Page 20 of The Midnight Club
Sighing, she went inside and went to bed, snuggling into the warmth of Maceo’s arms. Tonight was not the night to try and figure it all out. She was asleep long before Alex Milland opened the door to their room and looked in on them.
“Iwantto find another facility,” AJ told them over breakfast. “Somewhere that’s hardcore, that Dad can’t finagle his way into. I truly believe I can get past all this crap if I get the right help.”
Ori put her hand over her brother’s. “Whatever you want, AJ. I’m here for you.”
“We’rehere for you,” Maceo corrected with a grin. “You deserve the best, brother, and both of you … you’re not to worry about the cost. I have it covered. Just pick the best one for you, AJ, and we’ll get you in there as soon as you want.”
Ori, too emotional to speak, hugged Maceo and he kissed the top of her head. AJ looked at him admiringly. “Maceo, man, I don’t know how to thank you.”
A look passed between the two men of understanding, of brotherhood. Ori was aware they had talked, but she didn’t want to intrude. She looked up at Maceo as AJ started to talk to Alex, and she pressed her lips to his. “I love you,” she said quietly, and Maceo chuckled, his eyes shining.
“Ti amo,” he murmured against her lips, and her heart soared. Maybe everything would be okay, after all.
Aweek later—God, had it really only been three weeks since they met?—they were on their way back to Italy. AJ had been transferred to a facility in California and although Ori was reluctant to leave him, AJ had insisted she go back to her new life, her new job.
“Try not to dwell on Dad,” he said. “He can’t touch either of us now. Maceo is a good man. Enjoy yourself, Ori. You deserve every happiness.”
Sometimes AJ seemed much wiser than his eighteen years, Ori pondered now as she sat beside Maceo on his private jet. Now her thoughts were turning back to her new job—and her old friend. Lucia had returned from Monte Carlo and had been amazed at Ori’s news. Ori omitted the part where she and Maceo were sleeping together—and in love,Ori grinned to herself now. She wanted to tell Lucia that particular news face to face. She wondered if Lucia would be happy for her, or whether her friend would remonstrate with her for falling for her boss after Lucia’s warnings.
She looked over at Maceo now. He looked glorious—but tired. He hadn’t been sleeping well, she knew, and deep inside, she was worried because it seemed like it had been since theI love yousthat he’d been restless. Was he regretting showing his hand so soon? He had said he was ready for commitment, but maybe it had all been too much. Her stepfather, AJ, the thing about Viola … it was a lot to put on a man who only a few weeks ago had been carefree and screwing his way around the world’s most beautiful women.
Ouch.Ori pushed that thought away. No. Don’t dwell.Just live and love and everything will be okay.
Maceo looked up and caught her watching him. He grinned, and her insides went to mush. “Are you all right,bella?”
“I’m with you. Of course I’m okay.”
Maceo put his laptop down and slid next to her, taking her in his arms. “Il mio amore, when we get back to Venice, I would like you to move in with me. I want to know you are safe every minute. I want you tofeelsafe. And loved. Above all else, loved.”
Ori was floored and suddenly nervous. “Really?”
“Really.”
As she looked into his sea-green eyes and at their honesty, she knew what her answer would be.
Lucia rolledher eyes but hugged Ori anyway. “I might have known. For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen him like this before, so I guess it must be love.”
Ori was relieved that her friend was okay with her sleeping with her boss. She and Maceo kept things professional at the office, and she was grateful that she was learning from him too. She saw the way he dealt with his clients. He was definitely on the side of the artists and got them the best deals while maintaining good relationships with his buyers. His team, too, was ultra-efficient, and Ori found them all inclusive and helpful. Even Cassie had seemed to change her mind about Ori, and now she enjoyed the other woman’s company. They would often go for lunch together and talk about back home. Cassie was from Virginia, a Rhodes Scholar and art historian by education.
“I just wanted to come to Italy to travel, but then I met Maceo and that was that.”
“Snap,.” said Ori, smiling, but inside wondered if Maceo had gotten all of his staff the way he’d hired her—by screwing them.
Cassie was watching her carefully. “Nois the answer to the question you’re not asking,” she said with a wry grin. “I had a boyfriend when I met Maceo, one that I loved very much. So, no, Maceo and I didn’t sleep together.”
Ori was scarlet-faced. “I, um….”
“Ori, let’s be real. Everyone knows you and Maceo are together. We’re cool with it, so relax...” Cassie was grinning at her knowingly now, and Ori had to laugh.
Ori rolledover in bed and stretched. It had been two months since she’d returned to Italy and moved in with Maceo and it had been bliss.Utter, complete heaven,she thought now. Her body ached pleasantly from making love most of the night, and now, on this Saturday, she and Maceo had plans to do … nothing. From the whirlwind of work, it was really the first time they had spent together that was free of work commitments and Ori was really looking forward to just hanging out with him.
They had become good friends as well as lovers, equal partners in their relationship despite Maceo’s imposing wealth. Ori never felt at a disadvantage with him, even living in his opulent apartment.
She wondered where he’d gone now—maybe to fetch some breakfast. She got up and pulled her robe around her naked body. As she suspected, Maceo was in the kitchen, fighting with his new espresso machine and cursing loudly in Italian. He was bare-chested, just in his jeans, and she slid her arms around his waist.
“Buongiorno, beautiful ...” He bent his head to kiss her. She kissed him back and, in reply, opened her robe and pressed her bare skin against him. He groaned, and she giggled as he lifted her onto the countertop, pushing her legs apart and unzipping his jeans. “God, woman, you make me crazy.”
He fucked her there, hard, until she was crying out his name in ecstasy and he was shooting hot, thick cum, deep inside her. Laughing and panting for air, they collapsed to the floor together.
