Page 21 of Second in Command
“I’m really happy that you like it,” she murmurs, a small smile playing on her lips. I save the rest, and she reaches up to wipe the corner of my lips with her thumb.
“Did you have a taste?”
“Hm?” she raises an eyebrow.
“Did you taste it?”
“Oh — no, but —”
I place my lips on hers before she could reply, and she happily accepts my kiss. We don’t remain too long, and I’m glad. Normally I feel like a puddle of mud when I’m near Francesca.
“It actually tastes really good,” she nods, before pausing and tapping her lips, “or maybe that’s just you.”
“Wow,” I whistle and she winks, turning to pad up the stairs, “would you like to leave earlier then?”
“Sure,” she shrugs, “I asked one of my employees to close up anyway. Just give me a second.”
I nod and let her do her thing before walking over to the dining table to finish the croissant. Francesca only continued to amaze me, and the more time we spent together, the more confirmed it was that she would be my wife.
I only now had to convince her, that I was worthy to be her husband.
eleven
Francesca Donato
studio 54
Enzo tookme to the best nightclub in town, with restricted attendance, celebrity guest list, high octane sound, and lighted pillars—the best of the very best. Women were dressed to the nines: glitter, Halston, platform shoes. Men in their best polyester suits, silk shirts, and patent leather shoes.
Andrea Trueis blasting on the overhead sound system. A massive disco ball hovering over the dance floor…
Ooh, how do you like your love?
Ooh, how do you like your love?
But if you want to know
How I really feel
Get the cameras rolling
Get the action going
Baby you know my love for you is real
Take me where you want to
Me and my heart you steal
More, more, more
How do you like it? How do you like it?
I turn to look at him, “How?”
He lets go a cocky smile, “Don’t ask.”
He grabs my hand and parades me through the dancing couples and we end up at a circular lounge area already occupied by someone famous on TV, a rock star, and a politician. He acknowledges the rock star with a chin-up gesture and guides me to the corner of the booth.
