I moaned and gave in to the sensation, my knuckles gripping the railing so hard they were white, going up on my tiptoes, even in heels, to take more of him, all of him, as deeply as I could. My pussy swallowed him up like it had been starving for him, as hungry as I was for his cock, his cum. I fucked him back, grinding my ass into the saddle of his hips, crying out, not caring anymore who heard us, who saw.
“Make me come all over your cock!” I panted, not daring to close my eyes, even as close as I was to climax. The water lapped at the cement below us, licking the sides of the seawall like a dirty wet tongue. “Oh fuck, fuck, I’m gonna come!”
He grunted and fucked me harder, deeper, a hand on my shoulder now for even better purchase. I could barely hold onto the railing, my back arched, my pussy stretched wide for the thrust of his cock. I was lost, gone, being fucked on the banks of the Grand Canal in Venice and about to have the most intense orgasm of my life.
And I almost said Mason’s name.
It hovered on my lips, a low “Mmmmmmm” in my throat, and I kept it there, muffling my cries.
My climax hit like a shockwave, shuddering through me. If he hadn’t had me around the waist with one arm, I would have collapsed to my knees. My pussy clamped down on his swollen length, the motion just enough to send him over with me. I rode the pleasure waves, letting them wash over me again and again.
“Oh my god,” I gasped, feeling him slipping out of me, turning in his arms. He was grinning, panting, his eyes half closed, swinging the window shut and pulling me into his arms.
“You’re so incredible.” He kissed my cheek, my temple, my jaw, pulling me up so tight my feet left the floor. “I could eat you up.”
“You’re crazy.” I was laughing now in his arms, my heart still beating like bird’s wings in my chest. “You know that? You’re just crazy.”
“Crazy for you, yes.” He kissed me and I could feel the smile still on his lips. “Are you glad I rented the room now?”
I glanced back at the window, not open now, but the curtains still open. I wondered how many people had seen us, if the hotel would get calls or complaints.
“I’m not sorry,” I admitted, my weak knees finally giving out. I collapsed in the chair behind me, looking up at him with a half-smile.
“I’m glad.” He slid his jeans down his hips and I raised an eyebrow. He laughed. “I’m just going to take a shower before we go eat. Unless you want to go again…?”
I groaned, shaking my head. “Not yet.”
“But many more times,” he promised, a hand moving through my hair. “Today, tonight, tomorrow…”
I smiled, but guilt twisted a knife in my belly and I gritted my teeth through the pain as Nico went to the bathroom. I looked down at my outfit, cold now, and shivered. All I could think of was Mason, waiting back at my flat. I’d left him there to come here with Nico and had spent god only knows how long having sex. Now how was I supposed to tell Mason I wasn’t coming back tonight? Or how was I supposed to tell Nico I had to leave?
It was impossible.
I heard Nico turn on the shower and I ran over and flung myself across the bed, reaching for the telephone, knowing I didn’t have long.
“Hey, there you are!” Mason’s voice was warm and my body’s temperature changed the moment I heard it. “I was starting to get worried.”
“I’m sorry, I got caught up,” I said, keeping my voice low.
“So, where do you want to go to dinner?”
“Well, the thing is…” I glanced toward the bathroom door and prayed Nico didn’t open it. What was I going to say? How was I going to get out of this? It didn’t occur to me that I should have had a plan before I picked up the phone to call.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I just…”
Then my worst nightmare came true.
Nico came out of the bathroom, fully nude, heading for his bag next to the bed when he noticed I had the phone in my hand.
“Who’s that?” he inquired. “Room service?”
I could have covered the mouthpiece and lied, continued with the ruse, but I didn’t have the heart-or the stomach-to do it anymore.
“Mason, I’ll call you right back.” I hung up the phone, looked at Nico, and told him the truth. “That was my ex-husband.”
“Your…what?” He blinked at me.
“I’m sorry.” I patted the bed, urging him to come sit. “I should have told you before.”
He joined me on the bed. “But he’s your ex — husband.”
“Yes. We’ve been divorced for a year or so. But he’s here in Italy. He came last night.”
“Why?” His face said he already knew the answer, and so did I.
“He says he has business here, but I think…” I sighed. “The truth is, he wants me back.”
“Bella…” He turned me toward him, his eyes soft, a little wet. I pretended not to notice. “I want you too.”
“I know.” I looked down at the carpet. “That’s the problem.” I stood, starting to dress. “I have to go.”
“Please stay.”
I found my panties and bra in the bathroom, my jeans in a ball on the floor. “I can’t.”
“Are you going to him?” he asked, watching me pull on my t-shirt, slip on my shoes.
“No…” I hesitated at the doorway, looking back at him. “I don’t know. I just need to go somewhere to think for a while.”
“I’ll be here.” He looked so sad, so vulnerable, just sitting there on the hotel room bed, that same bed he’d hoped we’d spend the night in. I thought the guilt couldn’t get worse, and then he said, “I love you.”
“I have to go.” I pulled the door open and practically ran out.
Chapter Five
Dear Carrie and Doc,
I had to be honest with them both. You were so right. So I told Nico about Mason, and Mason about Nico, and now things are even more crazy than they were before. I guess some part of me expected one or the other of them to give me an ultimatum or just abandon me altogether once they found out I was seeing them both, but it seems as if my life just wants to be complicated.
“We’re not married anymore. I have no claim over you. Just hope, Dani. That’s all I have.” That’s what Mason said to me when I told him I’d been seeing someone else. But you’re not going to believe what else he said. “I just want to prove to you that you can trust me. I love you, and I hope that you can give our relationship another chance.”
Of course, Mason always talked a good game. But the thing is, this time… he’s actually backing his words up with reality. I know he’s here on trust fund money and all-his parents’ money-but he’s also here in direct defiance of everything they wanted for him. His father didn’t want him to come here, didn’t want to take his part of the business overseas. They, of course, had hoped he’d forgotten about me entirely. But he’s here, he says he’s still in love with me, and that he wants to work things out. And for once, I believe him.
But then there’s Nico. I can’t say if I’m in love with him or not. Things are still so new. But I think… I think I am. We had a fight the other day about-of all things-his mother. (Why do I keep picking men with mother issues? Never mind, I bet I don’t want to know…) Anyway, I felt awful afterward, and I realized, after two days of not talking to him, how much I really, really missed him in my life, how much I’d started counting on him to be there for me.
I feel so torn now. And Nico was just as accommodating as Mason, for pete’s sake, when I told him. “Whatever you want.” That’s what he said. “I’ll accept whatever makes you happy.” So for now, I’m dating them both. Which is strange and awkward-they’ve met now and seem to loathe each other, which I guess is understandable-and I know I’m going to have to make a choice at some point in the near future.
I just don’t know what I’m going to do. Maybe I should run away to Michigan and come live with you guys? Ha ha. (Only kind of kidding…)