The screen read five-hundred thousand dollars.
That’s some retainer.
Never had I seen that much money attached to anything with my name on it. I just drank that moment in for several minutes, staring at the screen with tears spilling from my eyes, whispering over and over, “Thank you. Thank you.”
I didn’t even know who I was thanking.
It’s happening. I’ve dreamt about The Moment and this is it. It isn’t tomorrow or next year or later. It is now. Right. Fucking. Now.
I let go of a long breath. Fear tumbled in my stomach. My hands shook, but I made myself get back to work.
It took me ten minutes to find a direct flight to Salt Lake City.
First class, of course. A bitch is making moves now!
Grinning the whole time, I reserved a rental car at Salt Lake City’s International Airport. I would have to drive two hours to get to where Gio had hidden himself. I hoped the weather was good. Although I’d been in New York for a few years, I still wasn’t used to driving in the snow.
My phone rang. I checked the screen, and it was Gio. I screamed. I’d probably woken up my poor neighbor upstairs from his usual afternoon nap.
Girl! Get it together.
I breathed in and out and then answered, “Hello, Gio.”
“You sound happy?”
“I’m beyond excited.”
“So, you’ve heard the news?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to come until—”
“I’ll be there tonight.”
Silence hit the line. I didn’t know how to take it.
Did that make him upset? Fuck. He had plans.
“Um...I don’t have to come tonight, if you’re busy,” I said.
Of course, he’s busy. I would be the last person he would want to be with on Christmas Eve. What was I thinking?
His next words were careful. “No, I’m not busy.”
“Are you okay with my coming tonight?”
“Definitely.”
“I will stay out of your way.”
“Good. I mean not good, but...” Gio sounded caught off guard. This was something I didn’t think was possible for him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. I didn’t think you would be up tonight, but...I’m pretty fucking excited.” He cleared his throat. “I can’t wait to see you.”
“I’ve been working on lyrics to that new tune you sent this morning.”
“Yeah? Already? I was trying to hit you with a hard one.”
Ha! I knew it was a test.
“Let me hear it,” he said.
“Oh...well, maybe not now.” I shook my head. “It’s nowhere close to done.”
“Sing for me, Simone.”
I giggled. “I’ve already packed my keyboard.”
“Sing it a cappella.”
Oh, God.
“Okay, but this is so new. I barely spent an hour on it and then I was interrupted by my manager. He came over to tell me the news and completely pushed me out of my groove.”
“No excuses, Simone. I want to hear it.”
“Okay.” Biting my bottom lip, I grabbed the sheet of music, inhaled, and sang, “I’m dying to be inside of you. Give it to me, I would melt with you, I would burn for you.” He made no response. I continued, “Take me to the sky, I would fly with you, Get high with you.” My heart beat faster. “Tear open my soul, lose control with you, let it go with you.”
He groaned over the phone.
“Break me. Hurt me. Fuck me. I would lie for you, homicide for you.” I exhaled. “That’s all I had before my manager came over.”
Annoyance covered his words. “Does he come over a lot?”
“No, he just comes to check on me. He thinks I work too hard.”
“He should’ve never interrupted you. I want to know what else you would do for me.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
“Here at my house, you’ll have no distractions. He won’t be here.”
“Uh...well...he told me that he was coming up in a few days. Just to check on me.”
“He did?”
“Yes, but if there’s a problem I could—”
“No. I have enough room to fill up several families. He’ll be fine here...as long as he doesn’t get in the way.”
“He won’t. I promise you.”
“Good,” he said.
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight. I can work on the song on the airplane and—”
“No, leave the lyrics alone. Maybe your manager is right. Take a break. Just travel and enjoy yourself.”
“Fine.”
“You’re lying, aren’t you? You’re definitely going to work on the song.”
I giggled. “Pretty much.”
“Simone. Simone,” he whispered.
My name on his tongue was a beautiful sound. Butterflies fluttered inside of me.
“I can’t wait to meet you, Simone.”
“Me too.”
“See you later.”
“Bye, Gio.”
Chapter 4
Giovanni
Where words fail,
music speaks.
~Hans Christian Andersen
“Break me. Hurt me. Fuck me. I would lie for you, homicide for you.”
I hung up the phone, gripping my cock. I looked down at him and shook my head. “You know we can’t do this when she’s here. It might scare her if I take you out while she’s singing.”
The tip throbbed in response, yanking a groan from me.
She was coming tonight. Of course, I’d told Midnight to let her decide the best time. I figured it would be next month after the holidays, not tonight.