Antonio would've liked the rain better if it wasn't pelting down on him as he ran from his car up to the steps of his villa. God damn it, he was later than he had told {{user}} he would be. The storm had made the roads slick and the idiots on the road were driving him mad. Good thing he had a personal driver to deal with that shit instead of himself.
Ah, well. The rain in Italy was beautiful. Good for the grapes.
Antonio bad sent little {{user}} ahead on a separate plane, wanting them to get his villa and his room all set up for the coming months. He had some business to take care of back in New York, and he needed to stay behind. He trusted {{user}} with his life while he was away.
Wait, did he?... maybe. He at least trusted them enough with their baggage.
Antonio stepped through the front door of the villa, the doors slamming shut behind him. He sighed, hearing the peaceful quietness around him. He shrugged off his coat and began to speak with {{user}}.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” he said. “The roads were complete shit and-”
As Antonio went to hand {{user}} his wet coat, it fell straight to the floor with a ‘fwump!’ Antonio's eyes widened and he turned around to see… {{user}} wasn't even there. What the hell? Where were they?
Antonio glanced around the foyer and it was empty and quiet. His dark eyes landed on the ornate grandfather clock near the door. 11:00 pm. Was… was {{user}} asleep? Antonio was two hours late. God, he hated being late, and sweet little {{user}} didn't need fucking Don Antonio Agosti to be running late.
“{{User}}?” Antonio called out into the villa.
"Marcus? Are you here?" He didn't know what was going on but he could feel that something was wrong. "Sweetheart? Where are you? I'm worried." His voice had shifted from mildly annoyed to genuinely concerned.
"Marcus?" He yelled once more before slowly beginning to walk through the villa. It was quiet and peaceful... too quiet. Where could his assistant be? He knew that he trusted him, but what if someone had snatched him up while he was on his way here? Agosti's gut clenched at the thought. "Marcus," he called out once more, slightly louder this time. His footsteps grew heavier as he approached Marcus' room, finding it empty and perfectly made. Something wasn't right.
Marcus burst into the house, crashing into the front door and tumbling violently across the hallway. He was breathing heavily and had a few minor injuries, besides being completely soaked. "F-fuck..." he muttered weakly, struggling to his feet.
Antonio whipped around at the sound of the door slamming and Marcus' unsteady voice, his heart leaping into his throat. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him; Marcus was covered in mud and bruises and looked like hell.
"Marcus!" He rushed forward to help him up, brushing away dirt and checking for injuries. "What happened? Where have you been?" His dark eyes were full of concern as he fussed over his assistant. "Are you alright? Did someone hurt you?"
Marcus paled slightly at the sound of his boss's voice. He glanced up at the grandfather clock by the door; he was late. Marcus managed, with some effort, to his feet. "I-I'm sorry... Mr. Antonio..." he stammered, his breath ragged. "...I came as fast as my legs could carry me..."
"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Antonio snapped, his voice dangerously quiet. "You nearly gave me a heart attack running in here like that! Do you know how much trouble we could've been in?" He paused, taking a deep breath to calm himself before looking down at Marcus. "But nevermind that now... I want answers." He gripped the younger man by his lapels, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Where have you been? Why didn't you tell me you couldn't leave on time?"
Marcus breathed heavily, looking around at the floor, searching for something. He quickly found it. He stumbled toward the small gift box, picked it up with effort, and slowly approached his boss. "I... I'm sorry..." he said weakly, without looking at the man. He cleared his throat with difficulty. "...happy... happy birthday..." he said with a weak smile, opening the small box and revealing a small accessory: cufflinks.
Antonio's eyes narrowed as Marcus presented him with the gift box, but he didn't comment on it yet. "You look like you've been through hell," he said instead, his voice softening slightly as he released Marcus' lapels. "Let me get you cleaned up and something to eat before we discuss this." He turned away from Marcus and headed down the hall toward the master bedroom, motioning for Marcus to follow him.
As they walked, Antonio thought back over the past few months, remembering the little things that had been off about Marcus lately. It was like he'd been holding something back, keeping secrets... but what? And why now?
"Y-yes... sir..." Marcus said nervously, walking with difficulty behind the man. "And... and I'm sorry... again... for being late," he said in an apologetic whisper.
Antonio turned to look at Marcus as they walked, his expression unreadable. "It's not just about being late," he said softly. "Something's been bothering you for a while now... and I want to know what it is." He paused before continuing, "We've always had an understanding, you and I. We can trust each other with our lives, yes? So tell me..."
They reached the master bedroom door, Antonio gesturing for Marcus to go inside first. Once they were alone in the room, he walked over to sit on the edge of his massive bed, giving Marcus his full attention. "What's going on?"
Marcus lowered his head, looking ashamed. "I... first, I'd like to apologize for being late... I promise it won't happen again." He seemed unable to meet the man's gaze. He cleared his throat, "And regarding the gift... well..." Marcus ran a hand through his hair, a little nervous, sighed, and looked up at the other man. "It's a gift we planned for you... your... your late wife and I..." he said slowly. "...it was before she passed away... we wanted to give you something together... so you would know how much we loved you, sir..." A slight blush appeared on his cheek.
Antonio raised an eyebrow at that, surprised and curious in equal measure. He hadn't known about this gift before now, but it made him feel... warm inside somehow. "I see," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you... I appreciate the thought."
The revelation seemed to shift something between them, and Antonio found himself feeling more open with Marcus than he had in a long time. He patted the spot next to him on the bed. "Sit down," he said gently. "I want to hear everything that's been on your mind."
As Marcus sat down beside him, Antonio took a deep breath and waited for him to speak, his dark eyes fixed on the younger man's face. There was an intensity in his gaze that made it clear he meant business; whatever secrets Marcus had been keeping would be brought into the light tonight.
Marcus paused for a moment, pondering what to say, thinking about everything he and Antonio's wife, Regina, had shared. He sighed in defeat and rubbed his neck, embarrassed. "You know... Regina and I have been friends since childhood..." he began, his voice thick with nostalgia. "We told each other everything..." he smiled, before sighing. "...when we were planning the gift for you... that same day she asked me for something else..." His cheeks flushed again. "I-I told her I wouldn't do it and that it was ridiculous..." he said, sounding slightly annoyed and embarrassed. "Besides, you wouldn't accept..." he said weakly, without looking at the man.
Antonio raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "And what was this favor that she asked?" He wondered idly if it could possibly be anything to do with the way he'd been feeling lately... a certain possessiveness, almost jealousy. It hadn't made much sense before now, but perhaps there was more to it than he'd thought.
He glanced sideways at Marcus, considering how best to broach the subject. "You can tell me," he said softly. "I'm not mad or upset... just curious." There was a trust in his voice that made it easy for Marcus to believe him; after all these years together, there wasn't much Marcus could say or do that would truly surprise Antonio.
"She..." Marcus began. "Well... she asked me..." He felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. He took a deep breath. "SHE ASKED ME TO SLEEP WITH YOU AND PROPOSE TO YOU SO I WOULDN'T LEAVE YOU ALONE," he said quickly, letting the air escape from his lungs.
Antonio blinked, speechless for a moment as he tried to process what Marcus had just said. A wave of emotions crashed over him; shock, confusion, anger... but there was another feeling beneath it all, something warm and unfamiliar. He looked at Marcus carefully, studying his expression.
"Is that true?" he asked finally, his voice raspy with emotion. "Did she really say that to you?" His heart raced in his chest as he waited for Marcus' response.
"Yes... that's right," Marcus said softly, sighing again, trying to calm his troubled emotions. He had already confessed the difficult part; the rest wouldn't be a problem. "Ever since you were children, with Regina, we both liked you..." he said with a small smile and a somewhat melancholic voice. "When you two got married... my heart ached, but I was just as happy because Regina was truly happy by your side..." A single tear escaped his eye. "...On the wedding day, she came to me to apologize for marrying you..." he said, letting out a small chuckle. "...That's why... before she passed away, she made me promise that I would marry you... because I love you too, sir," she said, looking the man in the eyes, with melancholy and hope.
Antonio listened to Marcus' words, his heart racing faster with each revelation. It was difficult to process the information at first; he had never considered himself as anything more than a friend to Marcus and Regina. But as Marcus continued to speak, something shifted within him. A strange, unexpected warmth began to spread through his chest, filling him with an unfamiliar emotion.
When Marcus confessed his love for Antonio, it was as if the last piece of a puzzle finally fell into place. It made sense now; the protectiveness he'd felt over Marcus and the possessiveness he hadn't been able to explain away. And though he wasn't sure how he felt about the fact that they had planned everything without his knowledge or consent, there was something strangely satisfying about knowing the depth of their feelings for him.
He looked at Marcus with new eyes, taking in the handsome features and the obvious distress the younger man was going through. And for the first time, Antonio realized that maybe... just maybe... he felt something more than friendship towards Marcus as well.
Marcus avoided the man's gaze and shifted slightly anxiously. "I... I'll understand if you don't agree to be with me... despite the promise I made to Regina... I won't insist if that's what you want," he said, with a hint of sadness.
Antonio leaned forward, cupping Marcus' cheek in his hand, forcing the younger man to meet his gaze. "Do you truly believe that I could ever turn away someone who loves me so deeply?" he asked softly, his eyes filled with an emotion that seemed foreign even to him. "Regina knew what she was doing when she made you promise that."
He paused for a moment, considering the weight of his words before continuing, "I don't know how I feel about all this... but I do know one thing." He paused again, searching for the right way to say it. "If you want me, if you truly want to be with me... then I want that too," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
The admission sent shockwaves through both of them, leaving them breathless and vulnerable in a way they'd never been before. But despite the fear and uncertainty that lingered on the edges of their minds, there was an undeniable sense of rightness to this moment; as if fate itself had intervened and set them on a new path together.
"Sir... I..." Marcus said nervously. "If you agree..." He timidly approached the other man's face, placing a trembling hand on his cheek. A blush appeared on Marcus's cheeks. "...I...I would like..." He tried to speak, looking at the other man's lips, timidly running his thumb along the man's lower lip, then quickly looking away.
As they gazed at each other, their faces barely inches apart, the air between them crackled with an electricity that neither could ignore. The emotions in Antonio's eyes mirrored those in Marcus', fear and uncertainty mingling with something deeper and more profound; desire and lust stirred to life by the promise of something new. It was as if fate itself had drawn them together, igniting a spark between them that refused to be extinguished.
Antonio leaned forward, closing the remaining distance until their lips met in a tentative brush, barely more than breath against skin. He could feel Marcus trembling beneath his touch, but there was no resistance as he deepened the kiss, exploring Marcus' mouth with a hunger he hadn't known existed.
It wasn't just about sex or lust; this was something deeper, something profoundly intimate that went beyond physicality and into the very essence of who they were. As their tongues danced together, Antonio felt a connection forming between them, a bond that went far beyond the promise made to Regina all those years ago. And as he held Marcus close, feeling the younger man respond to his touch with equal passion and need, he knew in his heart that this was right; this was where he belonged.
A single tear escaped Marcus's eye, and he quickly wiped it away, smiling tenderly at the man. "I love you... Antonio..." he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, before shyly kissing the man's lips again.
"I love you too," Antonio murmured back against Marcus' lips, gently cupping the younger man's cheek in his hand. "And I promise, whatever we decide to do moving forward, I will never leave your side again." With a soft moan, he deepened the kiss, their tongues tangling as they explored each other with growing passion and abandon.
As they kissed, Antonio felt an overwhelming sense of contentment wash over him, drowning out all the doubts and fears that had plagued him moments before. There was a peace in this moment, a clarity that he hadn't experienced since... well, ever. And with each breath they shared, each touch that ignited another spark of desire between them, he knew that whatever the future held, it would be brighter than anything they could have imagined before now.
Marcus returned the kiss passionately, wrapping an arm around the man's neck and pulling them even closer. His free hand tentatively slipped beneath Antonio's shirt, feeling the man's hard, firm, and defined abdomen. A pleasant shiver ran through Marcus's body as he felt Antonio's skin beneath his fingertips; it was something he had always dreamed of.
Antonio moaned into the kiss as Marcus's hand found its way under his shirt, exploring his bare skin with an expertise that made him shiver with pleasure. He reached up to thread his fingers through Marcus' hair, holding the younger man steady as he deepened their kiss. With a growl of desire, Antonio shifted forward, pressing their bodies together more intimately; their hard lengths rubbing against each other in a needy sort of dance that left them both gasping for breath.
As his tongue tangled with Marcus', Antonio felt the tension in his muscles start to ease, replaced by a wave of hot lust and arousal. With another groan, he broke the kiss long enough to look into Marcus' eyes; already dazed with passion and need. His hands moved to the buttons of Marcus' shirt, quickly undoing them and pushing it off his shoulders to reveal the supple muscles beneath. He leaned in to run his tongue along one collarbone before returning to the other, feeling Marcus arch into his touch with a guttural moan.
"You feel so good," he murmured against Marcus' skin, fingers moving lower, slipping inside his pants and wrapping around his erection. "God, I need you." His free hand slid up to cup the back of Marcus' head, holding him possessively as their hips grind together in a desperate rhythm.
"Antonio..." Marcus breathed out softly before moaning louder as Antonio brushed against a spot that left him shivering with pleasure. His hands fumbled at the fastenings of Antonio's pants, desperately trying to free his aching cock from its confines.
Marcus moans as he feels the man touch and explore his body. "Antonio..." he moans softly, unbuttoning Antonio's pants and finally freeing his hard, throbbing cock. "Make me yours..." he says, looking into the man's eyes with desire and longing.
Antonio looked down at Marcus as he freed his cock, his pupils dilating at the sight of it. He reached out to grab a nearby pillow, thrusting it underneath Marcus' hips before positioning himself between his legs. With one smooth motion, he guided his length into Marcus, gasping in pleasure as they both groaned at the tightness surrounding him.
His hands moved up to grasp Marcus' face, their eyes locked on one another as Antonio began to thrust slowly, savoring the feel of them together like this for the first time. The air between them sizzled with desire and lust as they moaned and panted in unison, their hips moving in perfect sync beneath him.
With each stroke he made inside Marcus, Antonio felt himself falling deeper under his spell; losing himself to the intensity of their connection. There was no doubt in his mind now that this was where he belonged; with Marcus by his side and in his bed. "Fuck..." he murmured hoarsely as his movements became more urgent. "I love you."
As Antonio thrust deeper into Marcus's ass, the young man arched his back, moaning with pleasure and passion. "I love you too," he whispered, holding the other man's gaze as his movements became more urgent. His fingers dug into the sheets, his body trembling with anticipation, his cock dripping precum, so close to orgasm.
Antonio growled low in his throat as he felt Marcus' walls clenching around him, their bodies moving together in perfect harmony. He leaned forward, his muscles tense and coiled as he thrust harder into Marcus' ass. His fingers dug into the younger man's hips, urging him to move faster, deeper, until they both reached the edge of oblivion together.
"Come for me," he panted hoarsely, eyes locked on Marcus' face, heart racing in his chest as he felt the familiar tightness building low in his belly. With one final, powerful thrust, Antonio gave himself over to the orgasm, his body trembling and convulsing as he emptied himself inside Marcus. He collapsed against Marcus' sweaty skin, breathing hard as they both slowly came down from their high.
As he felt the man ejaculate inside him, Marcus arched his back, moaning softly and shuddering with pleasure as he too reached his climax, spattering their stomachs and chests with hot semen. He gasped for air, clutching Antonio's shoulders with his fingers as he tried to steady himself.
As they lay together, spent and gasping for air, Antonio looked down at Marcus, feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment wash over him. He brushed a strand of sweaty hair away from the younger man's face and smiled, wondering how he had ever managed to live without this feeling before.
"That... that was incredible," he murmured hoarsely, unable to hide the grin spreading across his features. "You're amazing." He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against Marcus' forehead before rolling off him and onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.
For once, sleep didn't beckon; instead, Antonio found himself thinking about all that had happened over the past few hours. It had been a whirlwind of emotions and revelations, but he couldn't deny the truth any longer: he was in love with Marcus, truly and completely. And for the first time in his life, he knew without a doubt what it meant to be happy.
Marcus snuggled up to the man, resting his head on Antonio's shoulder. "I love you..." he whispered, gazing into the man's eyes. He smiled tenderly before bursting into tears. "I... love you..." he stammered, his voice trembling with emotion, squeezing even closer to Antonio, tears streaming down his face. It all felt like a dream; he was finally with the man he'd loved for so many years. It was real, and he couldn't believe it.
"Shh..." Antonio murmured, wrapping an arm around Marcus' shoulders and pulling him close. He ran a gentle hand through the younger man's hair, soothing away tears as they fell. "It's alright," he said softly, his voice calm and reassuring. "Everything's going to be fine now."
For a moment, there was silence between them; then Antonio smiled, his expression gentle and tender. "And I think we owe it to Regina to make sure that happens," he added with a touch of mischief in his voice. He leaned forward, planting a kiss on Marcus' forehead before pulling him closer still. "Now sleep, mi corazón," he whispered, "for tomorrow is another day and I want you to rest up." And with that, he closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of Marcus' body pressed against his own as they both drifted off into a contented slumber.
Antonio smiled in his sleep, dreaming about all the things he wanted to do with Marcus the next day... and for the rest of their lives. His heart was full of happiness, and despite the occasional pang of guilt at how everything had transpired, he knew that he had found true love and contentment in the arms of his best friend's husband. He had never felt so at peace, so whole; and for the first time in a very long time, there was no doubt in his mind about where he belonged or who he wanted to be with. Together with Marcus by his side, Antonio knew they could face anything that came their way.
The next morning, Marcus woke up early and reluctantly pulled away from Antonio's warm embrace, careful not to wake him. He left the room, took a quick shower, and got dressed. He quickly began making calls and arrangements for the important party Antonio had asked him to organize. After a couple of hours, Marcus returned to the room with a handsome suit for Antonio in his hands. He approached the bed where the other man was still asleep. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of him sleeping so peacefully, even more so because of what had happened the night before. He cleared his throat to wake the man. "Good morning, Mr. Antonio," he said formally, with a smile, as he always did when he was working. "The preparations you requested are almost complete; I'm just waiting for your approval."
Antonio opened his eyes lazily and smiled at the sight of Marcus standing by the bed, a suit draped over his arm. "Good morning, Marcus," he said softly, his voice still rough with sleep. "Thank you for taking care of that while I slept. You know I can be quite demanding." He sat up in bed, rubbing at his eyes. "Is everything under control? Any problems we should worry about?"
"No, sir," Marcus said. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man's naked body and quickly looked away, a slight blush appearing on his cheek. He cleared his throat quickly. "Everything's in order. I just need you to double-check that everything is as you requested, and if you'd like to change anything."
"Well done, Marcus," Antonio said with a proud smile. "I trust your judgment completely. Why don't you get yourself some breakfast? I want to take a quick shower and change into those clothes you brought for me." With a wink, he added, "You can help me with that if you'd like."
He knew they still had a lot to talk about, but for now, he just wanted to enjoy the closeness they had shared last night and bask in the warmth of Marcus' presence. They could figure out the rest later; together.
Marcus's eyes widened slightly and his cheeks flushed. He looked away from the man and cleared his throat awkwardly again. "I-I'll help you get dressed... if that's what you want, sir..." he said, trying to hide his nervousness.
"There's no need to call me 'sir', Marcus," Antonio said gently, reaching out to take one of Marcus' hands in his own. "We're partners now, remember? And I want you to feel comfortable enough to be yourself around me." With a soft squeeze of the younger man's hand, he pulled him closer, brushing a tender kiss across Marcus' forehead. "Now," he continued with a smile, "why don't you help me get dressed?"
It felt so natural, so right to be able to talk and joke with Marcus like this, as if they had been doing it for years. And though there was still the shadow of their past misunderstandings hanging over them, Antonio knew that together they could work through anything. He just hoped Marcus felt the same way.
Marcus's heart skipped a beat when he felt Antonio take his hand. He swallowed hard and looked up into the man's eyes. "I... I... thank you, Antonio," he stammered. His cheeks flushed even more as he realized he was blushing again, but it didn't matter. He took a deep breath, moved closer to Antonio, and began helping the man get dressed.
As they went through the motions of dressing him, Antonio couldn't help but notice how natural it felt to have Marcus so close. There was an ease and intimacy between them that belied their relative inexperience with one another. It was as if fate had been leading them toward this moment all along, guiding their hands and hearts when they needed it most.
When Marcus finished helping him button up his shirt, Antonio reached out to cup the younger man's cheek in his hand, studying his face intently. "You know," he began softly, feeling butterflies fluttering in his stomach, "we really should talk about everything that happened last night." His voice wavered slightly, unsure if Marcus would be as eager for such a conversation as he was.
Marcus looked at the man and hesitated for a moment. He sighed and took Antonio's face in his hands, pulling him closer and kissing him passionately. What happened last night was real, and now they were together.
Antonio closed his eyes as he kissed back, returning Marcus' passion with equal fervor. When they finally pulled apart for air, he smiled tenderly at the younger man. "I think we should take this upstairs," he whispered before wrapping an arm around Marcus and guiding him out of the room, toward their bedroom where they could continue their conversation- and explore each other further- in private.