Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 639 -

*Caterina*

I had to admit that Elio had picked the perfect vacation spot. Elio took me to a luxurious couples' spa, and I swear to god the masseuse had hands of gold. She managed to target every spot of tension on my shoulders and back, rubbing them away until I was a pile of naked melted humans on her table.

I didn't even remember what kind of nonsense I had spouted out, but Elio told me afterward that he nearly died from holding in his laughter. But I couldn't have helped it even if I tried. Years of anxiety had poured from me like a snake shedding its skin and I felt brand new.

The charcoal lift mask was amazing, leaving my whole face baby-bottom smooth, and the foot scrub had been delightful. I was ticklish on the bottom of my feet, but luckily my masseuse was careful and very gentle as she got rid of all the calluses and dry skin.

I had been too nervous to do the hot stones, but Elio appreciated them very much, though I did get a bit jealous to hear how much he was moaning from the black little stones.

After the spa, Elio kept his promise as he took me up to the mountain. I had never seen so much snow in my entire life, the forest blanketed with blinding white. After so many years in LA, I had virtually no immunity to just how cold it was going to be.

I could get cold on a summer day, but the top of the mountain was below freezing. Elio helped me into my new snowsuit, double packing until I stopped complaining and the cold was bearable.

When it came to skiing, we learned I had virtually no talent. It took me several tries to even stand on the skis let alone move on them. My sense of balance was way off being strapped to the wooden sticks on my feet, so I kept falling straight into the snow.

Elio was patient with me though, helping me get back up every time, and with his encouragement, I was able to brush myself off and try again. After a few hours, I was able to travel down the baby slopes by myself and without falling. Elio told me it was a major improvement for only one day of practicing, but I was pretty sure he was just trying to be nice. There was a five-year-old girl who skied past me several times after only an hour of practice. I was ninety percent sure I just sucked, and maybe ten percent wary that the little girl was just a future Olympian. Elio took me back to the villa for lunch and made me what he called his specialty hot chocolate. With a cinnamon stick, a mound of whipped cream, and chocolate shavings, not to mention a roasted marshmallow on top, it was in fact the most delicious hot chocolate I'd ever had, and also the biggest sugar rush. We curled up by the fireplace, getting warm together with the steaming pile of mugs, and I was feeling more loved than I had in my entire life. I didn't have to raise a finger. Elio was already there pampering me to his heart's content. And curled up in his arms, my belly full of warm hot chocolate and the crackling of the fire in my ear, it didn't take long before my eyes closed, and I drifted off into sleep.

I would've slept all night if it hadn't been for the delicious scent of a roast cooking in the oven and the loud rumble of my stomach in response, loud enough that I jerked awake, eyes blinking furiously as I adjusted to the bright room. "You could've slept longer." Elio's low voice brushed the base of my ear.

I yawned, shifting inside his embrace. Our legs were still tangled together and there was a mound of blankets on top of us, but it was warm and kind and everything I could ever want.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, burying further into his warm and strong body as I mumbled, "I'm hungry."

He laughed, the sound sweeter than any candy to my ears. I saw his grin from the corner of my eye, brighter than the sun, and I couldn't help but smile in response as he laid a lazy kiss on the top of my head. "Dinner's almost ready, but I have another surprise for you if you want it," he teased, brushing his hand through my hair.

"I don't know," I groaned, only half-joking. "I'm comfy here."

"It'll be worth it, I promise," he murmured.

I couldn't exactly miss that, now, could I?

It took a bit to gain the motivation to push myself off the couch and out of his arms, but I let him lead me upstairs to the bedroom we were sharing.

"Go ahead and change. I'll meet you downstairs when you're ready," he told me with a grin, giving me no other clues as to what his special surprise was before he shut the door and left me alone.

The first thing I noticed was the whole bouquet of roses lying on top of the bed, gorgeous and bright and real. I stepped forward with a smile on my face as I pulled one from the dozen, lifting it to my nose. The fragrance was welcome, a breath of fresh air from the scent of firewood that had been burning while I was asleep.

The second thing I noticed once I was closer was the large white box laying underneath the bouquet. There was a note on the box that had one simple sentence.

'I hope you like it.'

I gently pushed the bouquet over to the side, digging my fingers into the thin lid and lifting it up. My heart leaped to my throat, and I took in a shaky breath. Sure enough, it was a dress, a beautiful one at that.

It was silk, a shiny black color with red accents. There was a red tulle layer under the mid-thigh skirt and as I put it on, I could see the red with every movement like a teasing bullfighter waving the color in front of a raging bull.

It was a halter top, completely backless, and I felt a little nervous about showing that much skin. But once I stepped in front of the mirror, I fell in love with the dress.

It was deceivingly simple, but there were so many hidden layers to the dress that I loved the lacework in red by the low-cut dip, the way it hugged all of my curves but remained loose enough that the skirt twirled without revealing anything. Most of all, I loved how it made me look... like a temptress ready to bewitch any man who crossed her. It was classy with just enough of a sexual tone to it.

There was no sign of a little girl in the mirror. Looking back was a full-grown woman, and everyone who saw me would know it.

I grinned proudly, twirling a few times just out of happiness but eventually, the smell of food traveled to the upper floor. My stomach rumbled and I knew I couldn't put it off any longer.

I pulled on my strappy heels, holding the rose I plucked in one hand as I exited the bedroom and descended the staircase. At the foot of the stairs waiting for me was Elio with his hands shoved into his pockets. His back was to me, but I could see he too had changed into a nice tux in a dark blue. Even his hair looked combed and slicked back.

"So, what's the surprise?" I called out with a smile.

Elio flinched in surprise, turning on his heel. The moment his eyes landed on me, I saw them widen and then darken. His heated gaze felt like burning coal on my skin as I descended the last few steps.

All I could see was his eyes, shining with love and desire as he watched me approach him.

"You look beautiful," he smirked, offering his arm to me like a proper gentleman.

I laughed, my cheeks hot as he led me from the staircase deeper into the house. It was still only the first day, so I hadn't had time to explore the villa properly.

But I could see his mother's touch everywhere, including the few paintings on the walls that looked like they were fingerpainted to the bright atmosphere. The halls were a pale-yellow color-a shade I'd seen before at the Valentino house. There was an earthly touch to an otherwise otherworldly villa like this, something neither Elio nor his father would've been able to pull off. Rich kids were a different breed after all.

And though I'd never been completely poor because of my mother's various jobs and the money my father had given us, I never quite had the luxuries that someone like Elio would have had. I spotted one of the framed drawings inside, made with crayons and marked on the corner with a very crooked script of 'Elio and Mommy.'

I grinned, giving him a teasing look. He just coughed, turning away as he led me through the halls to the backyard. I wasn't quite sure what to expect until we took our first foot outside.

Greenery hung from everywhere, the veranda practically dripping in it, but sitting in the middle kept away from the snow was a table and two chairs, perfectly prepared for a dinner by candlelight. "Surprise." Elio grinned.

I rolled my eyes but stood on my tiptoes and laid a kiss on his cheek anyway.

"Thank you. It's beautiful, Elio," I gave him a smile.

He grinned, his cheeks turning red as he sent me a smothering look. He led me to the table where he held out my seat for me, making me comfortable before taking the other side.

Despite the cold, it was warmer than I thought it would be, until I spotted the half a dozen heaters discreetly placed around. His thoughtfulness knew no bounds it seemed, and this was just the beginning of his surprise.

Waiters came out to deliver a basket of fresh rolls. We talked long and hard about everything, from simple things such as our favorite foods and colors to how Elio felt about his parents being part of the mafia and then leaving it. We talked about my father and how his death had affected me growing up, which I realized was more than I once thought.

Soon, our food came out-herb-crusted steaks and roasted red potatoes, grilled garlic asparagus, and mushrooms. Everything was delicious and so worth getting dressed up for. I didn't know how it happened but after dinner, I ended up sitting in Elio's lap, no longer facing the table but outward across the massive lake just below the mountain.

It was a beautiful sight and I cuddled into his embrace, perfectly content to be in his arms for the rest of my life... until dessert came out, anyway.

Elio was kind enough to feed me spoonfuls of the mousse and cream tarts, each one more delicious than the last. But soon enough, the sky above the lake lit up with blasts of colors.

Fireworks exploded and I gasped with awe, watching them make shapes and leave imprints over the lake. The show didn't last long, but it felt like forever as I savored every moment of it.

And when they ended, my heart was still pounding, my chest filled with emotions that I feared would overflow and empty into the lake.

What would love to look like once it had devoured me whole?

"Did you like it?" Elio asked in my ear, a smile in his voice.

Still feeling like I might explode like the fireworks, I gently disentangled my limbs from his, turning in his lap until we were face to face. I leaned over him, eyes locked on his until we were centimeters from each other's lips. And there was no way I could keep the words back from pouring out of my lips.

"I love you."

The wind took my whisper like a dandelion taking a wish.

His eyes reflected into mine, and we both could see clearly the same inexplicably unbreakable feeling echoed back. Our lips met in a clash of sweetness and heat and without breaking apart, Elio got to his feet, taking me with him as I clung to him tightly. No other words were spoken as he kissed me all the way up the staircase, the rest of the world a blur as he piled into our room and my back slammed across the plush bed.

It was a tangle of limbs as our passion became untamed and wild and I realized in a brief pause as he shed his shirt and tugged my dress off my shoulders, that it had only been a month. My entire life had changed in a single month, and I thanked the heavens above that I'd returned home when I did. I was able to have this in my life.

Now, I loved the right man.