Page 22 of Lorenzo & Lily

She jostled in her seat as the plane touched down with a mild bump. “You will. See you tonight for dinner?”

“If not before.” He kissed her – God, would he ever tire of tasting her lips? – deep and long, one hand gripping her back, the other in her soft, luscious hair. He pulled back just enough so that his lips brushed hers as he spoke. “I miss you already.”

She smiled. “You’ve become quite romantic since our wedding, Mr. Santoro.”

He pressed her full breasts and curves tighter against him. “What I’ve become is more possessive, Mrs. Santoro.” A hard kiss. “It’s difficult for me to share you and your smiles with the world, and a challenge to know I must sacrifice my time with you for duty.” Another kiss. “I ache during those times without you.” Another kiss. “I dream of you, day and night. God, Rebecca.”

Their breathing was heavy and short, and her voice was shaky. “S-Stop. We can’t do this now, not when we need to deplane. I’ll probably need to freshen up. Why don’t I do that while you, er, calm down.”

She unbuckled her belt and stood, but he pulled her into his lap, her fitted knee-length skirt preventing her from fully straddling his lap.

She tried to push up again. “Alex.”

He shook his head. “Getting up before the pilot turns off the fasten seatbelt sign? I’m afraid I can’t let you disobey a law such as that.”

She giggled. “Alex, we’re stopped. This isn’t a traditional flight. Let me up.”

“Kiss me again and I might.”

“Kissing you almost lead to other things barely a minute ago.”

He smiled wickedly up at her. “Don’t I know it? Kiss me anyway, wife.”

She leaned down, her arms stretching around his neck. “Your wish is my command, husband.” It was a few minutes later that the tell-tale beep sounded in the cabin and they parted.

“Your Highnesses, whenever you’re ready, we’ll disembark,” the pilot announced over the intercom.

Rebecca huffed a laugh, then peered over her shoulder towards the front of the plane. “I think they know we were making out.”

“We should have gone straight to the bedroom when we boarded. We’ll remember that for next time.”

She lightly slapped his shoulder. “And how would that look?”

“Like we can’t keep our hands off each other, which, my darling wife, is fairly obvious to everyone in Valleria, and likely the world.”

She pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “You may have a point.”

He laughed and pulled her close, kissed her forehead, then set her on her feet. “Freshen up in the first bedroom, and I’ll take the second.” She nodded and walked off.

He may not have done a good job of allaying her fears, but she’d be going to her appointment more lighthearted than before; that was something. He only wished he could do more.

Hopefully, he’d be more successful helping Lorenzo.

* * *

John, Lily’s supervisor, appeared in her doorway. “Cecilia, I’d like to see you in my office, please.” He promptly turned away and walked towards his office, his combover flapping slightly as he moved.

Lily sighed and followed him down the hall from her own office. Tucked away in the bowels of the hotel, neither office had any windows, but both were functional. Lily didn’t mind; she’d been lucky to get the position. Years of planning society parties had come in handy when applying for a position as an event planner. True, she had a degree in art history, but it would be of little use to her here.

“Sit down, Cecilia.”

Lily sat carefully while John adjusted himself in his chair and linked his hands over his heavy girth.

“Now then, how long have you been with us? Three years?”

A prickle of unease stung her skin. “Three and a half,” she corrected.

“Yes, well, you’ve done a decent job. Clients seem to like you. You work a good nine hours most days, except for when you leave early to pick up your child, though I can’t remand you for that. Not officially, anyway.” He guffawed at his own feeble joke.

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