Fulfillment(123)
I picked up my gin and swallowed, giving him an appraising wink over the rim.
***
When we landed in Rome, the Eternal City, we were met on the tarmac by a limousine and driver. The transfer to Opulenza Della città took less than half an hour. It was cold and raining, being winter in this part of the world, but when looking out the window at the enchanting ancient city, I felt the rain added to its character.
When we pulled up to the Opulenza Della città, we were greeted by the valet who stood outside a cream-coloured, historically beautiful looking building, no taller than ten stories high. It was so different from City Towers.
As we stepped into the lobby, it felt like I was walking into a grand ballroom from a fairy tale. The chequered marble flooring caught my eye first, but it was the curtains hanging exquisitely from the floor-to-ceiling windows together with the large crystal chandeliers that had me speechless. Oh my God! This place is truly breathtaking. I’d stopped in my tracks, with my mouth open, taking in my surroundings, when I felt the gentle grip and pull of Bryce’s hand in mine.
“Do you like it?” he asked, clearly boasting.
“Like it? I’m awed, it’s simply stunning,” I answered, wide eyed.
“You’re simply stunning, my love. This is just a building.”
I removed my gaze from the large Renaissance painting hanging on the wall to meet his stare. “Just a building? If you weren’t being so terribly sexy and romantic right now, I’d try and slap you. This is not ‘just a building’. Give yourself more credit.”
A tall dark-haired, exotically beautiful man interrupted us. “Excuse me, Signor Clark. Benvenuto, it is so nice to see you again,” he said with a thick accent and a charming smile.
“Buon Giorno, Antonio. Yes, it has been a while. I’d like you to meet Alexis.”
Being innocently uncultured, I stuck out my hand to shake his in greeting.
He chuckled and pulled me closer, kissing both sides of my cheeks. “Bella, Alexis. It is my pleasure.”
Bryce raised his eyebrows then hugged me to him.
Noticing Bryce’s statement of claim, Antonio politely took a step back. “Signor Clark. Your suite is ready for you.”
“Grazie, Antonio.”
Bryce placed his hand at the small of my back and led me toward the elevator.
“He was very friendly,” I said teasingly.
“He’s supposed to be. Just not with you, and not in front of me.”
Bryce swiped his card through the security pad at the entrance to the suite door, which was situated on the top floor.
He pushed the door open after the click sounded. “After you, my love.”
I beamed and stepped through the door, being hit straight away with mustard and terracotta hues, gold fixtures and fittings, big ornate mirrors and replica stone columns. It was very...well...Roman.
The suite had a lounge with a stone textured fire place which was lit and already cozy and inviting. On the floor in front of the fireplace was a beautifully patterned rug, and atop it was a Victorian-styled deep buttoned chaise lounge. As I continued to walk through the suite, I took in its opulence, the master bedroom being no exception. It was huge and followed the hues throughout the rest of the suite, except the palette in the master bedroom had a subtle mustard shade which complimented an elegant king sized bed backed with glorious thick golden drapes that hung from a pelmet and fanned out like a triangle, framing the bed.
A knock at the door pulled me out of my mesmerised state. I walked back into the lounge area of the suite to see Bryce greet a bellhop delivering our luggage and an attendant pushing a trolley containing a bottle of wine and a cloche. He politely thanked them both and closed the door behind them.
“Don’t you tip your staff here?” I asked, as he set the cloche and bottle of wine on the table next to the chaise lounge.
“No, not in Italy, but I do take note of all my staff and their demeanour, and I make sure they are commended appropriately before I leave.”
I stepped up to him, placing my hands on his shoulders. “You are a very generous employer. I can vouch for that.”
“Mmmm,” he groaned, running his hands underneath my heavy coat and pushing it off my shoulders. I did the same for him and removed his suit jacket, both of us tossing them onto the chair not too far from where we were standing. I reached up, grabbed the nape of his neck and pulled his lips to mine, lips that I could never get enough of, plump, warm and sensationally talented at pleasing whatever they touched.
His hands found the zip at the top of my black Burberry shift dress, it falling to the floor once the zip met its end. I stepped out of it, now standing in my black underwear, garter, stockings, and my Louboutin heeled boots.