I CAN BE WHOEVER YOU WANT ME TO BE “Good morning sunshine! Birds are singing, the sun is shining, and we are in Hawaii baby!” I hear Alena's voice booming through my room followed by the sound of curtains being opened, the brightness goes straight to my eyes, I squeeze my eyelids tightly and pull up the blanket until I'm completely covered “come on my little vampire, we have a tight schedule and the time is running out, you must have breakfast at lightspeed because we have a yoga class in thirty minutes, then a long session at the spa, by the time this relaxing morning is over you won't even remember your name.”“Al, it's too early,” I snap in irritation.“Ah, ah, missy, we have an agreement,” she says as she abruptly pulls the sheets off me.“I don't remember making any agreement with you.”“You have implicitly done so by agreeing to all this, so chop cho

" A WARM WELCOME" After three wonderful days, it was time to say goodbye to heavenly Hawaii. This was the first time in a little over four years that I had taken some vacation days away from New York; whenever I had been "on vacation," I never really wanted to be out because I was afraid of something profound that might happen during my absence and always ended up shortening my days off to go back to work. Sadly all good things must come to an end; that's not fair.I accepted my best friend's proposal to take a few days to relax; I needed to clear my mind of all my occupations. Who am I kidding? I did it because, like the coward I am, I wanted to run away from Stefano Graziani, and for what? To see him in every man on the island, for my mind to play tricks on me and hear his voice in every place or think of him and yell his name every time I had sex with another man."Good morning, sunshine" I enter Alena's room humming as she does; it's eleven in

"I ONLY ASK FOR THAT" Hearing that reply from my lips makes a huge smile spreads on his lips; he lifts me and brings his mouth to mine, we melt in a passionate kiss. My arms automatically went to his neck, and my hands got tangled in his straight hair. Seconds later, we begin to move until he gently positions me in the middle of the bed."I'm going to kiss your body until there's not a single spot left that my lips have touched," he whispers in my ear, making me shudder. Without any urgency, he begins his work, leaving a path of wet kisses on my neck, descending little by little, making my excitement increase second by second.The instant he introduces one of my perky breasts into his mouth, my back arches, and I feel like I might reach my first orgasm."p-please, Stefano," my voice sounds utterly foreign to my ears."What do you want, Cara Mia?""You... inside me.""All in good time" I can't help but groan in protest; the bastard

"URGENT THERAPY" A terrible headache plagues me, my throat feels parched, and my stomach is a little upset. Regretfully I leave Stefano's warm arms to look for a painkiller."I shouldn't have had so much wine at dinner," I admonish myself as I make my way to the kitchen.Last night somehow, he convinced me to go to a trattoria that he loves to go to because, according to him, they prepare real home-cooked Italian food, and I'll grant him that he's right. The food was exquisite, better than any Michelin star restaurant; we drank the whole bottle between chatting and laughing. Unfortunately, I have always been weak in liquor; my limit is two glasses.I continue rummaging through the cabinets until I finally find the Tylenol bottle; immediately, I take two capsules along with a large glass of water and go back to the room."Where were you?" he asks in a sleepy voice as he senses me getting under the covers."I went to take some medicine f

"BURSTING THE LITTLE BALLON OF HAPPINESS" "Christie, Christie, are you listening to me?" Dr. Miller's words snap me out of my reverie."No, I'm sorry, doctor, I wasn't paying attention.""It's understandable; you're still in shock. Your blood work shows you have low hemoglobin, nothing to be alarmed about; it will quickly return to its average level with a healthy diet and vitamins. However, we must follow up and make sure it goes up not to affect your pregnancy.""It-it's ok.""Here are the prescription and indications. Don't forget to make an appointment with your gynecologist.""Yes, don't worry. I'll have my assistant call the office.""Thank you."I leave the doctor's office still stunned by the news. How the hell am I going to drop such a bomb on Stefano? Especially now that he's got so many problems on his plate with the recent move of his kids, not to mention that one of them hates me."Hey Chris, everything ok?" a