Besieged (29 page)

A man in a suit stands at the bottom of the steps, he walks over and opens my door.

"Ma’am. My name is Tom, I’ll be your flight attendant today." He offers me his arm and leads me straight up the steps into the plane. The interior is made up of cream leather sofas and pale blue blinds. There are only a handful of seats. He leads me to one of the chairs with a dark wood table in front of it.

"Miss Parker can I get you anything to drink before we take off?" He asks.

"Please call me Lilly, and water would be lovely. Thank you Tom." He nods, smiling politely at me.

The plane fires along the runway before becoming weightless in the air. I've always found something liberating in flying, watching everything of any importance disappear into little specs of inconsequential nothingness. Although the private jet thing isn’t new to me, this is the first time I’ve really enjoyed it.

I'm awoken from my deep sleep when the plane bumps roughly onto the runway at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. I'm immediately wide awake, yet calmer than I have been in days, soothed by the fact that I’m no longer a continent away from Theo, the source of my calm. This should probably concern me more than it does, but I’ve come to accept my inexplicable need for him.

By the time the plane comes to a stop I’m practically clawing to get off.

The door opens revealing a gleaming midnight blue Maserati parked just meters from the steps, but it's the man leant against it that sends my heart into a sprint. He looks un-righteously gorgeous in a tight white T-shirt and chino's, his ankles are crossed and his arms folded across his chest showing his strained biceps. His Aviators are covering his dazzling eyes, but the smile that breaks across his face when he sees me almost makes up for it. I can't help the grin that stretches ear to ear when I see him. I almost sprint down the steps toward him. He pushes away from the car to meet me at the bottom and I jump the last few steps and launch myself into his arms, wrapping my arms firmly around his neck. He lifts me off the ground spinning me around. There is no greater feeling in the world than having Theo's arms wrapped around me, they bring such a sense of peace and security it's almost scary. He places me back on the ground before grabbing my face and pressing his lips firmly to mine, I open my mouth inviting him in. He groans as his tongue touches mine.

I eventually pull away gasping. He chuckles lightly. "Miss me?"

I shrug. "Maybe a little." I can't seem to stop the huge smile on my face.

Tom descends the steps smiling warmly at both of us. "Mr Ellis." He greets Theo.

"Tom, thank you." He takes my bag from Tom before turning and putting it in the car.

I look the car over again. Much like the man driving it, it is undoubtedly beautiful, yet even at a stand-still it oozes power and superiority. "You like it?" Theo asks watching be stare at the car.

"It's beautiful, but how did you manage to get one of these? They're not even out until next month." I turn to see him shut his gaping mouth and flash me an adoring smile.

"You know that?" I nod once in response. "I love that you know that." He steps forward and brushes his lips across my neck.

"So. How?" I incline my head toward the car.

He smiles smugly. "The same way I got an Aston Martin One-77 two months before it was released."

"Money?" It's more of a statement.

"No, it takes more than money...Friends. Very good friends." He doesn't elaborate before taking a step toward the car. "Here." He turns and throws something at me, I catch it and open my hand to see a fob with a little silver trident on it. My face breaks into a huge smile again.

"You're letting me drive?" I ask dubiously.

He shrugs with a wry smile. "Guess so."  I look around at the long stretch of empty runway, between us and the terminal.

"Sweeeet." I rip open the door and slide into the seat. I inhale the luxurious scent of the bright red leather seats and interior.

Theo's laughing when he slides into the seat next to me. "You are so adorable." He shakes his head. I scowl, resenting that description. Keen to prove him wrong I press the enormous red button on the dashboard and the engine roars to life. I press the accelerator and the car snarls, vibrating around me.

I almost groan. "Oh God, I think I’m having a moment." I sigh.

His smiles seductively. "Adorable." Although this time there’s an edge to the way he says it. I focus on the computer in the centre console and start adjusting the suspension and ABS settings.

"What are you doing?" He frowns at me.

I fix him with my stare and smile deviously, lifting one eyebrow. "I prefer a firmer... more ballsy ride." Before he can respond I slam my foot on the accelerator and the launch control kicks in, firing the car forward. From nought to sixty in four seconds to be exact.

"Fuck Lilly." Theo grabs the door handle. I laugh, pure elation at the long missed adrenaline coursing through my veins. The digital display glows an angry red as the numbers speed by to hit one hundred and fifty before the end of the runway. I break at the end and Theo lets out the breath he's been holding. The road off the runway to the exit gate is a sharp right. I smile to myself before dropping a gear and flicking the steering wheel around, dabbing the throttle, drip feeding the power to the wheels. The car glides effortlessly in a four wheel drift around the tight bend. I revel in the pure joy of being let lose at the wheel of a five hundred break horse power monster. I slow at the gate and Theo hands me passes for the guard.

"Evening madam." He says in a thick Italian accent. His amused smile suggests he may have just seen my less then mature driving. "You like the Italian cars?"

"Oh, very much." I wink at him and he seems to stammer before looking away retreating. The gate opens and I pull the car smoothly out of the airport.

"Which way?" I ask. When I get no response I turn to look at Theo who is smirking at me, his body twisted toward me. "What?" I frown.

"Number one, where the hell did you learn to drive like that?!" His raised eyebrows reiterate his shock.

"I'll have you know that I’ve been driving track cars since I was seventeen." I smirk back at him. “My brother is a mechanic. I know my way around a car.”

"And secondly...I think you just gave that guard about a month’s worth of wank bank material with the look you just gave him." He winks to let me know he's joking.

I roll my eyes. "Hardly...although the car maybe." I lovingly stroke the steering wheel.

He smiles. "There is something incredibly hot about you sitting behind that wheel."

"Yeah?" I smile seductively and slowly run my hand up his thigh. When I reach his crotch I can feel the rock hard boner he now has.

"Oh yeah." He smirks.

I laugh. "I think we should hurry and get to the hotel."

"Turn left here." I can hear the smile in his voice as I focus on the road in front of me.

After a twenty minute drive away from the city we arrive at our destination it's not what I’m expecting, the electric gates swing open revealing a pale yellow house. It's an understated sort of grandeur. The small gravel driveway is adorned with well-maintained flower beds blooming with roses. The doorway is framed by two marble pillars. Once inside the hallway is small, but the marble floors sparkle under the sunlight streaming through the windows. There is a set of stairs off the hallway and an enormous two floor window runs the length of them.

Theo leads me through to the open living room and kitchen, which is surprisingly modern in contrast to the outside of the house. At the end of the space are a set of French doors, he takes my hand and pulls me through them. I instantly gasp at the view. The countryside scene is beautiful, rolling hills and vineyards stretch for miles, and in the distance I can make out the city.

There’s a small pool at the back of the house and a perfectly kempt lawn stretching beyond. There are a few orange trees and their fresh scent fills the air.

Theo's warm arms wrap around my waist, pulling my back into his chest. "Do you like it?" His voice is low and rough making me tremble

"I love it. Is it yours?" I ask.

"The company owns it technically." His breath is on my neck, making it hard to actually focus on his words.

"But you're never here." I counter.

He shrugs. "It gets about a week of use each month." Oddly I found this sad, that such a beautiful home was mostly empty. A house like this should be loved and lived in.

"But it's beautiful." I whisper.

He laughs. "You haven't even seen the bedroom yet." That's all it takes for all my earlier base instincts to slam back into me full force. He drops his arms and takes my hand leading me back through the house. Theo points out various rooms as we go, but I don't see any of them. I'm focused on the muscles of his back that are visible through his tight T-shirt. "And this is the bedroom..." I attack him. There really is no other way to describe it. Initially he doesn't react to my barrage, but quickly his lips are just as frantic as mine. His tongue teases mine, and his teeth grate along my bottom lip. I grab the hem of his shirt and pull it over his head, running my fingers over the deep ridges of muscle that cover his body. My stomach tightens in anticipation.

Theo makes quick work of discarding my Jeans and tank top. His warm hands run over my bare skin leaving me with goose bumps. I rip his belt off and fumble with the button and then zip of his chinos. When we're both down to underwear he pushes me down on the bed and leaves a burning trail of kisses down my body.

When he reaches the lace edge of my thong he slowly drags it down my legs. My body is trembling with need and anticipation.

He kisses his way back up my inner thigh. Murmuring between kisses. "God...missed you...so much." Then his tongue caresses me and I can't focus on anything, I wildly grab his hair and grind my hips, but he presses one arm across my hips, stilling me.

Quicker than I would have thought possible; I'm clawing at the sheets and screaming his name as the orgasm tears through me. He chuckles as he brings his body back over mine. I'm still a dishevelled gasping mess.

"I love it when you get wild." He smiles as he kisses my neck.

"Fuck." I gasp.

He laughs before he slams into me, burying himself inside me. "Oh god, you're so damn tight Lilly." He groans as he pulls back and thrusts forward again. "So fucking good." He hisses between his teeth.

He grabs my left ankle, pulling it over his shoulder, he kisses down my calf as he continues his unyielding assault. "I'm close sugar. Come with me." He breathes.

I nod once to indicate that I’m close, he pulls my other ankle over his shoulder and leans over me, going so deep. I can feel my insides start to tremble, my head rolls back and I cry out as I come.

Theo pounds into me and then with a growl he stiffens, before collapsing on top of me.

Chapter 19 – Theo

We've been invited to the Opera this evening by a business acquaintance of mine. I figured Lilly would want to see some of Rome.

I shower and dress and wait down stairs for her. I don't know what women find to do, but it seems to take them forever to get ready to go anywhere. Lilly could go out in a bin bag and she'd still capture the undivided attention of everyone. She just has that kind of magnetic draw, something about her that seduces and captivates you without her ever ushering a word. 

I turn as she descends the stairs and my jaw almost hits the floor, okay that dress is definitely better than a bin bag. The silk material of the floor length gown is a deep steel grey. The halter neck is made of thick encrusted jewel straps that meet together in the centre of her chest before dropping between her breasts and splitting out to either side of her ribs. Another strap runs around her waist, leaving a small triangular patch of skin visible. Her hair is half pinned up and soft waves cascade down her back. When my eyes finally meet hers she smiles brightly. Her red painted lips and shining emerald eyes a stark contrast to the silver and grey pallet of her dress.

"Wow Lilly, that dress...you...you look stunning." I stumble over my words.

She looks down. "I love it, thank you for getting it." I had Cat ship the dress yesterday, luckily it arrived this morning on a special delivery.

"You have Cat to thank for that one." I meet her surprised gaze.

"Cat made this?" She gasps. I nod. "Wow, she is really talented." She looks down seeming to reassess the garment.

We pull up outside the Teatro dell'Opera. Lilly begged me to drive again, and of course I couldn't deny her. It's a seemingly big event tonight. The outside is packed with security guards and various photographers. Elegantly clad women and men in tuxedo's are making their way inside.

Lilly steps out of the car and hands the keys to a valet, as I move around the front of the car I catch the end of her sentence. "...even one scratch and I’ll hunt you down and cut your balls off." She stares at the boy with one eyebrow raised. I feel sorry for the guy who withers under her stare but is making a huge effort not to look at her buoyant chest. I grab her elbow chuckling to myself at how possessive she is of the car. She flicks one final glare over her shoulder as he pulls away.

"My my, you're feisty tonight." I try to supress my smile.

"Yeah well you didn't see his face light up when I handed him the keys." She grumbles.

I laugh. "Wow, I wish you were that possessive over me." I mock.

She lightly shoves my shoulder. "You're capable of looking after yourself. She can't." She pouts.

"She?" I snort.

"Of course, she is far to beautiful and perfect..." She sighs. Yes, she actually just sighed, over a car! "....to be anything but a she." She cocks an eyebrow daring an argument.

I roll my eyes, guiding her toward the doors.

After standing for what felt like hours of photos and speaking to what seemed like a never ending stream of business related people, we eventually make it to the private box that Alberto, my main man in the Rome office arranged for us. We're seated in plush velvet covered chairs. The opera house is staggering in its size. The walls are lined with private boxes, four high that run in a semi-circle facing the stage. There is then tiered seating and finally ground seating. Everything about the place screams of grandeur, from the gold painted pillars adorning each box, to the elaborate art work depicted on the high ceiling and the thick red carpet that lines all of the walkways.