Page 103 of Wicked

I want her to finish the book, and I know it’s important to her. I also like that her, or our, time here, is not just about her, or us, and me making her come. I like that we have to achieve other things too, and we have responsibilities.

I’ve met way too many women who float through life and hunt guys with money and empires.

That do not push themselves to create or build… anything.

I guess being a builder myself, I like others who strive to build something of their own.

As I move quietly in the castle chamber, I try not to distract Raven. As Tito trots over to her, he puts his head between her legs.

Raven reaches down to pet him, but she remains firmly in the zone. “Hey, boy.”

I want to do the same as Tito, and I want to bury my face between her thighs. I want to taste her cum on my lips, and I want to swipe her silky flesh.

Raven makes marks on her notes, then she sighs and looks up. “Hey!”

“Hey,” I say, trying to be more human than my cold grumpy normal self. “Get a lot done?” I ask, trying to be all casual.

Raven stands, and she stretches like a sexy cat. “So in the zone. It’s a good room for writing. It may be the feng shui.”

I’ve read about the Chinese energy belief, and I rate it myself. The room faces the ocean and sunset, and it may have something to do with it.

As Raven walks over, we find each other and kiss. We should not be doing this kind of thing, but I gave up trying to understand whatever we have and what it’s becoming.

As I hold my top student, I look down, and I wonder if she needs an F or an A. As we pull back, I toss my pad on the table. “I think I need a break.”

“Me too,” Raven says with a sigh.

“Feel like a walk?”

We headup to the back of the castle to the top of the hill over the cliff. It has the best view of the coast, and the trees are stunning and dramatic.

A wind blows from the rich blue Mediterranean Sea and Raven snuggles in. I wrap my jacket around her as Tito runs ahead and looks around.

Raven sees the old family cemetery with the aged stones marking my ancestors, and she takes my hand.

As we walk up and around the fallen and lost, I have mixed feelings. I’m a proud Italian, and I am proud of my heritage.

My frustrations with my parents are another thing. Them wanting me to marry into a known and powerful Tuscan family,and them wanting me to be a banker or lawyer is another thing I have to bury or shun.

As Raven and I separate, she heads along a line of stones and old crosses.

I slow, and I take in the names of family members I’ve heard of and of others long forgotten that I don’t recall.

As Raven brushes leaves from several headstones, I return to my grandfather’s grave. I sit on another, and I look down at his and think.

I feel Raven stand behind me, and she leans against my back. She wraps a caring arm around me as Tito looks down on the village and beach below.

“It’s an amazing view,” Raven says. “And a nice view for them all.”

I nod, and she’s right. It feels good Raven is here, whatever that means. I’m the least sentimental person I know, and that’s likely why I operate like a cold lone wolf.

For whatever reason, maybe it’s the castle sale, Raven, Tito, and my grandmother combined, I feel emotional.

I’m either getting soft and losing my shit, or I’m maturing and becoming human. Who the heck knows.

“This is my grandfather’s, my Nonno,” I say. “He was more like my father than my actual father. He basically taught me everything I know.”

Raven sits, and she rests a hand on my shoulder. It’s cute, even if it makes me feel like a teenager and not some tough corporate survivor.

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