Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Remi
“Wake up,” Angelo says gently, petting my hair, and I open my eyes. The bedroom has been transformed with purple and gold balloons and streamers hanging from the ceiling. “Only fitting the woman with the most joie de vivre was born on Mardi Gras. Happy birthday, Remi.”
Smiling, I give him a quick peck, the taste of his morning espresso still on his lips.
He adjusts my pillow behind me as I sit, bringing the covers around myself. “What do we have here?” I ask, eyeing the domed tray.
Angelo lifts the dome. “King cake.”
I clap my hands with excitement, which causes the covers to fall.
“Flashing already, and I haven’t even thrown beads your way.” Angelo playfully chides.
I stick my tongue out at him.
He chuckles, bestowing a pair of gold beads around my neck, but not before gently tweaking my pebbled nipples.
“Let me eat cake first,” I say, my voice husky.
He tucks a strand of my crazy bed head behind my ear. “Eat cake first, and let me eat your pussy.”
“Filthy,” I tell him, my cheeks flush. Maybe one day I’ll get used to this man’s dirty mouth.
Grabbing the knife, I decide on which piece I want, choosing a segment with purple sprinkles.
“Let’s see if I got the baby.” I take my fork and poke around my piece, and I squeal again.
“I found it!” Cutting it open, I grab the little baby figurine.
“Good luck for you,” Angelo agrees, kissing my forehead.
I take a bite. “Yum. But you have to eat a piece too; it’s a Mardi Gras birthday rule.”
“I’m not familiar with that one,” he muses.
“I just made it up.” Cutting him a piece, I notice it. “That’s weird. Why are there two babies in this cake?”
He doesn’t answer.
Moving the knife and fork around the entire cake, I find a baby in each slice.
“I may have stacked the odds in your favor,” he admits.
I burst into laughter. “Angelo Calvani, you cannot control luck.”
“I beg to differ.”
I grab a piece of cake and smash it in his face.
He wipes the powdered sugar and green sprinkles off his nose with the back of his hand, a playful glint in his eye. “The birthday girl went from having her pussy eaten to having her ass spanked.”
Angelo lunges for me, and I squeal a laugh, hopping out of bed.
“No, wait!” I cry, but he easily catches me and scoops me up and over his shoulder in one smooth motion.
“Maybe I’ll spank this ass, and then eat this ass because you’re such a bad girl.”
Would I be into that?
My pussy flutters with an enthusiastic yes .
Angelo
“What’s that noise?” Remi shouts over the buzzing of a drill as I lead her down the hall and to the sunroom.
“Nola’s getting an enclosure.” The cat bumps up against my leg and circles my ankle as I roll out the blueprints, showing Remi the architectural plans. “She’ll be able to access it from this room without someone having to leash her and take her out. I’ve read up on Savannah house?—”
I pause, catching myself. “Savannah houseguests.”
Remi giggles.
“Her breed is one that needs more mental and physical stimulation, and this enclosure will be something to help with that while keeping her safe.” As feisty as Nola is, she’s no match for the alligators that call this area home.
“The structure is open air, but with the press of a button, the roof retracts, so she can come out here, even if it’s raining.
There’s a suspension bridge; a waterfall with a shallow pool, not too deep…
but now that I think about it, I’ll add a jute escape mat just in case.
” I make a notation. “Climbing ledges. And a wheel she can run on that will dispense a treat if she reaches certain targets. And if nature calls, she can handle her business on this side of the enclosure, in the large sand box or grassy area, her choice.” I point out each feature.
“Angelo.” Tears well in Remi’s eyes.
“If you don’t like it, I can make whatever changes?—”
She rises to her tiptoes, pressing her sweet lips to mine. “I love it. Thank you.”
“What do you think, Nola? Your throne will be here.” I point to the highest perch.
She meows , and I pick her up, giving her a little scratch behind the ears that she likes.
“Nola, are you trying to steal my man?” Remi playfully eyes her cat.
My lips lift ridiculously at Remi’s possessiveness.
“Nola, do you mind if I show your human her birthday surprise?”
“There’s more?” Remi asks with wide eyes.
“Of course.”
Nola hops down, and I take Remi by the hand, leading her to the living room, with Nola following us.
Remi hurries to the large gift draped in gold paper, but gets sidetracked by the framed photo positioned on top.
“Angelo, this is so perfect,” she gushes, examining the stealth photograph I took of her playing the concert grand in the music room, with Nola perched regally on top.
She gently places the frame down, lifting the paper up and over her next gift.
“Is this—” Her hands cover her mouth before she drops them, running a finger over the faded butterfly sticker.
“Your keyboard.” Tracking it down was nothing short of a miracle, but the look on her face, I’d do it a hundred times over.
Remi hurries around to the front of the keyboard, running her fingers down the keys. She bursts into tears.
“What’s wrong?” I close the distance between us, wrapping her in my arms.
“I knew you were hellbent on making me fall in love with you.” She cries against my chest.
“You don’t have to sound so happy about it.
” I kiss her on the forehead, and she laughs through her tears.
Grabbing her chin, I angle her face so I can see her eyes.
“Don’t get any ideas about this keyboard; you won’t be playing in the streets, but I thought you might like it for sentimental reasons. ”
“And why do you assume I won’t be playing in the streets?” She looks up at me.
My thumbs swipe the tears from her eyes. “Not an assumption; call it my professional psychic opinion.” I’d love to tell her about the second part of her gift, but the grand reveal will be worth the wait.