Page 100 of Wicked

I push against his chest, and I don’t know what to say.

All I know is, we’re not really living with each other, but it does make sense.

“We will get your things tomorrow.”

I beam inside, and I’m glad he cannot see my face. As I watch the flames, look at the large castle chamber, and dog in the light, I talk low. “I won’t disturb you?” I turn back to see Dante’s eyes and I kiss his perfect square jaw. “I mean, more than now?”

“I’m already disturbed,” Dante says, thumbing my lower lip. “And realistically, you need a week on your novel.” I nod, and he is not wrong. “I also need a full week on the theme park idea. We both have projects.”

I look back ahead as Dante wraps his big arms around me. He really is serious about saving the castle and using my crazy idea.

“I can help with the theme park, right?” I ask, unsure but excited.

I draw imaginary shapes on his olive-skinned thighs, and my fingers love the touch of his soft skin. It’s the first time I’ve really been able to play with a man, and I can’t stop touching him.

“Of course. It was your idea, after all.”

I think about the pros and cons of the theme park, and I gasp. “But what about Maria? She’ll lose money.”

“If all goes well, she will make a small fortune. We will not take her clients, and she should get far more guests per night.”

“She may also need another bathroom,” I say, loving hers but believing it. Dante hugs me closer, and he kisses my temple. I inhale, lean back, and I lay in his arms. I like it, but I likely like it way too much.

43

DANTE

We awake in bed together, but we are not spooning. I’ve never spooned with a woman, and it’s something I’m not interested in doing. I usually don’t even sleep with women I take.

Our bodies are connected as I awaken, and our limbs are crossed. They must have found each other in the night and reached out for warmth or connection.

I’m unsure why Raven and I seem so comfortable together. It’s new to me. I file it in the too hard to understand basket, and I rise.

After breakfast, we go to the villa, and we talk to Maria. I explain as little as is needed, and we say nothing about the possible theme park. We simply say we have aspecial project.

The special project not being see how far I can push myself into Raven’s tightest places and make her come in every way possible.

We get all of Raven’s gear, and dear Maria is sorry to see her go. As she stands in the villa’s main doorway, she waves a final farewell.

Raven waves back, as she, Tito and I drive away in the Ferrari.

After buying fresh food, fresh bread, and fresh pasta at a nearby village, we head for home, for lack of a better term.

It gets me thinking, and I realize I don’t know that much about my student’s family. I look over at her as she takes off her sandals and stretches her bare feet. “You know a lot about my family. What about yours?”

As Raven gets comfortable, she peels her orange and feeds me. I don’t pull her up on the potential mess. It’s just natural and real, like her.

“Well, Mom was a writer, as you know. And I lost her when I was young.”

I already knew that but not that she was so young. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks,” she says with a sigh. “And Dad is a broker. Mostly company shares for wealthy individuals, plus some larger funds. We’re not that close. I think I’m more like Mom. Dad wanted me to study business, not arts.”

“So, no brothers or sisters, right?”

“That’s right,” she says, sounding like she’d like to have them. “I’ve got a lot of cousins scattered about, some I’m close to.”

“That’s good,” I say, starting to have feelings. Feelings I’m new to, or feelings I’ve always shunned.

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