My words surprise me, realizing just how comfortable in my own skin I am, thanks to Sly. Never in my wildest dreams would I have said something like that with a past lover. But with Sly, I can explore sides of myself I haven’t even known to exist.
“Sarai la mia morte,” he groans, then his lips are on mine, his tongue in my mouth.
Whimpering, my eyes snap shut, and I focus on his touch. It’s blinding, the way he turns my body into putty in his hand. He has the ability to watch me crumble in any way he sees fit.
“I’m coming,” I whisper, but I’m not even sure it’s audible. Speckles dance behind my lids, like stars in the New York sky, hiding behind the skyscrapers but desperate to be seen.
As I come, my moans transfer into Sly’s mouth and he catches each one, swallowing them as they meld with his own. I feel him chase his own release, bucking his hips beneath me with shallow thrusts, each movement matching his groans.
We ride the high for as long as we can until finally Sly reaches his hand into my hair again and leans his forehead into mine. “And here I was thinking if I took you somewhere public, I’d be able to behave myself long enough for a proper date.”
Laughing, I pull back to look at him, my head shaking slowly. “So far, this date is perfect.”
“It will be once we enjoy our meal and I can take you home and worship your body for the remainder of our evening.”
Grabbing a handful of my butt, Sly playfully nips at my lower lip before he gives me a long, slow kiss.
He lifts me off him and reaches down to where he left my nylons and panties on the floor. Righting them so they’re no longer inside-out, he hands them to me, and we both dress quickly.
“So, how has your week been, piccola ladra?” Sly asks conversationally—with a hint of laughter in his tone—as I take my seat and pull it toward the table. He readjusts his seat so instead of sitting across from each other, he’s next to me.
“Oh, now it’s time for pleasantries?” I tease, running my hand along the inside of his thigh. He catches it at the wrist and pulls it to him,kissing my palm.
Behind us, a throat clears and I turn to see the server tentatively pulling open the curtain. When he sees us at the table, he beams and gestures to someone beyond the threshold. Two additional waiters arrive, one holding a large tray with our entrees, and another holding a corked bottle of wine as though it's his prized possession.
“Mr. Lucchetti, the owner wants to extend his finest bottle of merlot to accompany your meal tonight. If it’s to your satisfaction, we will uncork.”
Sly looks at me and I nod, accepting the offer.
“Very well, grazie,” he tells the servers, and they get to work, uncorking the bottle, then distributing our plates, before standing in a uniform line before us.
“Is there anything else we can get for you?” ourmain server, Edward, asks.
“Not at the moment, grazie.”
“Thank you,” I chime in.
As they leave, I smile at Sly. He nods to my plate, and we both begin to eat. A silence settles between us, and with each passing bite, a heaviness also settles.
The next mouthful I swallow hardly goes down.
“So,” I start hesitantly, breaking the ice and spearheading the conversation that needs to take place. “The only reason I didn’t say anything is because once we were together, nothing else mattered. I pushed the memory of what’d happened far into the recesses of my mind—not because I had something to hide, but because I was present in the moment withyou. I’m sorry.”
Sly sets his fork down, then lifts his napkin to wipe his mouth, before laying it back on his lap. He takes his time before he says anything, which does nothing to ease my nerves.
“You do not owe me an apology, Vincenza. I recognize our relationship as challenging. We cannot be seen in public together. We cannot allow our loved ones to know what we’re feeling for each other. If you’re seen in public with another man, the only man I can be upset with is myself for not being able to give you that.”
“The only man I want to be seen with isyou.” My heart plummets through my body. The words are hardly a whisper, but as I say them, I’m not sure I mean them.Of course, he’s the only man I want to be seen with, but I also don’t want us to be seen.
“Then we should go public.” He lifts his chin, showing me he stands by his suggestion. “Our families will learn to live with it or they learn to livewithoutus.”
I shake my head, then look down at my lap to stop the tears. “We can’t.”
“But weshould.”
“It’s too soon.” I force myself to look at him. Suddenly, I’m inundated with emotions. “There’s too much risk. My family… I can’t betray them like that. I won’t. Please don’t make me choose.” Thick, silent tears pool at my lashes before one falls, rolling down my cheek.
We stare at each other for several long seconds before he nods, reaching up to wipe away the wet river the tear left in its wake.
