Chapter 18

Marabella’s POV

“I knew I liked you for a reason, Mrs. Mara”, Rex said, making my head snap in his direction, and a wide smile spread across my lips. “Close enough”, I joked, pulling a chuckle from him. My phone vibrating in my pocket, caught my attention. ‘Mio Marito’ (my husband), popped up on my screen. “Hello?”, I answered, my smile still in place. “Well, hello bambina. How was class?”, Luca asked. “It was alright, you were distracting me for most of the time”, I said, as I continued walking to my next class.

“Well, you sound much better now than earlier”, he teased, “What happened?”. “How can you tell my mood through text?”, I asked, answering his question with my own. “I can feel you, principessa. I can feel it through your words. Just like, I’m sure you can feel mine. So, answer my question now”, he uttered. “I got to put my professor in his place after class. It felt nice. I’ll tell you about it when I see you”, I said. Luca chuckled, “Okay, gattina. I miss you, principessa”, he muttered softly into the phone.

I ran my hand up the front of my throat, remembering his hand, “I miss you too. Only an hour and a half left”, I said, walking towards the restroom. “An hour and a half too long, piccola”, he whispered. “Can you bring me a vanilla and chocolate mixed milkshake, please, when you come? I really want some chocolate, but can’t stomach too much of it”, I said, with a soft whine. “Absolutely, bambina”, he answered.

“I’ll see you soon, Luca”, I muttered. “Yes you will, little one. Have a good class”, he said. “You have a good day at work”, I answered softly, before hanging up. “Give me just a second, Rex”, I said, walking into the bathroom. As I was using the potty, I noticed something crucial. I riffled through my bag with absolute panic, looking for what I needed. Shit. Shit. Shit. I don’t have any. What am I going to do? And I bled through my panties and pants? Absolutely fantastic. What the hell am I going to do? Wait.

I reluctantly picked up my phone and called Luca. “What’s the matter, piccola?”, he answered, on the second ring. “Ehh, I started my period”, I whispered. “Tell me what you need, bambina”, he responded in a serious tone. I breathed a sigh of relief. “I just need a tampon or two, and a change of clothes. I bled through”, I muttered in embarrassment. “I’ll be right there, baby girl”, he said. “Wait, Luca”, I said, catching him before he hung up.

“Yes, amore (love)?”, he asked. “Can you call Rex, and ask him to let Professor Finn know I will be late due to a feminine emergency, and I’m waiting on you? He is a sweet old man, he will understand”, I breathed out. Luca chuckled, “Of course, bambina. No worries. Sit tight, I’ll be right there”, he assured me. “Thank you, Luca”, I whispered tearfully. “You’re very welcome, piccola”, he said, before hanging up.

I heard Rex answer his phone, then heard his footsteps recede. I sat quietly and waited patiently for Luca’s arrival. It wasn’t but a few moments and I heard Rex’s footsteps returning. After fifteen minutes, I could hear Luca’s footsteps approaching me from down the hall.

“Is she alone?”, Luca asked. “I would assume so, boss. No one has entered or left in the last fifteen minutes”, Rex answered. I heard the bathroom door open before I heard his voice. “Piccola?”, he called out. “I’m in the second stall”, I answered. I heard a bag rustle, before what I had asked for was being held out to me from under the stall door. “Thank you so much”, I said, taking my clothes and tampon from him.

I quickly changed into my clean clothes and exited the stall, to find Luca holding a vanilla and chocolate milkshake in his hand. I smiled widely. “You didn’t”, I said, ecstatically. “I’m pretty sure, mia principessa (my princess), asked for one”, he said playfully, arching an eyebrow.

I took the bag that I had heard earlier from him and stuffed my soiled clothes into it. “Let me wash my hands real quick”, I said, rushing to the sink to do just that. After washing my hands, the first thing I did was wrap my arms around his neck and hug him. “Thank you so much, Luca. For everything”, I muttered softly, against his neck. He wrapped his free arm around me and hugged me close. “You don’t have to thank me, piccola. I would set the world on fire for you. Remember that”, he growled lowly in my ear.

I pulled back from the hug so that I could place a soft kiss on his lips. He smirked playfully, as I pulled out of the hug completely and took the milkshake from him. As soon as it was out of his hand and in mine, he dug his fingers into my hair and pulled me in for a longer kiss.

By the time Luca pulled away, I was dazed, standing before him. “Do you want me to take you home, piccola?”, he asked. I shook my head, “No, but can you walk me to class, please?”, I asked, all of a sudden, shy about it. Luca looked taken aback at first, but he smiled. “Of course, I will, bambina”, he answered brightly.

The relief that flooded me, made my shoulders sag. “What is it, gattina (kitten)?”, Luca asked, with furrowed eyebrows. “Nothing. I just feel better when you are around”, I answered softly. Luca’s forefinger and thumb came up to cup my chin. “Is the boy who put his hands on you in your next class?”, he asked, gruffly. I swallowed hard, debating whether I should tell him or not. Rex would point him out, and he would know anyway, so I nodded.

“Why did he put his hands on you to begin with, bambina?”, Luca asked darkly. I sighed and rolled my bottom lip between my teeth with my tongue. “He was angry that I didn’t respond to his high school teasing”, I answered, looking away from him. “What did he say to you, piccola?”, he asked softly. “It doesn’t matter, Luca. It doesn’t bother me anymore, anyway”, I said. “Anymore? How often does it happen?”, he countered. “Luca, really it doesn’t matter”, I said softly, trying to pull away from him.

Luca grabbed my hips and backed me against the wall, pinning me in place. “It does matter, Piccola. It matters to me. So please answer me. What did he say to you?”, he growled. “He asked if it was my dad I was kissing. I ignored him, and it pissed him off. Luca, it really doesn’t matter. He’s a fucking man child”, I said softly, placing my free hand on his chest. “No, he’s a bitch ass, little boy”, Luca rumbled lowly.

“Let me sit with you in class, principessa”, he muttered, resting his forehead against mine. “You have to get back to work. I can’t ask you to do that”, I murmured. “You didn’t ask, bambina. I want to sit with you. As for work, they will survive without me”, He grinned.

“Okay”, I nodded. Luca smiled, “Good”, he muttered, claiming my lips heatedly. “Let’s go then, piccola”, he said, once he broke the kiss. He took my bag from me and opened the bathroom door. “Lead the way, bambolina (baby doll)”, he purred.