by Trina Lane
* * * *
Chase held open the door and Miranda followed Vic into the restaurant. She was immediately assailed by the scents associated with a good Italian restaurant. Fresh baked bread, oregano, basil, pasta and succulent lean meats. The rumble of muted voices and the tinkling of crystal chimed in the air. Miranda’s steps were cushioned by the thick, dark brown carpet. The bright white linens contrasted against warm wood accents. Crème stucco walls wrapped around them, displaying colourful works of art. Miranda imagined herself transported to some far away villa on the Italian coast. If only she could looked out the window and watch the waves of the Tyrrhenian Sea roll towards the beach… Miranda’s dream was shattered at the sound of a feminine squeal.
“Vittorio!”
Miranda looked behind her and tried to catch Chase’s gaze to question what was going on, but when she saw his expression of restrained hilarity, she turned back around. Vic was being smothered in a bear hug by a heavyset woman quickly encroaching upon her golden years. Vic’s arms were pinned to his sides, and he stood stick straight. Miranda couldn’t help it, she started to giggle. When Chase’s hand landed on the small of her back, she leant into the touch.
“That’s Mamma Sophia. She and her husband have owned this restaurant for thirty years. Vic worked here as a server throughout college and the first couple of years of medical school.”
Miranda’s eyes went wide. “And she remembers him? That was what, sixteen years ago?”
“You know Vic. He’s leaves an impression from the first moment, but aside from that, Sophia treats all her servers as though they are family. I can’t tell you how many times she gave Vic leftovers to bring home with him. For financially challenged medical students, it was as though manna had dropped from heaven. I used to tease him that the only reason I started dating him was for the food he brought home.”
“I heard that, signorino! That is a very naughty thing to say. You and Vittorio are, as they say, two peas and a pod.”
Chase laughed and stepped aside to hug Sophia. “In a pod, Mamma. But you are right, Vic and I are a matched set. Now I’d like to introduce you to Miranda Green. Miranda, this is Signora Sophia Biachni.”
Sophia stepped closer and took Miranda’s hands. “Such beauty. You are as da Vinci’s Madonna.” She looked over at Vic and Chase. “She is yours, no?”
Vic smiled wide. “Si, Mamma. She is ours. We’ve come to celebrate.”
“Eccellente! I will have Massimo bring out il buon vino. We have the special table all set for you.”
“Thank you, Mamma.”
Chase held Miranda’s hand as they wove their way through the tables. They passed under a bricked archway and paused at the base of a wrought iron spiral staircase. Miranda placed her hand on Vic’s back. The warmth of his body through the fine linen shirt seared her palm. Vic reached back and clutched her hand. He brought it around his body and kissed the back side of Miranda’s fingers, then he turned back and gave her a wink. They climbed the stairs slowly, and when they reached the top, Vic pushed open a metal door.
Miranda stepped out into an enchanted land. Little white lights danced in the summer night’s breeze. Pots of leafy trees and wine casket barrels overflowed with flowers in bloom. Tiny tea lights lit a pathway through the rooftop garden. A small fountain with four little cherubs playing amidst the double tiers bubbled happily. The water was illuminated to a bright blue. In the middle of everything sat a table set for three.
“Wow,” she whispered.
Vic took her other hand and led her over to the table. Chase pulled out the chair that was meant for her, and with courtly manners that would do the blueblood families of Boston proud, seated Miranda in elegant style. Vic shook out her napkin and placed it gently in her lap then sneaked a quick kiss from Miranda’s still stunned lips.
Vic and Chase sat on either side of her. Brilliant smiles lit up their handsome faces. Miranda couldn’t stop looking around at the little slice of heaven found in the middle of what she’d thought was a heavily congested, if historic, area of the city. The traffic noise fell away and Miranda gasped as a solo violin started to play softly in the back corner.
“That’s Gino. He’s Sophia and Massimo’s grandson, and studies at the New England Conservatory. I remember when he was a little guy running around the kitchen while his dad cooked.”
Miranda closed her eyes and let the music drift over to on the summer air. The soft melody was so rich and hauntingly beautiful, it stole Miranda’s breath. “It’s so beautiful. I wonder what he’s playing?”
“It’s the love theme from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet,” Chase said, sitting back to in his chair.
Miranda stared at him. Her jaw dropped. She had no idea Chase was a classical music enthusiast. When she glanced over at Vic, the man had a rather besotted smile on his face. It appeared both her men were full of surprises tonight. Miranda’s thought screeched to a halt. Her men. That sounded rather nice.
“You seemed a little shocked, honey. Didn’t know there was more to me than a pretty face?” Chase teased.
Miranda stood and stepped over to Chase’s chair. She looked down at his lap. Chase smiled and opened his arms. Miranda sat, at first a little self conscious because she’d never actually sat on a man’s lap before and was a little worried about being too heavy, but Chase pulled her close and she rested her head on his shoulder. The music floated over to them and when the last note rang true, Chase lifted Miranda’s chin and kissed her gently. In that moment, she could have believed she was Juliet in the arms of her Romeo. Of course, Miranda hoped to have a better ending than the star-crossed lovers.
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” Chase whispered.
Miranda smiled then went back to her chair. A moment later a big burly man who could have passed for Tony from Lady and the Tramp brought over a bottle of wine and presented it with a flourish.
“I have brought you something from our special collection.”
“Massimo, that’s a 1943 Burgundy!”
“Si.”
“No, si. You can forget it, signor. That’s a three thousand dollar bottle of wine. You’ve probably had that in your family since it was made. Absolutely not, I refuse!” Vic exclaimed.
Massimo’s bushy eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. “You said this was a celebration, no?”
“Yes, but not on the level of justifying the consummation of one of France’s greatest treasures.”
Miranda heard soft laughter coming from behind a screen of potted trees. Chase’s blue eyes twinkled and he tried to cover his chuckle behind his hand.
Massimo broke out into a loud laugh that rumbled from his massive barrel chest. “Oh Vittorio, I have missed you. It is always so easy to jack your chain.”
Chase snorted and Miranda was tempted to throw her napkin at him.
“Massimo,” Vic warned.
“Okay, okay. Here you go. I brought this for you.” He pulled another bottle out from beneath his apron.
Vic squinted at the label. “That’s better. In fact that’s very good. One of the best years on record, if I remember my education from your cellars.”
“Si. The 1997 Chianti Classico.” Massimo pulled the cork and presented it to Vic.
Vic sniffed it and smiled. Massimo poured a taste into Vic’s wine glass. Miranda watched as he swirled the ruby liquid then stuck his nose into the glass and took a big sniff. She’d seen people do that on television, but never understood exactly what they accomplished by the task. Vic took a sip. It appeared as though he let the wine reside in his mouth for a moment before swallowing, then he turned to Massimo with a huge grin.
“Excellent.”
“Buon! I will have Michael bring up your appetizers shortly, but now I suggest you request the hand of your lovely lady for a dance.”
Massimo stepped away, and as soon as the door to the building closed the sound of the violin echoed across the rooftop.
“Ah, a tango.” Vic stood and held out his hand. “May
I have this dance?”
Miranda twisted the napkin in her lap. “I don’t know how,” she whispered.
“That’s fine, neither do I…not really. Come dance with me, princess.” Vic took another step towards Miranda, keeping his hand out.
She slowly lifted her hand and placed it in his. They walked together a few feet away. Miranda heard a scrape behind her and looked over her shoulder to see Chase turn his chair so he could watch them. Vic stopped and stood still. Miranda stepped into his space. Her breath slowed and she raised her eyes till they met Vic’s pale blue. His arm came around her waist, and his palm slid across the material of her dress. Their hands linked at the side of their bodies and Vic raised their arms into the position Miranda commonly saw with formal dancing.
She gently placed her left hand on the back side of Vic shoulder. Vic adjusted the grip of their unified hands, so he essentially cupped Miranda’s palm and her fingers naturally slipped over the top between the groove of his thumb.
“The thing about the tango is that it’s all about seduction. Close your eyes, don’t worry about the steps. Listen to the music, feel my body movement and simply follow.”
She closed her eyes and opened her ears. The light breeze of the summer night caressed her body as the heat from Vic’s core crossed through the barriers of their clothes, relaxing the nervous tension from Miranda’s body. Vic took a step back, and she stumbled slightly unprepared.
“Feel me, princess. Feel my chest expand, and breathe with me. Feel my hands guide you, and give yourself into my care. Trust me to lead you. Are you ready?”
Miranda nodded, but didn’t open her eyes.
“Good. And on the count of three. One…two…three.”
Vic moved forwards another step then took another to the left. Miranda found herself walking backwards for two counts then Vic turned their bodies and a few more steps followed.
“Very good. Let’s try that again.”
They did and this time Miranda found herself moving easier, not only blindly being herded, but anticipating the next step and, as gracefully as she was capable of, floating across the rooftop. This wasn’t dancing as Miranda was familiar with, but almost as though she and Vic were taking a stroll. Miranda gave herself over to Vic’s arms, and the music Gino played for them. After several repetitions, she became more comfortable and heard Gino pick up the tempo of the music. He must be watching them to know when they were ready.
This time when they paused, Vic opened his arm and stepped away from Miranda. She opened her eyes at the exact moment he yanked her back into his embrace. His tall, strong frame held her securely in his arms, and Miranda laughed as happiness unlike anything she’d ever experienced filled her. They made another circuit, but this time instead of pulling away from her, Vic tightened the hand around her back and dipped her back over his arm. Their bodies moved up and Miranda landed hard against Vic’s chest. It was exhilarating. They played with their feet, neither one of them really making any pattern, but deep chuckles rumbled against Miranda’s breast with their bodies pressed tightly against one another. Vic took them back to the original steps and they repeated the process all over again.
“You ready for our big finish, princess?” he asked with a smile.
She nodded enthusiastically. Vic quickly turned them in tight circles over and over till the world tilted on its axis, and Miranda felt as though she floated away. The music slowed and their bodies simply swayed together until very slowly Vic dipped her one last time. Miranda let her head fall back, her loose hair no doubt pooling over the surface of the roof, but she didn’t have a care in the world and when Vic’s lips placed a kiss in the valley of her breasts, Miranda thought she might finally understand what it truly meant to be in love with someone.
Her eyes flew open as the sound of clapping broke the still night air. Chase stood beside his chair and in the candlelight of their table, Miranda saw his eyes glow from within. Vic lifted her up and held out their arms. Miranda curtsied and he bowed. Chase came over and swung her up into his arms.
“You were amazing. A natural. Maybe we should all enrol in dance classes. I’d love to see you do a rumba or one of those other sexy Latin dances. And this hair! My God, I never realised how much of it there was under those pony caps. You have it tied up so often. It’s gorgeous. I want to bury my hands in it and kiss you unconscious.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
Chase sealed his promise with a kiss. It was a good thing he had his arms around her because the intensity would have sent her shooting up to the stars. When Miranda’s feet were once again planted on the ground, she let go of Chase and tilted her head towards Vic. Chase smiled and dragged Vic into his arms.
“That was so sexy. Powerful and graceful at the same time. I couldn’t stop watching your hips move to the music.” Chase placed his lips against Vic’s ear. “I want to fuck you,” he said softly.
Chase had said the words loud enough that they carried the short distance to where Miranda stood. Her face heated, the thought of Chase buried inside Vic sent her rushing over to the table for her glass of water. She had to cool off before steam began to vent from her ears. She unabashedly stared while Vic and Chase shared a slow, open-mouthed kiss. Their heads tilted, each instantly knowing the best way they fit together. Their lips clung together, and when they broke for air Miranda saw Chase feed Vic his tongue. They sipped at each other, exchanging possession as Vic’s tongue followed Chase’s back into his mouth. Forget about steam, Miranda was sure her blood had reached a boiling point. Any moment now, her body would erupt. Her nipples pressed against the thin material of her silk dress and moisture trickled down onto the satin panties the store clerk had convinced her to buy.
Her personal show was disrupted when the door to the restaurant opened, and a young man brought out their first course. Vic and Chase looked her direction and both men smiled, their eyes trained decidedly lower than her face. As if they were predators, they stalked her. Miranda stood frozen, unable or unwilling to move, she wasn’t sure. Both men snaked an arm out and yanked her against their bodies. Two sets of lips attached themselves to either side of her neck, and Miranda’s head fell back further exposing the column of her throat. Her hands rose to the backs of their heads. The fingers of her left threaded through the strands at the nape of Chase’s neck. The trim nails of her right gently scratched at Vic’s. Triple moans filled the air and Gino’s violin matched the pitch as he began a new piece.
They all managed to get control of themselves, and her men assisted Miranda back to her seat. She took the first taste of her soup and a moan of a different variety escaped.
Chapter Seven
Miranda settled on Vic’s couch, and pulled her feet up on the cushions beside her. The wine they’d drunk at dinner swam happily in her veins. She wasn’t drunk or even tipsy, merely very relaxed and mellow. Probably best considering what was about to happen.
Vic was in the kitchen and Chase had disappeared into the bathroom as soon as they arrived. Miranda was glad they’d given her a few minutes alone. She needed the space to settle the last of her nerves without having the two men’s machismo overwhelm her. What would happen? Chase had said he wanted to make love to—fuck—Vic while they were up on the roof. So she assumed that meant Vic would be inside her.
Please, whatever higher power exists in the universe, don’t let me be a disappointment to them.
Vic came into the living room with a glass of water in his hand. “Hey, princess.” He handed the water to Miranda. “You doing okay?”
Miranda took a sip, thankful for both Vic’s caring and the moisture to help her dry throat. “Yes, I’m a little nervous but glad to be here.”
“We don’t have to make love tonight, honey,” Chase said as he sat next to her and pulled Miranda’s bare feet into his lap.
She moaned as Chase began to dig his thumbs into her arches. Miranda rarely wore heels, and by the time they’d entered Vic’s condo, she’d been more than ready to be ri
d of the stylish torture devices. Vic knelt in front of the sofa and Miranda took his hand. “I want to make love to the two of you. I want to feel your bodies on top of mine. I want to experience your touch on my body. But, in my experience, sex has been more painful than pleasurable. I was happier to have it over with rather than wishing it would go on longer, so I’m a little afraid of taking something you obviously cherish and turning it into something you hate.”
“Oh, princess.” Vic surged up and pulled Miranda into a hug. “I promise you no pain. You’re not a virgin, so there’s no reason for you to experience any discomfort when we make love. I can reassure you till I’m blue in the face, but I think it would be better to show you exactly how Chase and I plan on giving you a night to remember. Hopefully, one of many.”
Miranda nodded. She knew the longer they sat there and talked, the more nervous she’d become. It was best to get the show on the road. Close her eyes and take a leap of faith. Jump in with both feet, and whatever other clichés she could think of. Chase slid her feet to the floor and stood. He held out his hands and Miranda took hold of one from each of her men to help her off the soft cushions. They walked together into Vic’s bedroom. The king sized bed took up the centre of the room, and Miranda had to admit that compared to her pull-out, the thick mattress and comforter did look inviting. Vic stepped away to pull down the covers, while Chase wrapped his arms around Miranda from behind.
“We’re going to make you fly, honey. I can’t wait to taste every inch of your skin.” He pulled the tab to the zipper on the back of Miranda’s dress, and placed a kiss on the newly exposed skin. “Delicious. Exactly as I imagined.”
Miranda stood still as her dress slowly loosened around her. Chase’s fingertips skimmed her spine as the zipper lowered to the base of her back. She felt the closure of her bra come undone. Vic came towards them, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked. Miranda was struck by the sight of his exposed chest. Lean, defined muscle rippled in the low light of the bedside lamps he’d turned on. He removed the shirt and draped it over a bench at the foot of the bed. Miranda sucked in a breath when Chase’s hands slid inside her dress and around her waist. Vic stepped up to them and raised his hands till they rested on Miranda’s shoulders. They slid the straps of Miranda’s dress and bra over her shoulders and down her arms. As the garment fell to her waist, Miranda closed her eyes. It was the first time any man other than her ex-husband had seen her partially nude. Chase’s hands moved to cup her breasts, weighing the heavy mounds in his palms.