Page 140 of Casanova LLC

Happy tears watered my eyes. I sighed in gratitude and he must have heard it. “Good morning. I trust you slept well?”

I grinned. “Eventually. You?”

“I was too happy to sleep. Besides, by the time we finally stopped it was nearly dawn, so I picked up my brush.”

I flopped over on my side to look at him. “How can you muster the energy to do anything? Seriously. I’ve never experienced a night like that before.”

“If it makes you feel better, I haven’t either.”

“It was like once we started, we couldn’t stop.”

“Right? I’ve been able to keep it up for an hour or two, but six? Seven?”

“Even when I finally said I had to stop and take a shower, you?—”

“I know, I had to follow you in. I’m sorry. I just wasn’t done yet.”

“Well, once we got back into bed I was done.”

“I would have kept going, but you fell asleep.”

“God,” I laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever fallen asleep right in the middle of?—”

“A sentence,” we said together.

He came over to the bed, crawled into it. Facing me, he brushed back my hair. “That was the most intimate night I’ve ever had.”

“Me too.”

Our leisurely kisses had eventually turned not to sex, but to conversation. He had some ideas for Casanova LLC. I suggested that once he had enough new paintings, he should do a show here, at the palazzo. We spoke of family, the ones we’d lost and also the ones we hoped to create. We made plans.

They say time is a flat circle. That everything we have done and will do is destined to repeat forever. Our conversation last night felt like that. That past, present, and future were all happening simultaneously. The comfort of the past; the contentment of the present; the excitement of the future.

“I loved every moment of last night and wouldn’t change a thing,” he murmured. “That said…”

“Can we fuck now?”we asked at the same time.

Laughing, I sat up and stretched my naked body in the morning light. I knew I’d have to find some time later to nap, but that wouldn’t keep me from enjoying wherever the morning took us.

“I’m assuming that box you brought has my painting in it?”

“I do believe it is my painting, sir.”

“Our painting, final offer.

“Always a barter with you.”

“What would you say to me having a go at that proportion issue?”

“Never.” I got up, letting the sheet slip off me. “It’s perfect the way it is.”

He grinned at that, but his eyes were pulled toward my body as I went to the plum robe, bent down flirtatiously, picked it up, and threw it on. I loved seeing the elevated degree of hunger in his gaze now. He was letting himself want what he wanted. And it made me want him even more.

But we had time. Time to tease, and ease, and explore. This was our time now.

I walked toward the bathroom, glancing out the window on my way. What I saw below stopped me.

Jacopo was already up and on the deck of his boat…

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