Chapter 11 #2
There it is. There’s that joy I’ve been seeking. It’s small, but it’s there. I smile at that.
Picnicking on the beach was fun. I especially loved watching Romeo eat his meal, licking his fingers, enjoying every crumb.
I’ve been miserable for so long that I forgot what it was like to enjoy simple things, like trying new flavors or swimming for the first time.
Things I took for granted, I got to experience again with fresh eyes because of Romeo.
After showering, covering our bruises with makeup, and getting dressed, we stop at Westfield Century City to shop.
I hold his hand and drag him into Bonobos for some clothes.
We pick out short-sleeve button-ups, a long-sleeve button-up, a couple of pairs of jeans, a pair of tan chinos, and a pair of black chinos.
We also grab some underwear, socks, and plain T-shirts.
It’s not very expensive, but you can get a lot of bang for your buck.
In another store, we grab some shorts, graphic Ts, and a couple of hoodies.
He also needs a suitcase to keep all his new things in, so we get one of those too.
Romeo kept complaining about how much money I’m spending, but it’s practically his money now anyway, not that he has any clue. Instead, I brush off his concerns with a shrug and a kiss.
Our last stop is a shop where I pick out a navy-blue herringbone suit that’s more athletic and fitted. He should have at least one suit. For a tie, I choose a deep purple with silver dots. Last, I get him fitted for a pair of dress shoes.
“Why do I have to have something so fancy? I’m going to ruin it, Julien,” he says, standing in front of the three-way mirror, wearing the suit. He looks good in anything, but I like him better in casual clothes. He’s right, it’s too fancy for him, but he should still have at least one suit.
“I doubt that, but you’ll need a suit for where I’m taking you out for dinner tomorrow night.”
He spins around and cranes his head back to look at his backside. “It’s weirdly comfortable. I didn’t expect that.”
“Good. I want you to be comfortable.”
He smiles at me, but he still hides his teeth, and a pink dusts his cheeks. His reaction right there makes my day. It shows his happiness. The blushing is more of a confirmation that he doesn’t believe he should be happy than a sign of shyness.
“Let’s get you out of that, and we’ll go set you up with an account while the banks are still open. They close in an hour, so we should probably hurry.”
I stand from where I’m sitting in the fitting room and walk over to him. Grabbing his hand, I lift his arm and give him a little spin before I dip him. “But first, a kiss.”
Opening a bank account went off without a hitch. At least he had an ID and a social security card to open one, even if they aren’t under his real name. This is perfect for when I eventually hand everything over to him. Now, his money is safe, and no one else, other than me, can get to it.
Because we’re having sex tonight, Romeo wants to eat at the hotel and have something light. I agreed as long as he promised to gorge himself tomorrow night.
I ordered two plates of branzino with a lemon sauce. Romeo only eats half of it, along with all of his salad. I also ordered us a couple of bottles of sauvignon blanc. So what if I’m underage? I have a fake ID if they do card, but they don’t ask.
After dinner, I take a quick shower first, then Romeo goes in next to prep.
I put on the complimentary bathrobe and sit outside, sipping my wine while I scroll through my phone. Still, no one has reached out, not even on my socials. In fact, I use this time to delete all my social media accounts. Fuck it. What’s the point?
I shut my phone down and look out at the dark night and the water.
I’m trying not to be nervous. It’s not like I’m inexperienced with sex.
I’ve had fucking tons of it. But I want to do it right for Romeo.
He deserves pleasure too, not only a quick fuck in the ass.
Do the men he’s with even let him come? Do they care?
Probably not. Maybe he doesn’t even want to get off.
Still, my gut turns and twists. I haven’t felt like this since I lost my virginity to fucking Cherry.
It’s something I wish I’d never given to her.
It hadn’t mattered at the time. Like, who the fuck cares about virginity?
I don’t know why I even care. Probably because it’s a milestone and one that people don’t usually forget, whether it was bad or good.
The glass door to the patio opens, and Romeo comes out wearing a matching bathrobe. His hair falls to his shoulders, still wet. My stomach dips again at seeing him.
“I’m ready,” he says.
“Sit first. Relax and have a glass of wine. Tonight is about your enjoyment, too, not just mine.”
Romeo opens his mouth to argue, but then closes it when he sits on my lap. I hand him a glass, and he takes a tentative sip before his eyes go wide and he smiles. “This is really good. I’ve never had wine before.”
“Then we’ll get more. Anything you want, Romeo.”
He curls into me, careful not to spill his wine, and says, “This seems too good to be true sometimes. I feel like I’m going to wake up back in my room before my handler comes in and—”
I press a finger to his lips. “Shh, this is very much real, and he’s never going to touch you again. That’s a promise. No, that’s a fucking vow.”