He looked so happy to hear her answer that he lifted her up and placed her to sit on the bench table. She giggled when he set her down and welcomed the sweet kiss he gave her.
"Where are we going?" she asked between kisses.
He set his hands around her waist while she pressed hers on the corded muscles of his chest.
"I thought you might like the opera."
She would love that, but him? "You want to go to the opera?" she giggled imagining him in an opera house.
"I haven't thought about the me part yet. I was trying to aim for something you'd like. Also, this isn't any old opera."
"Okay, tell me more. Where is the opera? God, it isn't you singing or something like that is it?" she laughed at the thought of that.
"No, I would never do something like that to you." A cheeky smile lifted his mouth, and he leaned forward to give her a quick kiss. "We're going to Venice."
Her eyes widened at the prospect. "What?"
"I thought we could do a day trip or two, and maybe head to Milan if we can."
She gasped. "Oh my gosh. That sounds amazing." She beamed thinking about all they could do. "Are you sure we can?"
"Yeah, we should. We could go tomorrow and be back on Sunday."
"Gage what about Lucy?"
"She'll be okay, and we'll just be at the other end of the phone if she needs us." He smiled.
"You think that would be okay?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "I know she'll be fine, but if you're worried, we could see how much we can fit in and just come back after the Opera. We could just see what happens."
She thought she'd be more comfortable with that.
"That sounds great. I can't wait." She really couldn't.
* * *
They started their journey to Venice very early the next morning, deciding to take the train because they thought it would be more fun. It truly was. As much as they enjoyed their usual chatter, it was amazing to observe the view from outside the train and look at all the wonderful scenery they passed. It actually felt like they'd been here in Italy on holiday, as a couple. Evie allowed herself the break from everything and pushed all her troubles aside. She wanted to enjoy the experience, and she wanted to enjoy herself with Gage.
The first place he took her to when they arrived was a little coffee shop called Torrefazioe, it was famous for its coffee and pastries. The most delightful aroma welcomed them as they went in and had a super-rich hot chocolate and a mixture of pastries which included some marshmallow and strawberry bites that tasted fantastic. She was so glad he'd gotten her into marshmallows because clearly, she'd been missing out.
When they were finished the real adventure began and she had to admit that as much as she loved Rome and Tuscany, Venice was perhaps her favorite place. It was where she fell in love with Italy. Apart from the breathtaking canals that looked even better than any picture Evie had ever seen, there was stunning architecture everywhere. She'd always heard that Venice was one of the most alluring cities in the world. Now she knew it was true. It was the type of place that she could happily get lost in. There was history, beauty, and romance everywhere.
Thanks to Gage's organized planning they managed to see a lot. They started off with a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. They then saw a few historical monuments and got on to the activity she was most eager for. A fantastic grand canal tour on a beautiful gondola, where they spent hours admiring the most attractive sights and places of historical and artistic interests. As they glided through the peaceful canals of the city, they observed past palaces, went under old bridges and saw sights off the usual tourist trail. Evie absolutely loved it.
Their tour ended at the Opera house where they got off to enjoy Ophelia's Tocacto. She'd wondered how Gage would manage, but he seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. He'd picked great seats in a private area on the balcony where they could snuggle together and enjoy the singing, and each other. During the opera she caught him watching her a few times, and she wondered what he was thinking. At those times she'd turn to him and kiss him, allowing herself the happiness that she felt by being here with him.
Even though they'd considered going back to Lucy after the opera, it was hard to say no to an evening gondola ride, especially when the canals were now lit up with gorgeous honey colored lights, which complimented the brighter city lights that surrounded them.
Again they snuggled together in the back while their gondolier stood at the top steering them through the tranquil waters. They'd had such an extraordinary day together, and being with Gage was amazing in every way. She marveled at how well they got on and how they could talk about any and everything. There was never a pause of a moment to think about what she could talk about next. They just seemed to flow and work well together.
"I'm so excited to be here." She told him as he slipped his arm around her and pulled her closer. He stroked the edge of her waist sending sparks of fire across her entire body.
"Me too." He smiled. "I think we should stay the night."
She did too, but a sudden awareness filled her setting off the butterflies in her stomach.
"What about Lucy?"
He smiled. "Don't worry about Lucy, Evie. She knew we were likely to do this." He held her gaze, and she searched his desire filled eyes.
Lucy may have thought they'd stay over but Evie was certain she wouldn't be aware of the intense passion that surrounded them like a tangle entity.
"We can go back if you want to."
She shook her head. "No. I want to stay the night."
It was the kind of passion that could render a person mindless and powerless. Mix that in with the excitement of being in Venice and Evie was agreeable to anything.
"Then ... we should find a good hotel." His eyes sparkled as he held her.
"Yes." She agreed.
They instructed the gondolier to take them back towards the city center since that was where they recognized. It also had a variety of hotels to choose from.
As like with everywhere they'd been in Italy Gage went all out, but this time he chose the grandest hotel they could find that looked like somewhere royalty would stay, and then he asked for the best room they had for her. She tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen.
"I'm just down the hall if you need me," he said.
They'd both gone into her room because he wanted to check to see if the room was okay, and check he did as if he was carrying out an inspection.
"Gage this room is too extravagant." She shook her head at him. Evie would have been just as happy in a single bedroom with a nice view. This one was luxurious with a king sized bed decorated in burgundy and gold sheets that complimented the colors of the furniture. The most striking feature, however, was the large archway that led out on to the balcony. This held a spectacular view of the city.
"You don't like it?" he looked concerned.
"I love it. It looks like a room for a princess, Gage." She meant that to sound sarcastic, but he nodded in agreement.
"Yes. Then it's perfect, Princess." He smiled down at her and reached out to touch her face. "And there are no lizards. I checked. I don't think there's much of them in Venice with the water, but you can never be too careful." He glanced over at the window and scanned the area. Evie noted that it was the first time he hadn't joked about the whole lizard fiasco. Now he seemed focused on making sure she didn't come across anything that scared her. He walked over to the window and checked the curtains thoroughly before making his way back over to her. "If you see anything strange at all come and get me. Doesn't matter what it is you just come, or call me and I'll come to you."
"Gage I'll be fine, and trust me if I see anything strange I will be down that hall in seconds." She laughed.
"Don't just tell me that to make me feel better Evie. I'm being serious. You see something, or someone strange you come straight to me."
She had to laugh and shake her head. "What strange person will come into my room?"
"Ex
actly, so don't even question it just run."
Evie had to admit that she liked how protective he was of her, and that he'd literally get her whatever she wanted. She also liked his high opinion of her. It felt like he was doing his best to make up for the past. The past was something she hadn't thought about since ... well, honestly she hadn't since that night they walked around Rome.
This man who stood before her was new to her. Someone who'd captured her heart, which she thought solely belonged to music. Somewhere along the line, he'd made his way into her heart, and all she felt was him.
She moved closer to him, stood on her tiptoes and put her arms around him. "Thank you, Gage."
He held her to him, and when she pressed her head to his chest she could hear the rapid beat of his heart. Like everything about him, it sounded like music to her ears. When she looked up, he met her lips with a soft kiss that quickly intensified as her tongue stroked his. However, to her surprise, he stopped and pulled away.
"I can't." He looked worried and seemed to have a sense of caution about him she hadn't seen before.
She looked at him not quite understanding his rejection. "I'm sorry."
Had she done something wrong?
"No, no it's me whose sorry." He paused and looked at her, biting the inside of his lip. "When we're at the villa I can control myself better because my grandmother's in the house. Here..." his gaze intensified and his blue eyes turned a shade darker as he stared at her with desire brimming within them.
She understood immediately what he meant.
He pulled in a breath and continued. "Here, we're alone, and if I touch you one more time, I'll lose it. I... don't want to spoil this." He motioned from her to him and when he rested his hand at his heart something gripped at hers.
She thought she saw his heart reflected in his tender gaze and she wondered if he could see hers too.
"You couldn't spoil anything." She breathed.
"I can't risk it Evie. I want you to trust me and I know this thing between us happened really fast, but maybe the years before now was the slow part, and time was just waiting for us to find a way back to each other."
The beauty of his words reached into her soul as they cascaded over her. She wanted to believe that too. She did believe it. How else could she explain the way she felt about him?
A soft smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "I don't want you to be scared, and I want you to feel the same way about me as I do about you."
"How's that?" She was desperate to know.
"I'm crazy about you Evie. Completely crazy." He didn't even hesitate to tell her.
She reached up and touched his face loving the feel of the smooth skin along his jawline, loving the feel of him and that she could be this way with him.
"I feel the same way about you Gage." She gazed into his eyes which sparkled on hearing that. "And I trust you, and I'm not scared anymore."
He gazed down at her, and she watched the heat return to his eyes. This time when he lowered to kiss her she held on to his shirt and kissed him back with the same need he showed her.
The kiss sang through her veins and sent the pit of her stomach into a wild swirl. It turned hungrier and greedier and soon it wasn't about the kiss. It was heightened with the fiery needs of possession, like soldering heat that joint metals together.
All Evie knew was that right now Gage was all she wanted, and a shudder of desire shot through her body at the thought of him. For the first time in her life she felt complete, like she had everything she could ever want.
His hot lips left a trail of fire as he moved from her lips and kissed down her neck. He kissed down to the edge of her shoulders and pulled the tiny, spaghetti straps down at the same time that his hands roamed intimately over her breasts. Blood pounded in her brain, leapt from her heart, and made her knees tremble.
When he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed, she lost her mind. There they tore at each other's clothes until he was just in his boxers and she was barely in her bra and panties.
Evie wanted to admire his perfect, amazing body some more with his impressive tattoos. She wanted to appreciate the beauty of him and savor the thought that he was hers, but he gave her that cheeky smile of his and pulled her even closer so he could finish taking off her bra.
She marveled at herself and her lack of awareness as her breasts spilled out, but realized it must have been because he'd already seen her naked.
She watched in fascination as Gage gave her body a bold, sweeping gaze, his pupils darkening with desire. Then he lowered to her breasts and smoothed his lips over her tight, taut nipples drawing her deep into his mouth, and taking his time as if he was savoring the taste of her. Instinctively her body arched towards him, and passion rippled throughout her sending her mind into an oblivion of bliss. He moved to her left breast and did the same thing, alternating between the two and sending her spinning further into the arms of pleasure.
"Are you ready?" he asked, his breath whispering against her lips. Evie could just about manage to nod.
He moved back, and Evie took the moment to admire him fully, taking in the perfect planes and contours of his chest, arms, and shoulders. She watched as he stepped out of his boxers and her breath got caught somewhere between her sternum and her heart as he revealed himself, standing before her like a glorious masterpiece. When he reached for his wallet in his trousers and took out a condom, she stopped him.
"I'm on the pill." She told him. "I... trust you."
He held her gaze on hearing that, and his eyes brightened. She was about to say something else, but the words were lost as he took hold of her once more and parted her legs.
As he entered her and their bodies joined as one, she completely lost her herself and the world was filled with music. Her spirit floated out of her body and was elevated to a plane of existence that existed outside the realm of reality. He held on to her as he pumped harder and faster driving her closer to ecstatic bliss. Eons seemed to pass of that intense pleasure.
She gripped onto him, and he took her hand as the first wave of orgasm hit. Evie heard herself call out his name. Heart pounding, body quivering, she saw stars and felt like her skin was on fire. When it hit her again energy coursed throughout her. Passion burst where they were joined and their bodies shuddered within its grasp.
Evie pulled in a sharp breath as Gage stilled against her and muttered inaudible curses as he gripped tightly onto her waist, then he lowered next to her and placed a possessive arm around her. Sweat ran down her neck clinging to her already damp hair. She attempted to speak but still found herself unable to. His choppy breathing matched hers, and as she rested against his chest she could hear the thundering of his heart. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it was going to leap out of her chest.
He ran his hands over her hair and turned in to face her.
"Do you want to do that again?"
Evie could barely catch her breath, but she knew she wanted him. She nodded. "Yes, we need to."
A lascivious smile washed over his handsome face, and she giggled as he picked her up and pulled her on top of him.
Chapter 12
Gage rolled over and reached for Evie but couldn't feel her. Instead, his hand came away with nothing and smoothed over the silk bedsheets. He opened his eyes and closed them again quickly as the bright sunlight beamed down on him. It was too much.
He shaded his eyes and looked about the room, but he couldn't see her. There was no sign. Panic bolted him upright, but the minute he sat up the door opened, and relief washed over him when she came in.
"Evie."
She carried a tray containing croissants, all sorts of little pastries, and a glass of orange juice.
"I wanted to get you breakfast in bed." She smiled sweetly.
"Thank you but, you went out by yourself?"
"Just downstairs. I was all right," her beautiful eyes sparkled.
"Come here." He reached out to her. She set the tray down on the bed
side table and came over to kiss him. Then she moved back. "Where are you going?"
"I have to finish this." She pointed to her notebook on the desk by the archway.
He straightened up and frowned. "Evie, how can you be working at a time like this?" She giggled and bounced over to the desk. "Evie."
He slid off the bed, pulled on his boxers and made his way over to her.
"Six more lines and then I'm done." She beamed.
"This man can't be without his woman." He grimaced shaking his head making her laugh. He slipped his arms around her and kissed the hollow in her neck. Last night he'd decided it was one of his favorite parts of her, along with several other parts.
They'd made love all night. How many times he couldn't tell for sure, he'd lost count after the fifth. It was unreal and incredible, and he knew he'd never have enough of her as long as he lived. There would always be more and more because his Evie was endless.
"I'm here." She giggled as he rested his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the sweet smell of her. She reminded him of roses and soft summer days. "But six more lines."
"Of what? What is this?" He released her and picked up the book.
It was full of musical notes. Anyone would think that having grown up in a house with constant music he'd at the very least know how to read it. To him, it was like some ancient dead language. The book was practically full but for one page.
"It's you," she replied, but he didn't quite understand what she meant.
"What's me?" he smiled.
"That is what I hear when I'm with you." She explained pushing a lock of her silky hair behind her ear.
He looked down at the book wanting to make some sort of joke about what he might sound like. But he found he couldn't. Gage didn't know what to say. It was the most meaningful thing anyone had ever said to him or done for him. It made him feel valued and special like he meant something to her.
Looking at her confirmed he did.
"This is me?"
"Yeah." Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. "I'll play it for you when it's finished."
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