AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You didn’t scare me and I was more than willing to participate,” I said simply, and he turned his face towards me for the first time. His expression softened and he reached out to stroke my hair away from my face. “Does that happen often? The dreams?” I asked softly as I stared into those chocolate brown eyes that were quickly becoming my favourite colour.
“My mind has a shitty ability to be dark and demented, especially at night,” he groaned and dropped his hand on the bed between us.
“Are you afraid of your dreams?” His eyes searched mine as he thought about my question.
“Yes.” My heart fluttered at how open he was being with me.
“So am I,” I whispered.
We held each other’s gaze and then he leaned in. He brushed the tip of his nose against mine before placing the softest and most fragile kiss on my lips. It made my whole-body ache in a way that made me want to cry. It was an understanding and a promise.
“Maybe we can protect each other from our dreams,” he breathed against my lips and I wrapped my arms around his neck, moulding my body into his. My heart pounded at his words. His were just dreams but mine... mine was a reality. Henry was still out there.
“But can you protect me from a monster?” I whispered as his irresistible lips caressed mine lightly and his fingers tangled in my hair. He pulled back to look into my eyes. I saw something flash across them. Worry and something else that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“I will always protect you, bambola. Against the world and all its monsters. But you should know... I am a monster to many.” His intense gaze held mine in warning, but all I saw was the truth. That he meant every word.
“But you will never be a monster to me?” I asked quietly. A sweet smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Never.”
He pressed his lips against mine and we got lost in each other once again.
Snow Plough
Olivia
“Thanks again for letting me borrow some of your skiing clothes.” I zipped up the expensive, designer ski jacket over my tight white thermal top as we waited in the ski shop to hire some ski boots for my day on the slopes. My stomach was twisted in all kinds of knots at the thought. Me? Skiing? I was never the most athletic kid at school. I was the kid who used to forge my mum’s signature to say I had stomach cramps to get out of hockey practice. I was much more into calming sports like running, yoga and...sunbathing. Yes, I class that as a sport.
“No problem. It fits you perfectly. We are about the same size luckily,” Elle replied as she leaned against the wooden countertop in the ski shop. She looked flawless in her Gucci ski suit, hair swept up into a high pony and expensive-looking ski goggles resting on her head. She could easily pass as a model for some swanky ski resort catalogue or something.
“Bonjour, size?” The Frenchman who was working behind the counter smiled at Elle and his heated gaze did not go unnoticed by me.
“Oh, not for me. I have my own. Liv, what size boot do you need?” she asked but didn't take her eyes off the sexy instructor who was now smirking at her. I might as well not have been there.
“Oh ummm 5 please. Is the sizing the same as in the UK?” I asked but was completely ignored.
“You are here on vacation?” The infatuated Frenchman asked as his blue eyes twinkled with delight that Elle was shamelessly twisting a lock of her hair and biting her lower lip.
“Yes. From Italy. I haven’t been here for a while. Perhaps you could show me the black runs?” she flirted, and he leaned forward on the counter. I huffed loudly. My feet were starting to feel the bitter cold standing only in my socks.
“I will be on the slopes in one hour. I’ll meet you outside,” he winked. Turning his attention back to me as if he had just suddenly remembered he had a job to do, he smiled cheekily. “Size?”
“Ah well, I was just asking if...”
A pair of clearly very expensive and the latest brand of ski boots was lifted over my head and put on the counter in front of me with a thud. I looked over my shoulder to see Giovanni staring down at me with a smug grin and shimmering eyes. “She isn’t hiring any. She is having these,” he ordered, and the instructor nodded and ran them through the till.
The price flashed up and my eyes bulged. That is insane! They'd be the most expensive shoes I have ever owned in my life.
“I can’t afford those, Giovanni. I am fine hiring some, it's only for two days!” I argued and he handed the guy his credit card before I could whack his arm away.
“I am paying.”
“What?! No! I don’t need them! I have never even skied before and I most likely will never ski again after this trip, so please don’t waste your money.”
From the amused look on his face, I could tell I was going to lose this battle. “You don’t want to break a bone? Well, you are more likely to, in those shitty hired boots, so think of it as a precaution.” He leaned into my ear and whispered, “Just ensuring that sexy little body of yours stays in one piece so I can destroy it later.”
I fought back a moan and bit my lip as my cheeks turned crimson. Oh my god, does he know how to do bad things to me? I still managed to narrow my eyes and glare at him through my apparent arousal, which only made him chuckle. In the meantime, Elle had managed to allow the instructor to scribble his phone number on her hand.
