Illegal Attractions

Jasmine Anderson

When you’re a kid, they always tell you to take your time. Don’t rush to grow up and enjoy your childhood, enjoy your teenage years. Then, they’ll tell you that one day a boy will come along and love you. If you ever got your heart broken by that same boy that was supposed to love you, they’ll tell you that a real man will come along and really love you and treat you like the queen that you are. As the years go by and you get older, parents, grandparents, even strangers, will tell you all these things. However, they never tell you about the difficult situations and what to do in those difficult situations.

I didn’t rush to grow up, although I was sort of forced to mature faster than most kids my age. I’ve never been heartbroken by some measly boy, in fact, I’ve never even had a boyfriend. And, of course, no man has come to be my savior and show me the love and affection that I deserve. Well. . . not romantically anyway.

“No, no, no. Put me down.” I yell at my dad as he carries me near the pool.

“Dai, fiore (Come on, flower). You can’t sit in the sun all day.” I hear him say. I didn’t even have to look at him to know he was smiling. He was enjoying this. My legs kicked in the air the closer we got to the pool and I let out a shriek as he loosen his hold on me for a split second before tightening it again. “Okay, bene (fine).” He finally places me down on the ground, my feet right at the edge of the pool. “I was just messing with you. Although you do need to get in water, your skin is a bit hot.”

“Mhmm,” I hum as I send him a playful glare.

“You’re not really mad, are you?” He holds his arms out, ready to hug me, and I pretend to give in before pushing him into the water. He falls into the deep end before resurfacing a few seconds later. “Oh, you’re just cold,” He says smiling, running a hand through his now wet curls.

“No, but I bet the water.” I say with a triumphant smile.

Rafael Riggi, also known as my dad, was an Italian sweetheart. However, don’t be fooled by his sweet and innocent nature, he could be cold. He was a billionaire that co-owned a chain of restaurants and was also co-ceo of a multi-billion company. His now wet face highlighted his bright blue eyes as his wet, toned, lean, beach boy body glistened in the hot sun, his tattoos were an added effect. He looks at me while he floats in the water, his pink, slim lips pulled into a boyish grin.

“What was all the yelling about?” I hear from behind me. Turning around, there he was walking with a tray in his hands, it being filled with uncooked beef patties and bacon strips.

Alessandro Uccello, also known as pops, is my other dad. He’s older than Rafael, hence the name pops. He’s the type of guy that has this hard and rough exterior but is really a complete teddy bear. He’s charming and if he flirts with you, it means he likes you and it doesn’t go any further than that. He was the other co-owner and co-ceo - together they are billionaires. His dark brown silky hair that was cut into a fade - which somehow always ends up in this I-just-got-out-of-bed style - falls over his forehead that makes his grey almost white eyes pop as he leans over the grill a bit. His skin littered with tattoos shines in the sun and it just made him the perfect package.

They’re both eye candy. If they wanted to, they could pull any man or woman they wanted. Although they didn’t have to try as they basically threw themselves at them, it, however, was pointless. They each came from rich families so not only did they have the looks, they also had the money. And their personalities, oh, it was like two cherries on top of a delicious sundae.

Bottom line is. . . I may or may not have a crush on them.

“Jasmine here is being a real mood killer. She doesn’t want to join me in the pool,” my dad says, adding a fake pout for the dramatic effect.

“Is that so?” Pops says. amused, playing along with Rafael’s act. I huffed, crossing my arms.

“I was enjoying myself, bathing in the sun. Hailey can join you,” I say looking over at my best friend who tilts her sunglasses down at the mention of her name.

Hailey is my best friend and has been ever since my freshman year of junior high after I got adopted. She was one of those girls who loves to do anything that is fun and is a sucker for free food. She wears her heart on her sleeve but it never stops her from liking the first or second guy that smiles at her and calls her pretty. And if he was good looking, oh, she’s a goner.

“Hailey can do what now?”

“Join my dad in the pool.” I smile desperately, hoping she’ll get the message. I would join Rafael in the pool and I would honestly love it. Though, both of our half naked bodies in the water were not going to cut it. Then, eventually, he would start to chase me around the pool until he caught me and when he did, he would hold onto me tightly. Then, he would start whispering ‘mia piccolo fiore’ (my little flower) in my ear and God knows what that does to me. Then his toned body pressed up against mine - I would simply melt.

So, I was not about to get in the pool.

“Hmm.” She tilts her head to the side a bit like she’s really pondering the idea but we both know she’s not. “It’s not a bad idea.” She gets up and stretches, only stalling, before taking her sunglasses off and putting it on the table next to the lounge chair. She starts walking towards the pool, and a sly smirk appears on her lips. Before I even have time to question it, I’m being pushed into the water.

When I resurface, I spit out the water that got in my mouth, pushing the hair out of my face, and look up at Hailey who is smiling innocently. “Ahh, that was a good one Hailey,” Alessandro says, watching the burgers that are now on the grill. I hear the water splashing a bit behind me and then muscular arms are being wrapped around me. I swear my pussy clenches with his body pressing up against mine.

“You’ll thank me later.” She says, walking over to Alessandro and giving him a high five before walking into the house. I’m thanking her now but she’ll never know that.

“Now aren’t you glad you got into the pool, mia piccola fiore (my little flower)?” Rafael whispers. Yes, but glad is an insult to how I really feel

For the rest of the evening, Rafael and I swam around and Hailey eventually joined us later on. Alessandro simply watched over us until he finished grilling the hamburgers. That’s when we got out of the pool and ate our food. We jammed music on our bluetooth speakers and song songs while Hailey and I gossiped about everything that was interesting that has happened at school. Hailey eventually went home while us three stayed outside and watched the sun set. We sat in silence, a comfortable one, each of our minds occupied with something different.

I highly doubt they ever thought of me, well at least not in the same way that I think about them. I know for a fact that they would be disgusted if they knew even half of what went through my mind. I wouldn’t blame them though. There was a time I was disgusted with myself and the wild thoughts that I had, the dreams that I had. Sometimes I still am. It’s fucked up, dirty, twisted, shameful, and, no doubt, sinful. They were a forbidden fruit and in the beginning I didn’t want to give in and have a taste.

In the beginning I thought it was just my fifteen year old self having twisted hormonal problems. Then months went by and I began to think it was because they were the only men that I have ever loved with my father being nonexistent. But then as I got older, the feelings I had for them developed into something they shouldn’t be and my attraction towards them skyrocketed.

I tried to come up with whatever pathetic excuse that I could to explain why I felt what I felt until eventually, I gave up. Then, I had no choice but to accept and admit my feelings when Hailey came across one of my childish love poems I wrote for them. I, of course, was never going to give it to them. It was just a fun imaginary game I played in my head where I would give it to them and they would smile and tell me they felt the same. Hailey, being the very accepting and non judgemental person that she is, simply smiled and said she would keep it a secret. But, how much she teases me about it on a daily.

“Anybody up for a movie?” Rafael asked, breaking the silence. The sky is now these beautiful shades of pink, orange and purple and the sun is almost set and ready to rest. Soon the moon will appear and be surrounded by endless bright stars. I will eventually get in bed and lay my head down, closing my eyes while wishing I was lying between the two men I have ever loved.

“I wouldn’t mind. Bimba (baby girl)?” A hushed gasp leaves my mouth, me breaking out of my trance. I look over at Alessandro, both him and Rafael looking at me, waiting for an answer.

“Oh yeah-yeah sure. I’mma just shower first.” I sigh as I sit up in the lounge chair and stretch my arms.

“Yay.” Rafael squeals. “I’m picking the movie.” Rafael jumps up out of the lounge chair and starts running inside the house.

“Pupino! Devi prima fare la doccia (little baby, you have to shower first).” Alessandro yells, running in after Rafael to probably stop him from ruining the couch. A ghost of a smile comes to my lips as I imagine all of us together as a couple, knowing it will never be.

Looking around the back yard, I move and start gathering the wet towels. Placing them in a pile, I start to grab the plates when I feel a hand on my waist. “You don’t have to do that.” A shriek leaves my mouth as I jump from shock. Tripping on air, I prepare to feel concrete but I feel a thick arm wrapping around me instead. “Always a clumsy little thing.” Alessandro whispers. I audibly gulp and let out a nervous chuckle. A sly smirk appears and for a second I think that he knows the effect he has on me. However, he stands me up straight and goes to grab the plates like nothing ever happened - the thought is gone as fast as it came. “Go and shower, we’ll wait for you.”

I walk into the house without saying a word, walking up the stairs to my room. This was something that always happened. Alessandro or Rafael would do or say something so simple and my mind would immediately get hopeful, thinking that maybe there’s a double meaning or something. But then, the moment passes and I’m left feeling like a complete fool. All Alessandro did was keep me from falling and call me clumsy, which is very much true. Yeah, he added that flirty smirk along with it but that’s just who he is - he does that with everyone.

I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth, not wanting to take too long. The whole time, thinking about how I will go downstairs and not overthink things. However, everyone knows that’s not going to happen.

I quickly dried myself, adding some flowery body lotion before picking out some pajamas. I went with a black frill cami with cherry prints that stopped right above my belly button. I put on the matching shorts that may or may not have been too short, but I’m going to dwell on that. I brush my wet, dark brown hair, getting all the tangles out, before going downstairs.

Walking into the living room, Alessandro was the only one sitting on the couch. His hair was still wet and he was only wearing gray sweatpants. Inwardly sighing, I thought about how I wanted to run my hands all over his body like a four year old learning how to finger paint. “Where’s dad?” Alessandro slightly jumps, trying to not make it noticable, before looking over at me. I see his eyes rake up and down my body, one of his brows lifting, before connecting with my eyes.

“He’s, um, making popcorn.” I go and sit in the middle of the leather couch, Alessandro on my right, and my naked leg touches his hand for a second before he moves it, running the same hand through his hair. I try not to think much about it, knowing I will make it deeper than it really is.

“So what are we watching?” He goes to open his mouth but Rafael beats him to it.

“Two words for ya.” I slightly turn, watching Rafael walk in through the kitchen carrying a big bowl filled with popcorn. His hair is also wet and he is wearing nothing but sweatpants, except his is black. “John Ambrose.” He plops down on the couch just as Alessandro let out a groan.

“We already watched that movie. Why do we have to watch it again?”

“John Ambrose.” Rafael and I say in unison. We then turn towards each other, giving each other a five high as Alessandro shakes his head.

“Oh wow,” Alessandro says while chuckling. “For the record, Peter was way better.”

“Peter who?” I say, arching a brow at him. His brain must’ve slowly slipped through the drain while he was taking a shower. No one in their right mind would think Peter whatever-his-last-name-is is better than John Ambrose.

“Start the movie.” He tries to say sternly but he couldn’t help the smile that appears on his face. I grab the popcorn from Rafael so it will be in the middle while he clicks on the movie. “Oh wait.” Alessandro jumps up and walks out of the living room and seconds later he comes in holding a folded blanket.

“Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” Rafael says as he takes the blanket from Alessandro and we all get comfortable under it.

Halfway through the movie, the popcorn was gone and I somehow ended up with my head in Alessandro’s lap and my feet in Rafael’s. Alessandro was running his hand through my now only damp hair and it was making my body call for sleep. Rafael was running his soft hand on my naked leg, massaging it now and then, leaving my body with goosebumps.

This is pure heaven.

I am laying between the two men I love and their hands are on my body. It is nowhere near sexual and I am more than okay with that fact. This, right here, is good enough at this moment. Although I am the only one who is thinking of this whole ordeal with a deeper meaning, I’m just going to enjoy what I can when I can.

The last thing I remember before closing my eyes is Lara Jean telling John Ambrose that he wasn’t the one - sadly. Then, Alessandro whispered sweet dreams to me, his lips lingering on my head for a second longer