“Maybe living so close isn’t a bad thing.”
“We won’t be here long, but it’s not a bad place to call home for a little while.”
“You might be used to floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, but I’m not. It’s so bright and there are people across the way. Do you think they can see in?”
“Honest answer?” An eyebrow goes up. “Because I’m really wanting to get you out on the balcony naked.”
“You’re so dirty. I’m never even going braless from now on.” He laughs as he picks me up over his shoulder when the elevator opens. “Enzo, if you drop me I’ll never forgive you.”
“Have I dropped you yet?”
“No, I just want it on record.” I groan as he tosses me onto the bed. Rolling over, I sigh happily as he starts undressing. He is so fucking sexy and he’s mine, all mine.
A long time later my stomach growls. He shifts, grabbing his phone from the bedside table. “It’s a little after seven. You up to making some dinner?”
“Scrambled eggs, maybe. I have a warning growl then I get Hulk hangry.”
Laughing, he pulls back the covers. “We can take care of you enough to get you by. Come on.”
I yelp at the smack to my ass. “Ow, how rude.”
He goes into the walk-in closet and comes back dressed in a plain white T-shirt and sweat bottoms. He tosses one of his shirts toward me. It’s huge. “Panties.”
Shaking his head, he keeps walking. “No panties.”
“Whatever, you’re oversexed,” I toss at him as I go into the walk-in to get panties. “When are we going to get Cetta and Pepe?”
“They’re here already. Everett picked them up after lunch. Their litter box is in the bathroom in the hallway. He said they took off to Bethany’s side. Bethany texted me Pepe and Ginny are in love, while Cetta and Elvis have a love-hate relationship, and Mac is just happy there are cats that don’t scratch him, he loves them both.”
I’m stunned when he sets a caprese salad in front of me. “Where did this come from?”
“Claudine, she made sure I have everything I need to show you how to make the lasagna you love. You know, the one better than sex.”
“Shut up, wait, you’re going to show me how to make the lasagna?”
Shaking his head, “I’m not going to show you we’re going to make it together. After you eat that so you don’t get Hulk hangry, because the knives are sharp in this kitchen.”
The next hour is fun, even though Enzo is as bossy in the kitchen as I’m sure he is in the boardroom. Then he hands me a glass of wine and tells me to sit down while he cleans up our mess. I’m not sure why, but I’m pretty sure the lasagna is even better than when Bethany makes it.
We take the last of the bottle of the wine onto the balcony and try to see the stars. Enzo manages to get me onto his lap, where he shows me how to ride him. It’s not fair, though, because I’m on top but Enzo is still in control, still the one to drive me out of my mind. I also can’t wait until we do it again.
Later that night, falling asleep in his arms, I’m beginning to think I might not be making the biggest mistake of my life.
Three days later when my period starts in the middle of handling a purchase with a client, I swallow my disappointment, grateful I’m wearing a panty liner I put on because my body gave the clear signs even as I hoped I was wrong. An hour later when I’m able to make it to a bathroom, the sight of the blood has me sagging against the wall in sadness. Shaking my head, I try to fight the sadness with common sense. This is a good thing; me and Enzo need more time, another month or two is nothing.
The last few days were almost too perfect for me to trust in them. Enzo was sweet, thoughtful, and incredibly patient. We left the office together a little after five, then were dating, as Enzo made sure to stress: another night at the opera, a night at the theater, last night we went to the Art Institute. I tried to tell him we didn’t need to go out every night. It wasn’t about going out, it was about learning more about each other. So tonight he has promised we’ll stay in and make dinner together again.
I love going out with him, but I love being in our temporary home with him most, or maybe it was how we ended our nights with sex so molten hot I don’t know how we didn’t set the bed on fire. Then he actually cuddled with me as he answered the thousands of questions I asked him, from his time in the Army and his grueling stint in the Rangers to his childhood. Enzo asked questions back, and we shared a dozen different memories and favorite things. A little more time is a good thing. I can’t fight the feeling once I’m pregnant, everything will change. This is good, for the both of us.
When I text Enzo I started my period, I hold my breath waiting for his response.
&nb
sp; I’m sad but it means we get to practice some more. Make sure you get lots of water in today so you don’t get dehydrated. Want to have dinner out?
Okay, he can be sweet when he wants to be.
I will. No, I want to go home and curl in a ball. The first two days are always hardest for me.