Chapter 2 - DESIRES

Vito doesn't have many records of women. Especially not one that makes his cock hard with just dancing.

He could have sworn he had more control of himself than that, but with her around him, she clouds his mind. Through the time they dance, he can barely hear anything or feel anything besides her body plastered against him.

He touches her waist and keeps his hands there, watching her gasp and meet his eyes. He can only wonder if she feels it too, how compatible they are and how their bodies lust for each other.

That is why he invited her for dinner immediately after the dance ended even before she gave him a response to his question.

She never did answer that question and also refused to give him her number when he asked.

He is certain that the moment the words rolled out of his mouth on that dance floor that night, he felt her stiffen against him and that look reappeared on her face.

That look on her face that makes it feel like she's regretting what she is doing with him a bit but yet can't stop herself.

"But why do what you seem to be regretting doing?" This question has constantly replayed in his mind even though he knows he has no answer for it.

He had asked Agust for a recommendation and luckily Agust successfully found her number and handed it to him. He had only told her the location, date, and time when he called her but he had no assurance that she would come.

He is already at the restaurant, a little too early by the looks of it, but his body was buzzing so much back at the apartment that he had to leave. Vito couldn't think straight, and each thought seemed to go back to a certain leggy brunette that he had only seen once.

He picks up his wine glass, sipping and savoring the exquisite sour taste of the red wine before looking up. His eyes widen when he sees her. Unlike the night they first met, Jaci has her hair tamed into a high ponytail, and her dress is much longer than the one she wore that night. This one is a midnight black dress with a plunging neckline and a slit that reaches her thigh, showing off her long legs.

She mutters something to the attendant at the entrance. He watches her charming mouth moving, and when she says his name, his body thrums harder.

That is odd.

Everything about what is happening to him isn't the conventional experience he has around women. Jaci looks up from the floor and meets his eyes with a smile but beneath that smile, he can see the conflict battling within her.

"Oh no. Did I get here too late?" She says, taking a seat across from him and failing to notice he is gaping at her. "I had a shoot earlier today, and I wasn't let off until an hour ago."

"A shoot? Let me guess. You're a model."

"Not bad, Mr. Vito." She replies, settling further and picking up the menu.

He wants her to say more about herself, to ask him questions about himself, but he relaxes in his seat. Vito knows it will all happen in due time, and all he has to do is remain patient.

He can see it in her eyes that she enjoys his company. And he loves that she does even though he wants to ask her why it feels like she is forcing herself to do this.

She leans against her palm and smiles at him toothily. "I rarely eat Italian meals. I don't know what to order."

Vito notices her embarrassed smile and takes the menu from her. "Then you should trust me to pick for you."

Jaci shrugs with a twinkle in her eyes. "Surprise me."

He waves at the waiter at the end of the restaurant and whispers his order to him. After getting assured that it will not take too long, he turns back to her.

"Why are you being so secretive about my meal? Can I trust you?"

He chuckles. "I worry you might recognize the name of the dish. I'll rather you not hear it at all."

"Sounds fair. What's your last name, Vito?"

"Will you tell me yours if I tell you my last name?"

"No," she replies flatly, her eyes set and a relaxed look on her face as she leans forward.

"Then I can't tell you mine."

She grumbles but chooses not to argue. "You don't look like you're from around here. If you were a regular at the Oval, I would have noticed you right away."

"Oh? Is that obvious?" Vito laughs. "You're right, though. I am not from around here."

"Got it!" she cheers with glee. "Where are you from?"

"Not around here." He teases, not revealing too much about himself.

Vito can tell that as much as she is curious about him, she is still trying to keep herself almost unknown to him. It doesn't satisfy him as much as he wants to know more about her. Perhaps they can always get to learn more about each other if the night goes well. She smiles back at him, the same teasing look on her face.

"What do you do then?"

"You can call me a chef," Vito says, adjusting his shirt and fiddling with his watch. "But I didn't come here for that. I'm only here for business reasons."

"Sounds mysterious. Well… I am a model, and I mostly model bikinis and then my face."

His mind pauses at bikinis, and he tries to get the images of her in one out of his head so he can concentrate on their dinner. He meets her face and catches her smile again, seeing that she has done it intentionally.

There is a lot about Jaci that he notices that night. How she leans against him when she smiles, or how she occasionally covers her mouth with her hand whenever she laughs. She loves the meal he ordered for her and will not stop talking about it.

Her eyes always twinkle, and she lives each moment like it is her last. The two of them talk a lot over dinner. The atmosphere of the restaurant gives them enough space to speak as much as they want, and time seems to pass by so fast.

His eyes turn back to her as they walk side by side. They order a bottle of wine to commemorate their time together after their meal, and they might have drunk, albeit too much. Almost downing the entire bottle.

Vito suggests that they take a walk to get the alcohol out of their systems, but it is also because he is feeling helpless against her. He wonders if she knows how hard she makes it for him to think straight.

"Uh, Vito?"

Her voice pulls him out of his thoughts, and he sees that she has stopped walking. His arm is still in her hands, squishing against her breasts. He looks at the sky to inhale slowly before turning his gaze back to her. Jaci inches closer, her body against the side of his.

"What is it?"

"I think we've taken enough of a walk. I'm not that drunk. I feel soberer than you."

"I'm very much sober too, Jaci. Do you want us to walk back to the restaurant now?"

She nibbles on her bottom lip, and he finds her cute. Her hair is still in its exquisite bun, and he just wants to run his hands through it. When he looks down at her, he realizes he had missed her words.

"Sorry? I didn't get that."

Jaci looks up at him fiercely. "I said, the night doesn't have to end. It's still young."

He gulps, letting her move close to him. "What are you suggesting, hm? Say it."

"I want to be with you tonight. I can't…." She falters, eyes shutting. "I haven't stopped thinking about you since that night."

'I just wish I could. Gosh, this is all so complicated.' She whispers the rest in her mind.

Vito only looks at her, his eyes focusing on her plump, red lips. He can't stop himself as he leans toward her, holding her chin between his fingers. "Are you sure?"

Jaci slowly nods, but he shakes his head at her. "I need words, Jaci. Are you sure?"

"Yes," Jaci whispers, letting the wind carry the rest of her words away.

There is a feeling bubbling in Vito at her approval. He started the night unsure of how it would end, and he never expected it to go the way it did.

His eyes flicker to her lips again, pulling it out from between her teeth before he stands upright. Vito holds her hand in his, leading her away from the streetlights and towards his car, going where the night is leading them.