Chapter 9: Ezio

As agreed, we met very early the next morning and had breakfast at the hotel before leaving for our tour.

- So, is there any specific place you would like to visit? - he asked me as we left the hotel.

- Oh yes, I would love to visit the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiori. - I replied excitedly.

I would never tire of so much beauty, Italy was wonderful and its architecture stunning. The Piazza Del Fiori where the Cathedral was located was even more beautiful than I could imagine. I was so excited that I couldn't help myself.

- I dream of knowing this place since Ezio ... - I bit my tongue in shock before continuing to talk nonsense. Oh my gosh! Me and my damn mouth.

I tried to disguise it and was praying internally that Vincenzo had not heard what I had just said. But it was in vain.

- Ezio? - he asked.

Shit!

- Do you promise you won't judge? - I said, finally looking at him.

He seemed to be even more confused, but he nodded.

- Ezio Auditori. - I said, sighing. But Vincenzo was still staring at me, standing in front of me, his hands in his pants pocket.

- Ezio Auditori da Firenzi from the game Assassin's Creed 2. Have you never played? He does parkour across the rooftops of this city, including the roof of this cathedral. Since I played Ezio's trilogy, I've been dying to know all of this here. - I finished explaining, hating my nerdy side for embarrassing myself.

I saw Enzo's expression go from shock to amusement in a matter of seconds. And then there was a loud laugh. I rolled my eyes and kept walking in front of him, being impossible not to enjoy the good sound of his laughter.

We went for a few more places and then decided to go to lunch, in a restaurant that he made sure to take me. I was there sitting in the restaurant, thinking about the amazing day that we were having and how that man seemed to have come out of a dream. Behind the menu, I watched every move he made while he put his things on the chair next to him and ran his hand over and over trying to fix a lock of hair that insisted on falling over his face. It was so cute and so sexy the way he seemed to get irritated by that stubborn little lock of hair. Enzo turned his attention back to the waiter and I watched as he placed the order. It was so beautiful to see him speaking in Italian.

- Nina, have you decided?

How would I decide if I was pretending to read the menu while in fact I spent the whole time just watching you?

- Not really. - I said after clearing my throat.

- Can I suggest a dish? - he asked me.

I nodded in agreement.

- Un Cacio e Pepe per lei per favore.

"A Cacio e Pepe (macaroni with cheese and pepper) for her please."

- Qualcos'altro?

"Anything else?"

- No, grazie.

"No thank you."

God! How sexy it was to hear him speak in Italian. I was pretty sure that he could make me cum just for talking in my ear like that. Okay, now I was thinking dirty in a restaurant while I waited for my lunch. What the fuck was going on with me?

- What's it? - Enzo asked me, maybe noticing the weird expression that might be on my face.

- I'm really going to need some Italian lessons. - he looked at me confused. - You may have just ordered me a chayote sandwich and I won't know until the dish arrives.

- Chayote sandwich? Hahahaha. You are hilarious Nina. - He said.

God, how hot his laugh was.

- Stop laughing. It's not funny. - actually it was funny because what I said didn't make any sense.

- I don't think any restaurant in the world serves "panino al chayote" but you can make a suggestion to the chef. - he said, still having fun at my expense. And I couldn't help but laugh with him.

For a moment I was distracted watching the movement of the street through the window of that cozy restaurant.

- Is everything alright, Nina? - his gaze was deep and serene at the same time.

- Yes, it is. I'm just thinking. I can't believe it's already tomorrow, I'm kinda nervous. No, I'm fucking nervous to be honest. - I said.

- There's no need for that, you're more than ready. And I will be there with you, all the time.

'I don't know if it calms me down or makes me more nervous.'

- What?

- Sorry, I was thinking out loud. - I said, a little ashamed.

- I see. Well, the truth is that I'm dying to know what you were thinking about me. - now he was staring at me, waiting for me to explain myself.

- You deconcentrate me Vincenzo Barbieri. - I said rolling my eyes and taking the glass of water on the table. He kept looking at me but this time with a different look.

- Only that? - he said, with his eyes still fixed on me.

- Because you do a lot more than only distract me. - He said, still looking at me.

Those words made my face warm and I choked on the water. I was saved once again by the waiter who returned with our orders.

- I'm starving. - I said, but what I really wanted to do was stick my face in that pasta dish. - Wow but this is very good! - I concluded, still trying almost to desperately end the matter. At least for a while.

- I'm glad you liked it. - Enzo said without avoiding showing that he was satisfied that I liked his choice.

- I loved it. - I confirmed.

Enzo was still looking at me curiously between bites and bites but I was still trying to hide it. I didn't know if I was prepared to start exposing my thoughts like that. Although the time we spent talking last night was wonderful and our tour this morning brought us a little closer, I still felt insecure in many ways.

I was not trying to deceive myself, it was evident that the attraction I felt for him was strong and real from the first moment and what scared me most was the fact that he seemed to be reciprocated.

He was handsome, tall, sexy, with a freaking hot body, his stylish tailored suits and his perfume were icing on the cake. Not to mention that his charming accent when he spoke to me or when he spoke nervously in Italian on his cell phone made my insides melt. He was a combo of everything that was tempting. It was easy to lose myself when I thought of him. I was definitely on dangerous ground and I still didn't know how to deal with it.

- So, where do you want to go now? An ice cream before we return to the hotel? - We were interrupted by Enzo's cell phone before I could answer.

- I'm sorry Nina, but I need to answer. - he said.

- It's all right.

- Va bene, Olivia calmati cara...

"Alright Olivia, calm down sweetheart."

Olivia? Who is Olivia? I tried to pay attention to the conversation to understand who the hell this Olivia was after I heard him mention the name but Enzo signaled me asking for a minute as he walked away. I made an ok sign and tried to distract myself by fiddling with my cell phone but I couldn't take my eyes off it while talking on the phone.

- I'm sorry Nina, it was from the office. - he said as he approached.

- Ah yes. Is everything ok? - I said trying not to show too much curiosity.

- Little problems that always appear at the last minute. I just needed to pass some information to my secretary. Gelatto? - he said pointing to an ice cream shop.

Hmm, so Olivia was his secretary.

- Actually, I prefer to go back to the hotel. I'm not feeling very well. - I answered.

- What are you feeling? Do you need to see a doctor? - Enzo looked at me carefully.

- No, there's no reason for that. I just think I ate a little too fast, all I need is some sparkling water and some rest. - I replied, finding his eyes fixed on mine.

- Are you sure? - He asked me with a worried look.

- Yes, everything is fine. - I assured him.

- If you're sure, let's go to the hotel then.

We walked towards the car where Raoul was waiting for us, we went on the road practically in silence while Enzo typed on his cell phone. We arrived at the hotel very quickly and I could see a lot of people moving around the lobby. It seemed that the number of guests increased considerably.

- Nina, needing something, please call me, right? - he said before we went to our rooms.

- Alright. - I replied smiling.

He was making me feel protected and I was liking that.

I stopped, leaning behind the door as soon as we said goodbye, still wondering how far we would have come if we had continued with the talk back on the restaurant. I felt a chill in my belly with the ideas that pop into my head.

After a quick shower, I lay in bed and turned on a TV looking for something to distract myself but I ended up falling asleep and I just woke up with the alarm clock ringing.