Crave For You

Gabriel

I get a sense of deja vü when I step into my room. There is that scent again, teasing my nostrils like a SOS signal—flowers and something obnoxiously sweet. The unfamiliarity of my surroundings follows the smell. There are candles lit everywhere, the coffee table has a candelabra with two wine glasses out, the lights are off and I get a sense of being invaded when I see a figure bending low to light another candle near the windowsill.

The figure straightens, her silky robe stretching over the width of her breasts, the flames casting a shiny glow upon the woman's skin as she blows the match off. She turns, catching a breath as her eyes fall on me in the doorway.

Bianca Bruno has somehow found her way into my room again.

With a furrowed set of brows, I step out of the room, checking to see if I have accidentally come by the wrong place. It wouldn't be a surprise. I have spent my day covering up the tracks of Giovanni's excellent demise which included killing his close partners because I can't be having my capos getting an inkling of my deeds.

It seems like Bianca chose the wrong night to piss me off because I am in no mood to indulge in an argument with her while being covered in streaks of blood.

I sigh and step inside again when done confirming that I am indeed in the right place.

"Okay, I'm gonna regret this question," I begin, sucking in my bottom lip and letting go with a pop. "What are you doing here...again?"

My blood-covered presence doesn't throw her off track. Bianca smiles like I am her usual creature of habit to greet every night.

"I know you said we couldn't live in this room but I thought about it..." she trails off, adjusting her weight from one foot to another and blushing.

"And?" I prompt, clenching my teeth.

"And I concluded that we should make new memories in his room which aren't related to Sofia Bianchi."

A rush of irritation makes my fingers twitch. The thought is vomit-inducing. Why does everyone think replacing Sofia is an option? Is she furniture? She is the air that keeps me alive, the beats of my heart, the only torment in existence who is unknown to her power over me.

What makes anyone think they can replace her?

"And who gave you the idea?" I ask blandly, tasting cotton on my tongue.

Bianca grins. "It was my idea."

I can't imagine it being her idea. There is another force behind it, someone with a need to force her way into my life after I rejected her. Someone like my mother.

I keep the twitch in my inner cheek in control. "Are you sure?"

Give me a name, c'mon. I'm itching to punish that woman.

"Gabriel, this relationship..." Bianca says, stepping closer. Her fingers reach for the buttons of my black shirt. I glare at her hands like she might as well be holding a knife to my chest. "I want it to work out. It's our engagement tomorrow. You and I will be official. Don't you want to see what our life together would be like?"

I grab her hands, dropping them without care.

"Why are you doing this?" I snap, my molars grinding. "I told you I'd marry you. You don't have to play these games to lure me. Our marriage is a necessity, not a choice."

Bianca keeps her gaze even, her pouty mouth rolled. "But I don't want that to be the only thing that defines us." Her eyes challenge me. "I want this to be about us. A king and his queen."