Chapter 14

“I personally think Prague is more romantic than Paris. If you have a girlfriend, take her there.”
–Stephanie Sigman

Prague – Inauguration Day

Here it was. The very much anticipated and very much dreaded Inauguration Day. It was bittersweet to think that the real beginning for the Threshold would also mark the end of her relationship with the only man she would never be able to stop loving. That much Lisa knew at this point. And it didn’t even manage to make her feel better.

Relationship is a strong term. You’re fuck-buddies at best and this is an affair. A hot as fuck, torrid, more than pleasurable fling. But nothing serious, nonetheless.

Taking a deep breath, Lisa soldiered up. After all, they still had twenty-four hours before boarding the plane that would bring them back to Los Angeles, to a life and an environment that had never wanted them together. She could still pretend that moment was far, far away in time, at least for now.

The previous night there hadn’t been anything she had not conceded him. Nothing she had now allowed him to do to her body. And he had made sure that everything he did to her was a conglomerate of absolute, sheer pleasure and hunger. The more she got, the more she wanted. She regretted none of what had happened. However, she also knew that what he could give her was addictive and that specific trait that made Michael who he was rendered him the most dangerous man on the planet for her.

And the most lovable…

Yeah, that too.

Hours into the night, after they were done and their bodies had managed to find some sort of completion and exhaustion, he had not even pretended he would vacate the premises. Despite that being one of the rules she had imposed, Lisa had not been able to enforce it either. She didn’t want him to leave. She loved to have him where he was. And so she had just watched him as he contently jogged out of bed and retrieved some juice and crackers. He looked so relaxed, so at peace… How could she send him away?

They had eaten a bit, they had joked around and made each other laugh like in the good old days. And then they had talked until dawn had broken through.

“Were you angry I left for Vienna?”

She had asked the question in the quietness of the semi-darkness, while she lay down on her side, watching him. He was the most beautiful man she had ever laid on and, that night, the tenuous light coming from the city outside seemed to sparkle like stardust all over his body.

“A little bit, yeah… But angry isn’t the right word. I was miffed, mostly. Not really mad at you.” He had turned his head to look at her, his hair a mess. “I couldn’t be, because I understood why you did it.”

Lisa really hadn’t wanted the conversation to turn super-serious. Reaching out, she had traced his chest with her fingertips.

“Well, I’m glad. ‘Cause when I came back I noticed way too many women staring at you while you followed that first aid course.”

Michael had grinned, his eyebrows springing up.

“Yeah? Did they make you jealous?”

She had laughed.

“No way.”

Yes, they had. And they both knew it. But she would just never admit it. She could totally be the non-jealous type with any other man, but with Michael… it was just crazy. And he could be possessive of her too, despite his usually chill attitude.

“Well, I think you’re a bad liar. But still, it doesn’t even matter if you were staring at me or not, ‘cause I only got eyes for one woman.”

She had just watched him, knowing that she didn’t have the right answer to that. Were his words appropriate for two people who were supposed to stop seeing each other in just a handful of hours? She hated when she felt so confused, so insecure. Almost guessing her thoughts, Michael had turned onto his side, facing her, touching her shoulder slightly, caressing it with the back of his fingers.

“Am I allowed to only have eyes for you, at least as long as we’re here?”

There. Everything already had felt more reasonable. Grabbing his hand, she had kissed it.

“I guess so, yeah…”

“Deal, then.”

The actual deal had been to spend their last full day in Prague together. The reason was simple: they were free. They had nothing else to do but wait for the ceremony, which would be held later that evening, and that allowed them to experience the magic of one of the most charming cities in the world undisturbed.

“Lisa, maybe you can show Michael around. To not take the time to see Prague at Christmastime would be an absolute heresy!”

Jaroslav had sounded so happy while he delivered the news, and Michael – of course – hadn’t objected. Later that night, after making love to Lisa for so long that she had thought she would pass out because of the blinding level of pleasure he had been subjecting her to, he had just asked her in the most casual manner.

“Hey, I was thinking that Jaro is right, you know. I didn’t even have the time to take a real look around since I landed. Maybe you really should show me around.”

“Who knows, maybe…”

Lisa was starting to hate her own vagueness.

“What about tomorrow?” He had made a face. “I mean, we only have tomorrow. It’s not that we can postpone it any longer.”

It wasn’t about what he had said, but mostly about what he hadn’t said at all.

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Inside, she had been screaming in joy.

And now here she was, a little before noon, after managing to finally get some sleep. She had woken up around eight in the morning and had discovered that Michael was gone, but he had taken one single red rose from the bouquet in the foyer and had rested it on the bed, so that it could be the first thing she saw when opening her eyes.

Lisa knew very well what the unspoken message of that flower was. And she reciprocated it fully.

She had taken a long shower, had breakfast and had spent about half an hour over the phone with the children, before finally getting ready to leave. She had to buckle up, because spending an entire day with Michael meant trouble in all the best way. However, it was also the most appropriate ending for their little getaway, their Prague book’s last, melancholic page.

When she heard someone knock on the door, she already knew it was him. She opened the door slowly and there he was, wearing his parka and his beanie. Looking gorgeous, glowing and well-rested.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Lise. We might have to wait for a bit, ‘cause we got a thing going on right now. The paparazzi are here.”

Michael hadn’t even been that surprised when Wayne had told him that a few reporters and photographers were hanging out around the entrance of the hotel. As a matter of fact, it was all pretty standard and he was stunned it had taken so long for them to find out that he was there.

However, there was a doubt that nagged at him. And so Michael had pulled Wayne in a corner and asked him to send someone out and find out how in the world the paps had discovered where he was staying. And Lisa, too, obviously.

Then, as he waited for his head of security to come back with the information he needed, Michael had called Dana, telling her that it was possible that he wouldn’t be able to be at the Threshold for the opening. He was really sorry, but he would not spoil everyone’s fun by bringing along his usual mob of tabloids, clinging to his balls as if they belonged there.

Dana had stayed quiet for a bit, and then had just told Michael not to leave the hotel – that she and her husband would be there in less than thirty minutes. And that there was no way Michael wouldn’t be able to be at the inauguration. He deserved to be there.

“Alright. I’ll leave you to it, then.”

“Yes. Just don’t go out until it’s settled.”

“Uh… Okay…”

And that had been pretty much it. Dana hadn’t elaborated, and Michael hadn’t asked.

About twenty minutes later, when he went to knock on Lisa’s door, he did so a tiny bit in advance compared to the timing of their date, but he really needed her to see something.

“What the fuck? Paparazzi? How is that even possible?”

“Shush… ” He took her hand and dragged her into the corridor and toward the huge, finely decorated window that faced the gates. “Come here. I wanna show you something.”

“Are you crazy? Do you have some persecution wish? If they see you wave down at them they’re never gonna leave us alone!”

Of course, she was trying to resist. She hadn’t gotten the point yet, and maybe he should have explained himself better but hey – he was feeling way too giddy. And noticing that they are slipped back into their usual, familiar banter made her feel even better. She was just too cute.

“I ain’t gon’ wave down at them, silly. Just be quiet and watch.”

Maneuvering her body in front of his, he pretty much hugged her from behind, pinning her between his own chest and the window. Then he glanced down, smiling from one ear to the other. He loved when a good plan came to fruition! And this time, he wasn’t even the mastermind!

Dana and Jaroslav were down at the gates and he was speaking animatedly to some of the reporters. He looked mad, but also passionate in what he was saying. Standing right next to him, her arms crossed over her chest, his wife kept shaking her head in disapproval.

“What the hell are they doing down there? Those lunatics are gonna fucking swarm them!”

“Lisa! Let them do their time and be quiet for a moment! If don’t you shut up, how can we even understand what’s going on?”

Even though he already knew.

Jaroslav and Dana Mazeks were protecting their new friends. And they were doing so unprompted, without asking for anything in return. It warmed Michael’s heart, to find out that there were still decent people orbiting in his existence, where leeches and lackeys were the majority. Way too attracted to the golden goose to leave without trying to take a chunk of him with them. Oh, he knew. His new circle of friends – those guys that Lisa had never liked – belonged to the same category. He had always known, but up until now he had refused to see what had always been right in front of him.

And Lisa, well… as imperfect and stubborn and bitchy as she could be, she was just like the Mazeks. A positive presence in his life. Why had he allowed her to leave? Why had he let her go? All of a sudden, all his justifications for what had transpired six months earlier in Paris made less sense. It was like he was seeing that even through new lenses and it felt different. It wasn’t just one thing or the other. He could have just taken care of his daughter without shunning the woman he loved because he had assumed he would never be good enough for her. How arrogant had he been to think that without even involving Lisa? In his mind, what made even less sense was letting her storm off one year earlier, when he was simply too emotionally drained to go after her.

He realized that he had never really tried to put himself at her place, walk in her shoes, yet he had expected that she did just that for him, all the time. Marry me now. Have my babies now or Debbie will do it. Wait for me at home. Be with me here or there. Understand me.

He had done that and when, at one point, she had said that it was enough, he had blamed her. Of course, she had driven him mad at times, but he had been able to obliterate her world – and he knew it.

Right now and despite his own justified heartache, he regretted having become cold to her. Having pretended that she just wasn’t right for him.

Lisa wasn’t perfect, and he wasn’t either. But together, they were – or could be – the best version of themselves.

“Boss…”

Wayne’s calm voice dragged him out of his musings and Michael turned.

“Yes?”

“I did what you asked.”

“What did you ask him?”

Lisa looked at him with a hint of suspicion clear in her eyes. In normal circumstances, Michael would have excused himself and taken a moment to talk to Wayne privately, but these were not normal circumstances and right now he felt that things needed to move in another direction. If there was ever room for growth for the two of them, this could be a good start. The beginning of a more open, honest communication. And if there wasn’t any room for him and Lisa any longer, at least she would remember that he…

“Mike? What did you ask Wayne to do?”

This woman! Always interrupting his streams of consciousness. Michael decided to just ignore her – at least for now.

“What did you find out?”

Wayne seemed to hesitate for a moment, likely thinking about his boss’s usual behavior when it came to this kind of thing.

“It’s okay, Wayne. You can speak freely in front of Lisa.”

The man’s shoulders relaxed and he looked slightly relieved.

“The Mazeks are telling the paps that you and Miss Presley aren’t here, and that they have no idea how the rumors started to float around. They’re… ah, in my opinion, quite effectively shaming those reporters by telling them that their behavior is taking the spotlight away from their humanitarian project… and prompting them to come and help them out at the shelter in their free time to make up for it. Or at least donate to it.” He smiled, very slightly. “If I can say it, it’s one of the best examples of guilt-tripping I’ve ever seen, even though I don’t think it’s gonna work out.”

Lisa made a face.

“Of course not. Tabloid reporters are barely humans…”

“What about that other thing I wanted to find out?”

“Oh, right.” Wayne took a deep breath. “It was that guy who came here for Miss Presley the other day. The one you managed to send back to Los Angeles, Michael. He’s the one who got in touch with the press and told them where they could find us.”

Despite Lisa’s sudden gasp, Michael barely lifted an eyebrow. He had imagined it would end up being whatshisname. The guy seemed just like the type of guy who would rat on people, even is said people included his ex-girlfriend.

“Are you for real? Wait, I gotta go get my phone.” Lisa turned and pushed against Michael’s chest, trying to get free. “I wanna call him and grill him.”

He gently grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her arms around his neck, effectively having her hug him. His arms snaked around her waist and he pulled her close, not caring about Wayne’s presence. He looked down at her.

“You’re not gonna do any of that. It doesn’t matter… He doesn’t matter. All is good, and we won’t let any of those fools waste our time, Lise.” He kissed her forehead. “Okay?”

When she stared up at him, her eyes were huge and vulnerable. Stunned, but in the best possible way.

“Okay…”

Sheer, absolute wanderlust. That was what Lisa had been feeling nonstop for the past few hours or so, while she walked around Prague holding onto Michael’s arm. Despite the day being cloudy and chilly, the atmosphere downtown was just majestic and she didn’t think she had ever felt the intensity of Prague in such a clear manner before. Maybe it was because Michael was there with her, and his aura seemed to amplify everything that was beautiful and good around him.

They had spent over an hour at the Old Town Square Christmas Market, fascinated by the stalls that dotted the city center, eager to check them all out like a normal couple. They had bought little presents for the children and eaten some street food while sitting on a bench, facing the Vltava River, a few feet away from a huge, sparkling Christmas Tree. At one point while they ate their sandwiches, she had reached out and had wiped a crumble from Michael’s chin. Then, uncharacteristically, he had pulled her head close and had kissed her, giving her a series of sweet pecks on the lips. Her heart had soared.

On their way from the Old Town Square to Castle Hill, they had stopped for a few minutes and watched the swans on the river. Beautiful, white, fluffy creatures just minding their own business on a surface that looked like liquid silver, probably unaware of how stunning and perfect they looked.

They had enjoyed a hot chocolate in a small cafe that looked like a flashback of a bygone era, and every second they had spent there had been delicious. They had never stopped staring at each other, and they had never stopped speaking. It had been just small talks, but endearing, nonetheless.

And now, as the afternoon slowly progressed into the evening, they were on top of the Old Town Bridge Tower, just the two of them. Wayne and another couple of security guys had inconspicuously followed them from a distance for the whole day, but there had never been the need for their intervention. And in this case, they had just let Michael and Lisa go on their own merry way, after making sure that nobody else would be on top of the tower for another half an hour or so.

The city was already punctuated by thousands of lights. Like a beautiful carousel, only much bigger – and more discrete. Stunning enough to take Lisa’s breath away. One week earlier, when she had packed her bag and left for the airport, she would have never imagined that she would spend her last day in Prague with the only man she was pretty sure she would never be close to. Who, accidentally, also happened to be the man she was in love with.

“Girl… are you okay?”

Michael’s head was turned in her direction. His elbows resting on the balustrade, his body relaxed, he looked more at peace than she had seen him in years.

“Yeah… I’m good. Why?”

He just shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know… you looked far away.”

Lisa just decided to go with the flow. She scooted closer to him and held onto him, her head leaning against his shoulder, her eyes still fixed on the city.

“I’m not. I’m here, with you, enjoying this moment.”

He turned, pulling her into his arms, and she looked up at him.

“With me, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“So you’re not sorry I came…”

If there was a moment that should be permeated by sheer honesty, it was that very moment.

“I was, at first. But only because you blindsided me. I’m not anymore…” Reaching up, she touched his face. His eyes were narrowed and his long hair moved in the chilly breeze. He was gorgeous. “And to tell the truth, I wouldn’t want to be here with anybody else.”

His eyes softened. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, then just shook his head ever so slightly. She knew all about his awkward false starts.

“Lisa…”

“I know… It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”

“But I do. I wanna say so many things…”

She did too. But what they were experiencing now was way too precious and perfect to be spoiled with words. Maybe even promises that they wouldn’t be able to keep. This was their Christmas miracle, and even though it would soon come to an end, it was still a miracle, nonetheless. She would store it in her memory forever and remember it for the rest of her life.

Without a word, she just framed Michael’s face with both hands and kissed him. And loved him more than she had ever thought possible.

Later that evening, they drove over to the shelter. Together. After donning the most elegant outfits that they had brought with them. Michael wore a classic black suit, a blue shirt and a black tie. Nothing flashy, because he didn’t want the attention to be on him. Lisa had opted for something cozy. Just a blazer, trousers and pumps, all black.

When Michael had appeared in front of the door to her suite to pick her up, his eyes had scanned her attire up and down.

“Mh… Nice.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself.”

He had smiled.

“Can you keep those shoes on, later?”

Pretending not to understand his obviously flirtatious words, she had retrieved her purse and scarf.

“Later? What do you mean?”

He had grabbed her hand and pulled her close, whispering in her ear.

“I mean later, when I take you back to my room and peel those clothes off you.” His lips had almost touched her skin. “I want you to keep those heels on. Just the shoes and the pearls.”

Very casually, she had pretended not to be phased by his words at all and she had turned to look at him. It had been quite difficult to not think about the countless times he had wanted her naked, but still wearing her jewelry and those high heels. And what he had done to her afterward.

“I thought you wanted to be well-rested for tomorrow’s flight.”

“Oh, I’m sure I will be. But if you’re thinking I’m gonna kick you out of my suite at some point during the night, you better think again, babe.”

“Well, then… Let’s get this thing done, babe. So you can tell me more about your plans for the night.”

In reality, she had been waiting for those celebrations for months – since she had started working on the Threshold with Jaro and Dana, in fact. Her emotional attachment to the project ran deep, and Michael’s presence in the most pivotal moment of it all had only contributed to her love for it. She wanted to be there and see the place come to life for real. Of course, it had never been anything but vibrant and lively, but for months – years, even – it had all been mainly about expectations. Now, with the families finally there inhabiting the area and the services officially getting started, the Threshold surely would become the miniature city that the Mazeks had dreamed about for the past decade or so. And Lisa, ultimately, was so happy to have Michael with her. She had left Los Angeles thinking she would enjoy the inauguration alone, but this was even better.

They entered the main building together, when most guests were already there. Except for the families, it wasn’t a crowd of people, probably only a couple dozens. Just a few selected folks that Dana and Jaroslav knew could be trusted. Nobody who would put Michael and Lisa’s presence there in danger or make them uncomfortable. They had both called the Mazeks earlier that day to thank them for taking care of the paparazzi, and their friends had assured them that, as long as they were in Prague, they would be left alone.

This night wouldn’t be any different.

As they moved to the back of the small stage that had been temporarily built for the occasion, Michael took Lisa’s hand just like he used to do when they were married. It just came natural to him and it took her a bit to realize that it was the most normal thing for her, as well. She noticed Cezar looking at her from afar and just waved at him. He waved back in return and smiled, and she could tell that he was definitely happy for her.

For just a second, Lisa hoped that she – just like him – would have her happy ending. Or that at the very least she would start to get used to the idea that she had to go back to her life the way she knew it before… this. Whatever it was.

“Did you write down something for the night?” She asked Michael as they sipped some white wine, waiting for the celebrations to begin.

“Why? I don’t think I’m gonna talk at all.”

She was surprised.

“Are you serious? I can’t believe Dana and Jaro didn’t ask you to say something, tonight.”

He smiled and shrugged.

“They did, actually. But I won’t do it. This is not my moment. It’s theirs… and in a way, it’s also yours.”

Wow. Well… this was unexpected. Lisa had been sure that Michael would walk onto the stage and charm the small audience with a short speech and with his irresistible aura. She had never really asked him, because she had taken for granted that he would do just that.

How many other things have you taken for granted when it comes to Mike?

Some, maybe. But she knew him. And as a matter of fact, what he had told her made all the sense in the world. He had never joined the project because he wanted to attract the attention to himself. He had been humble, quiet and generous, he had worked but had also been able to step back and just observe whenever it was necessary. He had been front and center with his financial resources, but only the Mazeks – and Lisa – knew how much he had contributed to the Threshold. Other than that, Michael had behaved like any other worker on-site.

Which made the whole thing even more extraordinary. As he stepped away for a minute and began quietly talking to one of the medics that would be working on the premises, Lisa observed him. It was like seeing a new man, and yet she knew that Michael was still the same guy she had once fallen in love with. How could she let him go? How could she simply accept that they only worked as a couple because they were far from home, out of their element, stranded almost? And that everything would go back to the old, painful ugliness that she knew so well if only they tried again, once they left Prague?

All of a sudden, she wished she was different. So profoundly different from the woman she knew she was, equipped with the right tools to navigate the constant heartbreak that loving someone like this entailed. In reality, she knew she didn’t have the weapon to fight her own feelings and maybe not even the ability to peacefully live with them. All of a sudden, she wanted to be where she was and on another planet at the same time.

“Lisa?” Dana touched her elbow. “It’s time.”

Oh, right. She had agreed that she would indeed kickstart the whole opening with her speech. Why had she said yes, again? She had always been so painfully shy, how had she even thought she would be able to do this? On that stage, alone…

She wished Michael would just hold her in his arms and tell her that everything would be alright, that she got this. Instead she didn’t wait for him at all, and walked onstage without turning back.

Michael watched Lisa walk on that tiny wooden stage and forgot everything about conversing with the paramedic, who was still yapping by his side. His senses were all focused on the only person that truly mattered to him. He had no idea she would give her little speech so soon, and wished he knew what she would say in advance, because this was definitely a first for him.

Her level of nervousness kind of reminded him of the time they had strutted on the stage of the VMA, her hand clutching his to the point of physical pain. He had known, back then, that she would have wanted to be someplace else entirely that night, even though she wasn’t supposed to say anything. And yet she was there, by his side, holding onto his sleeve in a cute little gesture as he spoke. She had been so shy back then. And yet so, so brave – ready to face everything as long as he was with her.

Traces of that young girl were still visible, but there was something else about Lisa, tonight. Years had passed and, of course, she was more mature now – although no less gorgeous than she had been when he had married her. However, her well-known shyness was now mixed with a determination he had never seen before. With a sense of pride and dignity that had been simmering right under the surface all along, and now was visible in all its blazing glory.

Michael’s heart expanded, his heartbeat accelerated, and he gulped down his wine as Lisa finally reached the microphone and cleared her throat. He expected her to retrieve a piece of paper, something that could guide her through this, but nothing appeared. Her hands stayed empty, loosely clasped behind her back.

“Hi… Good evening, everyone.”

She blushed, ever so slightly, when everyone stopped chatting and turned to look at her. She also smiled a slight, tiny smile that nonetheless managed to reach her eyes.

“My name is Lisa Presley, and I wish Dana and Jaroslav hadn’t trusted me with this thing. I am not sure I’m the best person to talk about their project and start this whole thing, tonight…” The guests laughed, and Lisa too seemed to relax a bit. “…But here I am, and I can only promise I will do my best. It also won’t take long, I promise.”

“When I first joined this project, I did so because I perceived it as something minimal… Something I could deal with, me being not that skilled at this at all. However, as time progressed, I realized that sometimes we see things as small because we watch them through the lenses of our own preconceived ideas, even when they’re anything but.”

She took a deep breath and held it for a moment.

“Let me tell you, the Threshold is one of the biggest, most encompassing projects I have ever bumped into in my entire life. And it really couldn’t be otherwise, because Dana and Jaroslav’s hearts are just as huge. I couldn’t see it for what it really was months ago, when I first started getting involved in it… and maybe it was because I was already inside of it… but now that I can observe it from an outside point of view, I realize how life-changing it will be for so many people. And that is something that cannot be measured, and maybe not even expressed.”

“I am proud to be part of this, and even though my contribution was small compared to that of the people who have been working on this for years nonstop, I am also sure each and every single one of us will make a difference. We have to. We must make a difference and start seeing ourselves not as never enough, but always with the potential to be better… to be useful to others. That is what greatness really is… And I should know, because…” Her eyes, soft, briefly turned to Michael. “…Well, because I happen to know some pretty special people who are great just so effortlessly… that you just wish you can be just like them.”

Michael swallowed hard, his eyes burning.

“So… without further ado, it is now time to introduce the real masterminds behind this beautiful town inside the town… the two people who, with utter and relentless determination, managed to make their dream come true, creating a better life for the people around them at the same time.”

He watched Lisa as she turned and gently called for the Mazeks. When they reached her on the stage, she hugged them both, her eyes closing for a moment. He could tell that she was moved. And the internal and external beauty exuding from her at that very moment managed to strike him like lightning.

The love he felt for her threatened to choke him.

Later that night, they drove back to the hotel together. Weirdly enough, they didn’t exchange many words while in the car, and at one point Lisa dozed off, her head resting against Michael’s shoulder.

He turned and stared at her and his heart expanded some more. This was so different from what they had experienced in the past week. Their reconnection had started with a bang – and a fight. It had then proceeded with caution and a certain dose of carefulness. Until it had exploded into sheer sexual tension, which had ended up becoming action. And now it was changing again. There was a quietness in this, a trust, a sweetness, that Michael had almost forgotten could exist with Lisa. They had both been so guarded around each other, allowing the mask to drop only when the clothes were off. Once naked, all holds were barred. As if they could only and truly trust and rely on each other when it came to sex, and on no other occasion.

He wondered how much of that mistrust and resentment that had built up over the years was actually justified and how much of it was, on the other hand, nothing but the long shadow of something that had never been as important as they made it out to be.

It wasn’t that the issues that had ended up annihilating their existence as a couple were light. They had been severe at times, of course, and painfully excruciating. But maybe not to the extent they had believed, especially if compared to what had always been good between them. Michael guessed that such epiphanies occurred the very moment a man realized how breathtaking the pure side of love felt.

So much good. So much love. So much sadness.

How was he supposed to go back to his life – to his new friends, the parties, the women – after what had happened with Lisa again? He was not sure he had it in his heart anymore. All of sudden, the past year or so seemed devoid of any meaning when it came to his social relationships and even sexual affairs. But after all, he had always known that. He had just pretended not to see it, not to notice the difference between fucking someone and loving them.

Lisa made a sound and snuggled more into him and, out of sheer instinct, he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, kissing her head.

“Michael…”

Her voice sounded so much younger when she slept. Unguarded. And he knew she was asleep, he could tell. He knew her.

“Yes, baby girl.”

“I miss you…”

Yeah, he missed her too.

“I’m here… I’m not going anywhere.”

Lisa sighed, almost in relief, and her breathing deepened.

He just stayed perfectly still, holding her until the car stopped in front of the Nosticova Palace.

Wayne turned slightly.

“Boss?”

“Just give us another minute.”

Lisa could not believe she had dozen off like a baby the very moment she had found herself in the car. It must have been because of the thermal shock. She had been so damn cold after the party, while she and Michael were walking toward the main gates and the SUV, that her teeth had been rattling. And then, once on those comfy back seats, the warmth had enveloped her like a blanket and she had just… fallen asleep.

Of course, she knew very well that it wasn’t just because of that. Emotionally speaking, she had been subjected to a level of intensity that she hadn’t experienced in quite some time, and it was all Michael’s fault. Or merit. Or whatever. And her body had simply shut off for a bit, probably needing to regroup before this last night with the man she loved began.

He had stared at her funny after her little speech on that tiny stage. In a way that she was not sure she had been able to thoroughly understand. Michael almost looked like a man who had just realized something important, but Lisa couldn’t really pinpoint what it was. They had spent the next couple of hours just hanging out at the Threshold, talking to people, making small talks and just enjoying the relief so evident on the families’ faces. She had been so, so proud of everyone who had worked for this. She had felt so fulfilled.

And now, well… Now she needed something else.

“Are you coming in? Or do you want us to go to your room?”

“No… Here is perfect…” Michael pushed her against the door, but did it gently. He kissed her slowly and thoroughly. His lips skimming over hers as he spoke. “…Everything is…”

Whimpering, she reached up, pulling his head down again, kissing him some more as she blindly fumbled with the key. When she managed to open the door, they almost fell into the foyer, but of course, he was quicker – and kept holding her in his arms.

Once again without letting go of her lips, he picked her up bridal-style and slowly walked over to the bedroom. The whole suite was dark, but the snow falling outside was blinding, creating a luminescence that felt out of this world, almost surreal.

Michael sat her down at the foot of the bed and stood in front of her, just looking at her. Once again in that odd way that Lisa had noticed before.

“Mike… are you okay?”

He remained perfectly still, didn’t even blink.

“Yeah…”

And then he knelt down in front of her and began undressing her, taking his sweet time. Her clothes fell on the plush carpet one by one and, all the while, he kept kissing her, caressing her. She reciprocated his treatment, pushing his jacket off his shoulders, undoing his tie, unbuttoning his shirt, needing to see and touch his skin. Her fingertips caressed the solid plane of his abdomen and reached down, finding his belt. She undid that too. And then she unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. She didn’t need to look to know that he was aroused. She felt it, and her insides tingled. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted any other man she had met in her life.

Surprising her, Michael sat back on his calves and rested her foot on his thigh. Then, he proceeded to take off her shoes – first one, then the other.

She hadn’t been expecting that.

“I thought you wanted me to keep them on?”

Lisa leaned back, on her hands, and just watched them as his eyes explored her entire body – naked except for her stockings and panties. He was gorgeous just sitting there, torso naked, pants open, visibly hard.

He glanced up at her for a moment and smiled.

“I changed my mind…” He began rolling down her stockings. “I wanna feel all of you, Lise…”

What could she say to that? She wanted the same thing. She had been expecting something kinky and dirty, just like it had happened many times before during the past week, yet all of a sudden she was not sure anymore.

Something had changed about Michael, and underneath the surface, maybe in different and less scary circumstances, she would have been able to see what it was.

Hours later, she was amazed at her own staying power. Michael, of course, was an absolute master of sex and could go on and on for hours, because he had trained his body to do exactly what he wanted and for as long as he wanted. But when it came to her, it was all different. She wasn’t him. Yet, she was just as insatiable.

He had almost made her lose her mind so many times during the night that she had lost count. His head between her legs, his mouth on her had felt like the sweetest punishment imaginable. His hands touching her as he kissed the most intimate part of her the same way he would have kissed her mouth. Her breasts in his palms as she arched up and into, wanting more, more, more.

Then he had come onto the bed and she had immediately framed his face, needing to kiss him, tasting herself on his lips. Reaching down, she had found him hard and ready, her mouth watering. The desire she felt was a kaleidoscope of colors and lights not even she would have been able to explain. Pushing him back, she had forced him to lie down on his back and had kissed him everywhere, loving the scent and taste of his skin, the feel of his muscles under her hand, the sounds he made when pleasure swept him away. She loved when he let his guard down, and to know that he did so with such abandon, when he was with her, gave Lisa a feeling of accomplishment that almost made her feel giddy.

She had taken him in her mouth and had allowed him to set the rhythm, and it had been slow and purposeful. His hips engaging as his hand rested on her head. Once again, there were very few things she loved more than being dominated by him, than having him make her his. She had looked up at him and had found his eyes. They were bright and glazed over, and he was struggling to keep his breathing regular and even.

Her hands had caressed his solid thighs and she had blinked, ever so slowly. He had swallowed, and then had let go of her head, taking her hand. She had understood his silent message, coming to rest on top of him, her fingers in his hair as they kissed. He was panting.

“I wanna be inside of you…”

“I want you to be inside of me…”

Nothing but whispers.

And now, they were still going. And without any rational thinking behind it, Lisa had taken the lead.

They had made love in the most classic and intimate position for a very long time. On top of her, Michael had moved slowly inside her body, changing his rhythm at times, forcing every drop of pleasure out of her. There had been moments when he had almost stopped altogether, always staring at her, giving her slow, shallow thrusts that truly were a threat to her sanity, keeping an iron control over himself. They had never stopped to stare at each other, to the point that she had thought she would drown in his eyes.

And then they had rolled over and she had ended up on top of him.

Now, looking down at him, she could tell that he was close to his climax. He had kept going like a champion, but this was too much even for him. She knew exactly what to do to make him lose his mind. And there was so much lust – and yet so much peace – in his eyes, that it startled her.

He was holding her by the waist, not guiding her but just following her movements as she rode him without any hurry.

Lisa took his hands, kissed his knuckles, allowed him to fondle her breasts for a moment. Then she intertwined her fingers with him, pinning her hands over his head. Just holding them there. She kissed him and he began accompanying her rhythm.

“Don’t stop looking at me, Mike…” She knew her own control, too, was about to snap. The heat was consuming them both. “I wanna see you when you come…”

Michael bit his lip.

“Lisa…”

Her eyes burned.

“I love you…” Her hips danced and she felt him tense. “I love you so much…”

His eyes widened, and then his whole body began to go rigid.

“Oh, shit… I’m coming…”

Yeah. She knew. And she also knew that she should have probably stayed quiet instead of saying stuff that could easily get her in trouble.

She felt him twitch and harden even more inside of her and then finally let go, and she loved every single second of him releasing the most intimate part of him in her. That was her way to keep him with her forever, as stupid and absurd as it could sound, because that was his essence – metaphorically and otherwise. That was the man – not the artist, the superstar, and not even the humanitarian – but just the guy she had always wanted by her side, regardless of his status and his money. She loved him, and despite knowing that the last thing they needed now was her destroying the very confines she had set, she couldn’t hide her feelings any longer. Their out-of-time moment was over, and he needed to know that truth. That she had never left because she had stopped loving him. That she couldn’t. And that likely, she never would be able to.

And then something happened. As his body still wasn’t coming down from its high, Michael held her in his arms, tight, his face buried in the hollow of her neck, kissing her sweaty skin.

“Oh, God… I love you too… I love you, Lisa…”

Inside, she felt something creaking, then shattering. Whatever self-defense she had been able to keep up until that point was simply no more.