Alicia
I’m so excited I could burst—I absolutely love the way the condo has turned out. It’s gorgeous. The leather furniture is gone, replaced with a high-backed modern sofa in navy with deep plush seats where I easily picture us napping on a Sunday. There are two matching oversized chairs with a long tufted ottoman in a pretty sky blue. The wall above the sofa is where the large, oversized reproduction of Wanderer above the Sea of Fog fits perfectly. When I tried to describe the painting I was thinking of, I was impressed Jolene knew it immediately. On the other wall is wallpaper of faux thin gray stone with the television on a console table. There is a huge silk carpet in a gray blue under the furniture.
A six-by-six bookcase separates the space. I had run back to my apartment with a nice guy who helped me box up all my books and lug them back here in a van they had. I had five boxes of books, but they wouldn’t be enough to fill the bookcase. There was a moment of embarrassment as Jolene showed me the accessories she had purchased, small ceramics, elephants, owls, not a single thing I thought Cesare would like. I didn’t say anything, but I left and was about to go shopping when I remembered all the pictures Dante had. I ran to his place and picked out my favorites. Claudine had let me in and understood. She offered to take care of getting duplicates made and buying the frames to fit.
Now the bookcase has books interspersed with photos, and other small decorative items I thought would be more interesting. The small seating area in front of the folding doors is made up of four rolled-arm leather chairs in dark brown around a round wooden coffee table that has a vintage-look radio with a turntable, CD player and Bluetooth speakers.
I kept the long, massive ebony table but changed out the dark leather chairs for leather chairs in a cream color. The wall behind the buffet table was covered in a damask ivory and silver to soften the area. Petra replaced the bland lighting above the table with a long rectangle light that runs the length of the table. Crystals shimmer, softened by a white canvas shade. A scenic reproduction of a vineyard in Tuscany is the art for the wall in the dining area.
We left the kitchen, Cesare’s office and his workout room alone. In my room I picked out wallpaper in ivory and shimmer damask for the accent wall. I also picked out an ottoman that matches my chaise.
In the bedroom there is a new thick, plush white rug. I went with a damask wallpaper with the pattern in a raised velvet in gray and silver. I actually like the white on white in here, it feels clean and light. Although the raised velvet wallpaper is only for one accent wall, I had all the other walls covered in a cream grasscloth-textured wallpaper to soften the stark white on them. Jolene had also bought a new comforter and three different duvet covers of various patterns in grays and blues, then showed me how to change them out to replace the black silk comforter.
I’m nervously pacing, hoping Cesare likes it as much as I do. I check my phone to see I missed a text from him. Billings called and asked if they could get together, and Billings wanted it to be a one-on-one meeting. The text is only three minutes old, but Cesare texts a question mark as I bite my lip, trying to come up with a response that doesn’t look like I’m whining. Sighing, I text I understand and I’ll miss him with a kiss emoji.
He responds he’ll miss me too and not to wait up, as Billings sounds like he’s in a mood. With a groan I respond with a simple “k,” then throw myself on the couch. Huh, this is super comfy.
At loose ends on a Friday night, I could curl up with a book, a sexy book. Only I can’t stop thinking about what Bethany said about keeping the apartment. I text Lydia and ask if she’s free for dinner. It’s been a few weeks since we had lunch on a rare Saturday when Cesare and Dante had to meet with a client.
Lydia responds she’s free. I ask her if she wants to come over or if she would prefer to go out. I’m relieved when she says she’s happy for someone else to cook dinner, and she’s been looking forward to wearing sweats all day. I offer up a few different meals I’m pretty good at making, and she picks the swordfish. Running to the kitchen, I pull out the swordfish to defrost. Then dig out asparagus to go with the red potatoes. I do a caprese salad in case she wants something a little extra.
After I show her around, I go back to the kitchen to plate up our food then pick out a wine I’ve grown to love. “This place is gorgeous. You did an awesome job.”
“I hope Cesare thinks so too. I mean I changed his whole home.”
Lydia shakes her head. “No, you changed your home. You live here too now. It sounds like he’s happy you took the initiative to make this a real home, the way you want it to be. Also, hello, it’s a massive improvement and he said he didn’t spend much time here. Now that he’s been spending time here because of you, I’m sure he was sick of it too.”
“That’s actually something I wanted to ask you about. I still have my old apartment, I didn’t give up the lease. Bethany made it seem like a big deal. I think it’s too soon. The rent is a steal for the area and the building, and since I can afford it...I don’t know. What do you think?”
“I think I understand where you’re coming from. If it was a financial hardship, then I’d tell you not to be stupid. Since it’s not, I get it and I’m not going to tell you to let go of it, it’s a security blanket in a way. You have it if you need it, all the while hoping you don’t. I do think she’s right, I wouldn’t tell Cesare because I think he would demand you give it up immediately. He also might be a little hurt by you feeling like you need it.”
Nodding, I agree. “You’re right. I’m not going to keep it forever, just until he talks about forever. So you never said, how did you become a stylist?”
I have more fun than I thought I would. We talk for hours. Then go back for an evening snack with ice cream. When she starts yawning, I ask the front desk to get her a cab then walk her downstairs. Back in the condo I’m surprised it’s already almost midnight.
I take a long, hot bath with the yummy-smelling oil Cesare used that night. Then I decide to wear a sexy babydoll in black lace Gertrude had suggested. In bed, I turn off the lights but I can’t get comfortable, tossing and turning for what feels like an hour even though I am starting to get tired I can’t sleep. I hear the front door, but it takes forever for Cesare to come into our room. I reach out and turn on the bedside lamp.
He’s looking around the room, then his eyes come back to me. I’m propped up against the headboard. “Thank you for making this space a home. I love it.”
“Really?” My teeth catch my bottom lip.
Nodding, he begins undressing. “Yes, really.”
“If you really love it. Then maybe I deserve a reward for doing a good job.”
Naked now, I can’t take my eyes off my favorite part of him. “A reward?”
I nod, then lean over to open the bedside table. I take out the lube I had purchased and put in it earlier today. “A reward for the both of us.” I offer him the lube.
His smile warms me to my bones, and I just melt for him. “Indeed.”
Cesare comes down on the bed, lifting me up and over him. I gasp as I wonder what the hell he is doing. Then I understand as he lowers me down on his chest. “Good girl. You’re going to ride my mouth until I make you come so many times your whole body couldn’t resist my cock in your ass if you wanted to.”
My hands go down on the bed to catch myself. Okay, that sounds like a plan. This is one of Cesare’s favorite positions. I don’t dislike it, but sometimes he makes me come so many times it’s almost painful. Tonight I welcome it. As usual I’m already wet for him, but he takes me to the edge hard and fast with his amazing mouth.
Tongue deep, fingers teasing, he has me moaning and gasping through an orgasm in minutes. Fuck. He doesn’t let up, not stopping as my entire body shakes uncontrollably. Now his fingers do more than tease—they dive deeper into me. Holy fuck, those fingers turn, finding that spot and demanding my climax, wringing it from me. Oh god, I scream as I buck against his mouth.
Please, it’s enough, I beg. Please fuck me, I want your cock. He doesn’t stop, doesn’t even hesitate. Those fingers slide up into my ass. After several weeks using the toys, using the largest one for the last few weeks, my body accepts them easily. For the first time he slows down, those fingers lazy as they move inside me. He’s tormenting me, I swear. I plead for his cock, and Cesare chuckles. I think I might hate him. Until his mouth begins to take me to heaven all over again. Okay, now that’s really enough. Please, I beg.