Turn Towards the Sun Book Two: After the Rain (23 page)

“Not teasing, preparing.”

“Preparing me for what?”

I look up and see his smile that suddenly seems too big for his face.

“Don’t worry about it. Just enjoy.”

“I always do, amore,” he says. Sinking down into the bedding, he folds his arms behind his head.

I grab hold of his erection and lower my mouth slowly down over it. Then, just as slowly, I rise up, swirling my tongue over the huge head. Enzo throws his head back with pleasure. I make a decision. Tonight is the night. Tonight I swallow.

In the back of my mind I’ve always known it was something I wanted to do to Enzo. I had heard that men enjoy it, and plenty of my exes asked for it, but it always felt like the ultimate act of intimacy, so I wanted to save it. I wanted to give it to my husband. Now, I have the opportunity to do just that. I consider it my wedding gift to him. Even though Enzo has never asked, I hope he wants it. Of course he will want it. Who the hell wouldn’t?

Increasing the intensity of my sucking, I reach down to massage his balls in my hands. Enzo lifts his head and gazes at me, and I move my mouth down to gently suck his balls between my lips.

“Oh God, Ava,” he whispers.

“Is that good, tesoro?” I ask, between sucking.

“It’s perfect.” He reaches down and gently tugs at my hair.

I know I’ve got Enzo just where I want him. Grasping his shaft firmly, I stroke him up and down, twisting my mouth over the tip and down his length. My other hand rolls his balls between my fingers. I know he’s going to come soon, his body tenses beneath me, and his erection seems to be getting ten times bigger and even harder.

Rising up on my knees, I lean down to suck him fully into my mouth. His entire body stiffens with pending orgasmic tension. For once, he isn’t staring at me; he is lost in his own pleasurable paradise. I feel incredibly powerful.

“Are you going to come for me now, my prince?” I whisper.

Enzo doesn’t respond, just wraps his hands tighter in my hair. I suck a little harder and rapidly pump my hand over his throbbing shaft. He shakes his head back and forth, moaning loudly. I’ve never seen him lose control in this way and I like that I’m the cause.

“I’m going to make you come, Enzo, and I’m going to swallow you up… every drop.”

His eyes shoot open and a look of shock, followed by pure arousal, washes over his face. “Jesus, Ava,” he breathes out.

Bent over him, I continue sucking and pumping, knowing that any moment now he’s going to explode. I brace myself, because I’ve never done this before, and I have no idea what it’s going to be like. But I’m so turned on that I would do anything for him.

“Now, amore,” Enzo whispers.

His entire body tenses and he throws his head back silently. Hot, thick liquid shoots into my mouth and down my throat. Whoa, there’s so much. It’s hot and salty, but not so bad. Swallowing it down, I finish him off.

He whispers while stroking my hair, “Piano, piano.”

I don’t know the word, but from his actions I can tell he wants me to slow down. I suck softer and calm my movements.

Finally, he releases a deep breath, followed by, “Minchia.”

Enzo looks up at me, and I smile and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. He grins and pulls me down on top of him. “That was amazing. Truly amazing…”

“You liked it?” I know he did, but I want to hear him say it.

“Very much,” he replies. “What a gift.”

I smile. “It was a gift. I’ve never done that before, but I wanted to, for you.”

His eyes warm with love. “It was perfect.”

We lay wrapped in each other’s arms for a moment and his hands slowly caress my body. I’m still turned on. “Do you have anything left in you tonight?” I whisper into his ear.

“Signora, you want more? You’re insatiable.” He laughs softly.

“I do and I am. For you.”

“Maybe you should check if I’m ready for more,” Enzo teases.

Reaching down to feel between his legs, I’m excited to find his erection still has some life in it. He rolls on top of me and grins. “I’m insatiable too, signora – for you.”

I spread my legs and allow him to enter me. We move rhythmically against each other, silently, enjoying the sensation of our entwined bodies and the incredible love between us. It really couldn’t get any better than this.

****

I wake up to an empty bed. Blinking, I glance at the clock: 6 a.m. Enzo is up as usual. I climb out of bed and put on my robe. The house feels cold this morning; autumn has finally settled in Arizona. I walk out to find Enzo and hear voices coming from the television.

“Morning, babe,” I greet him loudly, but walking over, I immediately notice a concerned look on his face. “What’s going on?” I ask, half afraid of the answer.

“Emma died, late last night.”

“Shit.”

I plop down on the couch next to my husband and watch the announcement from the early morning Channel 14 anchor.

“Emma gave fifteen years of service to this station, producing exciting television that boosted the network ratings to the top spot over the last ten years. She always brought enthusiasm to each project she worked on, and she treated her co-workers with kindness and respect. She will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her loved ones.”

I rub Enzo’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

He rubs his forehead and runs his fingers through his hair. “I think so, a little shocked, I suppose. She did look very sick yesterday, but I had no idea it would be this soon. I’m glad I went when I did.”

“So am I,” I say. “The good news is she’s not in pain anymore. You brought her a lot of peace in her final hours.”

Enzo turns and pulls me into his arms. “I love you so much, Ava. You’re such a miracle to me. You have such a good heart and I’m so thankful… so thankful.”

I hold him tight and kiss the top of his head. “It’s okay if you need to cry. It’s just you and me here right now. It’s alright if you want to cry for Emma.”

He looks up at me with a look of awe on his face, and shakes his head softly. “You’re amazing, you know that? I don’t need to cry for her. She’s at peace and so am I. I don’t feel sadness right now. Instead, I feel joyous. I’m here right now, alive, and in the arms of the woman I love. And you love me back. You take me as I am, in spite of my flaws. I feel incredible, like I could fly right now.”

He pulls my chin towards him and kisses me, but it isn’t like any other kiss we’ve previously shared. It feels like a celebratory one, bonding us together, forever. When Enzo breaks from the kiss, it leaves me breathless and wanting more. He sits up on the couch and pulls me against him.

“Let’s get dressed and go to breakfast,” Enzo suggests, his voice is brimming over with excitement and happiness. “Then we can go to Girasole.” His stoic, serious and overly formal disposition dissipates, and he seems like a man ten years younger, without a care in the world. It’s a beautiful sight.

I laugh. “Okay, but you know it’s like six-thirty right now?”

He rubs his chin. “That early, eh?”

“Yes, that early. Why don’t we have a cup of coffee and ease into things a bit. Didn’t you say that’s why you like to get up at the ass crack of dawn – to ease into the morning?”

“You remember everything I say, don’t you?” He winks at me.

“I do. Your words are precious to me. Just like your love.”

“Ah, I do believe your romantic side is showing now.”

“Inspired by you,” I say, grinning. I can just imagine Cassie gagging at our mushy declarations.

“Va bene. I’ll go make coffee for you, espresso for me. Want anything to eat?” he asks.

“I am feeling a bit peckish. Do we have something bready in the kitchen, like a bagel or a muffin?”

“Peckish?” he asks, echoing me. “You reminded me of my British colleagues for a moment there.” He smiles. “I’ll see what we have.” As he walks away, I hear him muttering “peckish” under his breath and chuckling.

I laugh to myself. Hanging out with my British-schooled, Italian husband is rubbing off on me, yet I’m the one being teased.

Looking back at the television, the channel is running a tribute to Emma in pictures. She was very beautiful. How sad her life was cut so short. I realize that Enzo will definitely need to hold a press conference now. The media will be all over him now that the poor girl has died.

His phone vibrates across the coffee table. “Your phone, Enzo,” I call out.

“Answer it, please,” he responds from the kitchen.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Ava. It’s Alex,” a familiar voice answers. “How are you this morning? Hope I didn’t wake you.”

“Hi, Alex. No, not at all. We were up, watching the news about Emma.”

“Okay, so Enzo knows?”

“He does,” I reply. “He’s in the kitchen, getting coffee right now, if you want to hold on a moment.”

“Sure. Hey, how is he handling it, by the way? I guess the better question is how are you both handling it?”

“We’re good, Alex. Thanks for asking. Are you calling about the press conference?”

“Actually, yes,” he replies. “I think we should try to get it done as soon as we can this morning. It will keep the media off you guys and, hopefully, they will move onto something else.”

“I agree.” I look up as Enzo enters the room carrying a tray. He sets it down on the table.

“Agree with what, amore?” he asks as I hand him the phone.

“That you should have the press conference sooner rather than later,” I tell him. “It’s Alex.”

He nods, takes the phone and says, “Ciao, Alex.”

I take a sip of my coffee and pull apart the huge pastry sitting on a plate. It looks like a croissant, but it is dusted in powdered sugar. I peer inside and spy a dark filling. Is that chocolate? I take a bite and giggle with joy. It’s full of Nutella. The outside is sweet and the texture is flaky. I think I just fell in love with a pastry.

Enzo glances over and grins. I know it makes him happy when I eat and I can gladly oblige in this case.

“Okay, we can be there in an hour if you can make it happen. I’m bringing Ava with me. Yes, that sounds good. Thanks, Alex,” he adds, snapping his phone shut.

Turning, he tells me, “Press conference is in one hour at a hotel just down the street from here.”

I nod. “This tastes so good.”

“Those are Marcello’s specialty.”

I lick my fingers. “I could eat one every morning.”

Enzo leans over and sucks some Nutella off one of my fingers. “That can be arranged.”

I stop chewing, frozen by his erotic gaze.

Grinning, he takes a bite of the pastry that I’m holding in my hand. “You and Nutella – one of my favorite combinations,” he says, planting a quick peck on my mouth. “Finish eating and then we need to get ready.”

I shove the remaining pastry into my mouth and gulp down my coffee, before heading into the bedroom where Enzo is busy selecting a suit for the day.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I ask him, “What do you plan to say to the media?”

“I plan to express my condolences to her family and tell them that we had a nice talk, which cleared the air.”

“Do you want me to say anything?”

“Only if you are asked,” he replies with a wink.

“If they do, what do you want me to say?” I ask again.

“Whatever you think is appropriate. I trust you can handle yourself in this situation. I’ve seen you do it.” I’m rewarded with his amazing smile.

We don’t have much time so I head into the shower and wash quickly. Wrapping my hair up in a bun, I select a dark blue dress to wear. Then I add some eye cream and mascara to my face, and dot my lips with gloss.

“You look great,” Enzo says, as he starts to shave his face.

“I kind of like your stubble,” I protest.

“Is that so? You should have said something sooner. I would have left it for you.” He drags the razor up his strong chin.

I lean against the bathroom vanity. “Next time I’d like to feel it pressed between my thighs.”

Enzo drops the razor and it clatters in the sink. “You shouldn’t say things like that to me when I have sharp objects in my hand,” he says, with a huge grin and a joking tone.

I walk behind him and press against his back. Reaching around the front of him, I stroke him through his boxer shorts, saying teasingly, “Just making my desires known, sir.”

Oh shit. The word just slipped out of my mouth. The last time I called him sir caused a huge fight.

He turns. My face must have said it all, because to my surprise, he says, “I am pleased your desire is aimed at me. And you can call me sir any time you want if you keep your hands on me like that.”

“There is something a little sexy about the word, used in the right context,” I say.

He cocks his head to one side. “You think so?”

“I do.”

“We’ll discuss this later. I’d love to kiss you right now, but I can’t risk messing up your gorgeous face with shaving cream.”

“I’ll leave you alone then.”