Dinner couldn’t be over with fast enough. I nodded like it was my job, listening to Sophia talk about her trip to Europe while she and Paige split a bottle of white wine. Half of Sophia’s words fell on deaf ears though.

There was only room for one thing in my mind. The woman sitting next to me. The woman who was now free to be mine.

It was all too good to be true. My father got back to me just hours after speaking with his consiglieri and scouting for possible ties still involving Paige. Thankfully, things checked out just fine. It didn’t look like she was promised to anyone else in the wake of Moretti’s passing.

And on top of it all she now had a property in Italy. Would she and Sophia go and live there?

If so, I would follow. Assuming Paige wanted me to. I would live anywhere she wanted to, take on any lifestyle she could dream of.

And, amazingly, the thought didn’t scare me at all.

As soon as we finished the meal I dropped a hint about it having been a long day. The girls picked up on it and let me escort them out to the street.

Paige lingered at the hailed cab, staying back on the sidewalk near me.

Sophia, one hand on the yellow door, looked back at us. For a moment, no one spoke, then Sophia’s eyes locked onto mine.

“You’re not too bad,” she said.

I chuckled. “Thanks. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.” She looked over at her sister and winked. “Call me tomorrow, Paige.”

She waved a peace sign at us and climbed into the taxi.

“Well,” I slowly said, turning to Paige. “Was that what I think it was? A Sophia style blessing?”

“Something like that,” she grinned.

The car couldn’t get to my place soon enough.

Our place. That was really the way I thought of it now. The penthouse hadn’t become a home till Paige was there, then it became my favorite place to be. Signs of her still peppered it. Her magazines in the sitting room. Her toothbrush and shampoo in the bathroom. Her high heels, often at the front door, where she kicked them off as soon as she got home. The idea of having all those things around didn’t scare me at all.

We held hands for part of the drive home. By the time we hit 40^th street, Paige was in my lap, our mouths were pressed together, tongues dueling, and the sweet taste of strawberries and dry white wine settling in my mouth.

I clutched the fabric of her dress, itching to rip it right off of her. Out of a little respect to the driver, I managed to hold it together.

The ride up the elevator became a blur. I couldn’t get my hands off Paige. There were so many things about her I’d been afraid to even think about before, for fear of losing her and not being able to handle it.

It was the little details. The coconut smell of her hair. The dip in her lower back. The fleck of gold in her right eye. Things I’d noticed but never let myself dwell on.

We slipped into the penthouse. Crossing the threshold and kicking the door closed behind me, I lifted Paige up and carried her the rest of the way to my bedroom.

Setting her down on the bed, I got busy spreading her thighs. Her panties were still in my pocket, a little memento from earlier. I brought them out and wiggled them in front of her, then tossed them to the floor before nestling my face between her legs.

Paige sighed and grabbed my hair as I licked and sucked her tender clit. She shook and reached down to grab my hair as she came hard and fast.

With a groan, she collapsed fully onto the bed. I licked a path up her inner thigh. Having had enough of the dress, I reached behind her to unzip it and peel it off. Her bra met the same fate.

Her breasts gleamed in the soft lighting, nipples perky, pink, and waiting for me to touch however I wanted to. Stepping back, I undressed fully then lunged forward.

Paige shrieked as I landed on top of her and grabbed a breast in one hand. I sucked passionately, alternating pressures. My free hand went down to slip between her folds and into her wet channel.

Her walls tightened around my fingers. My dick twitched, ready and craving to have its turn.

I had to take my time though. This couldn’t be over too soon. It was the first night I knew for sure that Paige would really be mine. I needed to make a memory worth cherishing.

“Close your eyes,” I told her.

She obeyed immediately. I growled in pleasure, loving how quick she was to do as I commanded.

Climbing from bed, I went to the closet. What I looked for hung in the corner, a braided whip with a tasseled end.

Paige lay on the bed, not a muscle having moved.

“Keep them closed,” I growled.

She licked her lips, her breathing growing quicker and betraying her excitement.

Standing over her, I ran the tasseled end down her stomach and across her clit. A little sound escaped her mouth. The tassel kept it up, exploring the inside of Paige’s thighs and the length of her torso.

I teased her nipples by swatting them lightly. Paige made the sound that told me I gave her the right mix of pain and pleasure.

Reaching down, I tweaked a nipple and climbed on top of her, my legs straddling her thighs.

Slap. The tassel hit her clit. Paige yelled out, the anguished cry turning into an ecstatic moan. Her eyes popped open and connected with mine.

Instead of chastising her I held the eye contact, the presence of her gaze giving me a new thrill. Dropping the whip, I situated myself in the right spot and took hold of the base of my dick.

She stretched eagerly, her depths engulfing and welcoming me back. Sweet ecstasy filled me up. Paige’s mouth opened into a silent O as I moved fluidly inside of her.

Deeper and deeper I pushed, finding her sweet spot and giving it all of my attention. Paige came, crying out as her muscles clenched around me. I grabbed her breasts and squeezed them, riding my pleasure as I let go.

We stayed where we were, Paige on her back and me straddling her. We both panted, catching our breaths. I wiped some sweat off my brow with my forearm. I knew I should climb off of her but I couldn’t bring it in myself to move.

“I wish I had gotten you a better birthday present,” I found myself saying.

Surprise etched across her face. “Are you talking about the whip or the snow globe?”

I smirked. “The snow globe.”

She reached up and ran her soft palms over my chest. One of her fingers hooked the little bit of hair on my chest and I sighed in relaxation.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s the perfect present. Every time I look at it I’ll remember that weekend.”

“Good.”

“Then what’s the problem?” She wriggled slightly under me and I climbed off of her and joined her on the bed.

She snuggled up on top of my arm and pressed her head into my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head.

“So?” She pressed. “What’s the problem? What did you really want to give me?”

A ring.

As soon as I had the thought I questioned where it came from. A ring? Really? An engagement ring?

No. That was preposterous. It was terrifying.

...Right?

Maybe it would have been a year ago. Or even a month ago. But today it wasn’t. The thought of giving Paige a ring, asking her to be mine for the rest of my life, seemed just right.

One day. I would do it one day.

I ran my fingers through the ends of her hair. “My love,” I whispered. “I want to give you my love.”

Paige wiggled from my arms and turned onto her stomach. Propping herself up on her forearms, she stared at me.

“Angelo,” she gasped.

“You are mine, Paige,” I interrupted, before she could say anything else.

I pressed my hand against her cheek. She grabbed hold of it and kissed it.

“Good,” she grinned. “Glad to hear it.”