Madison stopped mid chew. "Michelangelo painted a portrait of your dad? Seriously?" She took another gulp from her wine glass, as she processed the information. "Is it in a museum somewhere? What’s the name of the piece? Maybe I can look it up in my art history books. Oh my god, that’s amazing!"
Cory was enjoying every bite, as well as her excitement and interest in his family’s history. Shaking his head, he said, "No, it’s at Castello, my dad's home in Florence. Well, more like a castle than a home really. It sits on the River Arno. I just had a really great idea. When Kate has the baby, we’ll all go to Florence for the delivery. I’m sure Dad won’t mind if you come along. You can see everything then, at least you’d appreciate all the stuff in there. The place is like a museum. It’s way old. Would you like to go with us? It’s huge and has plenty of room."
Madison almost choked. "Go to Florence? Are you kidding me? I’d love to go! Could we go to the Ufizzi and see the statue of David? Cory, this is an art major’s dream come true!"
Cory looked at her and laughed. "The Ufizz what?"
"It's an art gallery today, but it was built by the Medici's to hold the offices of the local magistrates. There’s art there from all the Renaissance artists, and a lot of murals painted by Vasari."
Cory held up his hand. "Hey, that name sounds familiar. I heard Kate talking to Theresa once about Vasari and they were looking at this huge mural inside Castello. It was beautiful. I can’t believe someone has talent like that."
He watched as her face blossomed into more amazement. He remembered his dad talking about the first time he took Kate to Castello and her excitement at the treasures it held inside. He said it was the happiest time for him as he was looking at the world through her eyes, like seeing it for the first time. "You don’t mind flying, do you?"
Madison shrugged. "I haven't flown much, other than across country for school and when I get to go home. I don't fly home too often because it's so expensive, but I'm okay with flying."
Cory stood to help clean up the dishes. "Good, because I can’t teleport us that far. Everyone will take my dad's private jet because Kate can’t teleport being pregnant. Everyone will come with us. It’s like this huge celebration. I think we actually stay about a month, until the baby is okay. If you wash, I will dry, and I promise not to drop anything."
They worked side by side in the kitchen cleaning up. Madison's apartment didn’t have a dish washer, so everything was done by hand. They laughed and talked through the chore as the time passed quickly. Wiping her hands dry on a towel, she turned to him before leaving the kitchen. "Why don't you get another bottle of wine and join me back in the living room?"
Cory was enjoying the simple pleasure of being with her and performing these domestic chores. Opening another bottle of wine, he grabbed the two clean wine glasses and headed into the living room. Sitting down the glasses, he filled them halfway with the sweet white wine. They were down one bottle and he liked how it made him relax. Taking Maddie in his arms, he kissed her with love and passion. "Thank you, that was delicious and now, we can relax without my stomach complaining."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
She laid her head back against the sofa and closed her eyes, letting the wine relax her. She absentmindedly ran her hand up and down his thigh as he sat next to her.
Cory could feel his heart beat go up a notch, her fingers innocently sliding across his thigh. He wanted so much to be with her, be inside her, and make her his own. She had to make that choice, though, and he had to have patience. It would be another long night of kissing, caressing and then they’d sleep. It was becoming hard to resist not having her, but he was determined to wait for her to come to him on her terms. "Is there anything you want to do tonight?"
With her eyes still closed, her tummy filled, and her body relaxed, she answered, "We're doing it. I just want to stay in, if that's all right. Unless you had something planned?"
"Nothing planned at all, just want to be with my girl. That’s all I ever need." Throwing his arm around the back of the couch, he snuggled softly into her hair, close to her neck. "You smell beautiful, like bread warm from the oven."
She chuckled. "Well then, I should be hard to resist." She nestled into him, sliding her hand across his chest. She left soft kisses along his jawline. "Who doesn't love hot bread?"
Feeling her soft lips along his jaw, his hand slid into her hair and he smiled. "I love hot bread."
Letting his other hand slide across her hip, he kissed her neck, and felt the soft pulse of the blood through her veins. He didn’t want to scare her, but he couldn’t resist the feeling of her heart beating, as his lips were pressed against her delicate throat. He wanted everything about her.
Madison felt the goose bumps rise on her skin as his lips brushed her neck, and she could feel the heat of his breath. She slid her hand into his hair, pulling him close as she lay down on the sofa, and encouraged him to follow. "Lay next to me," she whispered.
Her whispered tone excited him, and he took a quick intake of breath. Trying to relax his body, he knew they’d been here before, but she always stopped. He was struggling to control himself once again, trying to shut off his feelings in anticipation of that moment when she felt things had gone too far. "Maddie..." Sliding beside her, they were tangled in each other’s arms.
She kissed him, letting her arms slide easily around his shoulders, as she felt the weight of him on top of her. His hand was on her bare thigh, as he pushed her skirt up higher. Her skin burned under his touch. She slid her tongue inside his mouth, tasting the wine on his lips. "Don't stop, Cory."
Cory didn’t think twice and didn’t give her time to change her mind. Those were the words he’d been waiting for. Her kiss told him this was the time, here and now. Her words fired his blood into overdrive. Picking her up, he carried her to the bedroom and laid her down gently on the coverlet, the pillows making a sweet nest for them.
He pulled the shirt over his head and flung it to an overstuffed chair. Kicking off his trainers, he was standing in ripped jeans that hung off his slender hips. Climbing onto the bed on his knees, he wiggled the sundress up her body, lifting it over her head and threw it carelessly aside. His lips left small kisses in a trail that began high on her neck, down her throat and onto her shoulders and breasts, his tongue making intimate, delicate swirls on her soft skin. She was small breasted, and Cory found her perfect. She wasn’t muscle bound like the female warriors, but all softness and gentle curves. He could feel her body lurch softly upwards, arching her back, as she responded to his delicate touch.
Madison let go of her reservations. She’d kept him at bay for a long time. First, it was to avoid the complications of a serious relationship, and then, it was to give herself time to adjust to this new reality, but it was never easy. She’d been attracted to him the moment she saw him. Her breath caught in her throat and she issued a small gasp as his mouth sought out her breast. She ran her hand along his lean and muscled back, relishing in the feeling of skin on skin. Her body responded to him of its own accord, her back arching to meet his mouth as it surrounded a nipple, his tongue hot and wet against her skin.