And I don’t want it to end.
I’m also having a hell of a job maintaining my determination that she should lose her virginity to someone else. I’ve come close to giving in a couple of times, when she’s had her hand wrapped around my cock and all I can think about is how amazing it’d feel to be inside her hot, slick pussy. But I don’t want the responsibility of being her first. No matter what she thinks, there’s would always be an emotional attachment between us because of it, and I don’t want that.
It could make things way too fucking complicated.
Speaking of complicated, my father calls me that night in a good mood to congratulate me on the successful job I’m doing of rehabilitating my image. Apparently there’s been a lot of interest in his social realm about Juno and I, which surprises me, but then I suppose we’ll be viewed as a pretty unlikely couple, and people are always curious about that sort of thing.
I’m actually really regretting the tip-offs I’ve been giving to the paparazzi now, after getting to know Juno better. I’m hoping she won’t see any of the pictures that my father tells me have come out in the Italian press. Luckily, she seems completely uninterested in reading gossip pieces or looking at social media so she should miss them.
But I’m worried about any possible backlash when she gets home. I’ll feel like shit if the press starts to hound her there. So we’ll need to be more low key from here on in. No more communication with the paparazzi. The only trouble with that is there’s a new gallery opening in the city tomorrow night, which I’d really like to attend, and they have a famous, well-respected Italian artist exhibiting so the place will be crawling with press.
But there’s no way I’m going to sneak out and leave Juno at home. I don’t want to lie to her about where I’ll be. I’ve already done enough skirting around the truth as it is.
I’m walking towards the kitchen to fetch myself a stiff drink when I hear the sound of Juno’s voice coming from her bedroom. She’s left the door slightly ajar and through the small gap I can see her sitting up against the headboard, talking to someone on her mobile.
I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop, and begin to walk away, but the sound of my name stops me in my tracks.
‘…having a really amazing time. He’s not at all what I expected.’
There’s a small pause and I take a couple of quiet steps back to her door and peer through the crack again to see a frown cross her face.
‘Maya, don’t say things like that! You clearly don’t know a thing about him if that’s all you’ve got to contribute.’
There’s another pause, where she taps her fingers restlessly against the bedspread while she listens to her sister’s response.
‘Actually, he’s an incredibly astute, sensitive and generous person. And oh my God, Maya, is the guy talented!’
Another pause and a frown.
‘As a sculptor!’ She shakes her head at what she clearly feels is her sister’s crass misunderstanding.
‘He’s shown me some of his work and it’s knockout. I mean, the man is incredibly talented. He should be exhibiting it. I know people would fall over themselves to buy his pieces.’
A warm feeling is rising through me, beginning deep in my belly and rushing up through my chest. Her praise is like a drug, rushing through my veins, making me high on happiness.
I listen in for another minute, unable to tear myself away now, but when the talk appears to turn to a discussion about their father I slowly back away and go to fix myself that drink.
Though strangely, when I get to the kitchen, I realise I don’t need it any more.
* * *
Saturday night rolls around and I leave it to the last minute to tell Juno about the gallery opening.
‘You don’t have to come,’ I say, trying to make it sound as if I don’t care either way.
‘No, no, I’d love to go with you,’ she says, her eyes shining. ‘Hey, you should take some videos of your sculptures so you can show them to people there. There might be some useful contacts you can tap up. My father always says he makes his most important deals outside of the boardroom. It’s probably the same for artists. You need to meet socially with the people who could support and promote you. Dazzle them with that Ricci charm.’
She gives me that heart-melting, warm smile of hers.
I try to smile back but my facial muscles seem to be frozen. The idea of failing in front of her makes me feel sick.
‘No. I’m not ready to show them to anyone yet,’ I say gruffly.
She looks a little shocked at the forcefulness of my tone.
‘I’ll do it soon. Just not tonight,’ I add to save her feelings.
‘Sure. Okay,’ she says, giving me what feels like a pitying smile.