Archiwum
- Index
- Giovanni Guareschi [Don Camillo 01] The Little World of Don Camillo (pdf)
- Christine Young [Highland 01] Highland Honor (pdf)
- Angela Verdenius [Heart & Soul 16] Soul of a Guardian (pdf)
- Chalker Jack L W Świecie Studni 5 Zmierzch przy Studni Dusz (pdf)
- Dahlia Rose, Brenda Steele, Regina Paul, Dorian Wallace Mating Season (anth.) (pdf)
- Cooper McKenzie [Menage Amour 161 Club Esotera 03] Minding Mistress (pdf)
- Dena Garson [Emerald Isle Fantasies 03] Ghostly Persuasion [EC Twilight] (pdf)
- 33 1 3 087 Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson Darran Anderson (pdf)
- Alan Burt Akers [Dray Prescot 07] Arena of Antares (pdf)
- May Karol b. Szejk Tarik
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- aeie.pev.pl
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quick sponge bath in the bathroom sink before throwing on his
jeans and a plain white dress shirt. He left it open at the throat,
exposing a tantalizing triangle of creamy skin. I wanted to plant
my face right there and lick the rest of the sweat off him.
Tonio appeared in the doorway, now dressed in his street
clothes, his face split by a wide grin. Congratulations, maestro,
he said, coming over to shake Matt s hand. You may have a
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career at this yet.
Matt grinned back, obviously relieved despite his exhaustion.
Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you.
I told the doorman to hold back the thundering hordes.
Figured you d want to make a clean getaway.
Yeah, I would. He stretched and stood up, wobbling on his
feet. Now if somebody could carry me out to the cab&
Actually, my apartment s not far from here, if you two would
like to come over for a drink.
I was about to answer, but Matt beat me to the punch. Why
not? Maybe the fresh air will help revive me.
When he glanced at me, I gave a reluctant nod.
We took the service exit, which led us out to an alley behind
the opera house. I held Matt s hand as we walked along, and
amazingly, he did appear to come back to life after a few minutes
in the brisk mid-October breeze. Tonio s apartment lay a few
blocks over, in a charming old white brick building with wrought-
iron railings on the balconies.
Like most of these aging edifices, it didn t have an elevator, so
we had no choice but to drag our tired asses up four flights to
Tonio s floor. There were only two apartments, one on either side
of the hallway. The front door opened directly onto the living
room, with an overstuffed leather couch and two matching
armchairs. A shiny black concert grand stood in the far corner,
shelves of music scores lining one entire wall. The bathroom and
bedroom were presumably down the hallway. A long, glass-topped
dining table stood at the opposite end of the room, near the door
leading into the kitchen.
Make yourselves comfortable, Tonio said, gesturing toward
the living room. What would you like to drink? I have just about
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everything, even American liquor.
I pondered a double scotch, until Matt piped up with, Do you
have any Trebbiano?
As a matter of fact, I put a fresh bottle in to chill last night.
Good choice, by the way. Shall I bring three glasses?
What the hell I was in no mood to be picky. Matt and I
nodded, then plopped down on the couch to relax while Tonio
went to fetch the wine.
It wasn t the same vintage we d sampled at the Trattoria Luisa
the other night, but it was still pretty damn good. Light and citrusy,
it tingled on my tongue and went down smooth as butter.
Unfortunately, it had been so long since we d last eaten, the
alcohol sailed right to my head.
Matt s, too. Half a glass, and he already had that dopey, glassy-
eyed look of the cheap drunk. Oh, well. He d worked hard this
week. He deserved a chance to unwind.
Where s your next stop in the tour after Firenze? Tonio
prompted, already pouring himself a second glass. He always did
have a hollow leg.
Zurich, then Cologne, Matt replied. Our last stop s Berlin.
But to tell the truth, I kind of wish we could go home now. The last
couple of weeks have been so great, I keep thinking the other
shoe s bound to come crashing down sometime.
Always with the glass half-empty, I chided.
I just don t want to get my hopes up before there s any reason
to. What happened with Mom taught me that, no matter what I
achieve, it could all disappear in an instant.
Tonio s brow wrinkled. I m sorry, but your mother is&
Carmela Branciaga. She got sick about ten years ago, and
Ah, yes, I m aware. I was sorry to hear of her illness.
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Nevertheless, she s still left a formidable legacy to live up to.
No kidding.
It s a legacy you ve done more than proud, and you know it,
I interjected.
So everybody keeps telling me, he murmured, slumping
against my shoulder, eyes drifting shut. Within a minute or two,
he d nodded off.
Tonio chuckled. He really did give it his all tonight. You re a
lucky man, Aaron. He s beautiful, passionate, talented& quite
extraordinary. I envy you.
Thank you, I murmured, genuinely touched, then stung by a
sharp, swift pang of irrational jealousy that took me a few seconds
to shake off. This was ridiculous. Tonio was a friend. Of course he
had no designs on Matt. But& well, if you don t mind me prying,
what happened with you and Massimo? I thought you two were
pretty serious.
Oh, that was ages ago ten years, at least. He put up with a lot
from me, but when I got married, that was it.
My glass froze halfway to my lips. You got married? To a
woman?
Strictly for convenience s sake. I got tired of my family
pressuring me to give them a grandchild. Giovanna was a rehearsal
pianist at the opera house. We became friends. She had an affair
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