I suck in another deep breath before I step out of the dressing room. I don't need Vito to tell me to step on the stage, heading right to it. I don't look at him, feeling vulnerable about how much skin is on display. I know it's ridiculous considering Giovanni has had me dressed up like the perfect hooker the last couple of days. But there's something that makes it feel so intimate with just Vito and I in the room. Fabianna seems to fade to the background every time I step on stage and Vito stares at me.
Stepping onto the stage, I turn my back to the couch, glancing up at the mirror and nearly jumping out of my skin when I find Vito standing just behind me. I jerk, my heart beating wildly in my chest.
I didn't even hear him get off the couch.
His eyes are unwavering as they drag over me in the mirror and I can feel the pressure of his body heat along my exposed back. I remain still as he continues to study me. When his hand reaches out to touch my hip, my skin feels like it's on fire. His fingers move upward, walking up my side and tracing along my back, whispering across the exposed skin there.
My flesh starts to tingle and I shift slightly.
"Turn around," Vito says.
I do so, looking at the ground instead of at his face.
"Gorgeous," he says, the word feeling like a curse.
His fingers brush my chin, forcing it up. "You're a gorgeous woman, Winter, you shouldn't hide such a pristine face by looking at the floor. It's unfitting and unbecoming. Instead you should walk into a room like you're the most beautiful woman inside of it. Do you know why?' he asks as his finger brushes along my jaw. A shiver runs down my spine.
I can't come up with any response and it doesn't help when he forces my chin up again and I find him within a breath's distance of my face. He leans closer, his lips brushing along my cheek before moving to my ear. "Because you are," he says and his words don't only touch my ear but my heart and I feel weightless.
I blink, unsure of what to say or do. The choice is taken away from me when my head goes light and I start to sway slightly.
Vito's hands grip my waist and he pulls back to study my face. "You should be in bed," he says after a moment.
My heart feels like it's going to fall out of my chest as I stare into his dark eyes. They seem to study every little thing, not missing one detail.
"Enzo said Giovanni won't care if I'm sick."
"He won't," he says lightly before turning to look at Fabianna. The woman is looking anywhere but at us and honestly I forgot she was even in the room. "Fabianna, we'll take whatever else she has left to try on. Could you get them all bagged?"
She gives a quick nod, moving into the dressing room and coming back out with the clothes in her hands. "And I'll bag that one when she gets out of it?" It's more of a question than a statement as she gestures to the gown.
"Absolutely," Vito says.
Fabianna disappears down the steps.
"Can you get out of this by yourself?" Vito asks, his fingers dancing along my side again.
It feels hard to breathe but I know there's no way in hell I'd be able to deal with him undressing me so I quickly give a nod. "Yes, I can do it."
He looks at me for a second longer before giving a nod. "Okay, but let me help you to the dressing room," he escorts me to the room and pulls the curtain closed behind me. "Call if you need help."
"Okay." I move as quickly as possible, while also making sure not to damage the gown. I pull my pants and shirt back on, but I decide I need to sit to pull my shoes back on. Vito had me get out of them after the second outfit. I feel a lot more comfortable but I also can't help the feeling of congestion that seems to be taking over.
Pulling the curtain back, I find Enzo standing in the back of the room, and there's a white bag now in front of Vito on the table.
I move over to the couch, coughing slightly.
"Enzo, go get the car warmed," Vito says and Enzo gives a nod before disappearing.
"Here," Vito says, gesturing for me to give him my shoes. I pass them over. He reaches down, pulling my feet into his lap. I shive slightly when he traces his fingers along my ankle before gently pulling my flats back onto my feet. "You should be wearing socks, it's too chilly outside not to. You're going to get sicker," he informs me and I can't help but to feel like a kid getting in trouble.
"I didn't pick this out," I remind him hesitantly.
He meets my gaze, his jaw moving slightly. "That's right, this was Maximo's doing, yes?" The air in the room seems to shift, the gentleness of a moment ago disappearing.
I nod.
He hums slightly before lowering my feet to the ground. He reaches for the bag on the table, pulling out a Gatorade. He twists the top off before passing it to me. "Drink," he orders before rustling inside the bag again.
I watch as he grabs a bottle of pills, recognizing the brand of cold medicine. He passes me two of the pills. "Take this."
I swallow them down, my brows pinching together when he pulls a different pill package from the box. He looks over the box, nodding to himself before plucking a single pill from the package. I try to catch a glimpse of the label on the box but he puts it back in the bag before I can.
"Take this as well," he says and there's something slightly harder to his tone than how it's been for the last hour. It brokers not one for argument so without knowing what in the hell it is, I swallow the pill down. I feel sick to my stomach as Vito continues to watch me and finally I find the courage to ask.
"What was that for?" I know it couldn't have been cold medicine as well, unless the man is trying to make me overdose on them, which I highly doubt.
He sits up straighter, scooting a little closer as his eyes meet mine. When his lips turn down into a frown, my heart pounds quicker in my chest. His hand brushes along my knee and I flinch when he touches the skin that's still raw. His hand moves to my chest next, pressing right against my heart and pushing hard enough that it almost feels like I can't breathe.
"That was Plan B. It hasn't been over seventy two hours so it should work. After all, I know that Maximo probably didn't have the good sense to put a condom on."