1 Chapter 1

"A-Alex! - I moan into the hollow of his neck, while he enters me with controlled movements.

I arch my back, so he takes the opportunity to bring his giant hand between my shoulder blades and press my body to his: my breasts adhere to his chest, while I wrap my legs around his pelvis, giving him more space.

I come between his legs, then a muffled moan comes out of his lips:

"Fuck. »- he whispers, lying down beside me.

I smile brushing, intimidated by the tone of his voice and resting my head on his chest to look at his expression.

I never imagined finding Alex in my own bed after five years we've been together: I put my hand on his face to stroke his beard.

I know he likes it.

"Get up, I have to go! »- I snort at his manacing words and raise my eyes to the sky, while he is about to get up.

"Take a month off, please! »- I give him a kiss on the chest, while his hand rests in my hair, stroking it.

"You're getting too clingy. "

I give up on hearing him sigh again, then move from his arms and get out of bed.

The house is upside down and if I don't hurry to tidy up, I won't even have a little time for myself.

My feet get cold as soon as they hit the ground: March in Sydney has never been this cold, at least in the last three years, since Alex and I decided to move from Bronx.

Yet I have always loved this climate, the one that makes me want to stay under the covers all day ... in the company of Alex.

"Clara, are you going to accompany me today?" - after getting dressed, I leave the bedroom and find Juliet standing up straight away.

I nod listlessly, while I make a low ponytail.

"I don't feel like doing anything today. »-I confess, while Alex joins us.

"When do you ever want to do something? »- he answers with a hoarse voice so I throw him a dirty look:

"I've learned by the best. »- I observe, as he takes his place next to me.

"But I'm a man: women are responsible for cleaning, while men for beer and vagina. »-Juliet raises her eyes to heaven at her father's words.

«You are an asshole and ignorant. "-I find the courage to say.

"I'm realistic and sexy. »-he replies, devouring three croissants in one bite.

He licks the corner of his mouth with the tip of his tongue, while I can't take my eyes off: as soon as he notices it he winks at me.

I blush slightly, then return to my cereal plate: it will be a monotonous day without Alex bothering me while I clean the house.

"Hurry. »-The girl urges me to get up, then I take the car keys and follow her out of the house.

It's her first day of school today and she's very enthusiastic, not because she likes to study much, but I guess she can't wait to meet her friends.

Well at least she can meet her friends every day, I am forced to talk to my friends on the phone.

In fact, Tiara has decided to stay in New York, while Ash and Jessica now live in Sweden.

I miss them so much, but work distracts me and helps me not to think about them: I was accepted at St. Vincent's Public Hospital and I am proud of it, but since I was hired I have begun to neglect myself.

Alex, on the other hand, left his studies in his first year of specialization:

«I've had enough of stinking old men who complain that I'm young. "-he said.

He also punched the pulmonologist that day, so he decided to devote himself completely to his TattooCentre when we were still in Bronx.

Now he's found a job he likes: making designs for an advertising company.

He has an office and a secretary that make him feel important, so he prides himself on being among the best of the company.

I start the car, heading to Juliet's school, while the girl keeps her head down:

"So... You'll see Jack, today. "- I say to make her feel less anxious, but she rolls her eyes:

"We broke up. "

"Oh. "

"I'm with Dukan now. "

"If Alex heard you, we'd both be dead right now."- I laugh, parking in the courtyard and trying not to run over any teenager.

Actually Juliet doesn't talk much about her private affairs, which starts to bother me a lot: I really care about her and sometimes I wonder what her friends are like, if she is in good company.

I really want to know this Dukan, but mostly because if my man discoveres that I know something like that about his daughter he would kill me.

It is better not to be in front of an angry Alex ... definitely.

"He has to stop being such a protective brother."- she snorts as she gets out of the car.

Every time she calls him 'brother' , she makes me very anxious: I have insisted several times that Alex could tell her the truth, but he doesn't want her to know anything... For now.

He was been lucky, because Juliet agreed to come with us to Australia, otherwise I don't know how he would have lived far away from his daughter.

I follow her inside the structure:

"Are you on the first or second floor? "- I ask already tired at the very thought of having to climb the stairs:

She laughs, looking at my expression.

"I have a slacker sister-in-law! »- she laughs at me, but I just stick my tongue out.

"Here we are. »-she stops in front of an open wooden door.

There is no one inside, except one of Juliet's masters, I presume.

He is a young man, perhaps the same age as me.

"Morning! May I disturb? »-I nock the door, forcing him to raise his eyes.

He gives me a broad smile, then comes to meet me, while Juliet takes her place in the back row.

"Not at all, good morning! "

He is a really handsome man, with the features of a pure Austrian guy:

«I am a relative of Juliet. »-I point to the girl-

« Her parents don't live here, so I'll take care of her: I brought some identification documents.»

I hand him a photocopy of my identity card.

"I don't think it's necessary. »-He says, but I just shrug my shoulders and watch him smile again:

«Have you moved recently ? »- he asks, most likely he has read my place of birth.

"We've actually been living in Australia for a few years now." - I return my smile: he seems to be a cordial person, which reassures me, since he will be Juliet's teacher.

«It is evident from the accent. "

I raise my eyebrows:

"It sounds like an offense. »- I make a face.

"No, no, that's not what I meant! I'm also from New York. »- he says proudly.

"Oh. »-I nod at his words, and then continue-«Listen, we've only just met, but I have to ask you a favor. "

"All that you want. »- he says confused.

I take a look at Juliet and see that she is still busy staring at the phone, so I take the opportunity to do what I really came here for:

«You must inform me about everything Juliet does!" - I go straight to the point.

"I should be a spy?" »- he raises an eyebrow, without ceasing to show off his perfect set of teeth.

"You must do your duty. "- I try to convince him, but he assumes a thoughtful expression:

"I would feel guilty. "

"You must feel bad for me instead!

I have to look after Juliet, but most of the time I can't, also because I work at the hospital.

I can't control it, so if maybe you help me, I'll be grateful. "

After my words he remains silent: he stares at me intently, which makes me very uncomfortable.

"So? »- I break the silence, trying to be helped by him.

"Okay, but promise me to return the favor. "- I jump for joy as I nod:

"All that you want. "-I laugh at his agreement, knowing that I can already trust a gentleman like him.

«For now I don't know, then we'll see. - I shrug my shoulders at his words, while he nods his head to me.

"Nice to meet you! "-He says.

"Equally ... mmm" - I urge him to tell me his name:

"Louis! »- he exclaims, extending his hand.

"Clara! Oh and I left my number on the paper. »-I hold his hand with great force, and then turn my back on him to hurry out of the stairs in order to get home as quickly as possible, hoping that Alex isn't already gone.

Unfortunately, however, I find the house empty, therefore disappointed, thinking of the long morning of work that awaits me.

Fortunately, the house is not very big: Alex chose one with only one floor, but from the outside it looks like a real villa: my favorite part is definitely the kitchen.

In fact, I learned to cook other crap besides pizza, taking lessons from Marta, Jamie and the Cake Boss.

I take the vacuum cleaner, then go into my bedroom.

***

I've been zapping for an hour and finally I find something decent: America's next top model.

I actually like to see models arguing, or look at their bodies and try to convince me to get on a diet the next day.

As soon as I finish eating my corn cakes I get up from the sofa to throw the paper in the bin but in the exact moment I reach the kitchen, I hear the door open and Alex enter in the house with his proud and threatening expression.

I pretend not to have noticed his presence anyway : lately I do nothing but jump around his neck every time he comes home from work, while he, when I finish work, has already gone to sleep or continues to do what he was doing before I entered this house.

Among other things, this morning he said that I have become too 'clingy', so I decide to please him and stay away from him for a while.

If I will be able to ...

He clears his throat, but I keep avoiding him while making myself a coffee. But I can't help but smirk, biting my lower lip.

"What are you doing? »- he asks.

I turn to his side.

"Oh. You're here." - I say in a low voice and turn my back to him again, imagining his confused expression.

"What happened?" - he said soon after.

I shrug my shoulders.

«Nothing , I accompanied Juliet to school, I went back and did the cleaning. »- I put the sugar in the cup.

I look back at him again, but he approaches the sofa, and then lies down.

"You, instead? Why did you come home earlier? "-I ask, acting like not interested on the answer.

His response is late in coming:

"Catherine will end up for me. »-he sais, so I raise my eyes to heaven.

"That woman is a saint. »- I observe.

Catherine is his secretary and has always helped Alex, covering him even on his missing days, and I'm sorry I never met her in person:

"Sure sure! »- he replies.

"He's over fifty, right? - I ask: Alex doesn't talk much about his colleagues, only once I managed to get him talk about Catherine, and he told me that she is a poor old woman without a husband.

He nods at my words without actually paying attention to what I'm saying.

"Invite her to dinner sometime. »-I propose to him.

Since we moved Alex has made many friends, of which I know only a part: fortunately our old friends John and Andrew have decided to live near us, only slightly on the outskirts, so sometimes we are allowed to see them again.

"No! »-He exclaims with a shrill voice-« Why do I have to have dinner with an old woman ?! "

"Because he helps you at work and because I'm tired of dealing with your bullying friends! »- I snort, while he rolls his eyes.

"Will you make me some coffee?" »- he asks.

"That's the kitchen! »-I point to the island next to me.

"Bitch! »- He throws me a pillow, but I manage to avoid it.

"Were you watching this show again? »-he points to television, where America's next top model continues to be broadcast.

"Yes. »-I approach him.

"Let me guess? Have you decided to go on a diet again? He laughs, while I just sulk.

"It's not true. »-I sit on the opposite side of the sofa, while he wrinkles the eyebrows:

"What? "-I ask-" why are you looking at me like that? "

Whenever I find him on the sofa, I lie down next to him and tease him, but now I don't, which seems strange to him.

But not even he gives up, in fact he just shrugs.

I observe him, while he concentrates on TV: he is always the same indifferent man, indeed, perhaps he is a little more so than before.

He's gotten almost taller than before, or I got shorter, but he keeps his body as before: he bites his lower lip, highlighting his features ... and he knows what effect that has on me. gesture.

He runs a hand through his dark hair as the muscles in his arms contract, moving the tattoos around it.

I've studied every single tattoo of hisbody, discovering the story behind each one, but my favorite is one that represents a small C in the middle of her back.

I never asked him the meaning of that letter, I don't want to be disappointed: I always dreamed it was the initial of my name and I want to keep thinking like that.

Also because, if I told him, he would burst out laughing in my face.

I look away from his figure, getting lost in my thoughts, as I watch the rain hit the window pane violently.

And the more I look at it, the more my smile grows.

The ringing of the phone makes me jump, so I reach out on the dresser: I notice that it is a message, so immediately I think it is Tiara, since she often writes to me, but I am perplexed when I see that it is from a number that is not registered in my address book:

* I'm glad my first day as a spy was paid off: Juliet just went out with a young boy. *

I smile at Louis's message, but then my expression becomes serious: Juliet went out with Dukan !!

"Who is that? »- I jump at the sound of Alex's voice.

"A friend. »-I delete the message quickly, while Alex raises an eyebrow:

"A friend?" -he asks with a manacing tone, so I quickly nod to his question.

"Do I know him? »- he insists so I raise my eyes to the sky, trying to silence him:

"Don't be jealous ..." - I begin, but he interrupts me:

"I'm not jealous! "-he replies with a cold and serious expression, but I roll my eyes again, a little bit offended by his answer:

"Of course you are not. "

🤗🤗What do you think about Alex guys?