Bella Mafia

Chapter 17

I'm sure I sounded like such a simpleton, getting excited like that over Vincent's plane but I just couldn't help it and I just couldn't seem to care if it looked or sounded bad.  I.didn't.care.

He didn't seem to mind it either because he acted just as excited to show me as I was to see it all and I'd be lying if I said that him coming up behind me and putting his arms around me didn't do something for me, it did.  

Shortly after the tour, the captains came over the speaker announcing we were ready to take off.  I gave Vincent a huge grin as we buckled ourselves into the luxurious leather bound seats.  The padding was thick and comfortable and the leather was as soft as butter.  I could definitely get used to this.

Once in the air and being given the all clear by the flight staff, our flight attendant came around to take our order for the first meal of the day, a late lunch.

To my surprise they had a selection of Thai food, so I got my favorite, chicken in a spicy peanut sauce with carrots and broccoli, served over jasmine rice.  I thought I'd died and gone to heaven!

I watched Vincent as we talked about his family some and my family some more and it was ironic how we'd both came from similar families, yet mine and his were like day and night.

"My mom loves the holidays" Vincent continued at my bequest.  "She's not happy unless we have at least twenty to thirty people over for Thanksgiving and she insists on doing all the cooking.  I am always amazed, when it's over, how she managed to do it all."

"She does all the cooking as well?" I questioned.  "Si, she won't let anyone else in that kitchen unless they are bringing the food out to the table or doing something she asked.  She's funny like that and if by some small miracle she does let you cook, you know you have made it" he chuckled.

I pushed my food around my plate, an action that did not go unnoticed by Vin.  "What's the matter, tesoro?" he asked, wiping his mouth and laying his napkin across his plate.

I placed my fork down next to my plate and leaned back.  "I envy you" I said quietly.  He cocked his head and looked confused.  "Why?" was his response.  Sighing, I moved so that I was facing him more and with my right leg tucked under I was almost touching his leg.

"Because you come from a true family.  One that actually cares about its members, what they are feeling, what they are going through and it's not all fluff or for someone else's benefit.

I remember Christmas as a little kid and it was my favorite holiday but as I got older and saw how it made everyone so materialistic and out for number one, I loathed it from then on.  Thanksgiving, we never once sat down at the table much less my mom fixing a meal for the family.

I don't even think she's ever boiled water and that's sad.  Anyway, I digress.  When nona and I started spending good quality time together, I begged her to teach me to cook and it was some of the best times I'd ever had.

We made our own tradition of getting together from then on and for the last six years it's just been us and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.  I'm totally convinced that I am who I am because of her and it most certainly was not because of my parents."

I let everything I shared with him sink in.  I wasn't trying to get him to feel sorry for me, I just wanted him to understand where I was coming from.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting your family, Vincent.  From everything you've told me, we are going to get along great and I really hope that your sister and I can become the best of friends" I ended with a smile.

I watched Vincent take his leg off his knee and gently pat his lap.  Wow!  He wanted me on his lap, so without hesitation I got up and placed myself gently onto him and what surprised me the most was it didn't feel awkward.  I felt like I was where I was supposed to be.

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I laid my head on his shoulder, neither of us saying anything because we didn't have to.  Our actions spoke loud and clear.

After staying in this position for quite a while, Vincent said "If you would like to go and rest a bit you are more than welcome to do that.  I have a couple of face time conference calls to attend to and then we can talk after that if you would like."

I thought about it for a moment, only because this was a huge step I was about to take, but I dove right in.  "What I would like is, when you are finished, would you join me, please?  I really love talking to you and I would like to do some more if you're willing?" I kind of ended my statement as a question.

Hell I didn't know what I was doing, I was just going off my gut and common sense.  Vincent Siranni was only the second man I'd ever been involved with and it's not like I could just go and read a book about how to do this sort of thing.

Vincent placed his hand behind my neck, his fingers twisting up in my hair and kissed me.  It was a damn good kiss, the kind that you see the men give the women in the old Hollywood movies.  He left me breathless.

"I would love to join you" he murmured against my lips, his breath hot against my skin.  I just nodded.  I couldn't string two words together at this point, so instead of making a fool of myself, I just nodded.

When I removed myself from his lap, I realized how lonely I felt, that connection,  the physical one from me being in his lap, was gone and I came to quickly notice that I was becoming accustomed to his touch and missed it when it was not there.

"I'll see you in a bit, baby" he said kissing me once more and then he walked towards the other end of the plane to where his office area was.  Sighing, I headed in the opposite direction to that amazing bedroom and couldn't wait to change into something more comfortable and at this stage I didn't think I would have a problem sleeping.

As soon as I stepped into the room it felt cooler and I wondered if Vincent kept it that way for himself.  Shrugging, I picked up my suitcase, put it on the bed and opened it, looking for my pink tank shirt and black boxers.

I kicked off my shoes, then pulled off my socks, stuck them inside the shoes and placed them out of the way.  Next to come off were my jeans.  I folded those carefully and laid them in the chair next to the dresser.  Finally my jacket and shirt, they went where my jeans did.

I felt better already, being in my sleep clothes, it's just who I am.  I chose comfort over style any day of the week and I don't care who thinks what of it either.

I ran my hand along the rich fabric of the comforter before pulling it back and then I laid the top sheet back as well, made a pit stop in the bathroom and climbed into bed.  It wasn't long before my eyes closed and I was out.