The streets of Manhattan came to life as New Yorkers busied themselves with outside activities on this sun-filled Saturday summer morning. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and Tony and Angela were in love and consumed with their new romance.
After their couples' message, they checked out of The Plaza Hotel and spent the day in the city taking in the sights and enjoying the anonymity the big city provided them. Lost in the midst of a million people in the Big Apple, Tony and Angela cozied together on an outside table at a local French Bistro for lunch, strolled through Central Park, hand in hand, capturing tender kisses and warm embraces as they made their way around The Reservoir, cuddled together under an old Oak tree watching the city children at play and shared a Gelato as they reminisced of their first evening together. Leaning against the massive stump of the century old oak tree with Angela laying between his legs, her head leaned back against his shoulder, his arms wrapped her torso, Tony caressed her cheek with his,
"I don't think I have ever been this happy," he gushed. "Thank you!" He met the side of her head with a soft kiss.
"Oh Tony, thank you," Angela turned to face him, "This has been absolutely a dream come true. Actually, better than a dream because I never dreamt I could be this happy. What a perfect day this has been." She leaned in and captured his lips with hers.
Covering her lips with soft kisses, Tony breath, "What do you say we go back home, I cook us up a special dinner, maybe a little Sinatra, perhaps a movie," "The Way We Were," Angela interjected. Smiling, "uh yes, The Way We Were, our favorite," Tony quivered. "And then what," Angela inquired seductively. "And then maybe," Tony wrapped his arms around her and brought her into a deep passionate kiss. "I think I like the sound of that," she replied breathlessly as they broke free for air.
Rising from the base of the tree stump, Tony extended his hand to Angela to help her up, scooping her up into his arms as he pulled her swiftly off the grass into another tight embrace, "I love you Angela Bower," he whispered into her ear. "And I love you Anthony Morton Micelli," she teased. "Ay-oh, watch it with that Morton stuff," he laughed. "I'll watch you," she smirked, leaning in for a peak on his lips.
The familiar ride home was altered this time as Angela and Tony held hands across the console through the back New England roads that led from New York to Connecticut, shared tender kisses along the country side and sang along to love songs that played on the radio.
Arriving home just past 4 p.m. Tony quickly tended to their overnight bags and formal attire that needed to be dry cleaned while Angela checked the machine in hopes for a message from Jonathan or Mona.
"Any messages," Tony inquired? "No nothing, I hope everything is okay." Angela replied with concern. "I'm sure everything is fine," Tony reassured her. "Jonathan is out in the woods somewhere, it's not as if there is a telephone available at the corner tent pitch," he laughed.
"Ha ha, very funny, Sam hasn't called either." She ribbed him. "Now that's not like her!" Suddenly concerned. "Oh, I'm sure she's fine also," Angela consoled, "She's probably just enjoying her time with Bonnie and not concerned about us old fuddy duddies."
"Ay, oh, who are you calling an old fuddy duddy? I don't believe there was anything fuddy or duddy about me last night," he quipped. "No my darling, there was absolutely nothing old, fuddy or duddy about you last night, in fact, I would have to say that you are in GREAT physical shape for a man your age," she replied seductively. "Oh ya, well you're not so bad yourself for a woman of your maturity and fantastic fitness." Walking over to her, wrapping his arms around her from the back as he leaned in and nuzzled her neck. "Oh Mr. Micelli, you sure do know how to charm a lady," she purred.
"All the better I guess," Tony returned to the previous topic, "This is our time and we're not going to worry about our children," he smirked kissing her cheek.
"I'm going to go start dinner," he exclaimed, releasing his arms from around her, "Before it's too late and I get distracted," turning towards the kitchen. "I'm going to go freshen up," Angela replied heading towards the staircase. "Want to forgo dinner and join me instead," she purred. "Don't tempt me," he winked. "Dinner won't cook itself and I might need some energy later tonight." He smirked. While Angela busied herself freshening up, Tony prepared her favorite, Linguine alle Vongole, set a cozy table for two by the fireplace, popped open a bottle of red wine and set a low playing mix of Sinatra and Bennett on the CD player as the glow of the candles illuminated the romantic setting of the living room.
Descending the staircase in a tight fitting, high cut black dress that showcased her mile-long legs and accentuated her bare back, Tony let out a loud wolf whistle as he caught sight of her.
"Marone a mi," he exclaimed, "You look gorgeous," as he extended his hand to help her down the last two steps. "And you look quite dapper," she replied as she met his lips with a sweet kiss.
"Glass of wine?" He offered
"I would love one, it smells divine. Is that Linguine alle Vongole I smell?" She inquired enthusiastically.
"But of course." He beamed.
"Oh Tony, you shouldn't have gone through all this trouble, the table, the candles, it looks beautiful."
"Only the best for my best girl." He leaned in and kissed her tenderly as he handed her a wine glass.
"I feel bad, I was lounging while you were working. I could have helped you."
"Angela, you and my kitchen don't get along," He kidded, it was no trouble, I assure you. Much less than if you had been in there." He chuckled.
"How rude!" She exclaimed knocking his arm. "Just kidding, just kidding," he laughed.
Leading her to the table, they sat cozily across from each other, offering a toast in their honor, and delighting themselves in Tony's exquisite meal.
Sharing table clearing duties, Tony and Angela quickly cleaned up the dishes from their feast prior to retreating back to the living room to finish their wine.
Standing at the table with their glasses in hand, Tony softly caressed Angela's bare back, taking in the softness and warmth of her skin below his fingers.
"You look absolutely ravishing," he whispered as he leaned in for a light nibble on her neck. "May I have this dance," he took the glass from her hand, placing it on the table as he grasped her hand in his, wrapping his left arm firmly around her waist, bringing her full body tightly into his grip. "But of course," she sighed, submitting fully into his arms.
As Tony Bennet sang…. "Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warmAnd your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight."
Tony and Angela swayed to the music, tightly wrapped in each other's arms, in their living just as they had various times prior, but this time, everything was different. This time, they were together, uninhibited, or holding back their feeling, no longer scared to reveal too much emotion or hold each other too tight. The insecurities of the past left behind, giving way to a future full of love, sharing and oh, yes, sex. Lots and lots of great, unadulterated, magical love making.
Tony rubbed his palm along the length of Angela's bare back. From the bottom low of her spine, he slowly climbed her back, memorizing each vertebra with his finger, grasping the end of her long, soft, golden hair as he intertwined his fingers through her luscious locks, finally cupping the base of her neck in his hand and bringing her head towards him for a deep, passionate, and electrifying kiss.
She sighed as their mouths joined, their tongues met and Bennet continued...
"Lovely, never, never change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it?
'Cause I love you Just the way you look tonight..."
"What do you say we forget the movie and go upstairs," she whispered as they came up for air. "I don't think I care much any more about The Way We Were but rather about the way we are." She purred in his ear, nibbling softly on his bottom lobe causing him to quiver.
Without a word, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs, her arms wrapped tightly across his shoulders, their lips burrowed upon each other's. Thank goodness Tony knew exactly how many steps it was to the landing and where to make the turn towards her bedroom.
As he opened the door to her room, revealing her queen sized, elegantly decorated bed, Tony suddenly became nervous and trembled as he placed Angela on the bed. He had been in her room, her private chambers as he called it, a thousand times, but never in this manner, only as her housekeeper and sometimes her friend, but now her bed and room and him were together in a manner he had only seldom allowed his imagination to wonder to. The previous night was neutral territory, there was no hierarchical placement of rooms and beds. Last night, it was their bed for all intents and purposes but tonight, it was her bed. One she had shared with Michael, one he was reluctant to intrude on when he first started as her housekeeper and avoided making because it was her private space, one he had on occasion smelled her sweet scent on when he pulled the pillow cases off weekly that had infested his nostrils with desires and longing to hold her and one day possibly be in the exact position he was currently in.
Angela felt the tremble and noticed the hesitation suddenly visible in Tony's eyes," Are you okay," she asked warmly.
"Ya, ya," he hesitated, shaking his head side to side trying to escape the sudden unease he felt.
"Tony," she insisted, "Talk to me, I can see it in your eye," she caressed his cheek affectionately, gently gliding her fingers over his brows.
"I don't know really, just this..."
"Just this being in my room, you and I like this?"
"Ya, I don't know, it was just this momentary weird feeling. This has always been your private space, I never really let myself wonder into here like this and I guess it just hit me strangely."
Rising from the bed he had just laid her on, she met his face with hers, "Sweetheart, don't be nervous or intimated to be in here. I want nothing more than to share my bed with you, to make love to you, to hold you and wake up with you in the one place that's the most intimate and sacred place for me. I love you and I want to be with you, I want to smell you on my sheets and feel you in my arms." She leaned in and kissed in tenderly.
"I'm sorry honey, it was just for that moment, all those old insecurities and doubts came flooding back and I was just your housekeeper again and I guess it scared me."
"There is nothing to be scared of my love and definitely nothing to have doubts or insecurities about. I love you Tony Micelli and I want to make love to you right here, right now, in my bed, in my room, in OUR house," she emphasized. Maybe this can become our bed and our room in our house," she seductively concluded, crashing her lips upon his once again with passion and determination.
Unable to resist her any longer, ignoring any doubt or insecurity, Tony wrapped his arms around her and brought her in tightly into his embrace. Their hands and fingers grasping into each other's hair, their mouths, glued together as their tongues dug dipper into one another. Their passion electrified by their surroundings and a profound urge to take their relationship to a next level of intimacy and bonding.
They could still hear the music playing softly from downstairs,
"I can't give you anything but love, baby
That's the only thing I have plan
Baby, dream a while, skim a while you're sure the fine
Happiness a I guess all those things you've always pined for
I'll like to see you looking swell for me..."
"I can't give you anything but love, baby," Tony repeated as the song played.
"That's all I've ever wanted," Angela breath as she tugged on his belt, crashing him on top of her, wrapping her long legs around his body.
Laying over her, their lips locked upon each other's, his hand descended down her shoulder, caressing her arm down onto her side, back up to her breast, back down her stomach, continuing onto her hips where it found the end of her dress and made its way up her thigh and onto her hips where he lightly ran his fingers along her pelvis and pantie line causing her to moan as she rose her hips off the bed, assisting him on his mission to remove her panties.
As her panties made the long descent down her legs, finding their place onto the floor, Tony's body followed as he kissed the length of her body, pushing her dress up over her hips and landing his face and mouth between her legs, causing her to quiver and moan, "Oh Tony!"
Angela grasped the side of the bed as she arched her pelvis into his every move. As he worked harder to fulfill her needs, her pleasure was evident by her body's reaction to every touch. Feeling herself on the brink of ecstasy, she grabbed his head, rising it up and towards her,
"I want you now," she breathlessly murmured, and she rose her head up to meet his lips, getting the first taste of herself on him.
Quickly undoing his belt and removing himself from his pants and boxer-briefs, Tony obliged her request and for the first time, in her private chamber, her sanctuary of intimacy and solitude, two became one.