Chapter Nine
(Sabrina)
It was Friday evening, and Sabrina’s stomach tensed with nerves. She stood in her bedroom in a mismatched bra and a pair of underwear, unsure what to wear. With a plaintive huff, she cast a glance at her phone and picked it up.
As if he were telepathic, a message from Cesare popped up on the screen.
Cesare: I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day. Send me your address so I can pick you up, Sabrina.
Sabrina bit her lip and called him. Cesare answered after the first ring.
“Good evening, Sabrina.” His grin could be heard from the other end of the line.
“Good evening, Cesare.” She answered with a soft smile. She looked at herself in the mirror and gave a sigh.
“How are you?” Cesare asked gently, sensing her nervousness.
Sabrina gave a shy laugh. “I’m looking forward to seeing you, but I have no idea what to wear.”
Cesare made an indulgent humming sound. “I’m glad you called me to ask. Where are you?” He inquired.
Sabrina blushed as the sound of his voice washed over her, staring at her almost naked reflection in the mirror. “I’m in my room.” She answered softly. “Looking through my closet. I’m trying things on in front of a mirror.”
Cesare was silent for a moment before answering in the same rumbling tone that had her rubbing her thighs together. “Are you making yourself pretty for me, Sabrina?”
Sabrina blushed. “Maybe.” She answered back, hazel eyes sparkling in the mirror.
“I like that.” He answered immediately. “Tell me what outfit makes you feel good.”
Sabrina bit her lip. “I’ll be honest. It’s been a while since I’ve done this.”
“Done what?” Cesare inquired.
“This. Dating stuff.” She gave a rueful laugh. “I’m not sure what to expect.”
Cesare made another humming sound. “How long?”
“None of your business.” Sabrina shot back with no small amount of sass.
Cesare chuckled. “Fair enough. I’m still waiting for you to tell me what outfit makes you feel good.”
Sabrina eyed a black cocktail dress she knew was flattering on her body and comfortable to wear. “A black cocktail dress. But it’s knee-length, and if we’re going somewhere formal, I should wear something floor-length.”
“You should wear whichever you like best.” He answered. “But I’ll be honest. I love the idea of choosing your outfit.”
Sabrina swallowed, feeling like she was at the threshold of something; some sort of quiet transfer of power. It felt vulnerable, but it was simultaneously heady, and it beckoned her further.
“I like the idea of you picking out what I wear.” She murmured, surprised at the realization. “But this is our first date, and I don’t want to rush it.” She answered carefully. “For now, I just need to know what to dress for. Is that okay?” Sabrina asked.
“Of course.” Cesare answered. “I’d like to keep it a surprise, but I can tell you we’ll be somewhere private and climate-controlled most of the time. We’ll be outside for a little bit but I want you to wear whatever makes you feel confident, baby.”
Sabrina’s breath caught at the word baby, staring in the mirror as it bounced around inside her head with other words that made her feel soft and fuzzy.
“Do you like it when I call you that?” He asked. Sabrina could hear his hunger.
“Maybe.” She whispered.
“Noted.” Cesare rumbled through the phone. “Wear your little black dress if it’s comfortable and bring a sweater just in case. We won’t be hiking, but we’ll be walking a bit. Wear comfortable shoes.”
“What about Converse?” She teased, eyeing her favorite yellow Converse sneakers peeking out from under her bed.
“I meant what I said. I want you to wear whatever makes you feel confident and comfortable. Can you do that for me, Sabrina?”
Why did his voice have to sound like molten sex?
Sabrina nodded wordlessly, then remembered he couldn’t see her. “I can do that.” She replied.
“Good girl.” He answered. “I’ll be there in forty-seven minutes.”
She looked at the phone dumbly, and hung up without another word, her head stuck on factory reset.
He had just called her a good girl. Again.
The space between her legs pulsed. She didn’t need to touch herself to know she was already wet. She pulled out the cocktail dress, deciding it didn’t matter if she didn’t own a matching set of underwear.
If Cesare wanted her to wear something special underneath, he could buy it himself.
The doorbell rang at exactly six o’clock, and Sabrina walked as calmly as she could to answer the door.
Cesare stood on her doorstep looking handsome as ever. His blue eyes darkened with desire as he looked her over. “You look beautiful, Sabrina.” He nodded approvingly.
Sabrina gave a playful twirl, her white-socked feet on the polished wood floor helping her spin like a ballerina. The black cocktail dress spun out just enough to make her feel like a princess, and her long hair swayed gently as she finished the pirouette with a pleased smile.
“You like it?” She smiled, taking a step forward as he leaned in and kissed the same cheek his lips had touched the day before.
“I do.” He nodded, breathing in her scent before pulling back with a roguish grin. “You smell amazing.”
Sabrina relaxed into the feeling of confidence and comfort that unfurled within her as he gave her his full and undivided attention.
“How do I smell?” She asked curiously.
“Like vanilla cake and homemade cannoli.” Cesare answered, continuing to take in every detail that was Sabrina.
“You don’t smell too bad yourself.” She answered, trailing a hand down the dress shirt he wore with rolled-up sleeves, tucked into trousers with a leather belt. He smelled musky and woodsy, with a hint of cedar, sandalwood, and pure male.
“Is that so?” He asked, his tone somehow smug and carefree at the same time. He kept a hand wrapped casually around her waist.
“Mmm.” Sabrina hummed. “But don’t tell anyone.” She reached up to touch his hair, lightly combing her fingers through it. “This is mine tonight.” She smiled mischievously.
He looked at her with an intensity that probably should have scared her. It didn’t, and she wondered if that was something to be worried about.
Sabrina gave a slightly nervous huff at the intensity of her own need and desire, and stepped back.
Cesare, sensing her skittishness, reached for her hand and gently pulled her back into his grip. “Hey.” He smiled, his dimple disarming her unfairly. “You’re okay. Do you trust me to take care of you, Sabrina?” He asked.
She nodded wordlessly and rewarded him with a shy smile.
“Words, baby.” He responded.
“I do.” She smiled shyly.
“Let’s go have some fun, then.” He answered, squeezing her hand. “You’re going to enjoy tonight.”
“We’ll see.” She answered with a teasing smile as she shut the door behind her.
“Sass.” He remarked teasingly.
Sabrina smiled mischievously in response. As she walked towards the car, he squeezed her hand and looked at the door with narrowed eyes. “Do you live alone?”
“I fail to see how that’s any of your business.” She retorted cheekily.
Cesare frowned. “I’m not returning you to an empty house that was unlocked all night.” He answered seriously.
“It’s fine, it’s really safe here.” Sabrina waved a hand. “Everyone knows everyone.”
Cesare shook his head. “I need to know you’re safe.”
Sabrina blinked at him owlishly for a moment. Some far-off, distant memory of her father saying something similar to her mother before they passed away, rose to the surface of her memory.
Sabrina swallowed the sudden lump in her throat as she turned wordlessly and locked the deadbolt, attempting to blink away the array of unexpected emotions welling up in the form of very inconvenient tears.
“Thank you. I just want you safe.” Cesare spoke into the sudden silence in a measured tone.
“I appreciate that.” Sabrina replied, her voice slightly hoarse. She squeezed his hand briefly. “Let’s go have some fun.” She smiled softly.
He gave her a look that spoke of awareness of things he couldn’t possibly know but somehow did, squeezing her hand back with a gentle smile.
They were driven to a small airfield in Eliot, ten minutes from Sabrina's house. They rode in the backseat of a spotless Lincoln Town Car, driven by a man named Monty who looked like he belonged on the set of The Godfather. When Sabrina arched a brow at Cesare, he shrugged. Cesare had casually introduced him as a driver, but Sabrina was 98.7% positive Monty had been a hitman at some point; if he wasn’t one currently.
She couldn’t help but wonder what else Monty did for Cesare.
When they arrived at the airfield, a small helicopter was waiting in the center of a landing pad, empty of anyone inside.
Sabrina looked at Cesare in surprise. “Wait, we’re taking a helicopter?” She asked, wide-eyed.
Cesare grinned. “Even better.” He held out a hand for Sabrina to take, squeezing it when she automatically laced her fingers through his. “I’m going to teach you how to fly one.”
Sabrina’s eyes widened in unmitigated delight as she beamed up at him, and then the helicopter. “Are you serious?!” She demanded excitedly.
“Anything you want, Sabrina.” He answered, staring at her like she was precious, like he meant what he said. “I want to teach you, show you, everything. Whatever you want.”
Sabrina found herself wondering for the first time if it was possible to have sex in a helicopter.
◆◆◆
Cesare walked her through a preflight inspection, tugging at windows and doors to ensure they were secure, and checking the integrity of the antennas, blades, and various gears and attachment points.
He guided her through checking the engine and transmission systems, before taking her into the cockpit and guiding her through the gamut of emergency items, circuit breakers, and switches to turn off.
Sabrina watched as Cesare checked pedals, parking brakes, rotor brakes, batteries, and flight equipment settings.
Her eyes were alight with delightful curiosity as he introduced her to a whole new world of experience.