Chapter 58
Our day went by pretty fast. Mara worked on her assignments, while I caught up on paperwork from the companies. She has been very quiet. I keep telling myself that it’s because of her being concentrated on her work. Mainly, because everytime I think about the truth I get angry all over again. It’s over now, I need to reign in my anger. Mara most likely needs my support, and definitely not my anger.
I leaned back in my chair and studied her beautiful features. Her eyebrows would crinkle up when she would get stuck and have to think harder. She taps her pen on her chin in concentration, drawing my eyes to her lips. I can still feel them wrapped around me. My cock twitched at the memory, at the same time that she looked up and made eye contact with me.
I bit my tongue, and reached over to enclose my hand over hers. Effectively stopping her from writing any further. “You don’t have a choice in the matter. I will feed you if I have to”, I uttered in her ear. Mara shuddered, as she slowly looked over at me. “I’m not hungry”, she said, clearly. “I heard you the first time. Maybe it was you who didn’t hear me. You need to eat”, I growled, challenging her.
Mara sighed as she dropped her pen onto her paper, and sat back in my arms. “Please don’t make me eat right now”, she whispered, looking down at her lap. “Why?”, I asked softly. “I don’t want to throw it up. My stomach is in knots”, she muttered. “Talk to me, piccola”, I said gently.
Mara shook her head. “I don’t want to upset you, Luca. That’s all that will happen if I talk about it. It won’t solve it or make it better, only piss you off”, she murmured, curling her knees to her chest. I frowned, can she feel my energy at that level? “Why would you say that, piccola? I want you to be able to talk about it. You need to, in order to get it out of your mind”, I assured her.
I combed my fingers through her hair slowly. I love the way her hair feels between my fingers. Luckily for her, because she loves my fingers in her hair. She relaxed against me, more. Some of the tension left her body from my touch. “I knew it wasn’t you the second his hands touched me. I knew it wasn’t your touch”, she murmured, shaking her head in small spurts. I smiled to myself, my baby girl had already memorized my touch. I inhaled deeply, as my pride took over for a second.
“Do you like my touch, bambina?”, I asked in a mutter, as I wrapped my arms around her. Mara snuggled into my chest and ran her hands up my arms to my shoulders. “I feel everyone’s energy when they touch me. I know that it sounds weird, but it’s true. It’s why I don’t like to be touched”, she said softly, before taking a breath. “Your touch though”, she paused, to sink further into me. “It’s different, unlike any I have felt. It has such a calming effect on me, that I seek it out. I find myself filled with panic and anxiety, looking for you. So that I can hug you. You’re my muse”, she explained in a whisper.
My heart constricted at her explanation. Now I better understand her. I understand why she said that she hates being touched. The way she is around people makes sense now. My breathing sped up in pace, along with my heart rate. How was I blessed with such a soul? “You’re my muse, too, bambina. I also find myself searching for you when I am angry. Your touch calms me, allows me to think clearly and make better decisions”, I whispered into her hair.
“His intent was ill”, she stuttered. I tightened my hold on her. “I was scared he was going to win, Luca”, she confessed, as she started to choke up. “I’m so sorry, piccola. I shouldn’t have left you at all. Fuck”, I uttered, hugging her tighter. “It’s not your fault, Luca. Don’t blame yourself”, she whispered, stroking my arm. “It’s mine. I should’ve locked the door. You have a key”, she uttered. “No, don’t do that, either. I very well could have locked the door, too, baby girl. I am taking the responsibility”, I growled in a mutter.
Mara snuggled her head into the crook of my neck. “I’ll hold you for as long as you need, bambina. Longer, if you’ll let me”, I grinned into her hair.