22: She's nice

Luciana's point of view.

'Thank you for inviting me, it's really sweet of you', I say while taking off my coat.

'Please princess, you'll still have to work. We're making pasta', Charles walks into the kitchen.

He has rented a house for his stay in Australia, that is because he likes to cook his own food on race days.

Which is bullshit, I know he only orders take-out on race days.

'I really can't cook, Charles'.

'Not even bolognese?', he says.

I shake my head

'Carbonara?'.

I shake my head

'Pesto?'.

'How come you're only naming pasta's? What if I don't like pasta', I say.

'Then that would be a crime against all Italians', he laughs.

'Luckily you're not Italian', I say.

He acts like he has been hurt by my words.

'I'm Italian, just not by DNA'.

'Charles, I think DNA decides if you're Italian or not'.

'Shut it, you are Italian, why don't you know how to cook'.

'I know how to cook, just not all the pasta's. My nonna only taught me bruschetta and tiramisu'.

'Oh god, what is wrong with your nonna', his face changes immediately. 'Not like that of course!'.

'It's fine, now teach me how to make some good pasta', I take an apron and put it over my head.

'Will you tie it for me?', I ask.

His hands part my hair to the side, slowly brushing down my spine.

'Yes, my princess'.

He ties the apron and places my hair back.

'Thank you', I say.

He has all the ingredients lying on the table.

It's spaghetti, guanciale, eggs and more.

'Alright, now, my princess. First, we boil the water'.

I grab a pot and place it on the stove. 

'Sprinkle it with salt please', Charles commands.

'Yes, boss', I say.

He laughs.

I sprinkle the water lightly with salt.

'Now, we put the guanciale in the pan and we cook it'.

I do what he says, and then I give him a wink.

'This good? Mon amour?', I tease.

'Yes, princess. It is very good'.

We follow the recipe precisely.

'Taste, princess', he twirls the spaghetti around the fork and brings it to my mouth.

I don't like the feeling he's giving me.

I really... do... DON'T! I don't!

I taste it, it is amazing, so amazing that a moan escapes my mouth.

'That good huh?', Charles puts down the fork and places his body closer to mine.

He places a hand on my lower back, bringing his head closer to my neck.

I can feel his breath in my neck.

He starts kissing it.

'Charles...', I whisper.

'Shh princess, let's not waste our words'.

He bends his knees lightly and I can feel his hands travelling up my jeans.

He grabs my legs and places me carefully on the counter.

I place my hands on his shoulders, while he still continues to kiss my neck.

'Princess...', he whispers.

He turns his face to face me.

His eyes are beautiful like this.

'This is not a good idea...', I whisper.

His hands slowly glide to my thighs.

'Please...', I say. 'Stop'.

His mouth moving closer to mine.

'Say that again'.

'I said... sto-', his lips touching my cheeks.

'What? I couldn't hear you'.

My breathing becomes irregular, now it's just taking big breaths every once or twice.

I want to slam my mouth into his, forget this world.

His lips are close to touching mine and we ki-

'Fuck', Charles says as the doorbell rings.

Suddenly I'm back to reality, and it hits like a brick.

Was I really about to kiss him?

Charles walks to the front door and I get off the counter.

He looks through the peephole.

'Fuck, Luciana get behind the counter and don't move'.

What?

'Charles Leclerc', I hear someone say as he opens the door.

I do what he says and stay behind the counter.

'Arthur', Charles says.

'What are you doing here?', Charles asks.

'Please, aren't you happy to see me?', Arthur asks.

'Very, but now is not a good time'.

'Why? Are you having a date?', he asks.

'N-no! Of course not!', Charles stutters.

'Yeah, okay so then tell me why there are two glasses of wine out there?', Arthur says.

'Well... because I do have a date and she's in the shower right now'.

'Well aren't you going to join her?', Arthur laughs.

'If you go, then yes, I'll do that', Charles says.

'I won't keep you for long, next week, Monaco. Mom expects you to sleep at home'.

'I will, of course, I will'.

'Oh, and Mother wants you to go to Charlotte's wedding', Arthur says

'What?', Charles yells.

'Not my idea, you can have a plus one. Now take care of that date', Arthur laughs.

'Arthur, I,' Charles wants to finish but Arthur shushes him.

'Bye, Grand Frère', Arthur says.

'Bye, Arthur'.

What just happened?

I walk out from behind the counter.

'You're my plus one to the wedding', Charles says, his face pale

'Excusez-moi?  Why?'.

'Because you and I are professional and I need a professional for this wedding'.

'You better find someone else, Charles I'm not your girlfriend, I'm just your boss', I say.

'But if Arthur didn't interrupt we would have kissed'.

'Which would have been stupid, my father is your boss'.

'You call it stupid, I call it great amusement', he laughs.

'Okay I'm starving, let's eat', I laugh nervously.

Fuck no, I'm not doing this.

Charles' point of view:

The fucking wedding seriously?

I really don't understand, she dated him for like 5 months?

I don't get it, she's my ex-girlfriend, how can I be jealous

Why did I ask Luciana to be my plus one?

I'm not in love, we're not together

I just wanted to have someone with whom I could be myself I guess?

Nothing is going on between us. 

I have to stop flirting with her.

We can't get together.

We shouldn't have kissed.

But we never kissed anyway.

It's just...

she is so beautiful

and sweet

and kind to me

But I'm not in love, really.

God it would be foolish of me to fall in love.

Being a single hot male is basically my whole personality.

I can have girls at any moment If I want

But I don't

I don't want girls.

I just want to race.

And do PR meetings

because Luciana will be there.

And she's nice

and sweet.

'Charlie? You okay?', she asks. 

We have been watching a movie for about an hour, but she fell asleep like 30 minutes ago.

'Yeah, are you?'.

'I'm fine now that I know you are', she says.

I smile.

'Me too, me too'.