“Perfect timing...” she and Angel looked at each other when they heard the front door downstairs shut.
“Finish getting ready Tiggle Bitties. I'll hold him off for bit and come down when you're finished,” Angel gave her hand another squeeze before quickly disappearing from the room. There wasn't anything else she needed to do, but she appreciated his discretion for not mentioning why she really needed a couple extra minutes. She still hadn't let it all sink in about the phone calls and she needed a couple of minutes to think it all over.
Actually, I don't need to think it over. A weight has been lifted. A huge weight. It was the right thing! Morgan felt refreshed and rejuvenated. It was as if a new freedom had just been handed to her. She could love all of them, and it was okay. No guilt, no secrets and no regret. She would just have fun and enjoy what each man had to offer.
“Each of them!” She realized she had never even looked at the other messages. Sean and Kole were awaiting her replies! Morgan made her way back to the bed and read her fan mail.
Kole's message: Hey, beautiful. Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you. I went fishing today, but I needed your luck because I didn't catch anything.
“I'm thinking of you too, Kole.” Morgan typed in her reply, “Go back out there and catch a ton! I'm sending you all of the luck I have, plus some. I miss you already. XOXO. Then she went to Sean's message: I was thinking of making lamb for dinner. Should I invite me mum then?
“Oh, Sean, the sheep jokes will never get old!” After a quick reply to him, Definitely. I think she'd really like that. Save a chair for the little sheep with the boots and the umbrella. He's my favorite and I'm sure he'd like to join you two for dinner.
She slid her phone in her back pocket and went back to the bathroom for a final look in the mirror. As she looked at the pretty blonde girl who was staring back at her, she reflected on the weeks prior. How much had happened in less than two months...all the places she had already been, all of the amazing people she had already met.
“I've fallen in love, seen six incredible places, made two great friends. I have a great boss and a great job,” she held a finger up with each thing she said as if she were counting them off. Her arbitrary number of fingers went back to the bathroom sink as she leaned forward to get a better look at herself. “I have a sweet life,” she told her reflection. With that, she added a final coat of gloss and left the large bedroom to meet the two men downstairs.
As she descended the steps, the sight of a half dozen men in matching suits running around with brooms, feather dusters and rags made her laugh out loud. Well that's just silly. Her mind went back to Finlay and Dante and their butlers. Finlay had only needed Burkey-Burke, and who could ever forget Luigi? But, I guess this is a bigger house to take care of. She then wondered if Tanner had a housekeeper and decided there was absolutely no way in hell that he would ever want nor accept a helping hand. He had even hated the fact Morgan had to bring him his medication, food and drinks for a day or two.
She also mentally put all of her clients into three categories. Men like Sean, Tanner and Kole were in the first category, the cloakers. They were the kind of men who you could look at and talk to for a month and have absolutely no idea that they were freakin' loaded. They liked to have fun and would have no problem spending money when they needed to, but they never had the desire to flaunt it or use it to their advantage.
Then there was the second category. Classy. That, so far, consisted of Finlay and Dante. They were the kind of men who you knew had money from looking at them and by the cars they drove and homes they lived in, but there was no need for extravagance. They would buy anything they fancied for the moment, but didn't feel the need to brag about it or throw money around like confetti.
Finally, there were men like Giovani. He fit into the third category. Showboat. Everything in their life was for show. More cars than one human ever needed and more house than one could even live in. To them, everything was about luxury and it showed with every move they made. There was no competition in their mind and if women wanted them for their money, then so be it. They'd buy love if need be.
She didn't even mind seeing a bit of the showboat side of a client and actually found it quite amusing. As she hit the bottom step, and onto the tiled floor, she wondered how quickly she could get one of the butlers to fetch her things she wanted. I'll test that theory later. She smiled and silently bet on which one would eventually help her find Moscato.
“Oh, Morgan!” Gio took a few large strides across the floor to meet her and took her hand in his. After a quick kiss to the top of her fingers, he continued speaking, “I see you've kept Angel busy. You look beautiful! I won't let him do my makeup.” He kissed her hand again before releasing it.
“You should! He's fantastic!” All three of them laughed and Gio apologized for leaving her for the afternoon. Morgan told him she hadn't minded, which was true. But she was looking forward to spending more time with her client.
Angel took Morgan's hand and held it above her head as he spun her around in the foyer. “Even in shorts and a tee, she's damn fine!” Everyone laughed at Angel again, then he let go of her hand. The sound of her bracelet charms clinking together caught their interest, and Angel grabbed her hand again to take a look. “Fish, coconut, and a sheep. You're a strange one, Morgan.” He smiled when he let her wrist go.
She put her hand over the charms and smiled as if they warmed her very soul. “They're gifts from previous clients. No.... they're gifts from friends.” She happily corrected herself at the realization that the gifts had nothing to do with her profession.
“Well then...,” Gio broke in, “you shall have a new addition for your bracelet that will put the rest to shame.” Her client walked between the other two, telling Angel to take Morgan shopping the next day. “But for the rest of the day, you're all mine. I just need a quick shower, I'll be done shortly.” Gio turned to Morgan as he reached the stairs and smiled again.
Angel squeezed her hand quickly, then followed his boss up the stairs to help him dress for the night. Morgan looked at her beautiful charms and thought about the men that gave them to her. Nothing will ever put any of you to shame.
“Showboat.” Morgan whispered her reply as she made her way to the kitchen.
“Showboat! Showboat!” PoPo dropped from his perch in the kitchen and landed gracefully on Morgan's shoulder.
“No! Don't say that!” She put her hand on his beak and giggled as he shook his head to break free.
“Kiss PoPo!” The big boy leaned closer and demanded some lip action from the pretty blonde. Morgan laughed and puckered up. She watched his massive beak move closer, then he pressed it against her lips, while he made a loud 'kissing' sound. “Kiss PoPo!” He demanded at least one more, and Morgan puckered again for a loud kiss from her feathered friend.
“Looks like I'm being replaced by the beastly bastard.” Angel walked into the kitchen and stood behind Morgan. “Come here, ya oversized rat!” He put his hand out and PoPo eagerly jumped on.
Morgan wasn't buying the theatrics, she knew that Angel loved him and it showed in how much the bird loved him in return. “Kiss PoPo!” Morgan laughed out loud when Angel held him in his arms and dipped the bird to the side, kissing him dramatically like reunited lovers in an old black and white film.
The kitchen was loud with laughter when Gio finally joined them. Holy shit! Morgan's mouth nearly dropped on its own at the sight of the Brazilian hunk of man. His hair was still wet and hung deliciously around his gorgeous face. He hadn't shaved yet that day, and the growth made him look like a model that had just stepped from the pages of a naughty man-mag. She scanned his tan face and landed on his eyes. Fuck me! For the first time since she arrived, she had a good look at the man during the day. His eyes were a very light brown, so light that they almost looked golden in the sunlight that filled the white and steel kitchen.
She wasn't sure what she was attracted to more, the color
of his eyes or the way he looked at her when he noticed her attention. Morgan also had to add in the fact that the lickable man was wearing only a towel, and the rest of his alluring body kept her from making a final decision on his best physical quality.
Angel left the room with the bird, saying that he had to get things ready for the night, and that left the two of them leaning against the large kitchen island. Gio bent forward and put his elbow on the marble top, and rested his chin on his fist.
“My girl, if you keep looking at me like that then I'm afraid we'll never make it out of here tonight.” He scanned her body with approval as he spoke.
Morgan bent forward and mirrored his position. “Considering the consequences, I hardly see that as a threat.” They stared at one another in silence before Angel bellowed from the second floor.
“Are the two of you going to get ready, or should I stay up here while you play hide-the-Brazilian-nuts on my clean counter?!”
Chapter Six
The two looked at each other with a look that said it wasn't a half-bad idea, but in the end, they both decided to go up the stairs to get ready. As Morgan was about to follow Giovani into his bedroom, she was pulled by her shoulders back into the hallway and turned around.
“You are getting ready in my room,” Angel was behind her with PoPo on his shoulder. “I've already grabbed your gown, so let's just touch up that makeup...I'm thinking....smokey.” He turned on his heels and walked down the hallway a few feet and turned into the room diagonal from Gio's and Morgan followed him inside.
“Oh!” Inside of Angel's room, aside from the excessive amount of colorful paintings and miniature statues of men with leaves covering their Brazillian nuts, there was an array of toys, perches, treats and swings for a certain blue bird. “Someone is spoiled!”
“It's not what it looks like,” Angel wagged his hand in air, playing that what she was seeing wasn't really there.
“Mhmm. I think you like PoPo more than you say,” she argued.
“Nope. Take him. He can go with you!”
“Oh, I so wish that I could. But, I would never separate you two,” she walked over to the spoiled baby who was perched on one of the swings hanging from the ceiling. “No, I wouldn't. Angel loves the baby. Yes, he does,” she reached up and scratched under his wing as she spoke. He ducked his head low and lifted his wing, enjoying the attention.
Morgan pulled her hand away and PoPo gave her a love bite on her finger, begging for more attention, but instead she grabbed his beak playfully and told him she'd be back later. The young girl made a circle around the large room. Unlike Gio's that looked sterile and white, Angel's room was a coral pink and nearly every inch of one of the long walls was covered in every kind of painting one could imagine. In the center of the wall was the largest painting of them all. A huge black and white eye. A woman's eye. On one hand, Morgan thought it might be a little awkward having a large eye staring at you, but on the other, she actually found it completely mesmerizing.
He had a huge canopy bed, with inviting black satin sheets and more pillows than one would need. The canopy was a sheer black, with gold trim that matched his leopard print comforter. On a dresser, there were at least sixty different colognes and more miniature men. “I have a friend who collects sheep...well, his mom does. I guess you collect naked men?” She giggled and picked up one of the little nude figures, although on that particular one, no leaf was present. He appeared to be just as endowed as Kole and Morgan blushed at the thought.
“Ah, you like?” Angel was at her side in a moment and watched her carefully set the little stone man back on the dresser.
“Do I like naked men?” Morgan laughed at his question. “Angel, really? If you had any idea of the things I plan on doing to Gi...”
“Shhhh....” he pressed his finger to her lips. “I don't need to know all of that. You two were plenty loud enough last night for me to get the idea.” He turned around and did his air-humping-walk all the way to his bathroom. Morgan was nearly in tears of laughter by the time she followed him inside.
“Okay, babe, I'm about to give you those 'fuck me on this table right now' eyes.” Angel pointed toward a chair and Morgan sat down. This time, he'd use his own stash of beauty products.
“Fuck meeeee. Fuck meeeee. Fuck meeeee,” PoPo's voice rang out in the bedroom in mockery of Angel.
Morgan laughed until the point of actual tears that time. “Seems....like...oh...I can't breathe. He's heard....that....before!” she spoke in breathless words.
“Like I said, take him!” Angel stormed out of the bathroom with a fake anger and Morgan could hear him 'scolding' the bird by telling him he'd never be in the room during one of his dates again. Morgan lost control again and as Angel returned to the bathroom, she fell off of the chair and onto the floor with laughter.
“It's not that funny, bitch.” His serious look with his arms crossed in front of him made her cease her laughter. For half a second.
“Ohhh....fuck me Angel!” Morgan yelled loudly and to no surprise PoPo echoed her perfectly. “Harder Angel!” Again, the bird repeated her. “Angel, faster! You're so big! Put it in my...”
“Morgan!” Angel stomped his foot but the bird was already chanting 'so big' from the other room. When PoPo broke out in Morgan's laughter, neither Angel nor Morgan would finish laughing for another fifteen minutes.
“Okay!.....Okay!....I have....to...get you ready!” Angel stood and went back to the sink to get his supplies. Morgan took a few deep breaths and over the next ten minutes, Angel was only interrupted by a few minor giggle fits while he applied her 'fuck me now' eyes and put a dozen more curls in her long hair before pulling it up at the back of her head.
“Perfect!” He took a step back and his dark green eyes examined the beautiful woman. “Absolute perfection. Now, get this dress on,” he pointed to her red gown that was hanging on the back of the bathroom door, and meet me downstairs when you're done.” She nodded and he left the room. Morgan giggled when PoPo asked for another kiss from Angel on his way out, then shut the bathroom door to change.
After the dress was on, she pulled the phone from her pocket and took a picture of herself in the mirror with her tongue sticking out as far as it would go. Then she sent it to Angela with the words Hot date tonight. Miss ya Ange. Morgan shook her head at her own picture and smiled. The irony of a multi-thousand dollar dress on a girl who still sticks her tongue out.
She put on her black high heels and grabbed her shorts and tee off of the floor and dropped them off in Gio's room before making her way back down the stairs.
“Oh, mother of God! I'm saved!” Angel greeted her at the bottom of the stairs and Giovani trailed closely behind. “I'm cured, Morgan! You knocked the gay right out of me!” Angel dropped to his knees and kissed her hands repeatedly.
“Angel, as flattered as I am, take a look at Gio. That is a good reason to be gay!” Morgan's eyes went from Angel to her date. Whew! Damn you look good.
“Go...do something. Get the car ready...” Giovani directed his assistant to disappear. Angel popped up from his knees to a standing position in a fluid motion and gave G a little theatrical bow and did as he was told.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Morgan.” His voice was deep and sincere and it sent a familiar wave of desire though her body. Yes, they definitely had to leave the house soon or they wouldn't be leaving at all. She felt the same excitement that she had the night prior and a part of her wanted the dinner to be over as soon as possible so they could spend more time in his bedroom.
She offered him a nervous smile and her hand. When he didn't take her offering, she brought her brows together in confusion. “What's...” before she could ask what was wrong, his hand slid down her ass and and he picked her up, cradling her between his arms.
“Whoa, Casanova!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a big kiss to the side of his cheek, leaving her mark of red lipstick when she pulle
d away. “Oops,” she giggled and wiped it away with her thumb, then enjoyed the ride all the way to the awaiting car.
Angel opened the back door of the limousine and the gorgeous Brazilian climbed in after Morgan into the air conditioned car. “So, where are you taking me?” The curiosity had been lingering all day. Would it be Brazilian food? Have I ever had Brazilian food? Italian? Please, no! Seafood? I could deal with that. Her mind went to Tanner...definitely won't be burgers and milkshakes.
“Be patient, you'll see,” he put his hand on her leg and assured her. “You'll love it!” Dante said I'd love his spaghetti. Morgan smiled at him and nodded.
The windows were tinted black, so dark to the point of not being able to see anything but vague shadows floating by as they made their way to the restaurant. It was already getting dark outside, so that didn't help the matter either.
When they finally arrived to the restaurant, and Angel opened her door, the sight in front of her was more than she even had the words for. A simple gasp of air was all that she could conjure.
The BLUE LAGOON was a five star restaurant for Rio's elite, and it was magnificent to say the very least. The top floor was mostly glass with lighted neon blue strips between panes. The bottom floor was also glass, but instead of see through, it was more of an aquarium, with colorful exotic fish swimming everywhere along the building's outer shell. From the limo, the exotic sounds of a rain forest were pumped from invisible speakers that surrounded the building, and blue lights lined the ground around the entire building and pointed up to highlight the beautiful sea life behind the glass.
It would almost be a tourist trap, or gaudy in a different setting, but it was the most beautiful building that Morgan had ever seen. “I love it!” She grabbed Gio's hand and led them to the front door.
“I told you so.” He laughed and took the lead.
The two were treated like royalty when they entered as the host practically bowed in their direction. He didn't ask questions either; how many? Window seat? He just led them to the back of the restaurant to a small private room with one table that was dressed for two. Morgan was grateful for the privacy as the diners seemed to be far above her station. She knew that her dining skills were below par, not something that she would ever admit to Julianne, and it would be easier to embarrass herself in front of one person as opposed to the entire floor.
Around the World in 80 Men Series Boxed Set 1-10 Page 47