It had been an extremely long and challenging day. Megan’s shift had been a tough enough one but then the news abut Oz right at the end had left her emotionally wiped out before she even began to receive calls from the press looking for her reaction, finally switching off her phone to avoid them. She had considered going back to her own apartment rather than drag Carlo into the whole mess but as she climbed into her car after spending a few hours in the relative calm of the park she knew that wasn’t fair to him.
Arriving back at his cottage Megan made her way inside and headed straight to the kitchen to find her pills, her chest was tight and ending up in hospital was only going to make matters worse. “Anyone home?” she called as she walked through the house.
Megan woke on Saturday morning to the sun streaming in through a gap in the curtains. Blinking a few times she began to realise just how warm she was she soon appreciated that was due to the fact she was half lying on Carlo’s bare chest, the covers twisted around different limbs and as she shifted her leg sharp memories of their actions the previous night came flooding back to her, a wide smile growing on her lips. Listening carefully it was clear that Carlo was still asleep and so Megan slid out of bed and headed through to the kitchen. She found his shirt lying in a heap by the couch as she went and pulled in on to cover herself a little.
Fetching the box of pastries that she had picked up on her way over the previous evening Megan chopped up some fruit and poured juice for them both before arranging it all on a tray. She considered making coffee but decided that anything hot could wait until later as she had plans. Tiptoeing back to the bedroom she opened the door quietly and looked round to see if Carlo was still asleep.
Megan cried for a while when she got home and then felt ready to face the future. Oz was her past, now it was time to find out if she and Carlo shared more than lust. Dressed in a short black dress, black heels and with black lingerie underneath she checked her red lipstick one last time before she stepped out of the car and headed to his door. Ringing the bell she debated kneeling but decided that might be too much besides, she wanted to pretty much be swept straight into his embrace and not have to bother with getting up first. As the door opened her breath caught in her throat for a moment and she couldn’t speak. Swallowing quickly she smiled brightly, “Hi, I wasn’t doing anything tonight so thought I would just call round.”
Megan had met up with some friends at the concert early on but as the time passed she made her way back to the oak tree near the church. Freshening up her red lipstick and checking her hair in her compact she brushed down her dress, happy that the weather had brightened up after a spell of unseasonably cold weather. Leaning back against the tree, her heels carefully positioned to avoid wobbling on tree roots Megan listened to the band play although it wasn’t the music making her stomach flutter with anticipation.
Notes: Started as a google doc but will now update on the dash.
@carlo--romano
Megan pulled up at the cottage on the Romano estate with a grin. Her stomach was churning and she felt like her mouth was dry but she couldn’t wait to see Carlo and spend more time with him. The movie night on Easter Sunday and then the dinner at her place later that week had left her wanting to spend more and more time with the dominant and when he invited her to come to his for dinner she didn’t hesitate to accept.
Climbing out of the car she picked up the bag she had brought with her, a gift for her charming host, and headed to the door. Pausing for a moment to smooth down her dress and fluff her hair a little she glanced around what she could see of the Romano Estate, never having had call to be there before before she pressed the bell. A wide smile on her face as she waited.
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After the past few dates with Megan, Carlo thought that the nerves he had felt would ease, but he found himself still feeling a touch of nervousness tinged with excitement as he moved around his kitchen trying to fix dinner. He was by no means a fancy, or particularly impressive cook, but he wanted to do something nice for her as well as spend more time with her. That was how he found himself trying to follow a family recipe for eggplant parmigiana. Despite having the recipe in front of him, Carlo found himself reading the words more than once trying to focus on what was said, and running his fingers through his hair, which was still slightly damp from a shower he had taken after having gone to the gym, in slight frustration.
Despite his minor difficulties focusing on the instructions, he managed to just finish up dinner before he heard the bell to his door. An immediate smile came to his face and he went to the door, pulling it open and taking Megan’s appearance, with a slight shake of his head. “You look beautiful, as usual.” He commented before leaning forward to give her a light kiss. “Thanks for coming over tonight, come on in.” He stepped back and kept the door open for her to enter his home, and only closed the door after she was fully inside. “Hope you don’t mind eggplant parmigiana… I probably should’ve asked before I went and made it. I can make something else if you don’t like that. I know it can be a bit of an acquired taste.” His eyes met hers, a hint of questioning in his expression before moving toward the kitchen.
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Megan’s smile brightened as she saw him and his compliment made her bubble with joy. “It’s lovely to see you as well,” she replied happily as she entered, her eyes roaming quickly to take in the space. “Eggplant Parmigiana will be great and it smells wonderful. I brought a little something for after, I hope you don’t mind.” She held out the bag containing the whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries that she had brought. “There’s also a bottle of wine and I brought some fizzy apple juice which will at least let me feel a bit more like I’m having something special,” she added with a slight shrug and a chuckle. Her eyes roamed over his face for a moment before she smiled again, “Can I help with anything?”
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Taking the bag out of her hands, he looked at the items inside and couldn’t help the smirk that formed on his face. “You remembered. Can’t say I’m not pleased about that.” Carlo shook his head at the idea of wine. The slight headache he’d been feeling was enough to put him off drinking. “I think we’ll save the bottle of wine for another night. I’ve had a little headache lately, so we’ll save it for a rainy day. Although, that’ll just mean that I’ll have to buy you some bottle of sparkling grape juice, or sparkling apple juice again for the next time. Hope you don’t mind sharing. I thank you for thinking of bringing it. You didn’t have to. I’m supposed to be treating you.” He nodded for her to follow him toward the kitchen. He placed the fruit and whipped cream in the fridge to keep it cool, and looked over everything. “I’ve already set the table, and I’m done here so really, I’ll just take the food over to the table whenever you’re ready to eat. Unless you’re ready now?” He glanced at her to see what she would choose to do.
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“Of course I remembered, you said it was your favorite thing,” Megan grinned but inside she was delighted that he was pleased about it. She was about to argue that he didn’t have to avoid drinking just because of her but then her concern grew as she heard he hadn’t been feeling well. “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it clears up soon. Do you think it’s the weather? All this sunny one minute, cold and rainy the next can do that to you.” However the fact he so easily suggested buying her another bottle the next time did give her a little lift as it confirmed that there would be a next time and she knew she really wanted to keep seeing him. “I didn’t want to come empty handed and you are putting in all the hard work this evening so this was the least I could do….I mean I could have brought flowers but I didn’t think you would appreciate them as much,” she explained with a small smirk.
Following him into the kitchen her smile grew as she saw he was all prepared. “I’m nearly ready, I just need to do this first,” she grinned as she stepped forward and kissed his lips. “It all looks lovely, thank you.”
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With a slight shrug at her question, Carlo thought about it and answered, “You know, I’m not too sure. It might be. Don’t worry, though, I’m sure it’ll pass.” Megan had clearly been thoughtful, anticipating things that they may need, or just things he may want. He smiled at her for a moment before commenting, “You’re right, but then again my family have plenty of people who are incredible with flowers. It would be hard to top that. As for me putting in all the hard work, I wanted to. I don’t mind doing something nice for you, and hopefully I did a good job because if not then my family might disown me for ruining this recipe.”
When Megan stepped in to kiss him, he wrapped one arm around her, pulling her in against his body as kissed her in return. His other hand cupped her face and he smiled at her comment before answering with, “Good, I’m glad. I hope that you’ll like it.” He leaned marginally before saying, “But I just want one more…” His lips brushed over hers once more, lingering for a moment, a small smile on his face thinking he could easily continue doing that than going into dinner. He almost didn’t care if his dinner went to waste, but he’d put in this effort for her, and wasn’t about to let it all be ruined. With a sigh he moved back reluctantly, but reached for her hand as he did. “We’d better eat or the food will get cold.”
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The feel of his arm pulling her close and his body against hers brought a whole barrage of feelings rushing through her and coupled with the gentle touch of his hand on her face was enough to make her drop to her knees and beg for more. She resisted however, trying not to pout as he did pull away to serve dinner. “We should eat. I would hate your hard work to go to waste,” she assured him before a cheeky grin grew on her face. “I’m sure dinner won’t take all evening though, we’ll have plenty of time after.”
She hovered for a moment in case he wanted her to do anything but it soon became clear he had everything under control so she sat down and opened the apple juice, pouring them both a glass.
Megan arrived a few minutes late to The Priory having almost turned back before she even opened the door. There was no point pretending the staff wouldn’t recognise her but months had passed and she needed to do something for her she told herself and after all it was only dinner. Giving Carlo’s name at the desk she was shown to the table, smoothing down her dress as she went and smiling as she approached to see the dominant was already there. “Good evening Sir, I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long.”
It had been a busy weekend for Megan with the Capulet Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday and mass on Sunday morning, a habit she felt she should really get better at observing but now she tried to focus on her evening as her stomach bubbled with excitement and nerves at seeing Carlo again. With a meeting with her boss and then seeing Thomas both the next day Megan was keen to relax and enjoy her evening with Carlo rather than worry about what either of the two meetings on Monday might throw up.
Finally settling on a dress and cardigan and considering that a second date in her house was far more stressful outfit wise then dressing to go out to dinner as she tried to hit a balance of relaxed but still having made an effort Megan rearranged the cushions on her couch for the tenth time as she waited for the bell and prayed that he hadn’t changed his mind.
She rushed to get the door as soon as she heard the bell, pulling it open with a bright smile, “Hi, come in. Did you find it alright?”
Megan took a deep breath before she knocked on Carlo’s door. Things had been going well between them but there was still one massive issue which she hadn’t told him about. She smiled as he opened the door and stepping inside she kissed him in greeting. “Hi, have you got a moment? There’s something I need to tell you.”
Letting him lead the way to the couch Megan knelt down in front of him. The position was comforting for her and since her scenes had been really restricted since she met Carlo she knew she would be able to draw strength from the simple act of submission.
Once they were both settled Megan took a long breath again before she looked up at him. “I think you know that I really like you Carlo and my feelings are growing but there is something that I need to tell you before we get in any further.” Brushing her hair from her face she began again, “I was in a claim before.....well technically, legally I am still in a claim because the claim has never been dissolved.” She glanced at his face for a moment before going on, “The late Prince issued a decree to the Capulet and Montague families demanding 12 claims by last August. He then decided that the families weren’t taking it seriously and he added a clause that there had to be three claims approved by the end of December with the claims taking place by the end of January. Both families were going to be exiled from Verona and so there were three rush claims. I entered a claim with Lord Montague. At the time it felt right but we were just not compatible, we didn’t have time to really get to know each other properly and then when I got ill he became very controlling and ....and things just grew worse between us. We split up in November and we have only seen each other once since then when we were summoned to the palace.” Megan looked up at him again, her eyes watering, “I’ve gone to tell you so many times but I, well I didn’t want to ruin what we had but I also don’t want you to hear it from someone else. There is nothing between Oz and I, what we had is long since over but I can’t change my past and you have a right to know.” Her shoulders sagged as she finished speaking, “That’s all, I just needed to be honest with you.” She glanced up again, hoping that he would not be upset she had waited so long to tell him.
