And now this is where things start to go south.
Chapter Six
Abbacchio found himself thinking about Carmen way too much the next week. It was annoying, and distracting, and yet he couldn't help himself. He even did something disgustingly romantic and sent her flowers during the week since he wouldn't have the time to visit. A couple things had come up that had taken all of them to work out, but Abbacchio hoped that once it was all over, he might be able to find the time to ask Carmen on another date. Something more casual this time.
He hated the constant emotions roiling through him. He felt like a lovesick teenager, and it was really embarrassing, especially since he knew he wasn't succeeding in hiding it from the others.
"Don't fret so much, Leone, it's all natural," Maria told him. "Remember how bad I was when I first came here?"
"I really hope I'm not that bad," he grunted, even as a blush began to spread over his face as Maria gave him a pointed look.
Abbacchio groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I hate this."
Maria patted his back. "It will get better once it's not so new. Then it will just feel lovely, and perfect."
Abbacchio didn't truly believe he could ever be blessed with something like that. But, well, he could hope, he supposed. He thought that maybe he was partly scared because, for once, happiness didn't feel like it was a million miles away and totally out of reach. He really didn't know what to do about that.
Carmen smiled as she smelled the giant bouquet of flowers that had been waiting outside her door when she got back from getting groceries. There were more reds, and purples, and yes, even somehow some black roses. She sighed, wondering why she suddenly felt so lovesick. Maybe she wasn't jaded after all.
Rose cooed in her crib and Carmen smiled as she leaned over and stroked her soft cheek.
"Look at these pretty flowers Leone sent us. Roses, just like you," she booped Rose's tiny nose and straightened up. "Now, it's your lunch time, isn't it? Hold on just a second, bambina, and I'll get you fed."
She went to the kitchen to prepare a bottle, but wass startled by a heavy knock on the door.
"Are you in there, Carmen? Open up."
Carmen's blood froze. No, what the hell is he doing here?
Instinctively, she rushed over to Rose who had started to fuss between the noise and her hunger. Another knock came, louder, the door rattling.
"Carmen, I know you're in there, you little bitch. Open up before I break this door down."
Carmen set her jaw, trembling as she started toward the door.
It was kicked in instantly, the flimsy lock splintering in the frame. Carmen jumped back with a shout. Cold blue eyes met hers.
"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded.
The man looked her up and down, pushing into her space. "What do you think? I came for my damn money."
Carmen folded her arms over her chest to keep them from trembling. "I don't have any money, Drago! And I paid you last month."
Drago scoffed. "Yeah, half of what we agreed on. I know you're back to making money. I had a little chat with Lucien, see, and he said you somehow paid for your rent—unless you gave the landlord something else as payment, which wouldn't surprise me."
Carmen snarled. "I had to pay it, I was going to get kicked out. So, you might have to wait a little longer."
Rose began to cry and Carmen's eyes darted toward her. Drago and his two men looked toward the crib. Drago sneered.
"And yet you still keep the brat. I'm done with any sympathy I might have once had for you, Carmen. You'll pay what you owe me, one way or another. And Unlike Lucien, I'll make you work hard for your keep."
"I don't have anything to give you!" Carmen shouted, tears pricking her eyes. "All the money I had went toward rent!"
Drago's eyes swept the room, and spotted the open closet. He smirked and went over to it, opening it with a casual flick of his wrist. The black dress Leone had given her was still hanging on the door and Drago plucked it off, turning back toward her. Carmen's heart beat fast.
"Now tell me, Carmen, what's a whore like you need with a thousand-euro dress, hm?" He threw it on the floor and started to rummage through the rest of the closet.
Carmen, furious, strode toward him. "Enough! I told you, I don't—!"
Drago exclaimed as he dragged out an old cigar box from the back and Carmen's heart sunk. He opened it and found the rest of the cash Leone had given her.
"Well, well, even with all your expenses, this is a hefty sum. You got a side business I don't know about? Or maybe…" He glanced over at the bundle of flowers on the table. "You have a dedicated sponsor."
"Don't!" Carmen reached for the box. "Please, at least leave enough for basic necessities?"
Drago backhanded her across the face and Carmen spun around into the closet door, her head slamming into the wood, collapsing with a cry. Rose was wailing by now and Dragon sneered, nodding to one of his men.
"Shut that brat up."
"No! Don't touch her!" Carmen cried, surging to her feet, lunging at the man who was walking threateningly toward the crib.
Dragon caught her by the throat and pulled her back against him firmly, mouth pressed against her ear, squeezing her neck threateningly.
"Listen to me, tesero. You keep money from me again I'll make sure you never see that baby again, you hear me? You owe me, and Lucien can't protect you forever. The minute he decides you're not worth it, you're mine, and I'll make you work off your debt to me one way or another."
Carmen choked as he squeezed her neck tighter, his teeth catching the lobe of her ear briefly before he pulled back and motioned to his men.
Carmen collapsed with a sob as they left, cradling the side of her face which was throbbing. She reached for her phone, hands trembling as she called the only person she could feel safe with.
"L-Leone?" she whimpered as he picked up.
Footsteps pounded outside and she heard Danielle's voice. "Carmen? Oh god, was that Drago? Are you okay?"
But all she could focus on Was Leone's voice on the other end.
"Carmen? Is that you? What's wrong?"
She could only sob. Danielle was at her side now, wrapping her arms around her.
"Carmen, just stay there," Leone was saying. "I'm on my way."
Abbacchio's heart was racing as he parked the car outside the apartment and he and Bruno rushed in, startling several people on the way.
"Here!" Abbacchio shouted, pointing ahead. His stomach turned as he saw the door to Carmen's apartment hanging loosely on its hinges.
"Carmen!" he called, pushing inside.
He found her sitting on the side of the bed, holding Rose, another girl he thought he recognized from the lounge standing at her shoulder, pressing a cloth to the side of her head. Carmen looked up in relief as he came in. Abbacchio strode directly toward her and cupped her chin, looking her over for more injuries.
"Are you okay? What happened?" he asked softly.
He instantly accepted the cloth the girl handed him, bending to look at the welt on the side of Carmen's face. A tear slipped down her cheek.
"Carmen?" he asked quietly.
Rose fussed and shifted in her arms as Carmen rocked her, starting to get up. "Sh-she needs to be fed…"
"Here, let me take her," Bruno offered gently, stepping forward and extending his arms. Carmen looked up at him with a little surprise but carefully handed the baby to him. Bruno cradled her gently before he beckoned to the other girl and they went over to the kitchen to prepare a bottle.
Abbacchio sat down next to Carmen on the bed, tipping her head to one side to better see the welt, noticing the darkening impressions on her throat too in the shape of fingerprints.
Anger flared inside of him.
"Who did this?" he demanded.
Carmen simply shook her head, lips trembling.
Abbacchio carefully finished wiping the blood from the wound, washing it out of her hair, then said, "Was it the man you owe a debt to?"
She whipped her head up, eyes wide and defensive, her hand going to her throat. "How do you…?"
Abbacchio sighed. "I went to talk to Lucien. I'm sorry. I meant no harm by it. I just wanted to know."
She looked hurt, but her shoulders slumped. "It's not your problem," she murmured.
"It is my problem if someone breaks down your door and hurts you," Abbacchio growled, cupping her cheek and turning her face so she would look at him. "I told you I would protect you and Rose."
Tears slid down her cheeks. "You can't, he's…"
"You called me for a reason," Abbacchio said softly. "I respect your privacy, but if it puts you in danger, puts Rose in danger, let me know, please."
Carmen choked out a sob and slumped against him. Abbacchio held her to his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head before he pressed his lips into her hair. "It will be okay," he whispered to her.
"No, it won't," she sobbed. "He took all the money and I don't know what to do anymore. Everything is just falling apart and I don't know how to put it back together."
Abbacchio glanced over her head at Bruno who was now sitting at the table, feeding Rose a bottle. He met Abbacchio's eyes with a small nod.
"Well, you can't stay here," Abbacchio told her, shifting her back. "Come back with us, you'll be safe there."
"I can't…"
"Yes, you can," Abbacchio assured her.
"It's a good idea, I'd feel better if you weren't here," Danielle agreed, stepping forward. "Let me help you pack a bag, Carmen."
Carmen nodded and got up, rubbing her eyes as she grabbed a bag and started throwing stuff into it.
Abbacchio stood and went over to Bucciarati.
"We need to get to the bottom of this," he muttered.
"Talk to her," Bruno told him softly. "She'll tell you."
Abbacchio glanced over at the two women and sighed. He hoped she would anyway.
After Carmen was packed, Bruno exchanged Rose for her bag and he and Abbacchio led her out of the apartment complex between them.
Abbacchio drove them back, glancing at Carmen sitting in the backseat every once in a while, cradling Rose to her. He hated the idea that he was going to have to pry into her life, but at the same time, he needed to know.
As soon as they got back, Maria and the others came to greet them. Mista took Carmen's bag and Trish offered to make up the guest room with Fugo's help. Maria gently took Rose from Carmen's arms.
"Don't worry, cara, just relax, I've got her for now," she assured Carmen.
"Let me make you some tea," Giorno offered.
Abbacchio sat Carmen down in the kitchen, one hand on her shoulder, gently rubbing the tense muscles, as he watched Giorno boil water and set out tea cups.
"Thank you," Carmen whispered. "I don't even…"
"It's no trouble," Giorno assured her with a smile. "You're welcome here for as long as you need to stay."
Carmen's eyes glistened and Abbacchio squeezed her shoulder gently, rubbing his thumb over it in a soothing motion.
When the tea was done, Abbacchio took both cups. "Come on, some fresh air would do you good, don't you think?"
Carmen followed him as Abbacchio led her out the back doors to the garden. The late afternoon breeze was lovely and refreshing and Abbacchio motioned to a bench surrounded by the prolific flowers.
Carmen sat down and accepted one of the cups, clutching it in both hands for warmth.
Abbacchio sipped his own, looking out over the garden. "You don't have to tell me now if you don't want to, but, if you need help, Carmen, we can help you."
Carmen shuddered, shoulders curling into herself, before she took a shaky breath. "It's a long story."
"We have all the time you need," Abbacchio assured her.
"It's not a very nice story."
"None of our stories are very nice."
Carmen rubbed her thumb over the lip of the teacup. "I was stupid, and young. I—I wasn't a very good person at all." She bit her lip. "I got in with the wrong people in school and stupidly let them ruin my life. There wasn't an excuse for it." She sighed shakily. "And then I got into doing drugs. It was bad. I didn't have a lot of money, and because of my addiction I couldn't hold down a job, so I was practically living on the streets, just…existing between hits." Her face scrunched up. "It disgusts me to think about it now, but at the time that was all I cared about. And then he came along. Drago."
Abbacchio watched as a shudder went through her at the name.
"He was the one who my dealer worked for. I guess the dealer had been stiffing him or something, so Drago killed him. And then he took over, and he made me pay full price, but I didn't have the money, so he said it was okay, if I…if I did favors for him. That he would even let me live with him." She choked on a sob. "But he was a terrible person and I wanted to leave. I needed to leave. I told him I didn't want it anymore, that I wanted to get clean. He said that I still owed him, but I thought I had done everything he asked me to. I had understood that I wouldn't owe him money because of that, but he told me I was wrong and that if I left I owed him everything for the year I spent with him and used his drugs. It was…I would never have been able to pay it, and so I ran. That was when I found Lucien and he promised to protect me if I worked for him. He was with Passione so he had sway, while Drago worked alone. That's the only reason he was able to keep him away. But Drago kept hounding me for the money. I would pay him off when I could, but between rent and necessities, I could hardly put anything aside. And then I got pregnant, and was just barely able to keep Lucien from cutting me off all together." She sobbed again, pressing a hand to her mouth. Abbacchio wanted to hold her, but waited until she was done and had gathered herself again. "You know I had almost nothing when you found me, and Drago knew that too. He-I guess he went to Lucien and found out I had paid three month's rent at once and wondered where I got the money, so he came and took what I had left."
She doubled over, breathing heavily through sobs.
"So there, you see? How disgusting and pointless I am? How I'm not worth all this fuss."
Abbacchio finally wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against his side. She shuddered, breath hitching, one hand clutching his shirt.
"You're not disgusting and pointless," Abbacchio assured her. "Really, you're not. We all make mistakes, hell, I know. Trust me, I know. I know exactly what it's like to be disgusted with yourself, but you also pulled yourself out of the mud; there's a lot to admire about that. I even needed help with that."
"I just hated who I had become," Carmen whispered. "I still do."
"I don't," Abbacchio told her sincerely.
"How can you not?" she demanded, pushing away. "I can hardly stand to look at myself in the mirror some days; I don't even get why you care!"
Abbacchio cupped her face between his hands. "Maybe because I'm able to see who you really are. Trust me, sometimes that's the hardest thing to do for yourself."
"I don't deserve to have someone like you," Carmen sobbed.
"I never thought I deserved to have anyone, and now I have a family," Abbacchio told her softly. "And really, I'm not that special. You actually deserve better than me in my opinion."
She sobbed again, burying her face in his chest. He held her closer.
"I don't know what to do," she finally said. "Drago isn't going to stop. I do still owe him."
"I can give you the money," Abbacchio told her. "But knowing bastards like him, I doubt that would be enough."
"No, that's what I'm afraid of," she whispered, pulling back. "I just know he's never really going to let me go. He wants me back with him, just for the sake of controlling me. Because that's just the kind of man he is. He can't just let someone go. But I'm not that girl anymore. And if he had me, he would make sure I never see Rose again. I'm not going to let that happen."
"I'm not gonna let that happen either." Abbacchio pressed his lips together, contemplating. "I'll talk to Bucciarati about it. But if Drago is selling drugs in Passione territory he needs to be taken out."
She shook her head. "He's not. That's why I ran here, because he works outside of Napoli. He knows he's not strong enough to tangle with Passione, especially this close to headquarters."
"Well, he's very bold then, coming in here," Abbacchio growled.
Carmen looked up at him. "I don't want him to hurt you," she said. "You don't need to get involved on my account."
Abbacchio shook his head. "I told you I would protect you and Rose, didn't I? I'll stick by that. I promise."
Carmen reached up to wipe the tears out of her eyes. "I'm just so tired. I want this to be over. But I don't really deserve for it to be over either since I only brought this on myself."
Abbacchio sighed and took her face in his hands again, pushing a stray tear away with his thumb. "You know, when Bucciarati found me, he told me not to be bound by my past. It took me a long time to actually allow myself to let go, but, it's good advice. You are not your past, Carmen. If we try to do better, that's half the battle. I think you've done well for yourself. You've overcome so much and found something else to believe in in Rose."
"I think that's the reason I wanted to keep her so badly," Carmen said softly. "She was like…my redemption. Finally something good and pure that had come out of my mistakes. I had someone to look after, a purpose."
Abbacchio smiled. "That's a good thing to have."
She looked at him for a long moment. "You really don't hate me now that you know? That it was all my fault I got into this position?"
Abbacchio reached out to stroke the hair from her face. "No."
"I'm starting to think you might just be stupid," she chided with a sound that was half laugh half sob.
"Maybe," Abbacchio shrugged before he leaned in, unable to help himself any longer, and kissed her bruised cheek. She tilted her head as he pulled back a hair's breadth and he pressed his lips to hers next in a soft, chaste kiss. After that, Carmen simply slumped against him and he held her close, watching as the sun set lower in the sky.
Carmen was almost asleep against him when he heard footsteps and shifted quickly to see Maria crossing the garden toward them with a soft expression.
"Dinner's ready, if you'd like something to eat," she said.
Carmen stirred and sat up as Abbacchio climbed to his feet and pulled her with him. "Oh, I'm sorry, I left Rose with you for so long, she's probably hungry…"
"Don't worry," Maria told her gently. "Mista and Trish have her right now, and she's being well taken care of. You just worry about taking care of yourself right now. I'll watch her tonight so that you can get some rest."
Carmen slumped gratefully and wrapped her arm around Abbacchio's as they went inside.
Carmen seemed exhausted during dinner and barely ate as Abbacchio watched her worriedly. Maria quietly swept her away to the guest room after they were done so she could rest.
As Mista and Trish took a turn washing the dishes, Abbacchio turned to Bruno and Giorno. "Can we talk?"
Bruno nodded. Abbaccio turned to Maria who had retrieved Rose again and was rocking her gently. "I might like your input too."
She nodded and they headed toward the office. Abbacchio quickly explained Carmen's situation to them. Maria cradled Rose more firmly against her, her face crumpled with sympathy.
When he had finished, Bruno perched on the side of his desk, crossing his legs in front of him, mouth pinched in thought. "Well, this Drago doesn't sound like a Stand user, nor much of a threat to anyone but Carmen. However, it would benefit everyone that he's taken out."
"We have to find him first," Giorno commented, tapping his chin. "Though I would assume that Carmen might know how to do that."
"If she'll accept our help," Abbacchio said wearily. "She's afraid of being in debt to anyone again, and I can't say that I blame her. There's no reason she should assume that we would do something out of the goodness of our hearts. She's not used to life treating her that way."
"And life rarely does treat anyone that way. At least not those who truly deserve it," Bruno muttered darkly.
"She needs help though," Maria said softly, stroking Rose's face gently. "Maybe if I talk to her, tell her about what Bruno and all of you did for me, she would be more willing to accept."
Bruno leaned over the chair and wrapped his arm around her fondly. "She might, but I think it might be better in the long-run if Abbacchio gets through to her."
"She does seem to trust you more than anyone else," Giorno stated, glancing toward the goth.
"And she did call you when she was in trouble," Maria reminded him. "She might be finding it hard to admit to needing help, but she knows she needs it. If not for herself than for her baby."
Abbacchio glanced down at the tiny sleeping figure Maria currently had cradled in her arms.
"Motherhood is a strong motivator," Bucciarati said quietly. "Her love for Rose has won out over a lot of things already. I think she would be willing to do whatever it takes to keep her child safe. Luckily that's also our priority."
Abbacchio nodded. "So, what do we do? Bust into whatever operation Drago is running? Take him out?"
"If we have to," Bruno said firmly. "Unfortunately, if we don't want to start a turf war, it might be best if we can catch him running drugs in our territory. That way no one can say we took him out on spite."
"I thought being the head of Passione gave you the leeway to do that," Maria said with a small smile toward Bruno.
Her husband chuckled and bent to kiss her. "Unfortunately, no, bella. I like to keep some of my standards in check. You've gotten far too bloodthirsty since you've come here."
"In either case, it would look bad if we just started taking people out, especially outside out area of operation," Giorno said with a shrug. "Unfortunately."
"Unfortunately," Abbacchio grunted in agreement. "So, if you want my opinion, I say draw him out. And I don't think it's going to be that hard to do. He'll be back to get what he thinks Carmen owes him."
"And when he does, we'll be waiting for him," Bruno added.
"Yeah," Abbacchio replied darkly, remembering the welt on the side of Carmen's head, the finger shaped bruises around her throat… His hand clenched into a fist.
"I'll look into getting more information on Drago first thing tomorrow," Bruno said. "But please make sure Carmen knows that she can stay here until we get this figured out. She doesn't have to rely on Lucien for protection if she does."
Abbacchio sighed. "I don't know if she'll listen but I will do my best to try and convince her."
Bruno glanced over at the clock and Abbacchio looked with him, realizing it was later than he had thought it was.
"We should all get some rest tonight though," he said.
Giorno nodded, already looking exhausted, and went to leave the office.
"Thanks," Abbacchio told Bruno gratefully. "I know what she feels like. Like she doesn't deserve to have anyone help her out of her trouble, but, I know she appreciates you being so accommodating, and I do too."
Bruno smiled fondly at him and reached out to squeeze his shoulder. "I'm only glad this wealth and power has allowed me to help people."
"Me too," Maria said fondly as she stood. "I need to find something to put the little bambina in for the night, though."
"We can take one of the drawers out of the dresser and line it with blankets," Bruno told her. "That's what my mother used as a cradle for me."
"Let me know if you need someone else to look after her tonight," Abbacchio said.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll be fine," Maria cooed, and rocked Rose slightly as she shifted. Bruno looked enchanted by the picture, and wrapped his arms around Maria's waist from behind, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"She is adorable," he murmured, resting his chin on her shoulder to look down at the baby. "Perhaps someday we'll have one of our own."
Maria blushed, but smiled. "I think I'd like that."
Abbacchio rolled his eyes slightly. "Well, I'm heading to bed."
"Good night, Leone," Maria told him warmly.
He headed up to his room, passing the guest room on his way to the end of the hall. There was a light still on in there, and he almost wanted to knock to see if Carmen was all right or needed anything, but decided against it. She probably didn't want to be bothered. As much as the thought of holding her, and kissing away all her worries appealed to him, what good would that really do her?
He sighed and continued to his room, flipping on the lamp beside his bed to only dimly light the room. He kicked his shoes off and started untying the laces of his shirt, loosening them before pulling it off.
He was about to throw it over the back of his desk chair when there was an extremely soft knock on the door. He frowned, striding over to open it.
Carmen stood on the other side, clutching an oversized sweater around herself somewhat self-consciously. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him, lips parting slightly as she appeared to take in the expanse of his bare chest, the scar in the middle of his stomach…
Abbacchio cleared his suddenly dry throat, clutching the shirt he was still holding tighter.
"Carmen," he finally got out.
She pulled the sleeve of the sweater she was wearing further over her shoulder, hugging herself tighter. "Leone," she whispered, swallowing hard. "I—um..."
He softened, opening the door wider and leaning against it. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "I just…can I…? I don't want to be alone tonight," she finally blurted out, looking down.
Abbacchio glanced behind her, hoping none of the kids were up, but they seemed to all be asleep by now. He felt his heart flip and reached out to wrap an arm around Carmen's shoulders, pulling her into the room before closing the door.
After that there was an awkward silence as Abbacchio didn't know what to do from here.
"Can I get you something?" he asked, awkwardly looking around for his robe that should be somewhere…ah on his chair where he had thrown it that morning. He grabbed it and slipped it on, starting to tie it closed, but Carmen grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
"Please, Leone. Can you just… hold me?" she whispered, looking almost ashamed. "I can't…it feels like everything is crushing me tonight and I need to get out of my head." Her hand stretched out tentatively to press against his chest, warm against his skin.
Abbacchio stood there for only a second before he gave up tying his robe shut and wrapped his arms around Carmen's shuddering form, pulling her close. She sighed and pressed herself against him, burying her face in his chest, her hair tickling his bare skin.
Abbacchio brought his hand up to cradle the back of her head. "You're okay," he promised her and guided her to his reading chair in the corner. It was barely big enough for both of them, but Carmen didn't seem to mind. She pulled her knees over his lap and snuggled firmly against his side, wrapping an arm around his waist. Abbacchio leaned down to kiss her forehead gently.
"Thank you," she murmured. "I don't mean to be…forward or anything; you just make me feel safe."
"It's all right, you're perfectly welcome here," he assured her.
Carmen sighed and pressed herself even closer settling her hand against his chest again.
He hummed into her hair, and flinched slightly as her fingers traced over the scar in the center of his torso, hesitating slightly before her hand smoothed down his abdomen to settle at his hip.
Abbacchio swallowed, fighting against the flush that was creeping up his neck. He shifted slightly to hold her more comfortably. Carmen pressed her face into the crook of his neck.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Abbacchio pulled back a bit to look down at her. "Why?"
"That it had to be me you found that night," Carmen told him. "And that I…I can't seem to help myself when I think about how I feel for you."
Abbacchio pulled away even more so he could see her, taking her face between his hands and leaning down to kiss her temple softly, brushing his nose through her hair before pressing his lips to her ear to whisper, "Don't be sorry. I can't help myself either."
He pressed another kiss against her jaw line and finally moved to her lips, feeling them part eagerly beneath his. He indulged her in a lingering kiss before he tipped her head up and pressed his lips gently to her neck, feeling the fluttering of her pulse-point, leaving behind smudges of black lipstick to cover the bruises from a man who had no right to touch her.
He slowly slipped a finger beneath the collar of her sweater, slipping it down so he could press his lips to a bare shoulder before burying his face in Carmen's neck, breathing her in.
"Leone," she whispered a little breathlessly, hands coming to rest between his shoulder blades under his robe, fingers pressing into his muscled back, sliding down until they rested on the scar that mirrored the one on his front. He shuddered, arching his back slightly. She shifted until she was sitting across his lap, bringing one hand up to his jaw to make it easier to find his lips, this time meeting his mouth eagerly, more familiar. Abbacchio cupped the back of her head and pulled her in impossibly closer. Carmen's hand moved from his jaw into his hair and tangled in the silver strands, tugging slightly to pull him closer. He groaned at the sensation and slid his hands down to squeeze her hips. Carmen shifted closer to him, sliding the hand under his robe around his side and scratched her nails softly down his chest and stomach. Abbacchio inhaled sharply as he felt her hand stop at his waistband, fingers slipping under it with a slight tug.
"Carmen," he murmured, breaking the kiss, voice rough and deep as he tried to get a hold of himself, wrapping his hand around her wrist.
"Leone," she breathed. "I want you." She looked away then, her hair sliding over her bare shoulder and covering her face in a way that made Abbacchio's mouth dry. "Unless…you don't want me. And I would understand that…"
"Carmen," Abbacchio grabbed her chin and pulled her head back around, meeting her eyes firmly. He gave her a soft kiss on the lips, lingering before pulling back to look her in the eyes again, unable to deny that he felt the same, impossibly strong need for her as well. "If you're sure," he whispered.
Her lips parted and she gave a slight nod. That was all the invitation Abbacchio needed before he leaned in and captured her mouth hungrily with his, kissing her hard and needy now, no longer bothering to hold back the feelings and urges he had been trying to contain for a while. Carmen inhaled sharply and grabbed his shoulders, yanking his robe down his arms before digging her fingers into his back. Abbacchio took her around the waist and picked her up, moving them from the chair and over to the bed, lying Carmen down gently, still kissing her.
His hands moved carefully, slipping underneath her sweater, stroking loving touches across her body as he slowly undressed her, kissing a path across her skin as he did.
"Leone," Carmen breathed, hands tugging in his hair eagerly before he gently took her hands in his and kissed both wrists softly.
"I love you," he murmured before he even knew what he was saying, surprising both of them.
"Leone," Carmen gasped again, surprise in her voice.
He swallowed but hid his awkwardness with another kiss before meeting her eyes and reaffirming the words. "I love you, Carmen." He slid the robe completely off, letting it fall to his feet and caught Carmen's lips with his own again, before shifting to kiss his way down her chest and stomach, leaving a trail of black lipstick in his wake. He finished his journey by sliding between her legs and bending to kiss the inside of her knee as she shivered in pleasure. "Let me show you how much."
And because Leone Abbacchio was a man of his word, that's exactly what he did.