Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
We cuddled for a while, and I asked, “Do you think we can go to San Francisco sometime soon? I was renting a room by the week, and I’m only paid up through this weekend. I’d like to get my stuff instead of paying for another week, and I also want to see about getting your watch back. I know you said it didn’t matter that much, but it does to me.”
“Sure. We can go today if you want. I’ll ask Dante if there’s room in the plane he chartered to take the family back, and if not it’ll be easy enough to buy us a pair of tickets on a commercial flight.”
I grinned and asked, “Don’t you want to handcuff me to a car door and drive back?” That felt like such a long time ago—another lifetime.
Adriano smiled at me and said, “Next time I handcuff you, it’ll be when we’re both naked in bed and you’re begging me to do that to you.” Now there was a good thought.
We lingered in our makeshift bed a while longer, before reluctantly admitting it was time to get up. After we went inside and took turns in the bathroom, we found everyone gathered in the living room with coffee and pastries. I was glad to see Romy sharing a laugh with Gianni and Mike. Last night seemed to have gone a long way toward making him feel like he, too, was part of the family.
About half an hour later, he told us, “I should go, because I picked up a shift at work and need to get ready.” Pete, who was also an honorary Dombruso by now, decided he should go, too. After they said their goodbyes to the rest of the family, we walked them out.
Romy gave Adriano a hug and said, “I’m glad you talked me into joining you last night. This was pretty incredible.”
“Thanks for giving them a chance.” When they let go of each other, Adriano added, “Jack and I are heading to San Francisco later today. We’re moving in together, and we decided we’re going to split our time between here and there. We’ll only be gone a few days this time, and if you or Mom need anything—”
“We’ll be fine, and I’m so happy for you two.” He gave me a hug and said, “Text me soon, Jack, and take care of my brother for me.”
I told him, “You know I will.”
After breakfast, we went with the family to their vacation rental and packed up all of our things. Then we borrowed one of the SUVs and headed to Adriano’s house in the desert.
Getting naked to take a shower turned into a blow job, then a quick, hard fuck with me bent over the bathroom sink. It was our first time with privacy in a week, and we’d both finally recovered from our injuries, so it was frantic and urgent and neither of us lasted long. There’d be plenty of time for a lot more later on, but for now it was all about that much-needed release.
We showered together, and as we toweled off afterwards I asked, “What are your plans while we’re in San Francisco?”
“I want to meet the rest of the family, including my nieces and nephews. I’ve been collecting a few gifts for them this past week, mostly online, but I also had one of my employees go out and find me some stuff. It’s going to be fun being an uncle.”
I asked, “Speaking of your employees, what’s going to happen with them now that you’re shutting down your business?”
“I messaged them last night with an update and told them I’m paying them all six months’ salary as severance.”
“That’s really generous of you.”
He shrugged and said, “It was the right thing to do.”
We joked and jostled for position in front of the mirror as we both went through our grooming routine. Then, when I turned to go get dressed, he caught my hand.
I hadn’t rebandaged the wound on my arm yet. It looked a bit rough at the moment, and it was definitely going to scar. He touched my arm gently and looked at me with so much emotion in his eyes, and I said, “Don’t even think about feeling guilty.”
“I can’t help it. You got that scar saving me, and—”
“And I’d do it all over again, a thousand times,” I said. “You’d do the same for me, too.”
He drew me into his arms and kissed my forehead before saying, “Of course I would. I’d do anything for you.”
I looked up at him and asked, “Even traveling to Kansas to meet my mom and my best friend?”
A smile spread across his face. “I’d be honored.”
“Good. I already called Ma a couple of days ago and told her all about you, and she’s dying to meet you.”