Lilly doesn’t know I am about to surprise her with a trip away for New Years. I love the cottage, it’s great, but, honestly, if it wasn’t for Lilly’s company, I probably would have packed up after 48 hours and scurried home to Rome with my tail between my legs. Apparently, here in Scotland, they celebrate Hogmanay, it’s their new year’s eve. I spoke to Wallace when we went down to the pub for dinner the other night and he suggested we go to Edinburgh for it, if I could get in anywhere. It has the best fireworks, with the castle in the background. I’m not sure if I heard right because he’s very hard to understand. I still don’t believe he is speaking English.

“Hey, why do you have a creepy smile on your face?” Lilly looks up at me from her place by the fire where she likes to read her book.

“I have a surprise for you.” She raises her eyebrows in shock.

“Really?” Her eyes drift down to my dick, he twitches under her gaze.

“Eyes up here,” I tease. “You can thank him later, but you have to pack, because I’m taking you away.”

“Away!” she says, raising her voice.

“Yes, you and me are going away to somewhere special for tonight’s fireworks.” I can see she wants to argue but is genuinely shocked. “Hurry up.” I push her off.

Eventually she is ready, I grab her bag and throw it into my rental 4WD. I help her into the car.

“Are you ready?” She gives me a side eye then breaks out in a huge smile.

“Yes. I am so excited.” She claps her hands together, which makes me laugh.

“Good.”

Off we go to Edinburgh, which is nearly three hours. Lilly gives me a sightseeing tour as we go. We stop at some quaint little villages on the way, to look around. As much as I told her we were in a hurry, she’s having way too much fun and, as long as we make it there before midnight I’m fine, however long it takes us. The level of comfort I feel around her, I’ve never had with anyone I’ve dated before. Are we dating? Maybe? Maybe not. Honestly, I think of her as more than just a friends with benefits kind of situation, but it’s not even been two weeks since we met, it’s hardly relationship status worthy. But, the feelings I do have for her feel strong, or am I hoping they are after the disaster I left Rome in? Am I forcing my issues onto her? Does she even like me like that? I know she likes the orgasms I give her but maybe she isn’t ready to date again, maybe I’m just a convenient cock. I shake my head, no, she wouldn’t want to be sharing this experience with me if I was just a quick fuck.

“What’s going on in that big old head of yours? You seem very quiet all of a sudden?” I turn and look at Lilly, her brown hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, she has no makeup on and her cheeks are pink from the frigid wind outside.

“I like you.” Just blurt it out there, Romeo.

“I like you, too.” She bounces in the seat beside me.

“Do you think?” My hands grip the steering wheel, am I seriously going to ask her for more. I can’t offer her more. What we have is just made for Glencoe, the cottage, nothing more. My family will never accept her. One she is not Italian, but she is fluent in our language, and two, she is not of the right social breeding. Right, ‘cause the right social breeding didn’t just humiliate me in public. Maybe I need to give someone like Lilly a chance, because she seems to have my best interests at heart. “Do you think, that maybe you would… like to keep seeing me after I leave Glencoe?” It’s out there, no taking it back. Lilly goes quiet beside me. I turn and look at her, worried I said too much, but she just looks like she’s in shock.

“You want to date me?” she asks, pressing her finger into her chest.

“Si.” I nod. Maybe my question got lost in translation, but I’m sure I asked correctly.

“But, look at you.” I frown, what does that mean.

“You could have anyone.” Huh, why would I want anyone, when I could have her? “Don’t you normally date supermodels or something?” This is true but does she not see she is more beautiful than any of those models, they are just cardboard cutouts, they aren’t real, they are just for show.

“Lilly, I think you are beautiful.” Reaching my hand out to her, she takes it, a perfect blush tints her creamy skin.

“You live in Italy.” I know all this, and it would take a little bit of logistics for us to work, but I think we could.

“You could come to Italy. I know people, I could easily get you a job as a doctor somewhere.”

“But, I like saving the underdogs.”

“I know. I know many charities that would love to have you come on board, plus, you already speak Italian.”

“Don’t you think that is a little fast?” I’m surprised she is hesitating, but then I realize Lilly is a doctor, she spoke about always being the logical one compared to her free-spirited sister.

“Maybe, but I’ve had so much fun with you, and I know I want more. I’d like to see where it could take us.” She looks up at me from the side, a small smile across her lips.

“I think I’d like that,” she says shyly.

“You would?” My brows raise in surprise.

“Yeah, why not. Being cautious hasn’t gotten me anywhere, why not give being crazy a chance.” This makes me laugh, and my heart blooms inside my chest. I pull over to the side of the road, and down a little country path, I pull her into my lap and kiss her urgently.

“I want to make you happy, Lilly. With every breath inside of me.” She kisses me passionately at my tender words. I want nothing more than to be inside of her, but these damn winter clothes are in the way. “We need to get to the hotel so I can ravage you.”

“Yes,” she pants. I kiss her one last time before gently depositing her beside me.

I booked us a luxury penthouse with views out over Edinburgh castle and the city. I also asked for discretion when we arrive. I know if I hadn’t they would have made a huge fuss and as far as Lilly is concerned, I’m just a businessman. We pull up at the back entrance, where a valet is waiting for us. I tell him we will take our own bags up. He hands me the key to the penthouse and quietly parks my car.

“Wow, this place is amazing.” Seeing the wonderment on Lilly’s face gives me great joy. She has no idea I can show her things like this. I want to take her to some of my favorite places, Monaco, New York, the Greek Islands, I want to explore the world with her through brand new eyes. I want to soak up her enthusiasm for new discoveries. My life is much more luxurious than this, I guess I want to see how she will fit into it, will she think it’s over the top or will she appreciate it?

“Oh, my God, this view.” Pressing her face up against the glass, we have almost a 360-degree view over the whole city. “We are going to be able to see all the fireworks, this is going to be spectacular.” Her excitement is vibrating through her body.

“What I see is a beautiful woman standing against a window, that I want to press her naked body against.” She turns around in shock, but that blush is back across her cheeks.

“I don’t think anyone needs to see that,” she whispers.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t share you for the world,” I tell her, pulling her face to mine and kissing her. Lilly’s fingers are through my hair, tugging at the ends, and our kiss grows frantic, as we strip off the winter layers; scarves, jumpers, t-shirts, jeans, socks all discarded onto the floor. Thankfully, the fire is on in the living room, and there is a large fur rug on the floor. I place her gently against it as I shimmy off her underwear. Lightly, I push open her legs for me, I’ve done it so many times, Lilly instinctively opens for me now, and I reward her for her eagerness with my tongue across her silky slit.

“Hhhhmmmm,” Lilly moans as her fingers find my hair again, tugging the dark strands, pulling me closer to her, and I follow her instructions, feasting on her as if I am a starving man. Showing her what life could be like with me, what I would love her like every single day.

“Yes, yes, oh, God, yes.” She arches her back as the orgasm takes over. My hands are in my pocket pulling out the condom; I know I should love her more, but I need to be inside of her, connected with her. Once I am sheathed, I enter her slowly, her legs wrapping around me. I hiss as I feel her wetness around me.

“You and me,” I whisper, pressing our foreheads together.

“You and me.” She smiles, then kisses me. We get lost in each other as I move inside of her.