Aimee Duffy - Flirting in Florence

Ciara had to bite her lip to stop herself from asking if that was a jibe at her. It wasn’t like she lied to him in LA. It had been crazy sex – the wild, furious, all-night-long kind – and she’d been clear about her no-relationship rule the next day.

But now… her reasons for keeping things light were weak and if he asked where she thought they were she’d be lying if she said they were still in holiday fling territory. Sometime after she’d left Miami she’d realised that much pain wasn’t normal – it was more like she’d been grieving.

So she tuned out of the rest of the conversation and let Zack lead her to their room, situated at the opposite side of the house from Elle’s. But even if she was in the mood for a round before they went out, she doubted any sound would carry through the thick concrete walls.

She went to her case and started to unpack a few dresses while Zack disappeared to the ensuite to start the shower.

It was better to keep her mouth shut and not ask if he meant her when he’d been talking to Gem. After all she’d been the one to kiss him first. Feck, she’d been the one so frantic to get him naked but unwilling to let him go that he had to make the decision for her.

And putting it all down to super pheromones and chemical reactions seemed like a stretch, especially since she cared about him to the point she hurt when he hurt – which she’d been doing ever since he got to Ibiza.

God this really was a feckin mess, wasn’t it?

‘Wanna share to save time?’ Zack asked. He’d disposed of his clothes and was gloriously naked as he leaned against the doorway to the bathroom.

Her mouth got dry and her fingers stung at the tips, like they’d been away from him for far too long and were having withdrawals.

No way was this just pheromones. Borderline addiction, but not a chemical reaction.

But that was the thing about addicts, they got bored and moved onto a bigger high eventually, didn’t they?

‘Ciara are you okay?’ he asked.

‘Yes, I’m fine. Look why don’t you go first? If I get in there the water will be cold before we get out.’ She didn’t mean to sound so distant, but the idea that she was hooked on him was freaking her out.

‘Gem’s wrong. That’s not why I’m here. It’s about more than sex. I like spending time with you, too.’

It took her mind a minute to grasp what he meant – Gem’s vag jokes. She rolled her eyes and forced a smile. ‘After four years I know when not to take Gem seriously.’

He treated her to a delicious half-smile. ‘Good. Now how about you let me wash your back?’

Her gaze darted to his hands. His long fingered, strong hands that happened to be hanging by his sides, framing his hips and a very impressive appendage. Heat sizzled in her lower belly until all her worries disappeared under a craving so deep, she wasn’t sure it would ever disappear.

And Ciara wasn’t enough of an eejit to refuse what he was offering. No woman on the planet would be. Especially since time was running out.

***

Thanks to Ciara’s online hunt for cheap and cheerful nightlife, they found a little restaurant on the Piazza where the food smelled heavenly and the dishes were reasonably priced. Even Elle didn’t seem to mind when she clocked a table full of delicious Italian men in suits nearby.

‘Okay this wasn’t a terrible idea,’ Elle admitted, using the menu as a prop to spy on the men. ‘You don’t see local talent like that in the mainstream bars.’

‘I bet they’re out to relax after a hard week at the office. I’d be happy to help them de-stress,’ Gem added.

Ciara wrinkled her nose but couldn’t stop from grinning. She’d had a perma-smile since the not-so-relaxing shower she’d shared with Zack earlier. And now, even with Elle and Gem sharing the same table, there was definitely a romantic feel in the air. The sun was almost down for the night and the outside tables were covered by a canopy lined with lanterns giving the restaurant a magical aura.

Zack leaned close to whisper in her ear. ‘You’re awfully quiet this evening.’

It wasn’t intentional. They’d been in Ibiza a mere eight hours ago. All that morning sex, travelling and then a bout of pre-evening sex had really done her in. Not to mention the looming deadline reminding her that she was a few days away from never seeing Zack again. It didn’t help that he didn’t seem bothered by the impending separation, and worse was the fact she shouldn’t care either.

‘I’m starving,’ she said so she didn’t have to bend the truth.

He laughed and linked his fingers through hers beneath the table. ‘You’ll need to top up your energy levels for later. I have plans.’

‘Ice cream plans?’ she asked, then bit her lip when she realised her friends were at the table too.

Elle made a gagging noise while Gem moaned, ‘Are we ever going to get the details?’

‘If you want sex advice, Gem, watch porn or better yet, google it,’ Zack replied.

Gem crossed her arms and frowned at him. ‘I don’t need advice, I just love the details.’

‘Well I don’t,’ Elle butted in. ‘Let’s order then talk about something else.’

‘Fine by me,’ Zack said, then swooped down to nibble on Ciara’s earlobe.

Her reaction was instant. Blood simmered through her veins and her breath caught in her throat. Anywhere else she’d give into the sensations but here, now and with her friends as witnesses, she fought for composure and pulled away.

‘ Zack !’

His grin was wicked and his eyes were so dark she could drown in them. The heat raged on in her stomach but she refused to give into it – she couldn’t.

‘This is getting ridiculous. You two need to lock yourself in a room for a week and get it out of your systems so you can both act normal in public,’ Elle said.

Ice spread through her veins as reality set in. That was never going to happen. They were leaving soon, far too soon. Even a week didn’t seem long enough. Even if they had a month left she doubted she’d be ready to say goodbye.

The amusement disappeared from Zack’s eyes too and he squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll behave.’

‘Thank God for that!’ Elle, seemingly satisfied with his promise, waved over a waiter to give their order.

Ciara’s head was spinning so much she ordered the first thing that jumped out at her on the menu. Luckily it was a gorgeous, creamy pasta dish and Zack ordered something with a tomato and basil sauce which she got to try.

Still, she didn’t track much of the conversation and when the place mostly cleared out and shifted gears for the night, she barely even touched the glass of wine she’d ordered as she pretended to listen to the others.

Zack didn’t exactly behave, but even Elle couldn’t moan at the occasional kisses he placed on Ciara’s head or when he wrapped his arms around her to pull her back so she rested against his chest. She was very aware of him, just not much else and gave up pretending to listen in favour of looking around the Piazza at the church and quaint little buildings.

‘Florence is gorgeous, isn’t it?’ he asked.

She nodded, thinking now was the time to snap out of this heavy mood. Turning to face him, she said, ‘I’ve found a way to see all of it and for under a hundred Euros. Impressed?’

Zack’s eyebrows climbed his forehead.

‘Don’t be dubious. It’ll be fun.’ She hoped.

‘Count us out,’ Elle said.

‘We didn’t come to one of the top fifty fashion capitals of the world to look at paintings,’ Gem agreed. ‘And the designer outlets here are full of great deals!’

The day she could afford Prada , even at 10% off, she might refer to the designer clothes as deals.