#thread:monaco

He held Amadeo's hand after breakfast to take him to his garage and shove a spare helmet on Amadeo telling him that a man doesn't buy a Rolls Royce to drive it himself, he buys it to be driven in, that he missed horse riding and the freedom of just leaving and how riding a bike was as close to it as possible as he put on his riding gloves and jacket and insisted Amadeo wear Verin's. He chose the Triumph, he only had three of his bikes in London. "Give it back to me in Monaco-" were his last words as he parked outside Amadeo's hotel, took his hand into his gloved ones, and kissed his knuckles goodbye.

They texted a little during the 21 days apart. On the 14th day.... a phone call confirming Amadeo would come next week.

The driver took his luggage and asked for Amadeo's passport so he wouldn't have to be disturbed by security, the car would pull straight up to the tarmac where a staff of four waited for Amadeo by the stairs of Baldwin's jet. One took his luggage, one handled his papers, one gave him a bouquet hand tied with a dark charcoal ribbon, the heart of the bouquet Edelweiss surrounded by blue thistle and white hellebore and black calla lilies and a single sprig of rosemary near the Edelweiss almost hidden, the symbol of memory. Their stems were uneven, Baldwin cut them for him by hand the day before, not wild of course, but it was all hand-picked, Baldwin tied the ribbon around it himself. Anyone could buy him a $300 bouquet, to have a man choose each flower himself for you was to speak of devotion, the time and effort dedicated for an architectural rather than fluffy bouquet as the last staff member offered Amadeo a bottle of water, fresh juice and a fluffy warm towel to settle him into his seat.

From Nice airport two of the staff members escorted him into a chartered helicopter for a seven-minute ride straight to the hotel square and to the Princess Grace Suite he would be escorted where a golden Cartier bracelet he needed to get screwed on and off with the inscription held by choice, a sapphire necklace and a single red rose greeted him. It was Friday evening, the race was on Sunday, they would at least have tomorrow together.

Baldwin knocked on the suite door before entering. "Good evening lover" he wished and was carrying three shopping bags. Gifts for Amadeo he would get in a minute. "Hope you had a pleasant flight, my helicopter pilot left much to be desired when it came to landings. Chartered helicopters, luck of the draw. Mine is still awaiting salvage from Lake Väner since April" Of course he had a private helicopter. "Rotor issue, a very safe crash landing before you worry. The pilot my passengers suffered some whiplash and very wet clothes but considering the circumstances-" He felt like he ought to assure Amadeo that unfortunate as that had been, a helicopter could bee replaced and the mortals on board were all fine.

"You look beautiful. Did you like the flowers? Am I forgiven for not picking you up in person or shall I proceed to the grovelling portion of the evening?" he jested with no hint of jest to his tone other than his face. "You smell nice" His nose pressed into Amadeo's neck to inhale him.