Page 71 of Wicked

RAVEN

As I run down the villa steps, the horn blasts one more time. I have my day pack with me, and I stop and stare at the car. It’s a sleek vintage convertible, and as I run around it, I see it’s an exquisite, old Ferrari. “Nice.”

“It’s not nice. It’s spectacular,” Dante says, taking my bag from me and opening my door.

“My mistake,” I say, sliding in.

“It was my grandfather’s,” Dante says. “And she’s fast.”

“Just like me,” I say as I slide into the leather seat and pull on my sunglasses.

Dante climbs in beside me, and the sun beats down. “Exactly.”

Seconds later, we are blasting along the Tuscan roads, and I notice we are heading north.

“Where are we going?” I ask, the wind in my hair.

“Milano.”

“What?”

“Milano, for the night.”

“But… I have nothing to wear,” I say, looking down at my cut-off jean shorts and my tight white T.

“That will be fixed.”

“And what will we do?”

Dante carefully overtakes horses being ridden along the side of the road, then he lets the Ferrari loose. As we streak between vineyards, past villas, and old churches, he leans over.

“On arrival, we will check into the city’s best hotel. My usual suite. I will dress and attend a meeting with a designer. You will be taken to a spa and hair salon. I’m paying. Only if you would like to go, that is.”

I peer over, getting excited. “I like it so far…”

“Then you will be escorted to Milano’s fashion district, where someone will help you buy a dress.”

“A dress?”

“Yes, dresses are clothing.”

I raise a brow to the arrogant brute. “For what, Grumpy?”

“Dinner and the catwalk show.”

“What?” I gasp. “Explain.”

Dante drives us around the coast before we head inland. The coastline takes my breath away. The Mediterranean Sea sparkles below like a diamond necklace on dark blue velvet, and I’ve never seen anything like it.

“I’m not often in Milan and I have certain… business interests. Investments. I need someone on my arm, or gold diggers will… how should I put it… swarm. I want you to attend the fashion show, and you may actually enjoy it. The spa will give you something to do while I meet the designer, and you need something suitable to wear tonight.”

Dante’s eyes take in my cutoff jeans and tight T.

“At the spa, you can have a massage. You can also get waxed if you like.” I look over at her and I bite my lip. “This is basically a work trip, so all expenses are paid for.”

“But…”

“If you insist,” Dante says, looking over. I don’t understand what he means. “Thanks for offering. I may have your tight butt after we return.” I gulp and look ahead. Dante’s voice then gets husky. “And maybe in the dungeon.”

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