J ames

I spend half the eleven-hour trip practically bouncing in my seat. The other half, well, I quit biting my nails when I grew out of short pants, but if there’s ever a time I was tempted, this would be it. Obviously, I’ll be over the moon to see Diana—but there’s still the question of how she’ll feel about seeing me. I’ve put her through a lot, and I can only imagine what she thought of the news coverage .

Still, most of what I feel is excitement. Especially as the plane drops through the thin cloud cover, revealing Italy spread out below. The guy in front of me even reprimands me for setting his seat vibrating with my constant foot-tapping .

I can’t help it. Everything I want—everything I’ve been working for—is about to be mine .

Diana’s waiting for me at the airport. Waiting with outstretched arms, and a smile as big as mine. Never been so happy to see anyone in my life. I barely have time to drop my suitcase before she’s in my arms .

“Idiot—idiot—what the hell were you thinking?” She tweaks my ear, hard enough to hurt. “Thought I wouldn’t find out what you did ?”

Guess she wasn’t impressed with my little sting operation. “Ssh—ssh, I’m fine. Look at me. All good.” But Diana can’t look at me: she’s squeezing me too tight .

“Where’d you even come up with a plan like that ?”

“In the dumb part of my brain .”

“I’ll say!” Finally she lets me go. “Hey! We need you alive. Healthy. For a long time to come .”

I summon up my best cocksure grin. “Gonna live forever .”

“If I have anything to say about it .”

She pulls me in for another hug, soft and sweet this time .

Truth is, I feel bad. I wouldn’t have done what I did if I’d had any idea it wasn’t just scopolamine in that coffee. Little of that, well, it’ll make you dozy, a bit foggy, but not much else. Add ketamine, morphine—they’re not even sure what else yet—Who knows ?

I had plenty of time to think about that on the trip. I should’ve known. The stuff took effect way too fast, made me way too woozy. If I’d taken a minute, really worked it out ...

“Listen, I—“ I take Diana’s hands. I want her to hear this, believe it. “I’ve been doing a lot of that lately. Not thinking. And I can’t blame it all on the drugs. A lot of it, well... I’ve been immature. Irresponsible. That’s gonna change, starting now. And if you ever see me falling back into old habits — “

“I’ll swat you on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper.” She’s still smiling, but there’s a grim note to her voice .

I lean in and kiss her on the nose. “I’ll deserve it .”

The drive to San Gimignano’s undeniably picturesque, but I find myself staring at Diana instead. She’s got this determined look on her face, this fine little line between her brows. Same expression she had the first time we met .

She catches me staring. “Something on my face ?”

“Nah, just... You’re driving me around again .”

“What are you talking about? I always drive you around .”

“That’s ‘cause you like driving.” I stretch out as far as I can, till all my joints pop. Feels good, after the long flight. “Hey. You should go back to school, though .”

“What? Where’d that come from ?”

“Just something else I was thinking about on the way over.” I look away, across the hills and fields. “Your life’s been nothing but making me look good for months. Time you had something for yourself .”

“I’ll have a kid pretty soon.” She laughs. “Not sure there’ll be time for much else after that .”

“Maybe not for the first few months, but I mean, I’ll be there too.” I can’t take her hand, so I settle for her knee. “You won’t be alone .”

“Won’t you be busy cleaning up Tom’s mess ?”

“Actually, no.” That, now—That won’t be a problem. “What with all the, uh, unethical conduct going on behind the scenes, I’m bringing in a whole new team to go over our results. No one from the original group gets within a mile of that trial, including me. Only way to keep the stink off .”

Traffic slows as we nose our way up the hill. “So what you’re saying is—it might actually be all right? If they don’t find anything hinky ?”

“They won’t.” Of that I’m sure. “Couple of those guys were crooked as hell, but there wouldn’t have been anything for them to cash in on, if the trial itself had been compromised.” There are goats all over the street, getting in the way of traffic. We’ll be here forever at this rate. I gesture at the parking lot up ahead. “Hey—why not park here? Walk the rest of the way ?”

“You up for it ?”

“I swear—I really am fine.” I pretty much am: had some tremors that didn’t feel like they were going to quit, those first couple of days, but I haven’t noticed any since I got on the plane. And that annoying, low-grade nausea finally wore off this morning. All in all, I feel great .

Diana pulls over and we start to walk. It’s a nice day for it: warm, but not oppressive, with a slight breeze. It’s tourists as far as the eye can see, all the way to the town center, but we’re in our own little world. Really does feel like a second honeymoon—and without that pall of anxiety lowering over us .

A man with a horse passes us, coming the other way. “Think that’s the same guy from last time ?”

Diana checks over her shoulder. “Same horse’s ass, anyway .”

I laugh, but there’s a charge in the air. Making our way up the hill feels like foreplay. Without the gearshift between us, we can’t keep our hands to ourselves. Feels like we could crawl up inside one another, and still not be close enough .

“Teach you to run off like that, take your life in your hands....” Her lips brush my ear. Her hand—Oh, God. It’s in my pocket. Creeping up on dangerous ground .

“If I swear I’ll be good from now on, you think you could go easy ?”

Her nails dig into my thigh. Guess that’s a no .

“You’re lucky I don’t drag you into that alley, let the whole town watch you get what’s coming .”

Wish I’d never tipped my hand on my exhibitionist streak. My cock’s swelling uncomfortably in my pants—feels like everyone can see, and goddamn if that’s not making it worse. “Well, uh... This is a medieval town. Maybe they’re still into all that: public floggings, the stocks—What else did they do ?”

Diana reaches up to loosen my tie. “Depends how bad you’d been .”

“The worst.” Shouldn’t encourage her, but ....

“Parade you naked down the high street ....”

I gasp, and try to button my jacket strategically over my crotch. Diana bats my hand away .

“Then they’d display you in the square, with the symbol of your shame around your neck.” She gives me a long, considering look. “Or, in your case, a dunce cap on your head. Idiot .”

“Your idiot .”

“Don’t try to sweeten me up .”

“Mm... You’re already sweet.” I feel giddy, reckless. She’s got me by the scruff of the neck now, marching me up the hill to an unknown fate .

Inside our hotel room, she doesn’t waste a second. I let her push me on the bed with my shoes still on. Her knees are on my jacket, trapping me against the mattress .

“Open your mouth.” She pushes a grape between my lips. I bite down, closing my eyes as the juice runs down my throat. It’s sweet, ripe—blissful, after my long, dry journey .

“Taking care of me, even now ....”

She slaps my face lightly, forehand and backhand. “Ssh. Be good .”

I open my mouth for another grape. My cock’s practically bursting out of my pants. The way she’s teasing me, sweeping her thumb over my lips, bending low to let her body graze mine, is setting me on fire .

“Look at you....” She drags her fingers down my neck, takes hold of my collar, and tugs. The top button comes undone; the next two snap off. “Never make me miss this again .”

“Wouldn’t dream of it .”

The rest of my buttons give way, one by one, and she leans down to shower me with kisses, all the way down, popping my fly as she goes. I groan as she jerks my pants and underwear down, the harsh pull of fabric almost too much. I’m already on the edge, bunching the coverlet in my fists to keep some semblance of control .

And then she’s swallowing me whole. It’s all I can do not to buck into her mouth, abandon myself to the rush of sensation. Her fist curls around the base of my cock, holding me back from my climax. It’s the strangest feeling—my body shudders and stiffens, as burst after burst of ecstasy chases through me, but instead of hitting its peak and tapering off, it only rolls back a little, leaving me panting for air .

Feels like she’s devouring me, making me part of her. Her nails dig into my thigh as she takes me down her throat. I can feel her tongue undulating against my shaft, like she’s trying to touch me everywhere at once, flood me with so much pleasure I can’t think of anything else .

I bite my own knuckles, wanting to stave off the inevitable. But the pain only has me writhing, losing myself. She holds me down as I arch my back. Any will I might’ve had to break free is swept away on the tide of her fury .

Just when I’m hovering on the edge again, she pulls off. I hiss at the sudden chill of the breeze on my cock. Diana laughs, lips glistening, hair floating wild around her shoulders .

“Get up .”

I blink. Not sure I can .

She pinches my thigh hard. “C’mon. You haven’t even started making it up to me .”

Oh, I’m planning on spending the rest of my life doing that. But for now.... “Mm... Gimme a sec.” I push myself up on my elbows .

She grabs me by the tie, dragging me the rest of the way to my knees. “Get behind me and fuck me like you mean it .”

I don’t need a second invitation, especially when she stretches out on hands and knees, skirt rucked up, panties already pushed to one side. She must’ve been playing with herself while she was getting me ready. The thought has my cock throbbing and swelling as I push in hard .

I give it to her like she wants it, deep and punishing, one hand on her hip, the other in her hair, yanking her head back till she’s practically staring at the ceiling. “This what you’ve been missing ?”

“Yes!” She pushes back against me, begging for more .

I bite my lip to hold it together as I pound her hard. She’s making more noise than usual, and so am I. This place might be old, with the thick stone walls of a bygone age, but I’m sure the whole building can hear us, not to mention half the street. The windows are open, curtains billowing in the breeze .

I slap her on the ass, and she yelps even louder. “Again !”

Thought I’d be the one getting the spanking, but this is good too. I pull all the way out and slam in again, over and over, punctuating each stroke with a resounding smack .

I can feel it when her orgasm takes her, and I press my advantage, sliding my hand around to massage her clit, sending her over the edge again and again. I don’t let myself follow till she’s quivering in my arms, panting my name .

She mutters something that sounds a lot like “I forgive you” after, as I spoon her in a patch of buttery early-evening sun .

“What was that ?”

“I forgive you. So much .”

I run my fingers through her hair. “Knew you would .”

“Don’t get smug, though. You ever do anything like that again....” She yawns and wriggles, taking the sting out of whatever she was going to say next .

“I won’t .”

“I mean it. I’ll drag you to that tattoo parlor you always laugh at, the one with the clown on the door, and get that duncecap stamped right on your ass .”

“Not a bad idea.” I pull her a little closer, making sure to pin her arms in front of her. “Maybe I’ll do that myself. What do you think? Little ink make me into a badass ?”

Diana’s attempt to elbow me falls flat. I chuckle into the soft hairs at the nape of her neck .

The sun starts to dip under the horizon, casting everything in shades of orange and pink. Feels right, being here at the end of the day, cuddled up tight as can be. There’ll be a lot to figure out when we get home, but for now, I’d say we’ve earned this .