Erica’s POV
Laura stormed out and I was left alone with Dante. He grabbed my waist and pulled me close to him but I used my hands to wedge myself, keeping him from pulling me any closer.
My lips were still tingly from his kisses and his scent had invaded my nostrils and I was slowly feeling weak in the knees.
“Erica, I…”
“Dante, I have to go.”
I disentangled myself from his embrace. He tried to grab my hand but I pulled away and stepped back.
If he touched me, I wasn’t sure that I could resist him.
“Erica, where are you going?”
“Home, Dante. The meeting is over and I think that you have business to settle with Laura and the head of the council.”
He rushed towards me but I put a hand out.
“Dante, stop this. I need to go home.”
He stopped in his tracks and stared at me in utter disbelief.
“But, Erica…”
“Goodbye, Dante. Have a good day.”
I walked out of the office and closed the doors behind me. In the hallway, I took a deep breath. The smell of his cologne still clung to me and I felt myself swooning with each breath.
I had to catch myself. My tongue ran across my lips and I could still taste Dante’s lips. Deep down, I craved their soft touch, their succulent…
“No, Erica. Get it together.”
I shook my head and looked around. I was alone.
Alone? Where was Javier?
I was about to take a step when one of Dante’s employees walked up towards me.
“Good day, Miss Erica. A certain Mr. Javier asked to tell you that he couldn’t wait and had to dash off on some important business.”
I was stunned. He left? He could have called.
“Uhmmm…thank you.”
The employee left and I checked my phone.
Nothing.
No messages, no calls.
I exhaled. I dialed his number and put the phone to my ear.
No answer.
I did it a few more times but it was the same. It would ring but no one would reply.
I took dero breaths. He was probably in the middle of an important meeting. It was rude of me to bother him like that.
I sent him a text.
“Sorry, I took so long with Alpha Dante. I’m heading home now. Call me when you get this.”
I fought the urge to go back in and see Dante and walked stiffly to my waiting car.
The lobby was empty. There was no sign of Laura or her father and the rest of the council.
I took another deep breath. I was relieved and somewhat satisfied.
It was satisfying seeing Laura on the other end of the yardstick. It was just karma. She was getting what she deserved.
I doubted I could ever forgive her for the humiliation that she caused me.
I got into my car and slotted the key into the ignition.
I could never forgive her, yet, I was more willing to forgive Dante, the cause of all the pain. His prideful ego fed Laura’s.
I started the car and drove out of the parking lot.
Was it all really Laura’s fault?
I was silent. My mind worked like clockwork and every thought still pinned Dante as the culprit.
He had hurt me. His actions caused everyone else to look down on me, yet, my heart still called out to him.
My body still responded every time he touched me. My lips still yearned for his taste.
I wanted him but I couldn’t bring myself to be with him.
I was scared. That was all I could deduce.
I was scared to be his again.
I pulled up in front of my house and parked in the driveway.
I could see the silhouette of the kids on the top window. They all rushed away with glee as soon as they realized that it was me.
I chuckled and went inside and I was attacked by hugs around my legs.
“Mom!”
I giggled and pulled them all into a big squishy hug. I kissed their foreheads and they immediately began to unload on me about their day.
“… Ethan refused to share the toys…”
“… That’s not true!”
“… I’m hungry.”
I was bombarded and I soon felt overwhelmed. It seemed that they had had a busy day.
They were still ranting when I heard a door open. It was almost on instinct. They all let go of me and dashed back up to their room.
“Lorenzo.”
He smiled and chuckled. I was confused.
“E…Erica. You’re back home.”
I expected him to hug me but he remained distant, chuckling nervously and I could see that he was trying his best to dissipate it.
“Lorenzo, is everything alright?’
He was in the living room and was fluffing up the pillows. There were beads of sweat on his forehead and I noticed that his hands shook slightly.
“Yeah, I…I’m fine. I’ve just been really burnt out. The kids are a lot to handle.”
I said nothing and slipped into the kitchen. Elma said that she was hungry and since I was home, it wasn’t a bad idea to prepare dinner.
Lorenzo followed me into the kitchen.
I was still and felt the aura around him. He was sweating and it clung to his clothes and the air around him. He was really anxious about something.
“You seemed to manage the kids well,” I said lightly, trying to make easy small talk.
He chuckled nervously. Something wasn’t right.
“Yeah. They soon became too much to handle and I asked Clarissa to come over and help. They seem to respond better to her.”
I said nothing. I knew the kids didn’t like Lorenzo. I had hoped that they would have warmed up to him by now.
“Speaking of Clarissa, I am really happy that she has found someone. I was thinking that maybe we could…”
Bang!
I was startled and looked around. I was all alone. Lorenzo had disappeared. He had probably gone to his room.
I sighed and placed the saucepan on the cooler.
What was up with him today?