A noise caught Chase’s attention, and he stilled, the two of them watching each other in the moonlight that spilled through the window. There was no additional sound, so Chase tugged Antonello down into an intense kiss that left them both panting.
Skin to skin, heat to heat, they moved against each other. Chase shut his eyes, closing off his sense of sight to more fully hear the way Antonello breathed and the way the breeze filled the room, feel the way he held Antonello against him, the slight roughness of his chest hair against Chase’s skin. He wanted to experience it all, remember it all, especially every time he inhaled… surrounded by Antonello’s intense scent that rocketed him onto cloud nine.
“I need you. It’s been so long since I let anyone close,” Chase whispered as he splayed his hands against Antonello’s back, wanting to feel everything all at once.
“Do you have protection?” Antonello asked.
Chase shook his head, chuckling softly. “I didn’t think something like this was going to happen, and I wouldn’t even know how to go into a store and ask where the condoms were.” He smiled and loved Antonello’s soft one in return.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Chase held his cheeks, keeping Antonello’s gaze locked on his. “There’s nothing to worry about.” He rocked his hips, pressing up against Antonello, loving the way his eyes widened and his breathing hitched. Rocking them together, Antonello quickly got the picture, and together they moved their hips, cocks sliding past each other, pressure and friction building between them. That was enough, more than enough, and Chase guided Antonello until both of them quivered. Chase’s hands shook, and he knew he wasn’t going to last. “That’s it, let it go.”
Antonello blinked, body filled with tension. “Don’t want this to end.”
“Doesn’t have to. We have all night,” Chase whispered, and Antonello nodded, both of them holding on to the edge of a knife until they tumbled over together. Chase swallowed the groan that threatened, holding Antonello as his release barreled into him. Being silent only added to the moment, enhancing the pleasure.
Antonello held him closer as the energy slipped from both of them. Chase wrapped his arms around Antonello’s back, closing his eyes and letting himself relax and enjoy the moment. This was that quiet time when the world seemed to halt, if only for a few minutes, when everything was perfect and the worries and cares of the outside world were forgotten. “God,” Chase whispered.
“I know.” Antonello settled next to him, and Chase slipped out of bed and returned with a towel. After a quick cleanup, he added the towel to the clothes that littered the floor and settled next to Antonello, sliding his fingers through the hair on his chest. “What do we do now?”
“We rest a little.”
“I believe someone promised that we had all night,” Antonello teased.
“We do. Now close your eyes and relax. We’re safe here. Both of us are.” Chase nestled closer. “This is just the two of us, you and me.” Chase was glad his normally swirling thoughts were still and quiet. Thank goodness. All he wanted was to enjoy this moment. The million questions could come later.
Chapter 10
THE ROOMwas quiet, almost silent, with just the soft sounds of the sleeping city, when Antonello woke. He quietly slipped out of the bed and searched the floor for his clothes. He needed to get dressed and out of here before a number of things happened. First, he didn’t want Ricky to find him sleeping with his daddy. That would be bad and lead to questions that he figured neither of them wanted to answer. Secondly, he had to sneak into the family home and get up to his room before his parents woke and realized he wasn’t there. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to convene the Spanish Inquisition.
In the living room, he finished dressing and quietly left the room, heading down to the lobby and out into the night.
The city was asleep and yet not. The lights on the Duomo shone, and downtown glittered, even if there were few people out to see it. He walked the quiet streets, passing around the cathedral to the side street. He turned a few corners and slipped into the side entrance to the family palazzo, going through the kitchen and up the back stairs to his floor, where he slipped into his room, undressed, and fell into his own bed. Thank God that had worked.
“SO WHEREwere you last night?” his mother asked as she came into the breakfast room. “I know you were out late and got in early this morning.” She sat down and was brought a plate.
Antonello could never put one over on her. “Are you and Papa going to the Duomo for Mass?” He decided to ignore her questions altogether and only speak about things he wanted to talk about.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Antonello shrugged, and thankfully his father came in to breakfast. “I got a call from America on Friday. It seems they want things faster.”
“What did you tell them?” Antonello ate some bread with Parma ham and sipped his juice.
“That if you made the schedule, then that was the end of it. But I think it isn’t over for him.” He sat down at the table, and a plate was brought for him.
“There is nothing we can do. Our schedules are set, and they agreed to them. I have their signatures.” He waited while his father read the paper the way he always had for as long as Antonello could remember. “I’m not worried about it.”
“What if they back out?” his father asked.
“Then they have to pay all costs associated with the setup as well as forfeit all deposits already paid. I made sure that we would come out ahead regardless of what they did.” He wasn’t stupid, and he wasn’t going to do business at the whims of a dick. “We will meet all our commitments as promised, so there is nothing to worry about.” Antonello returned to his breakfast.
His father nodded.
“Father, I know what I’m doing. My friend—”
“The American?” his father said in English.
