| |
September
Alicia
––––––––
The alarm sounds far away; I roll over to turn it off. As I do, I swallow causing pain to flare in my throat. Holy shit, it hurts. It feels like I’m trying to swallow white hot marbles with thorns on them. A dim memory comes to me of waking in the middle of the night as I swallowed in my sleep and pain forcing me awake for a few painful minutes before I fell back to sleep. Yesterday I was feeling rundown and achy but I thought it might be a cold. I’m not sure what this is, but it’s not a cold.
It hurts to hold my head up, so I roll onto my back. I run my hand over my face, damn it, I have a fever. Crap, I hate being sick. My mind goes half-heartedly through Dante’s calendar for today. Today is a Monday, so he is usually busy. Then I swallow again and fuck it hurts so badly tears sting my eyes. Dante can figure it out, or at least Hannah will.
I grab my phone. Fumbling I manage to type out a text to Cesare that I’m sick and won’t be in today. I ask him to tell Dante I’m sorry. My bladder is telling me I need to get up but I don’t want to. There is no surprise when my phone rings.
“Hi.” I croak. Damn that sounds bad. As bad as it sounds, the effort it took hurts worse. A few tears escape.
“What’s the matter? You sound awful.”
“Throat hurts, fever. Hurts to talk.” I mumble, more tears flow.
“Hold on, cara.” The phone goes dead.
That’s a little rude, the thought flutters then is gone. I can’t keep my eyes open. A few minutes later there’s a light knock on the door to the bedroom. Claudine asks if she can come in.
“Yes.” I moan. I pull the covers up to cover my naked body.
“Sorry, dear, Cesare is concerned about you.” Her hand runs over my forehead. “Oh my, that is quite a temperature.” Her cool soft hands run under my jaw. Vaguely, I know she’s checking if my lymph nodes are swollen. Sonofabitch, yeah, they’re swollen and extremely painful. “Sorry, I’m sorry. Okay, it looks like we do need a doctor. Would you like me to get you a nightgown for when the doctor comes?”
I can only nod, talking hurts too damn much. I try to help her as she puts the nightgown on me but I’m weaker than I thought, and Claudine does most of the work. Once it’s on I roll over, wanting to escape into sleep.
I’m woken by the touch of Cesare’s hand on my forehead. He’s angry, I can’t focus on what he’s saying but he’s loud above me. Another voice, soothing speaks over him. Cold hands press into those swollen as fuck lymph nodes. Ouch. The soothing voice is back apologizing.
“Can you open your mouth for me?” I blink at the man, he looks like a sweet old grandpa. His white hair matches his bushy eyebrows, except the hand on my chin is strong. Since I won’t get peace until I open my mouth I do. Ow, he presses a flat stick down on my tongue. A tiny flashlight is on and sweeps over my eyes then into my mouth. “Oh my, yes, it is strep throat. I’m glad you came to get me.”
The grandpa lets me go. Then the words he said sink in, strep throat. “Cesare.” Opening my eyes is a struggle.
“Shh... it’s okay. I’m right here. Are you allergic to penicillin?” Cesare asks against my ear. I shake my head. “Alright, sweetheart, hold on to to me.” His pulls me into his arms, heaven. “This is going to sting just for a minute then you’re going to feel better, I promise.” Ouch, the mean grandpa has given me a shot on my ass. I grip Cesare tight burying my face into his neck. “I know, but that’s all. That’s it, no more pain and you’ll be better soon.”
A sigh escapes me as his big hands run over my back. “Thank you, Doctor Weber. I appreciate you taking care of her.”
The doctor laughs, “I didn’t get that I had a choice. I’m glad I could help. It will take another day or so for the shot to have her right as rain. Plenty of fluids, water, juice, no coffee, no soft drinks or anything with caffeine. To eat she’s need soft foods, her throat will still hurt so she won’t want to eat much for a day, maybe two. Don’t be you and get forceful with her to eat. Keeping her hydrated is the most important thing.”
Cesare moves, I cling not willing to let him go. “Okay, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.” I want to open my eyes but I’m too tired. Cesare’s hands are running along my back soothingly. Gradually the world fades away.
––––––––
The next time I wake up my bladder refuses to let me stay in bed. I’m still in Cesare’s arms. I moan a little.
“What, sweetheart?”
“Bathroom.” I croak.
“Okay, bathroom it is.” He sweeps me up into his arms. Carefully, he settles me on the toilet. A hand runs over my head, through my hair.
I wince, I can’t believe I’m embarrassed. “I can’t with you...”
“All right, I’ll be right outside.”
Blinking, the light seems brighter than usual in here. I tug the nightgown out from under me. Oh man, that’s a relief. Leaning against the wall, it takes a minute for me to get the strength to wipe then stand. Almost immediately my legs give out from under me. What the hell? Motherfucker, my hip and shoulder are screaming in pain.
“Damn it, Alicia.” Cesare picks me up. I flinch at first, the anger in his voice scares me but below the anger I hear the panic, his fear. His arms are tight around me. “You should have called for me. Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? Do you want me to call the doctor back?”
Shaking my head, I tighten my arms around his neck. “Sorry.”
“I’m sorry I yelled. I was worried. You have to be careful, sweetheart.”
I nod as I snuggle back into him.
“Don’t sleep just yet. A few sips take a few sips for me.” A straw is pushed against my lips. I open my mouth and take a few sips the pain isn’t as bad as it was this morning but my throat still hurts. “Good girl, thank you.”
He lets me sleep.
––––––––
This time when I wake up I’m wrapped in Cesare’s arms in spoon fashion. I hate this position, I prefer his heart under my ear. I’m thirsty and even though the last thing I did was pee, I have to go again. Oh, my throat doesn’t hurt to swallow. It’s still thick, but the pain is gone.
“You want to get up?”
“Please, I need to pee and I’m thirsty.”
“Okay.” Cesare carries me into the bathroom. He hits the lights and only now do I realize the lights were off and Cesare was asleep in the bedroom. He sets me down gently. “You don’t try to stand. You pee then you call me back.”
After what happened last time I don’t even consider arguing. “Yes, okay.” It’s nice to talk again without pain, only I still sound scratchy. When I’m done, I call Cesare. “I want to brush my teeth and wash my hands, please.”
“We can do that. I’ll set you down, my arm around your waist.”
I nod. Even though I was sure I would be able to stand on my own, his arm tightens around me when I sway the second I’m on my feet. Dang it. I’m clumsy as I brush my teeth. I’m exhausted by the small task. Cesare picks me up again. This time he puts me on the edge of the bed. He puts a straw up to my mouth, several deep gulps are needed before I’m satisfied.
“Are you hungry, sweetheart? You haven’t eaten anything all day.”
I am but I don’t know what I want. I nod.
“How about some soup? Claudine got some chicken soup with noodles, then there is beef and barley. Which one sounds good?”
“Chicken, can I have some toast with butter?”
“Anything you want. I’ll be right back.” With a kiss on my forehead he’s gone.
With a happy sigh I lean up against the headboard. Curious about the time I look down at my phone. Holy shit, it’s three in the morning. Immediately I’m hit with guilt at waking Cesare up so early. Memories come back in small flashes, Cesare wiping my face with a cool wash cloth, Cesare on his cell phone talking above me as he held me, small kisses pressed against my forehead.
“You stayed with me all day.” It’s not really a question, the words come out as Cesare comes into the bedroom with a tray holding a bowl of soup, a glass of orange juice and a small plate of Italian bread toasted with butter.
He nods as he settles the tray over my lap. “You got upset every time I tried to move away. Soon enough I realized I didn’t really want to leave you, anyway.”
I open my mouth for the spoon he has at my mouth. I’m pretty sure I could feed myself only I like Cesare doing it. I chew slowly and thoroughly even though my throat doesn’t hurt it’s still sore. I’m offered a bite of the toast. “I’m sorry you missed work.”
“I’m not. You scared the hell out of me. I was beginning to wonder if your fever would ever break. Dante was more than happy to cover for me and I was able to cancel the few appointments I have today.”
The spoon is back before I can ask a question. I open my mouth but a glass of orange juice with a straw in it is offered to me. Sipping carefully, I sigh with relief, it’s slightly watered down. “I’m sorry it’s three in the morning and you have to be up in a few hours for work.”
“I’m working from home today. I want to keep an eye on you and make sure you’re okay.”
“Really?” Cesare has always been sweet and taken care of me in small ways, like refusing to let me cook every night of the week, ordering dinner in some evenings or Dante and Enzo cooking others. Then there was the time I took a tumble because of Grover getting overexcited and tripping me. Even though all I did was hurt my knee, my bum knee and my hand Cesare acted like I should be in a wheelchair carrying me all over the place while he yelled at Grover. After finally talking him out of the need to have my knee X-rayed I gave in to his insistence of a knee wrap which he put on himself every morning then checking on during our lunch for a week. He was so sweet I might have exaggerated the pain for a day or two.
“Yes, really. Stop looking so wide-eyed and adorable. I can’t kiss you right now.” Another spoonful of soup is almost thrust into my mouth. Fighting a smile my eyes go down. Ah, he’s wearing pajama bottoms. Cesare hasn’t slept in pajamas the six months I’ve been here. It reminds me of the long nightgown I’m in. Huh, I forgot I even have this. It was a gift from Bethany one year. Normally I slept in an oversized shirt and panties, this was for when she came to visit to protect her delicate sensibilities, so she didn’t have to see my ass hanging out of my panties. The material is cotton but stiff from lack of use, it’s a Victorian style buttoned up to the neck, thankfully someone had unbuttoned it so I could breathe. When I’m standing it goes past my knees to my shins. Now that I’m feeling a little better I hate it. “Stop tugging on the nightgown, it stays on.”
“I hate it. Why does it have to stay on? Why can’t you kiss me?” I ask after dutifully taking a sip of my juice.
His forehead wrinkles as if he can’t believe I asked him the questions. “Because you’re sick. You need rest. That nightgown is the equivalent of a cold shower. And when I kiss you the last thing I want to do is, let you rest.”
Oh, okay. There’s a goofy smile on my face but I can’t stop it. I open my mouth for another spoonful of soup. Cesare kisses my nose. He is being so sweet I’m getting all gooey inside. “I really am sorry for waking you up in the middle of the night.”
“You don’t have to say you’re sorry. You’re going to thank me by taking care of yourself and getting better, so I can return the favor by replacing the hours we should have been sleeping with fucking you mercilessly.”
Hmm... yes please. Those eyes are hungry, heavy, and as needy as I feel as they run over me. I swallow my juice in one gulp. “I’m feeling better.”
He smiles. “Don’t tempt me, witch. No, another day or two. The waiting will make the payoff so much better.”
I forgot how cruel he could be sometimes. When I try to argue, bread is stuffed into my mouth. Dang him. With a kiss on my forehead he’s up, taking the tray with him.
***
Alicia
––––––––
When the alarm goes off I startle. What the heck? I don’t even remember falling asleep. One moment Cesare was walking away with the tray he fed me with and now it’s... six in the morning. I wonder where Cesare is, he had to have reset the alarm from his usual five o’clock wake up time but he must have woken up around the same despite being awake at three. I consider getting up, but my eyes make the decision for me and I fall asleep again.
––––––––
This time I wake up with a happy sigh. Opening my eyes, I find Cesare on the edge of the bed. A finger runs down my cheek.
“I’m sorry I woke you. I wanted to check on you, but I can’t keep my hands to myself with you in the same room.”
His finger glides over my smiling lips. I capture the finger and press a kiss against it. “I love when you wake me up. You as the first thing I see in the morning is the best way in the world to wake up.”
A groan comes out of him as he leans down to kiss my forehead. “Tell me you’re feeling better.”
“I’m feeling better.” I respond dutifully as I run a hand down his chest only covered in a tight white shirt.
With a sigh he shakes his head. “Not yet, not for what I want to do to you.”
“I am though.” I whine. I don’t care how I sound, I want him to make love to me.
“Alicia, you aren’t. Now, do you want to get up for breakfast or do you want me to bring it into you?” I’m pouting, I hate being sick. I hate Cesare. His sigh is loud. “Fine, I’m going back to work.”
“Cesare.” What the hell? Why am I crying?
I’m in his arms, “Sweetheart, please don’t cry. Y0u’re sick. I want to make love to you but not when you aren’t well.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying. I feel awful.”
“Shh... it’s okay. It’s okay to cry, don’t say you’re sorry. You don’t feel well, it’s normal.”
Cesare’s arms around me make everything better. Wow, I had no idea I was so dang clingy. I should be embarrassed only Cesare’s sweet response won’t let me.
The tears die down slowly. Cesare pulls back, “All right, cara?”
“Yes, but... I’m dying for a shower.”
He squeezes his eyes shut. “Neither of us are strong enough for a shower. How about a bath?”
I’m sad he won’t be holding me in his arms. “Okay.”
A gentle kiss to my cheek and he’s going into the bathroom. He knows I like an extra hot bath. I slide to the edge of the bed and take the odious nightgown off. I’m considering having Claudine burn the damn thing. Cesare is shaking his head as he sees me. I’m in his arms again as he carries me into the bathroom. Gently, he lowers me into the steaming bath.
“Relax, enjoy the water. Call me when you’re ready to get out.” Another kiss and he’s gone.
Stupid strep throat.
I take my time in the bath. When my fingers start to get wrinkly I reach for the shampoo, I had wanted to leave washing my hair until I was ready to get out. Heat flashes over me, I look up to find Cesare watching me, leaning against the open door of the bathroom.
“I wanted to check on you. You’ve been falling asleep in the blink of an eye, I was afraid you’d fall asleep.”
“No, I just want to wash my hair and then I’m done.”
He moves with an easy grace I can only marvel at in someone so large, he’s beside the bathtub on his knees. Taking the shampoo from me, he opens it then pours a small amount in his palm. He’s washed my hair before, he loves my hair and because of the way he loves it, I’ll never do more than trim it again for the rest of my life. A sigh escapes me. His large hands massage the shampoo into my scalp, slow, gentle, he brings the soap to a lather. He tilts my head back as he pours water over my hair, again and again, until the water runs clear.
Done, he pushes the release for the water then helps me stand. He hands me one towel for my hair. I squeeze out the excess water than wrap my hair in the towel. Cesare uses another towel to dry me off, I’m biting my lip as I watch his hands move over me, they aren’t steady, and the sight makes me wet for him all over again. Wrapping the towel around me, I’m up in his arms again.
He sets me down on the bed. “Any requests for clothes?”
“No, whatever you pick is fine with me.” I work on my hair while he’s gone.
I’m handed a silky soft stretchy camisole, panties and lounge pants in a soft cotton. Cesare helps me dress. Once I’m covered, he scoops me up again. I rest my head on his shoulder. God, I’m already tired again. But I’m also hungry.
Claudine smiles when she sees me. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better, thank you for helping take care of me yesterday.”
“No problem at all dear. What would you like for breakfast?”
“Scrambled eggs and toast and coffee is fine.”
Claudine looks to Cesare. Setting me down at the dining table Cesare takes my hand as he sits down beside me. “Sweetheart, the doctor said no caffeine. How about some hot chocolate?”
No coffee? Cesare squeezes my hand. I remember the doctor from yesterday. Between his strict orders and Cesare’s concern it’s futile to argue. “Fine. Hot chocolate sounds good. Can I have marshmallows?”
After breakfast, Cesare wants to take me back to bed. I refuse. I want to go sit in his office with him. I’ve slept like twenty hours over the last twenty-four hours. I refuse to admit I’m dying to go back to bed.
Nodding, Cesare carries me into his office. He sets me down on the couch. I’m covered in the fleece soft throw I keep in here for when I read while he works before I even my mouth to ask for it. “Want me to get your tablet?”
“Yes, please.”
Cesare is gone then back in minutes. He hands me the tablet then presses a kiss to the edge of my mouth. For a while all I do is watch him, no story is as interesting as Cesare. Gradually though it’s harder to keep my eyes open. Before I know it I’m asleep again.
I wake up to Cesare speaking Italian, the words flow over me. I’m smiling as I open my eyes. I find his eyes on me. It reminds me of our trip to Italy last month, we had spent a week in Florence our days slow as we roamed the streets hand in hand. I begged Cesare to teach me Italian, I’m not sure I’ll ever have the same fluency as he does but I loved the phrases he taught me and his rewards for when I got things right. On the plane home he apologized, confessing he wanted us to go on vacation again after our Venice trip sooner only work got crazy and he wanted our time to be devoted to us, not him concerned with work. He asked me where I would like to go next time. I thought for a moment, in Italy? His laughter made all my bones melt at the change in him. No, anywhere in the world I wanted to go. He told me to think it over and let him know.
I love this man with my whole heart and soul. He was laying the world at my feet, anywhere I wanted to go all I had to do was say it. As much as the words meant to me, knowing he was willing forsake work for me at the time I fought not to scream with happiness as I punched the air. Silly man, I didn’t want the world, I just want him.
***
Cesare
––––––––
As they over the last few hours, my eyes are drawn to Alicia. I watch as she smiles in her sleep. Then her eyes open to mine. Her eyes are glittering gold, I tell Dante I have to go. Before he can reply I hang up. All thought of work is forgotten. I’m drawn to her as I always am when she’s close by. Picking her up I settle her onto my lap before taking her place on the sofa. Her happy little sigh as she cuddles into my neck soothes the disquiet in me at how she still doesn’t seem quite as well as she keeps insisting she is. She didn’t eat all her eggs, and she left toast behind for breakfast. The idea of coaxing her to eat more was stamped down only be the memory of Doctor Weber’s lecture, and her clear need for coddling. Which I’m more than willing to indulge.
Hell, I want to wrap her up and take her away from everything that could ever hurt her. Seeing Alicia in pain, tears flooding her eyes, hearing her moan, feeling the scary heat of the fever inside her sent my whole world crashing to a halt. Nothing else mattered until I could make it right, until she was better again.
I only have a vague memory of going into Doctor Weber’s office and telling him he needed to look at Alicia. Seconds after she sent her text I was already emailing Dante and Hannah I was leaving. I was in the elevator when I called her. The car was already on the way to Doctor Weber’s office when I asked Claudine to check on her. When Claudine called back to let me know Alicia definitely needed a doctor I was already getting out of the car outside the large medical building. I wanted Weber, but I was ready to take any doctor who was willing to come with me.
“I’m sorry I’m being clingy today.” The words sound small against my neck.
“There is nothing I would rather do than hold you in my arms. Today or any other day.”
A soft kiss is pressed against my skin. I can’t fight the shiver it causes in me. I’m dying from wanting to be inside her. Holding her while not being able to make love to her like I want to is torture. She has no idea how badly I wanted to take her up on her begging only Doctor Weber was adamant no sex until twenty-four hours after her fever had broken. He didn’t give the reasoning behind it, I don’t care about the why. I’ll do anything he says if it means protecting Alicia.
––––––––
Golden amber eyes are watching me as I come out of the bathroom. The witch has taken off all her clothes. Fuck. After six months her beauty still stuns me, still makes my cock ache, still fills me with awe that she is mine. I cannot deny her a second longer.
Her mouth is greedy as what was supposed to be a quick kiss spins out of control. Sweet, like cotton candy nothing tastes better than she does. Little whimpers echo around me as she rubs against me. Her nipples tight with desire burn into me. Raising my head, I study her. Her eyes are bright, cheeks pink with color, lips swollen, she’s more than ready.
Cupping a sweet breast, I run my thumb over a tight nipple. Round, lush, proud her breasts and sensitive nipples are an unending source of pleasure, for the both of us. The scent of her pussy, soaking wet and ready teases me. I run a finger over her slick lower lips then coat her pouting nipple in her juice. My sweet treat prepared I suck deep making sure to clean her completely. Oh yes, last time I did this she begged me in embarrassment to stop. Now she’s begging for me not to stop. No chance of that. Another coating of sweet juice has me feasting on her other breast again and again until she’s dripping down to her beautiful ass. Deeper I suck, harder, at the same time I slide two fingers into her ass.
A gasp is followed by her begging for me to fuck her ass. Not tonight, it’s been more than a week, so I will soon but not tonight. This time I let my teeth graze her nipple before gentle tugging at her with my teeth. Yeah, she likes that. After the first night when I left bruises on her I did my best to be gentle yet over the last few weeks she pushed me, begged me for rougher, harder. I’m still careful but gradually I’ve answered her every plea and damn she is so completely every fantasy a man could have. Her hands are in my hair now, begging for my cock.
Not yet, sweetheart, I need to taste her. I swear on my life I don’t know that I have ever seen a pussy so damn pretty. If she ever knew I kept a picture of her pussy on my phone, she would probably kill me but the picture of her got me through the day, I’m never sharing it with her.
She’s already bucking her hips up to my mouth. Sucking deep on her outer lips my tongue teases her, lightly fucking her, running fast over her swollen clit. So good, so fucking good, she’s sugar sweet and all mine. The intent was to tease her, tasting her juice then bring her to orgasm for her delicious come but fuck me two days feel like twenty. I’m starving for her, absolutely fucking ravenous. She’s coming with a little shout, her body shaking beneath me but I’m not done. Not yet, more baby, give me more.
She’s crying, pleading, her hands tugging hard on my hair but I can’t. I need more of her, I need all of her. Yes, she’s coming again this time with a scream of my name from the depths of her soul she’s giving everything to me, all of her is mine. With a last press of my lips to her mound I taste my way up her body.
I slide my cock along her slick lower lips once, twice, wondering if she needs more time. The noise that comes from Alicia’s throat can only be described as a growl, before she yanks me down to her. Damn, I kiss her with her juices still coating my mouth then I push into her. Tight, so fucking tight. I’m deep inside her, home right where I belong. Her pussy is conforming to my cock, clinging to me, tightening around me in time with the beat of my heart.
My woman, my home, my fucking heart. I move needing to give her everything inside me the way she is begging me to. Christ, when she begs for my come she flips my switch every damn time. Already her body is milking me, gripping me tight from inside. Deeper, harder, faster, I’m answering her every plea and trying not to come before her. Just when I think I won’t last another second Alicia’s cries out as her pussy spasms around me and she comes with a cry of my name. Thank fuck. With a last fierce thrust I come deep inside her marveling at the way she shudders as my come fills her.
When I try to move her legs wrap around me. I know she loves the feel of my cock inside her but I always worry I’m too heavy. “Please, just another minute. Inside me is where you belong.”
Since she’s right, I give in.