne as three more muted knocks interrupt the silence

sitting still on the left side of the lo

re's my stupid phone

t's not even sunrise yet. D

shift manager saying we'll also deliver room service to t

e that door? Wh

Igna

brought his securi

im," I whisper to myself under the co

e of the curtains, but the

g my mouth shut, the smooth wood beneath my toes a little cold. The soreness in my leg

nder this blanket? Lock mysel

inkillers I gave him must've kn

dy while he lightly snores on the loveseat. A fo

nd the louder the knocks get. I don't wanna wake him up, but, his

tap his bare shoulder a couple of times, his skin a little sweaty. "Dom,

one bit. Okay. Another h

ve goosebumps along my arms. The footsteps ar

the door still locked? I can

gle over the edge of the couch. I don't need to

e his sharp jawline and muscular chest,

e to lewd imagination. "Dominico, someon

er. No

might overreact and hurt me worse. "Dominico."

es closer to me. His nose brushes against my cheek. "What?" D

s and the grogginess in his voice suggest a few more hours of

ting. I pull back and feign a calm face despite the ti

N

meone waiti

sighs, his voi

doesn't mean the person already left. "I think it's a guy." I get back o

ng ha

be how 200 pounds of g

h his fist. Then he squints at me and my hand on his bare

iend with me right now

open th

lose my footing when he pushes me back onto the couch

t here? Because I shouldn'

ve thoughts, until I feel something cold and hard poking my thigh. "What'

y entire hand. It sits on the edge of the couch, quie

e, but staring at it just tenses up every

here the entire time? While we slept

m. Does he feel that threatened? Because of that violent fight with hi

. He's putting on pants and standin

side?" I say with a straight face to disguis

nger we stare at each other. He grabs the gun, his fingert

ha

gun into the back of his pants, the trig

re's no need to lie to him, but I don't w

s got a permit to carry. But he doesn't seem

tion, I don't think he should step outside by himself, but it's not like I can physically stop him or

thi

you hav

n front of me. "Sure you're okay?" He gent

y. "I'm fine." I rub my sweaty palms onto my

hirtless, Dominico heads towards the lock

Never in my life have I imagined seeing the man

rotec

er, but still not forceful. My stomach feels tighter, and my legs feel weaker. My bladder feel

the floor. Messy bla

looks like we h

roat. "Where'

hroom." Dominico sigh

. "I-I don't think i

almly, not an ounce of

re it's someon

, but I'm trying my best to look normal, keeping up a blank face despite t

d be

as close as I can without touching him. Not sure why the cl

ile his right hand rests on the smal

tranger with a gun, as well? I hold

the room suddenly looks and f

makes my ears ring, interrupting the tense silenc

an't do much except

waiting outside at least

him to get any more uncomfortable than he already is. "Don't just leave me here." My

ns to face me and l

ow shallow as I think of something a c

s gently touch the back of my head. Like he's trying his best to com

ntire body go

Alright?" he murmurs

you in there." I grab my phone on the nightstand and practi

e with the

t's loaded. "Don't

minico unlocks the bigger