Blood in the Golden Palace

Chapter 12: Penny-3

Penny’s heart sunk and she sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest. She ran her hands along the mattress, trying to feel some semblance of warmth left behind. Angelo’s side of the bed wasn’t just empty, it was cold. He must have been gone for at least an hour. Bundling up her knees to her chest, she turned to get out of bed, when yet another surprise sat in wait for her. Wheeled carts of fruit, bagels, coffee, orange juice, scrambled eggs and bacon had been strategically placed on her side of the bed. In the center of the main cart sat a small note, penned in Angelo’s hand:

Be back soon.

Penny smiled sourly. At least Angelo had the courtesy to leave her a note, though she would have preferred the real thing. First thing’s first, however: she desperately needed a shower. After a long soak, she walked out and spotted Angelo’s undershirt tossed aside from the night before. Penny hesitated, clutching her towel to her chest. After a short deliberation, she finished drying herself off and slipped it on. His cologne was still prevalent in the fabric, and she inhaled it deeply.

Comfortable and clean, she returned to bed and dove in on her complimentary buffet. The eggs were cold, but everything else was damn near perfect. It wasn’t until she started eating that she realized just how hungry she was. Last night definitely took a lot out of her.

She was just starting in on a toasted everything bagel when the door to the hotel room opened. In walked Angelo, wearing sweaty work-out clothes and humming along with his AirPods. Spotting Penny on the bed, he removed his earbuds. “Good morning, beautiful.” He leaned over and kissed Penny tenderly. “I thought you were going to sleep all day. When did you wake up?”

“Just now.”

“How’s the food?”

“It’s great, thank you.” Penny pat the bed next to her.

“In a minute,” Angelo promised. “Let me look presentable first.” He headed into the bathroom, and soon after, the shower head hissed to life. Steam tumbled out from the door, and Penny, still riding high off the afterglow, tip-toed her way to the frame. Inside, she saw Angelo, stripped to his boxers, shaving before his shower. He glanced over, razor dragging down his neck. “Am I going to have to get used to you spying on me?”

“Depends,” said Penny. “Are you going to tell me to stop?”

Angelo finished his shave and slapped his face with product. The strong, enticing smell filled the bathroom, tempting Penny closer. A towel over his shoulder, Angelo intercepted Penny by her hips, and the two kissed again. Penny didn’t know if she would ever get tired of those kisses. “I’m all gross,” he said.

“So?”

“So it looks like you already had your shower. You don’t want to get all nasty again, do you?”

“Maybe I do.”

Angelo undid the wet braid in her hair, letting it fall down her back in dark sections. “Who would have guessed that the little mouse had such an appetite?” Taking her bare thighs, he hoisted Penny onto the counter and sat her there. He attacked her neck with a flurry of kisses and nips, eliciting giggles. However, he soon pulled away to get into the shower. “This won’t take long. Promise.” Ditching his boxers, he stepped into the tub and closed the curtain. The flash of that Roma wheel tattoo was the last thing Penny saw.

Penny lingered in the bathroom, her legs leisurely kicking off the side of the counter. “Do you want me to leave?” she asked.

“You can stay,” said Angelo. “That’s fine.”

“Hm.” Penny hopped to the floor and hovered by the side of the tub. She fiddled with the edge of the curtain, sneaking a peak at the man behind it. Angelo caught her quickly and flicked water in her direction. Penny laughed and closed it back up, sitting on the floor instead. “Most guys wouldn’t pass up fooling around in the shower.”

“Well most guys don’t go straight from the elliptical to wild, slippery sex.”

“Mmm.” Penny ran her fingers through her wet hair. “That’s too bad.”

“Oh?”

“Mm-hm. I was totally planning on giving you a blowjob in there.”

Angelo hesitated. A hand reached out, and he pulled back the curtain. Excited, Penny ditched his shirt and snuck into the tub. They kissed under the steady stream of hot water. As promised, Penny got to her knees and started sucking. It was only half erect at the moment, ergo, she had her work cut out for her. Fortunately, she didn’t have to work for long. Angelo was hard as a rock after a few choice tugs, and he pet her hair, encouraging her to continue. With the water cascading down them both like ribbons, Penny lost herself in the act, and took pride in how Angelo gasped or tightened his hand. Penny’s jaw was just starting to get sore when she heard Angelo fumble above her.

“I—I’m cumm—ah—”

A salty, hot gush hit the back of her throat. Penny slowed her sucks to drain it out, and once it was sucked dry, she spat into the drain. Angelo helped her to her feet, and she rinsed out her mouth under the shower. “f**k me,” Angelo sighed. “I swear to God I’ve never had head like that. Who the f**k taught you that thing with your tongue?”

But Penny only grinned. “I figured it out in high school. I used to tie cherry stems in my mouth.”

“No s**t?”

Penny held out her tongue and twisted it, showing off her oral dexterity. “I haven’t had a lot of boyfriends, but they seemed to like it, so…”

“Jesus Christ. You’re the perfect woman.”

Penny snorted and tugged on Angelo’s n****e ring playfully. “Shut up.” Their shower fun times lasted for the next half hour, and before long, Penny was up against the tiled wall, moaning loudly with Angelo’s hand between her legs.

Once they were completely done, they dried off and retired to the bed. Penny wrapped herself in the fluffy, complimentary bathrobe while Angelo started dressing. “I don’t know how long I’ll be today. We’ve got the meeting at five and then who-knows-what-else after.”

“With the other family, right?”

“Right.”

Penny rolled onto her stomach, laying her chin on her folded arms. “At least I have plenty of new books.” She hesitated, watching him slip into a pair of slacks. “So what happens now?”

“Hmm?” Angelo turned. “I just told you. I’ve got a meeting.”

“No, I mean…” She hesitated. “What happens about…this?”

“This?” He and Penny shared an extended look, and Angelo pieced it together quickly. “Oh. This.” He put his hands on his hips, thoughtfully. “Well you liked it, didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” said Penny. “A lot.”

“And you’d want to keep it up, right?”

“Sure. But…” She hesitated. “s*x is one thing. Are we…I don’t know, together?”

Angelo looked decidedly uncomfortable. “This really isn’t the time—”

“When then? Tonight? Tomorrow?” Penny sat up, clutching her ankles. “Listen, I know that this isn’t normal. But I like you. I do. And I think you like me too. Not just physically.”

“Penny…”

“Am I wrong?”

Angelo ran his fingers through his hair. “No, but…” He shook his head. “It’s not that simple. A relationship isn’t really what I need right now.” Penny’s heart sank, and she lowered her eyes. All those wonderful twists in her gut subsided, and all that was left in their place was empty voids. The bed depressed as Angelo knelt down in front of her. “It has nothing to do with you. My life, Penny, it’s dangerous. The last thing I want is for you to get involved in it.”

“But I’m already here.”

“Yes,” Angelo agreed. “But not forever. Just until everything settles down. Then you’re free to go and do whatever you want.”

Penny had to stop herself from making the obvious implication of what she wanted. “So what then? We just jump into bed when we feel like it and that’s all?”

“What’s so wrong about that?” Angelo asked.

“I want to know that I’m more than that to you. I’m more than just someone you have to babysit, or someone you get to…you know. Otherwise it feels like I’m being used because it’s convenient.” Angelo stalled. Penny questioned if she was slowly taking off a pair of rose colored glasses. A sudden bubble of anxiety washed over Penny. That ever present fear of Angelo resurfaced, despite it having been buried for the better part of the last month. The longer he was silent, the sharper that fear rose, until all of the sudden, Penny was confronted with the very real possibility of suffering a horrifying fate for speaking out of turn.

“I—I’m sorry.” Angelo looked up, and Penny saw confusion in his eyes. “I don’t know what I…I won’t ask for anything else. I’m sorry. You’ve been so nice to me, I don’t want you to be mad—”

“Mad? Penny, I’m not mad.”

“No, you are. You’re mad, I can tell. You’re upset because now things are complicated and I shouldn’t have ever—”

“Hey, hey…” Angelo’s voice was soft, and it was only then that Penny realized how emotional she was getting. When Angelo tenderly took her hands, Penny had to choke down her panic in massive gulps to prevent the dam from breaking. “Take a deep breath. It’s all right.” Penny did so. Once she had calmed down, Angelo laid his hand tenderly on her cheek.

“Look, I won’t lie to you,” he said. “Us getting into any kind of relationship is…It’s not a great idea. It’s not because of anything you’ve done. And you asking about it doesn’t upset me. I wish things were less complicated, I really do. But involving you in my life on any level beyond purely physical is…It puts you in a lot of danger. There are people out there who don’t like me. Or my family. By proxy, if I have a girlfriend, she gets thrown into the crosshairs with the rest of us.”

“Then why involve me at all?” Penny’s lip trembled. “I’m just so confused about how I should feel.” She saw Angelo’s throat clench and swallow.

“I’m sorry. I really, really am.” He pushed a lock of hair from Penny’s face. “Would you rather I stay away?”

“No.” In a move far too quick for her brain to keep up, Penny held his arm, as if afraid he would pull back at any moment. “No I…I don’t.”

“Then let’s look at it this way.” Angelo scooted forward, sitting comfortably in front of her. “We’re making the best out of a bad situation. I wasn’t kidding when I said I liked your company. Let me be with you, at least in that way. I’ll never do or say anything to hurt you. And I’ll always be open and honest. No matter what.” Angelo leaned forward, their noses just half an inch shy from one another. “Let me just…make you happy for a time.”

Penny closed her eyes. Torn by so many different emotions, she could think of nothing to do except fall into his arms. Angelo held her close, his deep breathing calming her frazzled nerves. Was this really so bad? She had him, there, holding her as tenderly as any boyfriend would. Maybe they could never be official, and after all, once she was turned loose it wouldn’t matter. If she was ever turned loose…

Perhaps it was better to take her scraps with a smile than deny it all and go hungry.

Eventually, Angelo pulled away and stood, taking his pressed shirt from its hanger. “I’ll try to make it back at a reasonable hour,” he said. “Maybe we can have some more fun. Or…maybe we can…I don’t know…” His words died, and his hands lingered on his coat.

Penny slid from the bed. With the chaos in her heart quelled for now, she approached him, drawing his attention away from the closet. “How about we stay in? We could…watch a movie?”