The tease was nice, but she wanted fast and furious. She wrapped her legs around his waist and prompted a change in speed.
He gave her an evil grin, straightened up, and pinned her knees to her chest. With the new angle, he hit deep inside her, pressing an already tender button. Orgasm built again, this time a slow burn that felt like it would never reach the finish line. Her muscles clenched around him involuntarily, drawing him in, then forcing him out.
“Jesus,passerotta. I can’t...” He let go of her legs and rested his palms on either side of her head again. His pounding reached a frantic pace, punctuated by grunts of pleasure. She felt like she was drowning in his dark eyes.
The rapid-fire thrusts yanked out her orgasm, and she gripped his arms, digging her nails into his biceps as ecstasy rolled over her. She recognized the familiar sound of his climax, and he seemed to slide into a different pace when he came, driving hard, then giving a few short thrusts, before slowing to a stop.
He knelt for a moment, staring in to her eyes, his panting matching hers. She wasn’t sure what broke the spell, but he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, before falling next to her on the mattress. They lay side by side, her gaze frozen on the ceiling. He sought out her hand, and she squeezed back, gripping for everything the gesture represented.
“You really are amazing,passerotta.” His voice was gravel.
She had to swallow several times, to unstick her throat. “What does that mean? It sounds pretty when you say it, but you could probably read me a shopping list in Italian, and I’d think it was pretty.” Now that she mentioned it, she should have him do that.
“It meanssparrow. It’s a term of endearment.”
She liked the sound of that. “I’m a little bird?”
“Yes.” He shifted from the mattress, helped her sit, moved up to the pillows, and pulled her down to rest her head on his chest.
“Why?” she asked.
“Why do I call you that? It seems fitting.” He trailed his fingers along her arm. “This is how I see it. The dragon is power, strength, and good luck. The phoenix burns bright, burns out, and rises from the ashes. But a sparrow is spry and intelligent. Fast and quick. Rising above it all and soaring to heights the dragon and phoenix can’t imagine.”
“Why did you phrase it that way?” It felt odd to be placed in the middle of something he and Justin had shared, like matching yin yang symbols. She didn’t mind.
Antonio had to know he was doing it, didn’t he? “It seemed appropriate.” Apparently he did.
Silence settled between them. It felt right, as it always did. She’d never been more comfortable not saying anything when there was someone else in the room. The comment about the dragon and phoenix sparked a thought she didn’t want to have, though. It brought Justin back into the bedroom. She had to know something, and it might spoil the mood, but she suspected it would be okay. “It still hurts you to think about him.”
Antonio’s hand froze, and then he resumed tracing light circles along her skin. “It does. But that doesn’t diminish how I feel about you. I meant it earlier. I love you.”
“I don’t doubt it.” She didn’t think she’d get tired of hearing it, either.
“You miss him too. Even though you talk to him almost every day.”
Which reminded her—this meant she’d missed Justin’s call. He would wait. “If he showed up tomorrow, out of the blue, and said he was wrong—he does love you—what would you do? Who would you choose?” She wanted to slap herself as soon as the question was out. Way to spoil the best, cuddliest-ever post-coital conversation.
“Why do I have to choose?” he asked.
She sat up and stared at him, as the question jolted through her. The words didn’t make sense, but they did. “What?”
“Why do I have to choose? If you could have us both, would you pick?”
“I don’t think I could. You each speak to a different part of me.”
“Exactly.” He tugged her back down. “It doesn’t matter, though. You’re here, he’s not, and it’s all hypothetical. The most important thing is I’m not giving you up, and you said you’d always be here.”
“I will.” She nestled closer, meaning the words more than anything.