"Flávio"It was as if Manu's glow had turned to darkness as soon as her phone started ringing. She trembled, her smile closed, and her eyes tensed, just as her body stiffened."Damn! It's my mom again," Manu said with a tone of apprehension and a touch of sadness."Honey, answer it. She won't stop calling, I'm sure of it.""I'll answer it at the apartment." Manu sighed. "I'm not going to college. The professor who was supposed to teach today had to miss class and sent a message to the group letting me know. I turned on my phone to check the messages and forgot to turn it off again.""Good for me, I'll be making out with my little girl all night." I opened the apartment door and she came in, her cell phone ringing again. This time she answered, put it on speaker, and left it on the coffee table, sitting on the sofa with a sad expression, her joy from minutes before gone."Manuela, who do you think you are, you little brat?" The female voice sounded belligerent on the other end of the l

"Flávio"It was already Saturday, and to my delight, I was off work. I'd have the whole weekend to spend with my little girl. She was very excited to meet her friends, since Alessandro had invited everyone to spend the day at his house. Catarina hadn't been going out much due to her pregnancy and the threats she'd been receiving. I thought that was great, as I needed Melissa's help.My little girl's birthday was the following week, and I wanted to organize something really special, so who better than that crazy Melissa with her crazy ideas to help me.At Alessandro's house, as soon as my little girl was distracted by Samantha, I discreetly called Melissa."Hey, officer! Don't tell me you've already messed up and need help?" Melissa asked as she approached."Wow, Melissa, don't I have the slightest bit of credit with you?" I asked, feigning offense. "Oh, you still have some credibility, but considering your friends' history, especially Heitor's screw-up with Sam, I'm suspicious. You on

“Manuela”My days with Flávio were perfect; we were growing closer and closer. He would drive me to work, then to college, and pick me up from there. We'd go to his house, and when he arrived, he'd already prepared something for us to eat together. Then we'd shower, and he'd take me to bed.I loved sex with him. I never imagined sex could be so powerful, so wonderful, and that it could awaken in me this need to feel his body against mine every day. Sometimes he was deliciously intense, or as he called it, rough and rustic, but I loved it, loved it when he held me tightly, as if he needed my body almost desperately. Other times, he was slow and gentle, and at those times, I felt as if he worshipped my body, as if he worshipped me, almost as if he touched my soul with his hands. Last night had been like that, as if he'd marked me as his, every inch of me.I woke up to his kisses on the back of my neck, his hand stroking my hair. I shifted lazily in bed, but didn't open my eyes."Open th

"Manuela"I opened the box and I was right; my father didn't skimp on my gift. It was a gold bracelet with rubies and diamonds. The goldwork formed diamond-studded hearts, and between each heart were heart-shaped rubies set in the gold. It was beautiful, ostentatious, and at the same time delicate. But my father's card touched me; he said how much he loved me, that he was proud of me, and that whatever path I decided to take, he would always support me."Your father has an impressive gift and good taste, Manu. This piece is wonderful. Does he take commissions?" I laughed at Rick's question."No, he only designs jewelry for me. Camilo says he did this for his mother, who was my father's first wife. He would design a piece of jewelry and have it made to give her on important occasions. He never did this for my mother." But he makes it for me every year. This is the nineteenth piece in my collection."Wow! What an incredible gift. I'll want to see the others later.""Come over and I'll s

"Manuela"I was listening to the songs playing in the car and couldn't resist. Flávio had played the same songs the day we made love for the first time. I was curious if it had been a random selection or if he had chosen them."These songs..." I looked at him and he smiled with satisfaction."It's our playlist. I made it for our first night. I thought it was appropriate for tonight. Do you like it?""I love these songs! Did you select all of them?" I asked curiously. I knew he had planned our first night, but he had been more thorough than I imagined."I chose every single one of them; it wasn't random," he replied, glancing at me."I don't know if I deserve this much." I sighed, content with what life has given me."You deserve so much more, Manu! So much more! And I hope I live up to you." "Flávio," he said, looking into my eyes as we stopped at a traffic light. I was so moved I almost couldn't hold back the tears.We arrived at a tower. I'd never been there, but I knew where it was