I nod. “I don’t think I slept the whole night through when I was gone. I hated it. I missed you so much, a half a dozen times a day I wanted to look to my side and share what I was seeing with you.”
“I didn’t get any sleep either. Dante is mad at me. He was glad to see the back of me when I left today.”
“Yeah, he said as much.”
“You talked to him already?”
“Yep, he texted me to let me know he’d made the arrangements at work for my birthday gift.”
Cesare is wary. “So what is your birthday gift?”
“You and me for five days in Venice. No work, no cell phones, just us and the amazing city of canals. Long days of sightseeing and longer nights of lovemaking.”
His face gives nothing away. I’m beginning to worry he hates the idea when he moves, dragging me up his chest to kiss me until I’m dizzy. “Anything you want, cara, all you have to do is ask.”
***
Cesare
As the plane takes off, a little sigh escapes Alicia. I don’t hesitate to pull her into my arms. She melts into me.
“Thank you for the most incredible birthday I’ve ever had.”
“You’re welcome for the most incredible five days I’ve ever had.” And it really had been. I spent a summer in Sicily with my family when I was fifteen, my father wanted us to know where we came from. Other than a few weekends in Paris or Rome, both times to please the women I was fucking, without ever leaving the hotel I didn’t do much traveling. Dante was the one who wanted to buy the jet, he loved taking women away for the weekend or a week for fun. Since I was often in New York for a client I shrugged and went in on the purchase with him and Enzo. Enzo used it for business to check out investments.
After the last week of roaming the streets of Venice with Alicia’s eyes full of wonder, hearing her gasps of awe and delight at each new thing she saw I loved watching her beautiful, e
xpressive face and I can’t wait to make her this happy again. From Saint Mark’s Basilica, to the Museo Civico Correr, the Guggenheim, and even two trips to Teatro Le Fenice I didn’t even consider leaving until Alicia had soaked everything in to her heart’s content. She loved hearing me speak Italian, the way I whispered what was happening in the opera we watched in a private box where I found out the wanton witch wasn’t wearing panties.
I can admit when she told me I saw it as something I would have to endure to make her happy but it became so much more than that. Her happiness was a vibrant glow I want to see again and again. I’m already wondering where she would like to go next.
“I’m so proud of you. Five whole days without a single check-in with Dante or Hannah about work. You didn’t even go through the shakes or anything.”
“It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Then again, having your complete and total attention was a lot like replacing one addiction with another.”
Her blush has me chuckling. “That’s funny—a few times I’ve thought of you as an addiction.” She shakes her head. “At least it’s not just me.”
“Did you have any doubt?” She shrugs. Shit, not this again. “I’m sorry. Undoing the thought process of almost thirty years isn’t easy. You’re this disgustingly rich, insanely gorgeous man. And I’m me. You say I’m beautiful, but let’s be real, I’m pretty at best. I have no special skills or...anything.”
I hate the way her eyes are filled with shadows. “I wouldn’t say you have no special skills. No other woman has ever sucked my cock better than you.” She rolls her eyes even as she smiles. “I’ll keep telling you so you can start changing that thought process: don’t listen to that shitty inner voice, listen to my voice. My voice is the only one that counts.”
“Yes, Cesare, whatever you say, Cesare.”
“Damn right. Want to take a nap?” Her eyes light up. My woman, my heart.
23
September
Alicia
The alarm sounds far away; I roll over to turn it off. As I do, I swallow causing pain to flare in my throat. Holy shit, it hurts. It feels like I’m trying to swallow white hot marbles with thorns on them. A dim memory comes to me of waking in the middle of the night as I swallowed in my sleep and pain forcing me awake for a few painful minutes before I fell back to sleep. Yesterday I was feeling rundown and achy but I thought it might be a cold. I’m not sure what this is, but it’s not a cold.
It hurts to hold my head up, so I roll onto my back. I run my hand over my face, damn it, I have a fever. Crap, I hate being sick. My mind goes half-heartedly through Dante’s calendar for today. Today is a Monday, so he is usually busy. Then I swallow again and fuck it hurts so badly tears sting my eyes. Dante can figure it out, or at least Hannah will.
I grab my phone. Fumbling I manage to type out a text to Cesare that I’m sick and won’t be in today. I ask him to tell Dante I’m sorry. My bladder is telling me I need to get up but I don’t want to. There is no surprise when my phone rings.
“Hi.” I croak. Damn that sounds bad. As bad as it sounds, the effort it took hurts worse. A few tears escape.