Danni rose and walked toward Maria. They shared a hug, then a second, before she left Danni in Nico’s care. “I’ll see you Monday at the bank.”
Danni stood staring up at the stars, her hands rubbing her upper arms. Nico came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her close to his chest. “Come, I’ll drive you home,” he whispered.
“No,” she answered a bit too quickly. Turning in his arms, she rested against the bulk of his chest for only a moment before pulling back. “Best to start being responsible for myself.” Nico didn’t like the look on her face, not releasing her from his hold.
“Danni, come next week…Maria and I would be happy to have you stay with us. My wing of the house or hers, wherever you’d be comfortable.”
“Thanks, but it’s not realistic. I’ve got to start somewhere, and come Monday, well, I guess that will be my starting point.” She moved from his arms, feeling the slight hesitation before he let her go.
“Do me a favor. Next week, after the dust settles, if you want to get away, think about Italy for a while? Severino can be very relaxing. Just look at the changes in Tia Maria since her trip. I’ve spoken to Uncle Vito. They’d love to see you again, for as long as you’d like. That is, unless you change your mind and decide to stay with me.”
Danni rose up on her toes to place a light kiss on each cheek. “Thanks, Niccolo, but no. Taking a vacation now is not the best way to figure out where my life is going.”
“You still have other options, Danni. My proposal still stands.” She shook her head as she turned and slowly disappeared into the vineyard. Once she was gone from his sight, he said aloud, “That woman is going to drive me crazy!”
Chapter Fourteen
On Sunday morning Nico was relieved to see Danni’s cell number show up on his caller ID. She asked him to meet her at their spot in the vineyard later that night. He agreed and she cut the call short when he would have asked why. He wasted the afternoon, nothing keeping his concentration. When he arrived, she was already there, her pickup parked to the side. He tossed his horse’s reins around a fence post several rows away before approaching her.
She lay on a big old plaid blanket, one they’d often used for picnics in the past. Her weight rested on her elbows, her head dropped back, watching the night sky. Suddenly he was nervous, and forced himself to take several deep breaths.
“Clear night,” he managed to say, slipping beside her, knowing his opening remark was inane. It was all he could manage. Danni looked beautiful in the moonlight. Her hair was loose around her shoulders in a mass of curls. She wore old jeans and a white T-shirt, sans bra, he noted, but didn’t comment on. Instead, he enjoyed the sight of her nipples budded under the cloth. His hand wanted to reach to them but didn’t.
“Just one last night,” she said, handing him the bottle and opener.
“The good stuff,” he teased, turning the bottle to read the label as he pushed the metal into the cork.
“We’re worth it!” she said with a wry laugh. “I hid this bottle from the auditors. It’s from the first year Cirillo bottled.” She held the glasses while he poured. They were quiet, enjoying the wine as they’d been taught over the years. It was easy to recall several memories they’d shared, the droughts, the storms, and the laughter.
Nico stretched beside her, his arm pulling her close to his chest. “I’m going to miss these nights, bella. No chance you’ll rethink leaving?”
“No.” There was no hesitation in her voice. “But one last request.”
“Anything within my power,” he answered a bit too quickly, and they both laughed.
“Kiss me one last time, Nico, so I’ll never forget.” She put her finger to his lips when he started to answer her. She shifted and dropped her mouth over his, dominant and needy. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it back to bare his chest. Her fingers roamed the skin, inciting the heat of his body, teasing his flat nipples. She paused and retrieved their glasses, refilling them. Danni sipped, then put hers aside. “I want something, Nico, or at least, it’s something I want to try.”
“What would you like?” What confused him was the word try.
“Just relax, let me…”
He lay quiet while she undid his belt and his pants, taking extra care to unzip his jeans over his erection.
Danni went with what she felt. His skin was hot to her touch, solid, yet velvet-like. She’d wanted to touch him often since they’d begun their arrangement, but hadn’t had the courage. Now, knowing she’d be leaving, she wanted this one last memory of him. Of a man she could trust and a man she wanted to touch. Her one other memory of this act wasn’t good. Her partner had been impatient, and she’d never thought to try again. But with Nico, she knew he’d be different.
Danni had come to realize over the past weeks that her aversion to the act had been partner-driven. Spending time with Nico had opened avenues she wanted to explore. Danni was savvy enough to understand the control it took to stay still, not forcing her to hurry. He lay with his hands folded under his head, his eyes half closed as she stroked him, learning him. He’d been inside her, stretched her to completion too many times for her not to share this one last intimate act.
Nico was obviously more than surprised by her actions. She’d made a point during their negotiations of telling him she wouldn’t do this, went out of her way to “buy back” the Worship netsuke so as not to have to, yet here she was slowly making love to him, to his cock, and he was straining to hold back against her touch.
“Danni, you don’t have to,” he whispered. The hoarseness in his voice told her otherwise.
“I know, but now I want to. There’s a difference, Nico. This is what I want to do, not what you want or are expecting.” Danni tasted the drops of glossy fluid she’d forced forward and engulfed him further.
Nico pulled her up along his body, taking her mouth to his in a kiss that gave back as much as it took. When she was breathless, she pulled away. “Was I doing it wrong?” she managed to ask.
“Bella, you were doing it too right. If I didn’t stop you…”
“Yes,” she teased, her hand slipping back around his shaft and lightly stroking while they kissed again. Neither of them mentioned this was like the nights they’d shared when she was younger, only now she was in control of their path, not Nico’s conscience.
“I want to prolong this night, Danni, for as long as possible.” This time when she pulled away, he let her go, and she knew he was enjoying the touch of her tongue to his skin. She’d stop occasionally, sip her wine or kiss him in other places, his neck, his chest, and his nipples. Every touch brought about another twitch of his cock, another muffled groan from his mouth. “Danni,” he rasped out, his hand reaching toward her shoulder, “I’ll come if you keep doing that.”
“That’s the point, Nico, to make you climax.” She felt the deep breath he drew when she engulfed him again. This time, her mouth and lips were too much for him to tolerate. He groaned, and she knew instinctively by his body tensing and the sudden jolt of his penis against her tongue that he was coming. Danni didn’t pull back, because she wanted to taste him. She was initially hesitant by the whole process, but didn’t stop. Even when he’d relaxed back against the blanket she kept at him, licking and sucking him clean. The feeling of empowerment was erotic, something she’d never truly experienced before. That was the part Danni liked best. She lay relaxed against his chest, her fingers running along his skin. She refilled their glasses and they rested together enjoying the commonality they still shared. It was her hands that eventually drifted lower and teased him back to fullness.
When he hardened again, she didn’t resist the urge to ride him.
Nico pulled her up to his mouth and kissed her fully, as he’d done after making her come. Both their hands worked her jeans down her legs, his hands steadying her as she swung her leg over his, easing her weight over him, taking several short strokes before letting her body engulf him.
Nico man
aged to drag her shirt up over her breasts, and she tugged it off. With his hands on her breasts, she let her weight fall forward, changing their position only slightly, yet enough to make them both feel the difference. His hands clutched her, his fingers tugging at her already hardened nipples. She wanted him to pull them to his lips but didn’t want to relinquish the position.
Danni knew she’d never feel this full again, never be this comfortable with herself or a man. She wanted one last time for both of them. Her body set the pace, slow at first, using her inner muscles to tease him. She rose just a bit, then slid back. Some strokes were longer than others, some barely noticeable, but all together, it was pushing them both over the edge into the abyss she so wanted them both to find one last time.
Nico dropped one hand to their joining, his large fingers gently rubbing against her. That was all she could take. Her body took control, pushing against his touch, moving to the special spot that sent her flying. Nico went with her, coming deep inside her. Danni slowly slid down over his chest. His hands came to hold her against him when she went to move away. Nico grabbed her tighter and rolled her over, using his weight to hold her in place while he slipped lower to cover her with his lips. She writhed under him, accepting his gift one last time. They settled back to watch the sky, both quiet while they sipped the wine. Danni didn’t resist her urge to stroke his cock one last time. She was surprised he hardened again, but didn’t question it.
“Nico, come inside me one last time, let me feel myself stretched open by your cock.”
This time, there was no hesitation and he rose above her. He drove deeply into her, taking her on a ride she’d come to love. They were both covered in a layer of sweat when her fingers drifted down, softly touching herself and him at the same time.
Nico let out a growl and came again. Danni went limp under him, unable to respond any more. This last joining had been too intense, their eyes never leaving the other. Each look had been a silent dare to take them further than ever before.
Nico rolled to his left, pulling Danni to him. She could feel his heart pounding against her cheek and did not hide the satisfied smile on her lips. When their breathing was somewhat normal again, he reached for the wine and offered her the glass. Danni drank greedily before handing it back. She rose with his chest as he did a half crunch to bring the glass to his lips. Dropping back, they were quiet together, him stroking her back while she drew patterns on his chest with her nails.
“Do I want to ask why?” he finally said.
“No. I realized this was something I wanted to do, for you and for me.”
“Well, you’re welcome to do it again, any time you feel like it.” They both laughed, with no awkwardness between them, even after what they had just shared.
“I don’t have the energy,” she told him.
He laughed, adding that he was spent from her initial motions. “But let’s look forward to the next time.”
“Unfortunately, I won’t be around for that.”
“You can still change your mind.”
“No. It’s all a done deal. You know it, and so do I.”
He didn’t challenge her further, acknowledging it wouldn’t help either of them. He resigned himself to hold her for however long she’d allow. Danni stretched like a cat alongside him, a signal to them both their time was coming to an end. Reluctantly he let her go, watching as she turned her shirt right side out before tugging it back on. They dressed with each other’s help, which only landed them in one last round of long kisses.
“When will you come for the netsukes?” he asked, standing to pull his jeans back on, positioning his penis inside the denim. Danni sat on the blanket, tying her sneakers.
“Actually, I’ve decided I’m not. They’re yours.” She didn’t look at him while she spoke.
He lowered his voice, his tone had changed. “That wasn’t the arrangement, Danielle.”
“I’m amending the arrangement. They’re yours. I only want one.”
“Which one?”
“The one I bought!” He knew she meant the Worship netsuke.
“Danni, they’re all yours. They have been all along. I only went on with the arrangement hoping you’d realize how good we are together, that you’d recognize it and change your mind. I want you to stay with me.”
She studied him in the ambient light as he watched her just as closely. When her bottom lip started to tremble, she pulled it between her teeth to stop it.
“I only want one, I want the Worship. I’ll stop by before I leave the valley.”
“Fine,” he said with a bit too much attitude, making her head turn to look at him. “And while you’re there, you can take your bank papers back too.”
“That’s your money, Nico.”
“It was never my money, Danni. I took the damn statement to appease you. I never had any intention of keeping it.” She gave him a strange, glaring look, and he finally realized she was angry with him. “You’ll need the money, Danni. Whatever you decide to do and wherever, you’ll need some cash to get started.”
“No, we made a deal, and I’ll stick to it.” She stood, gathering the glasses and empty bottle, carefully packing them back in the basket.
“You earned the netsuke back tonight.” Each word came out with a strained timbre.
“What I did tonight, I did for myself,” she said. He could hear the strain in her voice. “And I did it for you, too. I don’t want the money, Nico. If I take it, it wouldn’t be a fresh start. The money’s tainted.”
They were at a stand-off, and they both knew it. He lifted the basket into the back of her pickup as she dropped the blanket beside it. “Ask me what I want, bella?” His tone was calm. He’d reined back his emotions.
“No. I can’t accept your answer, and you taught me years ago not to ask a question unless I was prepared for the answer.” The corners of her lips started to tilt into a smile she didn’t hold back. He shook his head and started to laugh with her. They were sitting side by side on the tailgate of the truck, his arm draped around her shoulders.
“Danni, whatever happens tomorrow, stay close, all right?” She looked up at him, questioning his statement. “I’m afraid I’ll lose my composure and hit Robert and possibly strangle Felice.” She laughed, slipped her arm around his waist, and tucked herself against him tighter.
“No, you won’t. You’ve got too much class for that.” Danni paused, then added, “Now me, I might lose my temper and go after him.”
“Not you, Danielle. Tomorrow, you’ll hold your head high and be the daughter Matteo raised, if only to piss off Robert and Felice. Have you heard from them?”
“Not a word since that day in court. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. I have gotten some strange looks from people when I’ve been in town. I just ignored them.”
“Good.”
“We should go. It’s getting late,” she said. She held on tight for several minutes longer, then pulled away. “Thanks for tonight, Nico.”
“Thank you,” he managed with a smile, but hesitated in letting her go.
When he saw her eyes glistening with tears, he finally released her. Niccolo Severino watched her drive away, feeling sick inside. He walked his horse back to the stable, not wanting to go back to his house, to his room where she was all around him. Her memory was embedded in him, and he knew she’d leave him.
Horrendous was the only word Nico could think of to describe how the meeting went the following morning. The depth of Robert and Felice’s double dealings all came to light. He noted they were cold with each other, sitting with their lawyer between them. When it was mostly settled, Danni had lost everything. The house and land that went with it were to be sold and the money from its sale would pay off the mortgages. The land was divided, as he’d expected. He would contact the other two owners during the week and see if he could make a deal to get the parcels back.
He’d already bought the Cirillo cellars, tasting rooms, and all the equipment that went with them. During
the meeting, he bought the Cirillo barns and their stock, knowing Danni would be heartbroken if a stranger wound up with her horses at auction. That was exactly where the rest of the netsukes would go. To the auction block to pay off the rest of the loans Robert and Felice had accumulated.
Danni literally walked away with only her clothes and personal items. She’d had no say about the auctioning of the Cirillo furnishings, either. But neither would Robert or Felice. Her finding their safety deposit box had hit them below the belt. There were several lengthy arguments about the properties they’d purchased and the cash they’d hoarded. They’d get none of it. In the end, Cirillo would be sold off, piece by piece, to pay back the banks. Danni’s only consolation was that as penniless as she now was, so were Robert and Felice Hanson. And it seemed their marriage wasn’t going to last, if their fighting was any example of their future.
He’d been amazed how calm Danni was through the whole mess. She sat tall, quietly listening and alternately talking with Sam Parkins. At the end, he’d let her go, the old pickup her one victory, if you could call the old Ford a victory, considering its age and need of reconditioning. Nico had started to go after her, but Maria had held him back, telling him she needed some space. So he’d let her go and hope that she’d come back to Casa Maria before disappearing from his life.
Back home, he didn’t want food, only a drink, which he denied himself for general purposes. His father had been a drunk, and he wouldn’t use alcohol as a crutch. Maria and Carmen gave him a wide berth, both knowing he needed to be left alone. The yard could do without him for a day. That was why he employed all the help he did. So he sat behind his desk, watching out the window, waiting for her to arrive. This wasn’t the first time Nico had second-, third-, and fourth-guessed decisions about his past purchases, but each time he thought the situation through, he knew the land would only have been sold to someone else.
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