by Angelo, Judy
“Thank you, sir,” she said, just to tease him. “I mean, Nonno. Thank you for your welcome, Nonno.”
“My pleasure, my pleasure,” he said in a deeply accented voice that Arie was enjoying. None of the other Milanos spoke with such a deep Italian accent but she had no trouble understanding Nonno. In fact, she was enjoying his beautifully lilting speech.
“Come over here and tell me all about America,” he said as he drew her toward the living room. “I have not visited that country in a long time. You will fill me in on the latest news, yes?”
Arie smiled. “I would love to.”
“Ernesto, please leave signorina Arie alone.” Before they could disappear, a tiny white-haired woman approached and jammed her fists on her hips. Arie didn’t have to ask. This had to be Nonna. “Arie, if you’re not careful this man will talk your ears off. Come to the kitchen with me, my dear. Come and relax at the table while I finish preparing the calzone.” And with those words the lady marched over, took Arie’s hand and began to draw her out of her husband’s clutches.
But he was not giving up so easy. “Rosetta, Rosetta my dear, Arie is not interested in Italian cooking. We’re off to have some stimulating conversation about America, her homeland.”
“No, Ernesto. You’re off to talk this poor young lady to death and I will not have it. Do you think I want you to scare her off before she’s even settled in the family?” And again Rosetta tugged at Arie’s arm, obviously intent on getting her away from her husband as fast as possible.
“But Rosetta, my dear, she wants to come with me,” Ernesto insisted, making sure his hand was on Arie’s other arm so his wife could not pull her away.
She was just beginning to fret that she would be split in two by the tug-of-war when, to her relief, Rome came to her rescue.
Apparently he’d heard the dispute because he left the den where he’d been with his brothers and now he was hurrying toward them. “Nonno, Nonna, please. Arie’s here to relax, not to get caught in battle between the two of you.” Without apology he took both her hands and drew her out of his grandparents' grasp. “And besides, she’s mine. I found her first. Now go find somebody else to harass.” With a huge grin he pulled her close then led her away, but not before she heard the grumbles about selfish grandsons.
“Looks like you’re in high demand,” Rome said, laughing as they walked away.
Arie chuckled. “Talk about irony. First I’m not wanted and then I’m wanted too much.”
“That, I can deal with,” Rome said as he escorted her back to where he’d been ensconced with his brothers, leaving Arie to the mercy of his grandparents. When the cooking had started all four of the young Milano men had run off to watch European soccer – or football, as they called it on this side of the world – determined that they weren’t going to get drafted into beating batter, chopping lettuce or doing the dishes. It was the younger sister, Sophia, who had taken Arie under her wing until Nonno caught her in the hallway.
Now, instead of trying to make conversation with the family, Arie could hide out with the guys until dinner was ready. And although she didn’t know one thing about soccer – oh yeah, football – she didn’t mind it one bit.
It ended up that Arie had a blast with Rome’s brothers. They all seemed so eager to get to know her and to please her. Maybe it was because of what she’d suffered at the hands of their parents. Maybe they wanted to make it up to her. Whatever their motivation was, she was grateful. And she was a fast learner, too. Within minutes she was the one cheering loudest for AC Milan and when Manchester United sneaked in a final goal that gave them victory she could sympathize with Lorenzo, Dante and Marco. In the end it was Rome who moaned loudest. Arie was in the middle of comforting him when Lily came to the door.
“We’re ready for you,” she said, looking tired but happy.
In the end it turned out that dinner was not so bad after all. When they got to the dining room there was a free place between Nonno and Nonna and they insisted that Arie occupy that chair. “This way we can share you,” Nonna said as she patted the seat. “Rome can’t keep you all to himself, you know.”
“Don’t fall for that,” Rome warned. “They’re either going to grill you on what kind of fiancé I am or they’ll bore you with stories about me and my childhood pranks.”
“And I don’t mind either one,” Arie told him as she slid onto the seat beside Nonna. On the contrary, she was growing to love all the attention the two elderly Milanos were showering on her. It was more than she’d gotten from either of Rome’s parents.
But then after dinner, to Arie’s surprise, Vittorio did something that redeemed him in her eyes…sort of. While the other adults lounged around drinking wine and coffee and tea he retired to the living room where he sat on the floor with his five grandchildren who ranged from age six all the way down to fourteen months. There, he let them climb all over him and pull his hair and he gave not a whimper of protest. Better than that, he went on hands and knees and became ‘horsey’ for the little ones, going so far as to shake his tail and neigh at their command.
For the moment Arie had escaped from the grandparents and now she leaned over to whisper in Rome’s ear. “I can’t believe that’s your father. I wouldn’t have thought he had it in him.”
Rome chuckled. “Believe it,” he said. “When it comes to family he takes his duties seriously.”
“Hmm, I can see that,” Arie murmured as she watched the bear of a man, now gentle and kind, frolicking with his grandkids. He seemed to be totally dedicated to their enjoyment and he was protective, too, rescuing them from tumbles even before they saw the danger themselves. Was that how he was with his own sons and daughters? Although his son was now a grown man was that how Vittorio still saw Rome, as a beloved offspring he needed to protect?
There was no excuse for his behavior, of course, but maybe – just maybe – he’d done it out of concern for his son and not out of mere spitefulness. Yes, she would hold on to that line of reasoning. Maybe then she would be able to accept him in his role of future father-in-law. Maybe.
Arie was brought back to the present when she felt Rome’s warm breath tickle her ear. “I’m bored,” he whispered. “Let’s get out of here.”
That made her cock an eyebrow at him. “Are you sure it’s boredom you’re feeling?” she whispered back.
“Naw,” he said softly, giving her a wicked grin, “but it sounded a lot more dignified than ‘I’m horny’.”
Arie gasped and clapped her hand over his mouth. She glanced furtively around, wondering if anyone else had heard him. Rome had said the ‘H’ word out loud in his father’s home and he’d said it with his entire family in the room.
Which meant he was serious. Arie knew she’d better take him at his word and pack up. Immediately, she got up and went over to take Nonna’s hand. “It was so nice meeting you,” she said, “and you, too, Nonno. It was such a pleasure.”
“You’re not leaving already?” Nonno was frowning and looking like he was about to object but Nonna put a hand on his arm.
“Arie is tired, caro. She’s had a long day with us.” She squeezed Arie’s hand. “It was our pleasure, cara. You will come back to see us soon, yes?”
“Yes,” Arie said with a nod, and she meant it. She would come back to Italy one day if only to see her new friends, Nonno and Nonna again.
She was reminded of how big Rome’s family was when she went the rounds from Lucia to Sophia and their husbands, and then to Dante to Marco and to Lorenzo. Then it was time to hug each of the children and finally it was time to bid Rome’s parents goodbye.
“Thank you, Lily,” she said, taking the woman’s hand and this time she felt no resentment. She was nowhere near loving Rome’s mother but at least she could accept her, if only for Rome’s sake.
“No,” Mrs. Milano said, shaking her head, “thank you for coming. You didn’t have to do this but you were gracious and I appreciate it.”
Vittorio didn’t give her a
chance to go over to him. He came to her and pulled her close in an unexpected embrace. “Thank you, Arie,” he said, his voice gruff. “It means a lot.”
That was all he said but when he released her Arie could see that they were not just words. He meant what he said and for that she was grateful.
But now it was time to go. She had a hungry man to feed and her skin tingled, just thinking about it.
She was looking forward to being Rome’s dessert tonight.
***
Rome couldn’t get back to the hotel fast enough. He’d been craving for Arie since the night before, when his parents had turned up at the restaurant and rained all over his lovemaking plans. After that unexpected visit his girl hadn’t been in the mood so he’d had to chill, pretty much put his passion on ice.
And then, as if that weren’t bad enough, he’d had to endure an entire day of small talk when all he’d wanted to do was make hot, sweet love to his woman.
But he would wait no longer.
The door to the hotel suite had barely closed behind them before Rome bent and lifted Arie off her feet, raising her high until she squealed and flung her arms around his neck. “Rome,” she shrieked, “what are you doing?”
His answer was a growl. “What does it look like I’m doing? Time for me to get what I’ve been waiting for these past two days.”
She laughed. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Too long,” he countered. “I haven’t made love to you since we left New Orleans.” As he spoke he was striding toward the bedroom where he dropped her on top of the king-sized bed. She squealed again but he didn’t give her the chance to recover. In quick time he divested her of shoes, jeans and blouse, leaving her in lacy bra and matching panties.
He followed suit, swiftly unbuttoning his shirt and letting it fall to the floor then kicking off his shoes and dropping his trousers on top of the pile. He leaned over Arie and gathered her in his arms again. “I’m in the mood to see you pretty-pink all over,” he said. “Let’s try out the Jacuzzi hot tub they’ve got in here.”
“Sounds good to me,” she purred and dipped her face to nibble at his neck. Within seconds she was lounging, relaxed and nude, in the bubbling water.
But relaxing was the last thing on Rome’s mind. He reached for her, pulling her onto his lap so he could have greater access to the sleek smoothness of her body and the silky softness of her lips. As his hands slid up her body she sighed and tilted her face up to his and when he lowered his lips to hers she parted willingly, giving him leave to explore her sweetness.
As his tongue played with hers his hands moved over to cup her left breast, to caress the round smoothness and tickle the puckered tip until she gasped into his mouth. Wanting to heighten the pleasure he drew away but only to lower his lips to the teased nipple so he could draw it into his mouth. Then he suckled softly until Arie sighed and reached down to clasp the back of his head and press him into her.
But now that he’d turned her on Rome was ready to turn the heat way up. Where he’d been soothing her with his caress he now began to nibble at the distended bud, worrying it till it grew pebble-hard in his mouth. When she moaned and arched her back he gnawed at the taut nipple, torturing her even more before letting it slip from his lips, Then he turned his attention to the other breast. By the time he was through teasing that one it was Arie who was pulling at him, urging him out of the water.
“Please,” she whispered, her voice urgent, “let’s go now.” She was climbing out of the tub even as she spoke, she was that eager to move on to serious business.
He didn’t have to be asked twice. As he climbed out of the hot tub he reached for the heavy towel hanging on the nearby rack, wrapped it around Arie and for the third time that evening he lifted her off her feet. As he strode back into the bedroom with her in his arms she rewarded him with a caress of her own. Tilting her face toward his chest she covered his naked nipple with her lips and applied the same sweet torture he’d administered mere minutes before.
Her tantalizing teasing spurring him on, when Rome reached the bed he rolled his beautiful bundle out of the towel and proceeded to cover her body with butterfly kisses that had her wriggling and giggling at the same time.
“That tickles,” she complained in-between tiny bursts of laughter as he pressed his lips to the sole of her foot.
His mouth curved into a smile. "Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for,” he chided and then he drew her little toe into his mouth. As his tongue grazed its tip she gasped.
“Ooh, that feels…so sexy,” she crooned.
Rome chuckled. “Now that’s more like it.”
He kissed the tips of each of her toes then slid up her thighs, grazing the skin with his lips, sending shivers rippling up her body. When she moaned and reached down to tangle her fingers in his hair, urging him on, he gave in to her silent plea and moved up her body and back to her breasts where he nuzzled then suckled until she clasped his face with trembling hands and drew him up so he could steal her breath in a kiss.
Rome was hard now, ready for her. He pulled away just long enough to sheath himself and then he was back on the bed, sliding his body up over hers, settling his hips between her legs. When she lifted those lithe limbs to wrap them around his waist he captured her lips in a deep, sensual kiss as slowly, smoothly, he sank into her sweetness.
And then as the kiss became more urgent he began to move, slowly at first then rhythmically, and as she met each thrust he began to stroke faster, gliding in and out of her core until the heat began to build then burgeon then bloom until it burst into a brilliant blaze that had them clinging to each other, gasping for air.
As Arie trembled beneath him Rome felt his body shudder in the throes of release, a sweet agony that made him groan and drop his face into the pillows.
It was several seconds before he stopped panting then rolled off the softness of the precious pillow beneath him, his dearest Arie. As he lay on his back catching his breath he reached out and gathered her to him.
“That was…awesome,” she whispered and reached up to touch the tip of his nose with her finger. “And I mean that in the literal sense of the word.”
The laughter rumbled in Rome’s chest. “So I’m in Michelangelo class, am I?”
“No doubt,” she said as she traced her finger along his bottom lip. “And do you know what that means?”
“What?”
“I want more of the same. I can’t get enough of you.”
That made Rome chuckle. “Now hold on, missy. I may be in the company of maestros but even Michelangelo had to take a break.”
“All right, old man,” she said, teasing him. “I’ll let you sleep, but make sure you have lots of energy in the morning.”
“Mmm,” he murmured, stroking her shoulder. “There’s nothing quite like making love at sunrise, is there?” Strangely, he didn’t even hear her reply as his body slowly spiraled from its high and he sank beneath the shadowy sheet of slumber, falling into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Rome jerked awake, the marimba beat of his iPhone hauling him back to consciousness. He grabbed for the device and swiped it before it woke his slumbering companion.
“Yes, who is it?” Still half asleep, Rome’s voice was husky as he half-spoke, half-whispered into the phone.
“Rome, it’s Iyana. Can you speak?”
“What…what time is it?” He blinked, trying to clear his vision as he peered at the time on the cable box across the room.
“It’s just after four o’clock. Oops, that means it’s after eleven in Italy. Sorry.” Then, as if it didn’t matter, she barreled on. “We have a problem, Rome. I need you back in office tomorrow.”
That made him frown. It sounded serious. “What’s going on over there?”
“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” she said, her voice tight. “Major problems with the union. If you don’t resolve this we could have a strike on our hands. Now tell me you’ll be on the plane first thing in the
morning.”
Typical Iyana, she wasn’t asking. And, as usual, she had her finger on his pulse. There was no way he would stay in Italy with a crisis like that unfolding.
“First thing in the morning,” he said and then he glanced at Arie who still slept, oblivious to what was going on. He wasn’t looking forward to breaking this news to her when she woke up.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Rome hated these wranglings with the union but a man had to do what a man had to do especially when that man happened to be CEO.
He glanced at the clock. Eleven fifty-six. Time to head down to the conference room for his meeting with the big guns.
He’d gotten up from around his desk and was heading for the door when it opened and Iyana peeped in.
“Time for you to get going,” she said. “Got everything you need?”
“Outside of a bulletproof vest, yes.” As he walked toward her she stepped aside and let him pass.
“Sure you’re good after yesterday’s flight?” she asked as he walked by. Then she threw a parting shot at his back. “Want me to come be your bodyguard?”
“I’ll give you a shout if things get too rough,” he shot back then shook his head as he heard her laughter echoing down the hallway.
Even though Iyana was laughing he hadn’t been joking when he made that comment about her. She was bossy but she was also super-protective and when it came to defending her boss she went all out. He was sure she would find all kinds of excuses to pop in and out of the meeting just to check how things were going. If things looked bad she would not hesitate to break up the meeting and send the union leaders packing. Yes, she was a bossy one and Rome had had a hard time taking her down a notch, reminding her that he was the boss, training her not to be so overbearing. He was still working on that.
It was four exhausting hours before an agreement was reached and Rome was finally able to wrap up the meeting. “I trust that the terms are satisfactory,” he said as he stared at the three men and two women sitting around the conference table. “The increase in overtime pay is far more generous than what prevails in the marketplace and there’s no other firm I know in the State of Louisiana offering up to six months paid leave for illness or to facilitate caring for a family member.”
