"It's a choker."
"Yes, it is.So?"I challenge his 'need to know' with my expression.
"So, it can hide marks left behind."
"Yes, it could."My expression remains steadfast, and I let the innuendo stand between us.He breaks eye contact and looks at the door.My eyes remain on him."But it won't."
He looks back at me with that face value acceptance expression.Again we come to some unspoken truce, and after a few moments, he looks back at the door, and my eyes follow."Is it a collar?"
"Yes."
"So you've been claimed?"
"Yes."
His eyes turn to look at me, but I don't look at him.He tells my profile."That's too bad."Then he looks back at the door."As soon as Antonio called and offered me the job, I asked why?Why would Maximus need someone to run interference for him with the press?He never had trouble handling them before.Then I learned about you, but still, I wondered why Maximus would need a full-time publicist.The press will soon tire of your story.Then Antonio told me the reporters had been invited to the celebration this year and there is going to be an announcement.The rumor is that Zita is stepping down as CEO of the Liotine Oil Company, and Maximus will assume the role."
My eyebrows raise.
"Ah!You didn't know that."
"No, I didn't.I know he resigned from the Army but didn't know why.Are you sure?"
"No, Zita is extremely tight-lipped about the family business, and she always has been.But that would explain why the press was watching for him to return to Rome."He laughs."Then all hell breaks loose when they discovered he has not only returned but with a stripper too."He laughs harder."Antonio thought you were only a Cowgirl from Alabama."
I chuckle with him."I'm both."
He says playfully now."When I asked Antonio who the stripper was, he told me Seary."He nods his head."I knew exactly who he was talking about.I spend a lot of my time in Vegas, and I've seen you dance in Been Jammin's."He smirks at me, but I keep my eyes on the door.His eyes devour my hard nipples.pushing against the soft, semi-wet t-shirt."I know you are untouchable there because I wanted a lap dance."He grins a wicked grin, and I see that same intense look Aurei gets.The 'I will have it' look.Aurei's is thunderous while Quintus' is tumultuous."And when I saw you here naked, I thought I would find out if that were the case away from work.Trust me when I say, only the knowledge that Maximus was behind that door kept me from touching your beautiful tits."
I stare at the door, knowing that is the truth, then I close my eyes, turn my face to his and open them.I look him in the eyes and tell him."Quintus, Aurei, and I are a real couple.It's not a fling.We have a real commitment to each other."I reach up and touch my choker.
He nods."I know he's selective, and that choker means exclusive.Does he know you are a Vegas stripper, or does he think you are only an Alabama Cowgirl too?"
"He knows the truth.I shared all my secrets with him."
"Did he know before Alabama?"
"Yes, he saw me dance before too."
He looks away, thinking and sounds sincere when he says."That's good."We both look at the door again."Any advice on how I should handle them?The press?You obviously have a lot more experience at it."
I grip the back of the railing and hunch my shoulders, so my tits aren't pushed forward."I do have advice.#1.Know that reporters are sharks.Never trust them!Never!#2.You have to control their story.Always have one ready to feed them because if you don't, they will make shit up, and you won't like it.The last thing you want is a feeding frenzy which is what it sounds like I stirred up when I blew them a kiss, but I didn't know about the rumor.You'll have to clean up my mess."I cut my eyes at him, and he laughs."#3.Make Maximus a hero in their eyes.The world needs more real-life heroes.It won't be hard because he truly is."
"How do you propose I do that?"
"Give them a Tony Stark."I grin at him, then crinkle my nose."They will eat it up!"
"Tony Stark?Ironman?"His surprise is evident.
I laugh."Tony's a playboy who plays by his own rules and isn't bossed around by public opinion or them.He's his own man.He does what he thinks is right, and it usually is.He's also wealthy, and he makes a difference in the world for good.The Hero."I look at him to see if he gets it.His perfect lips are puckered while he thinks about this.They are as kissable as Aurei's.I look back at the door."If you give them a hero, they will love and revere Maximus.#4.Manage his image, but don't manage his life.Don't offer advice or pass judgment on his choices.They need to be his.Good or bad.It's his life to live.Who he fucks and who he has by his side isn't the story."I look back at him, and we smile at each other."But...."I wink at him and whisper."Tony Stark truly loves Pepper."
"I see where you went with that."He grins."Anything else?"
"Lastly, #5.Shift their focus.Give them a nugget of news."My eyes twinkle."Introduce yourself as his publicist before the celebration.Flirt with them.Tease them.Make them love you too."I stare back at the door."Then take charge of the narrative.Remind them the story is about their invitation and the mystery of the announcement.Not me.That's a dead-end story.Let them know that's what you expect, and if it's not what you get, there will be hell to pay in access to you and therefore access to Maximus in the future."I look him in the eye again."That's about all I can think of right now."
He smirks and blows his breath through his nose, then shakes his head.He looks over his shoulder at the sky and stands to leave."Since your pool is closed, I'm going to head back up to the house before the rain starts again and the thunder wakes Maximus."
I walk him to the steps, and he holds his hand out for me to shake.For some reason, I think of TD trying to touch me with a handshake after I told him Rule #1 was not touching.I smirk at it, then take it.His smile tells me he knows I just trusted him.
