Leah's Seduction: 5 (Gianni and Leah - Leah's Seduction) by Emily Jane Trent

him.
    She was at the end of her patience, and knew that before leaving Italy, something had to give. Returning with a dark secret between them wasn’t going to work. It would destroy what they had. Maybe slowly, like water eroding the shore, or violently, when she least expected it.
    But it would happen.
    By the last day, even Gianni knew something was wrong. She sat beside him on the sofa listening to music and sipping wine. But Leah was unable to disguise her feelings.
    “What’s wrong?” he said.
    Leah wanted to be anywhere but there. She wished it didn’t have to be this way. It was unbearable to have something pushing them apart, something Gianni couldn’t talk about. But it was so difficult to broach the subject, knowing he would be angry and might refuse to tell her anyway.
    But her passion was too fierce, her love too great. Whatever the cost, Leah had to make him tell her. It was the only way. “I can’t do it,” she said, looking down at her lap.
    Gianni looked puzzled. “Can’t do what?”
    Leah looked up into his blue eyes, hoping to find truth. “It will break us, Gianni. Sooner or later, it will.”
    His expression turned to one of concern. “What will? You’re not making sense.”
    She took a breath. “The emotion between us is strong…but not strong enough.” Leah turned to face him. “There is a weak point.” She paused. “Your past.”
    The sadness in Gianni’s eyes wrenched her heart. But she pressed on. “You can’t take my heart and give nothing back.”
    He looked shocked. “I give nothing ?”
    Leah gripped her glass. “There is a wall around your heart. We can’t go on this way.” She stared at him. “I cannot bear to walk by that locked door one more time, and not know why it torments you. You have to tell.”
    Please tell me . Leah prayed he would. But the silence was heavy.
    His voice was cold. “You ask for something I’m not prepared to do.”
    Leah didn’t know where the strength came from. But she didn’t back down. “You will lose me, Gianni…unless you tell me.”
    He stared at the fire, saying nothing.
    “Whatever the burden,” Leah said, “you must share it with me.”
    Gianni shook his head. His eyes remained distant.
    She was losing him. Suddenly, all the frustration Leah had bottled up inside engulfed her. Rationality fled. If Gianni refused to tell her, it would be over. He would never be able to love her. There was no way to melt his heart.
    Standing, Leah began to pace in front of the sofa, still holding her wine glass. “You must!” she said, but Gianni didn’t look at her.
    Her heart was breaking. The man she loved was drowning, and Leah was unable to save him. Panic rose inside her, and tears welled in her eyes. Angry and disappointed, she turned toward the fireplace. Drawing back her arm, Leah smashed the glass against the stone.
    Red wine splattered, and glass shards scattered across the floor. Sobbing, Leah strode out of the room, crunching over the chunks of glass. Gianni stood up as she flew past him. But it was too late to stop her. She ran up the stairs and went in the bedroom, locking the door behind her.
    Gianni yelled, but she hardly heard him. Burying her face in the pillow, Leah cried. She sobbed uncontrollably, knowing it was all over. Clearly she had pushed him too far. It was surely the end. But what choice had there been?
    He pounded on the door and shouted, “Leah, open the door!”
    Ignoring him, Leah covered her ears with the pillow. She didn’t want to hear him. She couldn’t face him. And she couldn’t stand to hear him say they were finished. Even though she feared it was true. The pounding on the door stopped, and Leah cried into the pillowcase.
    *****
    Darkness colored the windows; sunset was long past. The rest of the afternoon had been lost to her. Red-eyed and devastated, Leah rose from the bed to go into the bathroom. The mirror reflected her inner emotion. She was a wreck. Splashing cold water on her eyes, she