dark, the white lights glowed around the perimeter, making the field’s green grass visible.
The ride had been noisy, and Leah’s head was still buzzing when they landed back at Midway Airport. The thrill of flying through the air with a bird’s-eye view of the city had been exhilarating, and it was something she wouldn’t soon forget.
*****
The next morning, they got up early, and took time to lounge around their room. There was a lot to see in Chicago, and there was no way to get to it all in one weekend. So they relaxed and planned out their day. The private suite had a gourmet kitchen fully stocked with food.
Instead of cooking, Gianni opted to have French toast delivered to the room, and they ate breakfast in front of the fireplace. The delicious toast was smothered in pecans and blueberries. They sipped earthy-tasting coffee made from a blend roasted only for the bed and breakfast.
“Mmm, everything is delicious,” Leah said.
Gianni wore jeans and cotton shirt, looking as delectable as the food tasted. “I agree.” He leaned back and put his feet up on the coffee table. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
He could be so tender, and Gianni’s interest in her welfare didn’t seem to wane. “I am,” she said. “And we still have two days to enjoy Chicago.” Leah pushed her plate back and pulled her legs underneath her to get comfortable on the sofa.
Gianni’s blue-gray eyes looked especially sexy. “Feel like talking?”
Leah had a feeling what he wanted to talk about, and took a breath. “Sure.”
“I want you to know that you can talk with me. Say what you feel. Ask anything if you need to.” Gianni pulled his legs off the table, and leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs. “You are free to do so now.”
Leah gazed at his sculpted thighs, then up into his eyes. “You make it sound so formal.”
A smile touched his lips. “I don’t mean to.”
Wrapping her arms together, Leah looked at the crackling fire for a minute, then back at Gianni. “Well, since you asked.” She paused, debating if she should say something or not. “I have been feeling jealous.”
The look on Gianni’s face told her that he hadn’t been expecting that. “You are jealous of another woman?”
“Not one in particular,” she said. “I’m jealous of any woman that you pay attention to.” Leah took a breath. “Am I being too honest?”
He shook his head. “No, not at all. I’m just surprised, that’s all. I thought I showed you in so many ways how much I crave you.”
“You do, but…”
He waited.
“I just…well, I don’t want to put pressure on you,” Leah said. “I’m just trying to understand.”
“How I feel about other women?”
“I guess so.”
“Well, you should know that I’m not in the habit of being with more than one woman at a time. That should give you confidence that I don’t have my eye on anyone else, since we are together.”
Leah shrugged. “That makes sense.” She thought it over. “What about Ava? I guess I don’t fully understand. How could you be with her for so long, and share the playroom, but not love her?”
Gianni looked thoughtful. “I suppose I didn’t think about that. In any relationship such as we had, there is a degree of caring. I’ve known of situations where the submissive was used for sexual pleasure alone.”
Leah hung on his every word.
“But that’s not my style. In any relationship I’ve had, there has been compassion, a certain level of fondness. Love, if you will.”
“But not being in love ?”
“No, I think that’s different.” Gianni furrowed his brow. “And Ava had issues with that. She needed the connection, and it worked for us both. For a while.” He paused and leaned back in the chair. “It can be exhilarating to feel deeply connected to someone, to see into another’s soul, and feel intimately understood by them.”
Leah clasped her hands together, anxious for him to go on.
“But as in any