“Not as long as we’re legally wed.” It’s meant to be lighthearted, but the weight of all the questions we’re avoiding about what exactly we are outside the legal bounds of our marriage shroud us. I may not want a grand affair, but for the first time, I let myself consider a future where she’ll give me a chance to right all my wrongs.
“I best be getting those divorce papers ready then,” I say against her skin, nipping it, causing her to hiss in pleasure.
“I’ll take you to the cleaners,” she says breathily before kissing me slowly as we sway.
“Get a room!” comes a voice from behind me. I turn to find Marco and Sophia dancing to the slow song too.
“Hello, love birds,” says Chiara, smiling at them.
“The same could be said about you two,” beams Sophia. “Told you this one was really more teddy bear than wolf.”
“I still prefer Daddy with the BDE,” Chiara says.
“Please, Chi. Spare us your audio-porn tropes,” Marco says with a laugh.
“A plus, cuz! You’ve been listening during Romance On The Road With Chiara,” she says with a grin.
“Soooo guess what,” interjects Sophia, a huge smile on her face. “AJ bought the estate where Marco’s mom and Samuel firstmet after…” She pauses, not wanting to bring up the tragic start to their love story. “Before she came to America with Marco in her belly,” she goes with, Marco squeezing her tighter to let her know it’s okay. “And we’ve decided to get married there…this August! I’m going to ask Natalia to do the photos for us. I know it’s not her usual thing, but I just want them to be beautiful in that candid style of hers.”
“Like in five months’ time, August?” I confirm.
“Ah, how exciting!” squeals Chiara. “I’m certain she’ll go for it.”
“Yep. I would do it tonight at the courthouse if Sophia let me,” gripes Marco.
“You could do both? A courthouse wedding is cute and chic,” says Chiara.
“What, speaking from experience, Chi?” Marco laughs.
“No. Just what I’ve read in my books,” she returns. “You know…a marriage of convenience trope.”
“See, Kitten,” Marco says. “Let’s just go and do it now, and then we can have a second wedding in Sicily.”
“Baby, I love you,” she says. “But if you continue to be a groomzilla about this, I might divorce you first.”
“Who’s divorcing who?” jumps in Seb, walking over with Evie. “I feel like we’re being a bit hasty considering none of us are currently married and we haven’t even had the wedding yet,” he says, looking from Marco and Sophia to me and Chiara—who’s digging her nails into my back so hard and failing badly at looking inconspicuous drawing the eagle eye of Seb.
He squints at her and goes to say something else when Stella and Luca stroll over to join our little group on the dance floor, Luca’s big mouth entering the chat.
“Personally Stel,” he says loud enough so we can all hear, “I think it was a missed opportunity not mentioning how Marco learned to hit all the right notes in that DJ booth right therein your speech,” he says, pointing up. “It would have been thecherryon top of that incredible tribute to this Beauty and her Beast.”
Marco smacks him around the head, and Sophia buries her reddening face in the crook of her husband-to-be’s neck. One by one, our low-key snickers turn into belly laughs. Hands on her hips, Stella states the obvious. “Clearly no one knows how to keep a secret around here.”
Except maybe the two of us.
Saved by Luca’s runaway mouth.
If there’s one luxury in my life I’m not giving up, it’s my driver. Knowing he would be waiting for us in his regular spot in the friends and family lot after we said our goodbyes was a relief. No fussing with apps or canceled Uber rides. No trying to hail the same cab as five other people. And no reeking with BO, old cigarettes, or whatever food the driver was stuffing his face with before you slide into the filthy seat millions of other people’s dirty asses have been sitting on. I know. I’ve spent far too much time on the pros and cons list for this expense—especially as I also have a red F-80 Ferrari and gunmetal gray Porsche Taycan sitting in my garage.
“Do you think Seb is onto us?” Chiara whispers too loudly in the cavernous car park as I lead her to the car. She’s nestled into my side, and I look down, my eye catching on the empty ring finger on her hand threaded with mine draped over her shoulder. The need to claim the real estate on that bare finger gets stronger with each passing moment, especially tonight when I saw the pure joy radiate from her for Sophia and Marcoand all the talk of weddings. I know I did it for her, but my guilt over taking away her right to her dream wedding day gnaws at me. Am I any better than the other men in her life?
“Raf?” she inquires, squeezing my hand when the silence stretches a little too long. I look down at her to find she’s already staring at me. Eyes twinkling. Cheeks flushed. She’s a little buzzed, but I noticed she made a point to switch to water when she felt she had hit her limit. It made me proud to see her putting her therapist’s strategies into practice. I, on the other hand, am riding too high on the consumption of half a bottle of scotch to deal with the worries plaguing me. AJ and I didn’t ever get to finish our conversation, and I don’t know what messages await on the burner phone I’ve locked in the safe at home. I don’t want to tempt fate now that Chiara knows of its existence, and I didn’t want the extra reminder of the danger lurking on a night of celebration. My blood is hot, and my urge to fuck is making itself known with each second.
Reaching the car, I wordlessly open the door for her to get in and do the same.
The other massive pro of my private car driven by someone else? The privacy screen.
As soon as I hit the button, I drag her onto my lap and devour her cherry-red lips with a bruising kiss. She takes a moment to catch up, but then she’s giving as good as I am. Licking her tongue into my mouth. Sucking on mine. Dragging her teeth down my bottom lip. I let the moment wash over me, enjoying every little sensation as my desperation peaks. Hands roaming, body trembling. Nipples peaking. Pussy slick. Breathy moans. Little gasps. Cock leaking.
