Angelo slowly nodded and slipped his free arm around my waist. “I thought it was the end for us.”
“Me too.”
I went for his mouth before he so much as took another breath. His desperate kiss greeted me, pulling me in.
My hands moved all over him, clutching at each part of him they could get. His shoulders. His chest. His hair.
I wanted to feel each part of Angelo beneath my fingers. To memorize each line of his face and body, but to never need those memories, because I planned on never letting him go.
Angelo’s fingers curled around the fabric of my dress, pushing it up along my thigh. Heat flooded me. I hissed out a breath, dropping my head back against the wall as Angelo moved his attention to my neck.
I tried to open my eyes, but they kept fluttering closed. Combined with the shaking of my legs and the crazy flipping of my stomach, I was close to collapsing to the floor.
“Angelo. We need...”
He nipped slightly at the spot below my ear, taking away any ability to talk.
He seemed to read my mind, though, because he turned me around and pushed us through a doorway across the hall.
My butt hit something hard. Angelo locking the door behind us gave me just enough time to note we were in a bathroom. A second later and he was on me again, lifting me up and settling me on top of the counter.
I grabbed his shirt in both hands and pulled him towards me. Mouths mashed together, my legs wrapped around him, we ground our hips. His dick pressed against his pants to rub against my thigh.
I let out a groan of frustration. “I need you right now, Angelo.”
With that invitation, he reached under my skirt and yanked my panties down. They slid over my shoes and landed on the floor.
A bit of my butt slipped off the counter and I reached out for the wall to keep myself in place. Angelo hurried to undo his belt and pull his dick out.
With one of my hands pressed against the wall and the other wrapped around his neck, I teetered on the edge of the counter. Angelo took his dick in his hand and pushed into me.
I cried out from the pleasurable shock, my nails gripping his collar. Deep into me he pushed, driving me against the long mirror running the length of the counter.
I said a quick prayer, hoping the mirror wouldn’t shatter. After that there was no more space for thinking. Angelo grasped my hips and rammed into me harder, sending a quick succession of pleasurable waves through me. They culminated in an orgasm, and soon I shook and cried out his name, the moment of passion making me not care if anyone heard us.
Angelo’s breathing got heavier. He growled and pulled me closer to him. His tongue swept across my lips as he pressed his forehead against mine. For a moment, just stayed there, peaceful as we caught our breaths.
“I’m afraid I’m going to fall,” I whispered.
Angelo chuckled and swept his arms around my waist to gently lower me to the ground. He picked up my panties and slipped them into his pocket.
“You’re better off without these,” he explained. “Especially if I want to have my way with you under the dinner table.”
The danger of the idea made me grin like a buffoon. I straightened my skirt and turned around to check my reflection in the mirror. A bit of hair was out of place, but other than that you couldn’t tell I’d just been banged in a restaurant bathroom.
Angelo watched me in the mirror, a sly smile on his face. “Do you think Sophia will be pissed?”
“Sophia! I forgot all about her.”
“Maybe the appetizers have come to keep her company.”
I turned around and placed my hands on his chest. “We should get back.”
“Yes,” he growled.
His hand moved around in his pocket, retrieving something. “I have something for you.”
Out came a small plastic snow globe. I had to smile. “That’s cute, but why…”
He held it up to my eye level for better inspection then shook it just enough to make the little white flecks torpedo around. In the center of the globe a beach house sat, next to it a sign saying Atlantic Beach.
Unable to hold back my gleeful smile, I took the globe in both hands. “Atlantic Beach?”
“Best weekend of my life.”
He said it so seriously the smile fell right off my face. “Even with the asthma attack? Even with a whole day spent in a hospital room?”
“Even with that. It made me see I couldn’t go on in life without you.”
My palms grew clammy. Angelo reached up and ran his fingers along the side of my face.
“Sophia,” I softly reminded him.
“No. You’re Paige,” he seriously replied. “I know you’re identical and all...”
I chuckled, swatting his shoulder.
“It’s her birthday too,” I pointed out. And then, “Are you going to give her the same thing you gave me?”
“A romp in the bathroom or a snow globe?”
I threw back my head in laughter. “She’d probably punch you in the jaw if you tried to pass her the first one.”
Angelo wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled his face into my hair. “Good. As far as I’m concerned there’s only one woman for me.”
His words filled me up and set me buzzing. Up and up I went, flying high on the promise of the future. Flying high with the man in front of me.
Angelo
Dinner couldn’t be over with fast enough. I nodded like it was my job, listening to Sophia talk about her trip to Europe while she and Paige split a bottle of white wine. Half of Sophia’s words fell on deaf ears though.
There was only room for one thing in my mind. The woman sitting next to me. The woman who was now free to be mine.
It was all too good to be true. My father got back to me just hours after speaking with his consiglieri and scouting for possible ties still involving Paige. Thankfully, things checked out just fine. It didn’t look like she was promised to anyone else in the wake of Moretti’s passing.
And on top of it all she now had a property in Italy. Would she and Sophia go and live there?
If so, I would follow. Assuming Paige wanted me to. I would live anywhere she wanted to, take on any lifestyle she could dream of.
And, amazingly, the thought didn’t scare me at all.
As soon as we finished the meal I dropped a hint about it having been a long day. The girls picked up on it and let me escort them out to the street.
Paige lingered at the hailed cab, staying back on the sidewalk near me.
Sophia, one hand on the yellow door, looked back at us. For a moment, no one spoke, then Sophia’s eyes locked onto mine.
“You’re not too bad,” she said.
I chuckled. “Thanks. Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.” She looked over at her sister and winked. “Call me tomorrow, Paige.”
She waved a peace sign at us and climbed into the taxi.
“Well,” I slowly said, turning to Paige. “Was that what I think it was? A Sophia style blessing?”
“Something like that,” she grinned.
The car couldn’t get to my place soon enough.
Our place. That was really the way I thought of it now. The penthouse hadn’t become a home till Paige was there, then it became my favorite place to be. Signs of her still peppered it. Her magazines in the sitting room. Her toothbrush and shampoo in the bathroom. Her high heels, often at the front door, where she kicked them off as soon as she got home. The idea of having all those things around didn’t scare me at all.
We held hands for part of the drive home. By the time we hit 40th street, Paige was in my lap, our mouths were pressed together, tongues dueling, and the sweet taste of strawberries and dry white wine settling in my mouth.
I clutched the fabric of her dress, itching to rip it right off of her. Out of a little respect to the driver, I managed to hold it together.
The ride up the elevator became a blur. I couldn’t get my hands off Paige. There were so many things abo
ut her I’d been afraid to even think about before, for fear of losing her and not being able to handle it.
It was the little details. The coconut smell of her hair. The dip in her lower back. The fleck of gold in her right eye. Things I’d noticed but never let myself dwell on.
We slipped into the penthouse. Crossing the threshold and kicking the door closed behind me, I lifted Paige up and carried her the rest of the way to my bedroom.
Setting her down on the bed, I got busy spreading her thighs. Her panties were still in my pocket, a little memento from earlier. I brought them out and wiggled them in front of her, then tossed them to the floor before nestling my face between her legs.
Paige sighed and grabbed my hair as I licked and sucked her tender clit. She shook and reached down to grab my hair as she came hard and fast.
With a groan, she collapsed fully onto the bed. I licked a path up her inner thigh. Having had enough of the dress, I reached behind her to unzip it and peel it off. Her bra met the same fate.
Her breasts gleamed in the soft lighting, nipples perky, pink, and waiting for me to touch however I wanted to. Stepping back, I undressed fully then lunged forward.
Paige shrieked as I landed on top of her and grabbed a breast in one hand. I sucked passionately, alternating pressures. My free hand went down to slip between her folds and into her wet channel.
Her walls tightened around my fingers. My dick twitched, ready and craving to have its turn.
I had to take my time though. This couldn’t be over too soon. It was the first night I knew for sure that Paige would really be mine. I needed to make a memory worth cherishing.
“Close your eyes,” I told her.
She obeyed immediately. I growled in pleasure, loving how quick she was to do as I commanded.
Climbing from bed, I went to the closet. What I looked for hung in the corner, a braided whip with a tasseled end.
Paige lay on the bed, not a muscle having moved.
“Keep them closed,” I growled.
She licked her lips, her breathing growing quicker and betraying her excitement.
Standing over her, I ran the tasseled end down her stomach and across her clit. A little sound escaped her mouth. The tassel kept it up, exploring the inside of Paige’s thighs and the length of her torso.
I teased her nipples by swatting them lightly. Paige made the sound that told me I gave her the right mix of pain and pleasure.
Reaching down, I tweaked a nipple and climbed on top of her, my legs straddling her thighs.
Slap. The tassel hit her clit. Paige yelled out, the anguished cry turning into an ecstatic moan. Her eyes popped open and connected with mine.
Instead of chastising her I held the eye contact, the presence of her gaze giving me a new thrill. Dropping the whip, I situated myself in the right spot and took hold of the base of my dick.
She stretched eagerly, her depths engulfing and welcoming me back. Sweet ecstasy filled me up. Paige’s mouth opened into a silent O as I moved fluidly inside of her.
Deeper and deeper I pushed, finding her sweet spot and giving it all of my attention. Paige came, crying out as her muscles clenched around me. I grabbed her breasts and squeezed them, riding my pleasure as I let go.
We stayed where we were, Paige on her back and me straddling her. We both panted, catching our breaths. I wiped some sweat off my brow with my forearm. I knew I should climb off of her but I couldn’t bring it in myself to move.
“I wish I had gotten you a better birthday present,” I found myself saying.
Surprise etched across her face. “Are you talking about the whip or the snow globe?”
I smirked. “The snow globe.”
She reached up and ran her soft palms over my chest. One of her fingers hooked the little bit of hair on my chest and I sighed in relaxation.
“I love it,” she said. “It’s the perfect present. Every time I look at it I’ll remember that weekend.”
“Good.”
“Then what’s the problem?” She wriggled slightly under me and I climbed off of her and joined her on the bed.
She snuggled up on top of my arm and pressed her head into my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head.
“So?” She pressed. “What’s the problem? What did you really want to give me?”
A ring.
As soon as I had the thought I questioned where it came from. A ring? Really? An engagement ring?
No. That was preposterous. It was terrifying.
...Right?
Maybe it would have been a year ago. Or even a month ago. But today it wasn’t. The thought of giving Paige a ring, asking her to be mine for the rest of my life, seemed just right.
One day. I would do it one day.
I ran my fingers through the ends of her hair. “My love,” I whispered. “I want to give you my love.”
Paige wiggled from my arms and turned onto her stomach. Propping herself up on her forearms, she stared at me.
“Angelo,” she gasped.
“You are mine, Paige,” I interrupted, before she could say anything else.
I pressed my hand against her cheek. She grabbed hold of it and kissed it.
“Good,” she grinned. “Glad to hear it.”
Paige
Ten Months Later
“Oh… My… God,” Sophia gawked from the other side of the men’s underwear stand.
My heart jumped and I hurried over to her. “What? Are you okay?”
“You have to get Angelo these.”
A silk pair of men’s boxers decorated with red chili peppers dangled from her hand. It’s hot in here, bloated text adorning both the front and the back of the underwear said.
“That’s a waste of silk,” I blandly stated. “Such a great fabric doesn’t deserve to be used in that way. And you scared me. I thought something was wrong.”
“Relax. You’re being paranoid.”
I turned away from her and busied myself with the cotton briefs. “No I’m not,” I said to a shelf so that my twin wouldn’t see just how much her comment hurt.
“I’m sorry,” Soph said after a minute. Her head poked around the stand, fiery red hair just as perfect as when we left the apartment hours ago. “Let me buy you a hot chocolate to make it up.”
I tried to pout, but since I’m an awful actress my lips ended up in a contorted smile. “Don’t dangle chocolate in front of me. You know I can’t say no to that.”
“Department stores make the best.”
Giggling, I scooped up the three briefs I’d picked out. “I know that can’t be true.”
Falling into step with each other, we began lackadaisically walking for the check out. Sophia fingered some long wool dresses on a rack. They looked like something nuns might wear but no doubt Soph would be able to take one and jazz it up in a way that made it haute couture.
Jingle Bells came on the speakers, making it the fourth time the song had assaulted my ears that day.
“Ugh.”
“What?” Sophia asked.
“This song.”
“You used to love this song.”
“I guess I’ve just heard it too many times.”
We halted at the end of the line of shoppers. I craned my neck around, trying to get a rough head count of the people ahead of us. “Looks like we’re going to be here for a while.”
“Is that all you’re getting Angelo?”
I looked at the underwear in my hands. “No. Of course not.”
She adjusted the large pile of clothes in her arms. Someone needed to get my shopaholic sister a grocery cart. She had something in her arms for everyone she knew, and likely had slipped a miniskirt in there for herself as well.
“What else are you going to get him?”
“I don’t know,” I sighed. “I’ve been trying not to think about it.”
“How about a trip somewhere? You know, something the two of you could do together. Or even just an afternoon thing. There’s this cool new spa in Williamsbu
rg. They offer these couples’ massages that are really unique...”
Her words took on a buzz then all out faded away. Nearby, a male mannequin dressed in a sweater and boots leered at me. Was it just me, or had someone turned the heat in the mall up way too high?
It had to be just me. I’d been increasingly feeling this way all month long. Or maybe before then. Maybe it started in November, once the Christmas tunes started cranking through New York. Every time there was so much as a suggestion of the holidays, I got queasy.
There had been a time when I loved Christmas.
I just couldn’t figure out quite when that time was.
Sophia was done talking.
“Yeah,” I said, hoping just agreeing with whatever she’d finished with was enough.
“Good.” We took a few steps forward as the line progressed and she nearly dropped a pair of women’s boots. Boots most definitely in her size, for the record. “Are you ever going to clear your room out?”
I studied her face. “Do you want me to?”
Over the last ten months, since Angelo and I became an official couple, I’d probably spent less nights at mine and Sophia’s apartment than I had fingers. They’d all been days when Angelo was out of town and I went home to spend time with Soph. Though usually when we had sleepovers we just stayed at Angelo’s. He had door service, a bathtub that was really more like an indoor jacuzzi, and a penthouse bigger than most country homes. Plus, Sophia was known to enjoy sliding down the banister between the two floors after having a drink or two. Our rinky-dink apartment couldn’t really compare.
Sophia’s face scrunched up. “No. I guess I don’t want you to leave.”
“We could just give up the apartment. You could move… anywhere.”
She looked slightly hurt. “Anywhere is big. I don’t want to be away from you.”
My heart squeezed. I went to reach for her hand but, since it couldn’t be found underneath all the clothes, I gave up.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Sophia sighed. “Does this private jet, by chance, come with champagne?”
“Likely.”
“Male strippers?”
“Doubtful.”
“Shit.”
The Billionaire and The Virgin Page 22