Page 22 of Ruin

I nodded, my body straightening and chin lowering in acceptance.

My eyes pulled away from Arik’s as I scanned our surroundings once more, no longer able to hold the intensity of his stare. I felt his hand caress my back, moving slowly to the back of my head. He pulled me in against his chest and kissed the top of my head before resting his cheek against me.

His voice came through smoothly. “You are not something to taste and forget, Claire. I am not asking for your trust. I am taking responsibility for it. And I will not drop it.”

We stood there in silence as his words seeped into me, coiling around every ounce of fight I had and suffocating them. As my breathing calmed and my body relaxed into his arms, he silently pulled out of our embrace and guided me toward the teal canopy.

As we approached the alcove, the golden dusk reflected in the glass that separated us from a long marble counter. Moments later, a man appeared from between two long black curtains in the corner, approaching the counter. My vision wandered to just below the glass. Large stainless-steel vessels sat within a frigid bane, prominently displaying swirling peaks of gelato in a variety of flavors, decorated elaborately with chocolates, caramels, nuts, and berries.

“What’s your favorite flavor?” Arik questioned as his eyes scanned the assortment of creamy Italian delicacies, his hand never leaving mine.

“Would you like me less if I said mint chocolate chip?” I quipped as his lips parted, the corners turning upward into an amused smile.

“You couldn’t say anything to make me like you less,” he quipped back. “But unfortunately, that is not a popular choice here in Italy.” He frowned in my direction, pursing his lips into a pout. “We have many options, like chocolate, pistachio, stracciatella…but no mint.”

My eyes continued to scan the assortment as I replied, “Ah. Well, that’s disappointing. What do you like?” I was trying my best not to look in his direction out of fear that he could read the burning infatuation that plastered across my face.

He paused in contemplation. “I love them all, but my favorite is Tartufo di Pizzo. It is basically chocolate and hazelnut…like Nutella.”

Even the way he said Nutella made me want to take off my clothes.

“Okay, that then.” I shrugged as I tried to focus my mind on deciphering the small cards that identified each flavor.

Arik turned his attention to the man who patiently awaited our order. “Tartufo di Pizzo and Stracciatella.”

The man nodded and began to swiftly scoop the gelatos from their peaks, placing the scoops into two separate teal paper bowls and topping them each with tiny plastic spoons. Arik smiled as he turned his attention back to me before collecting the bowls from the countertop.

“We can share.”

He then led me toward the stone wall and sat the bowls upon the worn stone before suddenly hoisting me into his arms, causing me to let out a scream. Before I knew it, I was seated atop the wall, the smooth, sun-warmed stones under me as my tired feet dangled over the edge.

I shouted, my eyes wide as my hand gripped my chest and the other held onto the wall for dear life, “Shit! Warn a girl!”

“I’ve got you,” he whispered into my ear as he pressed his body against my back and extended his hand in front of me to display the stracciatella. I felt his breath on my neck as his nose rested just behind my ear. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me securely against his torso as warmth from my chest radiated through my core.

This must be what drugs feel like.

I looked out at the sea as the last sliver of orange kissed the horizon. The sky above us was slowly turning deep blue with stars flickering from among the darkness behind us. As I looked down toward the beach, the colorful umbrellas began to close.

I muttered sadly, “Damn. It’s too late to go to the beach now, I guess.”

He chuckled. “Ah…that is for tomorrow.”

My head whipped back toward him as I scanned his expression. “Tomorrow?” I questioned as I spooned the cold gelato onto my tongue with the tiny white spoon—it was like a more decadent chocolate chip.

“Oh, do you have plans I do not know about?” He laughed, amused by my confusion.

“Well…no,” I mumbled as our hands exchanged the gelatos.

His brow raised as he whispered back, “And remember…we have a deal. You are mine for the weekend.”

I laughed, my tone filled with amusement. “Ah. See…I knew you were going to hold that over my head. I just didn’t realize it would be this soon.”

I felt his body shrug against my back as he responded, “A deal is a deal, Claire.”

He pressed a firm kiss against the back of my head. “Wait,” he said as he grabbed the small spoon from the Tartufo di Pizzo that was resting on the stone beside me. He then scooped the gelato into a small mound.

“This one is delicious. Open up.”