A Valentine's Day Gift (Clover Park, Book 11)

by Kylie Gilmore

  She tried to tell him what she needed. “Just, please, just…ah.”

  His mouth covered hers, and then he was fully inside, filling her to her womb. She gasped into his mouth and he shifted, kissing her temple, then her cheek, trailing to her ear. “We fit,” he rasped in her ear. “You’re so tight I feel like I’m gonna die happy.”

  She whimpered incoherently, needing release, needing the ache to fade to get there, needing him to do something.

  He shifted to kiss her and grinned. “You feel amazing.”

  “Please,” she gasped out, not even sure what she needed, but it was something.

  “Wrap your legs around me.”

  She did.

  “Now breathe.”

  She’d been holding her breath. She took a deep breath and nodded. His hand slipped under her hip and tilted her up as he thrust slow and deep, pleasure radiating through her, the ache fading. “Yes-s-s,” she hissed out on a long breath.

  “Yes,” he said, his gaze locked on hers. “Yes.”

  She couldn’t look away, his dark eyes heated, his features in the throes of passion amping up her own pleasure. To know she did that to him, her body with its scar that he hadn’t even looked twice at, her out-of-practice petite self brought this gorgeous big man pleasure. He nipped her bottom lip and then sucked it, his thrusts deep, rocking her, possessing her.

  He lifted his head, thrusting faster, his expression fierce, rocking, rocking, rocking. She exploded, a sharp cry ripped from her throat, and then he was thrusting through her release, bringing waves of pleasure through her body. He groaned, shuddering against her with his own release.

  He gave her some of his weight, still holding himself up on his forearms. Even in the aftermath, he was thoughtful enough not to crush her with his weight. That was new for her. Everything about making love with Vinny was a new and amazing experience for her.

  He rolled off her and lay on his back, breathing hard.

  “You’re so wonderful,” she blurted.

  He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Thanks, you too.” A few moments passed before he added, “You’re gonna be sore. Tomorrow I’ll go easy on you. Sunday we’ll experiment.”

  She gulped. “Experiment?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He waved a hand lazily in the air. “I’ll maneuver you into a few different positions, see which ones you can take me in without gasping in shock.”

  She was already gasping in shock. “What positions?”

  “I dunno. I’ll move you around, see what works.”

  “Move me around,” she echoed. “Like a doll.”

  He rolled to his side and kissed her. “Like a lover. You’ll like it.”

  “That’s how it’s gonna be, huh?”

  He shifted, lying flat on his back again. “That’s how it’s gonna be. And I won’t hear any complaints tomorrow, that’s for sure.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because your legs will be around my ears.”

  She throbbed at the thought, hot all over. How could he do that so easily? She propped up on an elbow to look at him. His eyes were closed, his thick lashes fanned out on his cheeks, a small smile on his full lips. She adored this man.

  She kissed him. “Dirty, dirty mouth.”

  “Ha. You like it.”

  “I love it.” And I love you. The thought scared her. Because where did they go from here? Mixing together six kids, forcing them to become a family when their own families had fallen apart. She knew her kids couldn’t handle it. Vinny’s kids might even resent her trying to take their mother’s place. Not that she ever could, but kids viewed the world differently than an adult.

  Not for the first time she wished she’d met Vinny under different circumstances.

  He got out of bed, magnificently naked, heading to the bathroom. He returned a few minutes later, turned off the light, and slid into bed with her. “Night.”

  It was the first time they’d ever said goodnight and actually spent the night together. “Night,” she whispered, rolling to her side, her usual sleeping position.

  He wrapped an arm around her and spooned her from behind, heating her entire body.

  “You ever think about the future?” she whispered.

  “Try not to.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I worry about the kids.”

  Boy, did she get that. Easier to take it one day at a time. One crisis at a time. She fidgeted a bit, not used to sleeping with a man.

  He put a hand to her head, stilling her. “Sleep. You’ll need your energy to take me on tomorrow.” He was teasing with his sexy banter.

  “I thought you were going easy on me tomorrow.”

  He sank his teeth into the side of her neck and she gasped. His voice was velvet. “I’ll be going easy; you’ll be coming hard over and over and over.”

  Electrified, she lay in the dark, eyes wide open, imagining all he’d promised. She had no doubt he’d follow through magnificently. Compatibility? Check. Future? Big old question mark.

  Chapter Nine

  Allie was in love, truly in love for the first time in her life. She never thought, as a single mom in her thirties, it would happen for her, but by some miracle, there it was. Four months of dating and she was dizzy with all that she felt for Vinny. She hadn’t told him of her love, and he hadn’t said the words either. She figured neither of them was ready to cross that line and what it meant for their future because it would be complicated. It was a matter of time, the right time, before she took things to the next level with Vinny once she knew her boys could handle it. As it was, the boys were still giving their dad attitude, despite repeated talks from her and revoking of video game privileges (their favorite thing). William had to be the one to step up, but he didn’t want to punish them, saying they didn’t like visiting him as it was, and he didn’t want to make it worse. When her boys finally calmed down, it would mean they had accepted the divorce situation.

  Another real concern, once the boys were brought into it, actually meeting Vinny as her serious boyfriend, she knew they’d blab to their dad. She worried her ex would be vindictive, making things difficult for her either with the boys or with money. It was one thing for him to date, but he’d never much liked her seeking her own happiness. Jerk.

  And what would Vinny expect of her if they took things to the next level? Would he want her to move in? Take care of his kids along with hers? She wasn’t sure she was ready to be a mom to six kids.

  Vinny kept inviting her and the boys to do things with his family, which was good because she knew he must be serious about her, but also bad because she had to keep turning him down. He kept it casual, low-key. Like when he invited them to join his family to see a movie or to join them for their town’s Christmas tree lighting. And then, finally, just before the New Year, she was backed into a corner. It was inevitable after four months of dating, yet it had still taken her by surprise.

  She’d had a late date with Vinny the night before, paying the babysitter extra so Allie could sneak home with him for some much-needed bedroom time after his babysitter left. She’d snuck out again after, his kids none the wiser. Now it was Sunday morning; she’d slept in and felt decadent. Sleeping with Vinny was truly a piece of heaven for her. She could hear the boys loudly playing their own version of Monopoly downstairs. Her phone rang and she quickly picked up.

  “Good morning,” Vinny’s deep voice crooned, sounding a little smug because last night he’d made her come undone. She’d made sounds she’d never made in her life, primal animal sounds that he covered with his kisses, and then she’d collapsed, completely boneless. It had been so hard to leave his warm bed, but her responsibilities as a mom were never far from her mind.

  “Morning,” she replied cheerfully.

  “I had a great time last night.”

  “Me too.”

  “Course, I always do with you, love.”

  She smiled the biggest goofies
t smile on the planet. “You’re so sweet.”

  He spoke earnestly. “You know I care about you. You’re important to me.”

  “Yes,” she said, suddenly wary.

  “I’d really like you and your boys to come over tonight for Sunday dinner. I want my kids to get to know the woman I’m crazy about, and I want your kids to know me too. My mother-in-law would also really like to meet you.”

  Her heels dug in automatically. Vinny was for her, not her boys. Besides, it had only been four months since the divorce was official and the boys weren’t ready. She spoke in a gentle tone, hoping to lessen the rejection. “I already planned dinner tonight. Their favorite—burgers.”

  “No,” Vinny said.

  “No?” she echoed, confused.

  “Hold on.” There was a rustling sound like he’d covered the phone. He spoke in a low tone to someone, and then he was back, his voice resigned. “Allie, Loretta would like to say hello.”

  And then a woman’s voice got on the phone. “Hello, I’m Loretta, Vincent’s mother-in-law.”

  The woman’s tone was so authoritative Allie sat up straight in bed. “Hi, I’m Allie.”

  “Allie, I’ve heard a great deal about you and know you mean a lot to Vincent, so I’d like to formally invite you and your sons to Sunday dinner at my home.”

  “That’s very nice of you, but—”

  “Do you deny my request?”

  Allie ran a hand through her hair. “I was just telling Vinny that—”

  “Do you know what I have lost?” Loretta asked quietly.

  Allie stilled, her chest tightening. Loretta had lost her daughter and recently her husband. Allie could only imagine the pain the woman had been through. “Yes, I know.”

  “Then you know Vinny and the boys are my world. Now you are in that world, and I would like to meet you. Is it too much to ask you to share one meal with me?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Good. It’s settled. I’ll see you at five p.m. sharp.” She rattled off the address. “Hold on, I’ll get Vinny.”

  There was another low conversation between Loretta and Vinny, and then Vinny was back. He kept his voice low. “Allie, I don’t want you to feel pressured. She said she just wanted to say hello. If you’re not up for this, I’ll tell her, okay?”

  “I thought you threw me under the bus.”

  “I would never do that. Really. No pressure. She’s just been asking about you. She’s a force to be reckoned with, though she means well.”

  “Do you want me to go?”

  “Very much. I feel good about where we’re at.”

  She let out a shaky breath, reaching deep for what she wanted. And what she wanted more than anything was Vinny. “Me too. Okay, we’ll be there.”

  “Thank you. I’m really looking forward to it.”

  She swallowed hard, not at all sure if she was ready for what this dinner would bring. It was so much more than just a dinner, this meeting of families, especially for her boys. “I need to go. See you later.”

  They said their goodbyes, and Allie disconnected with trembling hands. Now she had to explain to her boys not only that they’d be meeting the man in her life, but also other children, motherless children, who might also need her love. Would they be willing to share her? Could they accept actually seeing Mom with a boyfriend? All of the complications she’d feared fired through her brain—

  Her boys adjusting to a man in her life that was not their dad.

  Her ex’s reaction.

  His mother-in-law.

  Vinny’s expectations.

  All those kids!

  She girded her loins. First things first, she needed to talk to her boys.

  Later that day, she made them burgers for lunch since they’d be having dinner tonight with the Marino family. They were so happy she almost felt guilty telling them the big news. She waited until they were nearly done eating before saying, “Boys, I have some news.”

  They all looked up at her curiously, still chewing.

  She took a deep breath and pasted on a smile. “You know I’ve been dating Vinny for a while now, and he’s invited all of us to dinner tonight.”

  Gabe stopped eating. “Is that why we got burgers for lunch?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  Luke and Jared went back to their burgers.

  She kept going. “And the nice thing is that he has three sons pretty close in age to you guys, so you’ll have someone to play with.”

  Gabe frowned. “Mom, I’m thirteen. I don’t play. I hang out.”

  “Sure, you can all hang out,” she said, giving all three of them a big smile. “How’s that sound?”

  Luke spoke around his burger. “Are you gonna marry this guy?” This was the second time Luke had mentioned marriage.

  It had crossed her mind, of course, but the idea of getting married again so soon after her divorce scared her. What if it didn’t work out? She didn’t think she could handle another divorce.

  She exhaled sharply. “I don’t know. I mean, not anytime soon.” She cleared her throat. “That’s not where we’re at right now.”

  “Was that a yes or a no?” Gabe asked.

  “No,” she said.

  “Good,” Luke said, “’cuz we already have a dad.” Got it, Luke, no replacing your dad.

  “Are one of his kids my age?” Jared asked.

  “Yes,” she said, back on firm ground. Jared, despite being a daredevil, was the most easygoing of her sons. “His youngest, Angel, is seven too.”

  “Angel?” Jared asked, his nose crinkling. “That’s a funny name.”

  “It’s short for Angelo,” she said.

  Jared shrugged and took a big swallow of milk, leaving a milk mustache that he wiped away with his sleeve.

  “Napkin,” she said automatically.

  The boys finished up in silence. Jared popped up from the table, and she grabbed him by the arm. “Wait. Does anyone have any questions about tonight?”

  Gabe looked at her somberly. “Do we have to dress up?”

  “No.”

  “Yay!” Jared cheered. “I hate dressing up.” This one played hard; half the time he was covered in dirt.

  “What’re they having for dinner?” Luke asked.

  “We’ll have to wait and find out,” she said.

  “Can we go now?” Gabe asked.

  She released Jared. “Yes.”

  The boys took off, and she sat at the quiet kitchen table, waiting for the other shoe to drop. That had been way too easy.

  ~ ~ ~

  Allie arrived at Loretta’s colonial home ten minutes early. She’d hustled the boys out with time to spare just so she’d get there on time. She’d baked some brownies for the kids to have for dessert and then merely prayed that her kids would behave themselves. They’d been unusually quiet on the drive over; even Jared had been quiet.

  She gathered her boys close on the front porch. “Now remember your manners. Say please and thank you. Call Vinny, Mr. Marino, and call Loretta…shoot. I don’t know her last name. Just wait and see how she introduces herself.”

  “We know, Mom,” Gabe said on a long drone. Like she was the most irritating person on the planet.

  “We always use our manners,” Luke said. “Are you going to ring the bell?”

  “Yes.”

  Jared jabbed it multiple times. She yanked his hand away. “Once is enough.”

  The door opened to an older Italian woman, wearing an apron, her gray hair in a bun. “Come in, welcome, I’m Mrs. Costa.”

  Allie ushered her boys inside, saying, “Thanks so much for having us, Mrs. Costa.” As if the woman hadn’t twisted her arm with good old-fashioned guilt.

  Allie glanced over at Vinny and his three boys standing to one side all in a row. Vinny gave her a wink and a smile. She smiled back, her heart warming for this wonderful man she loved so much. She instantly forgave the push that had gotten her here tonight. Without that push, she would’ve dragged her feet ind
efinitely. Her love for Vinny made this meeting inevitable.

  She returned her attention to Mrs. Costa, who was studying her very closely. Allie tried not to squirm.

  She offered the brownie tray to their host. “I made dessert.”

  Mrs. Costa took the brownies. “You cook?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Not an expert or anything, but gotta feed the kids. I’d be fine with salad or cereal.”

  Mrs. Costa arched a brow. “Vinny is an excellent cook. I taught him everything I know.”

  “That’s wonderful,” she said. She checked in with Vinny, a little surprised to hear he was excellent at cooking. He shrugged modestly. She hadn’t had the experience of his cooking yet. Vinny always took her out. Maybe he wanted a break from the daily chore.

  “Of course,” Mrs. Costa said coolly. “He had to learn Italian cooking so his sons can have the cooking their mother would’ve provided.” She turned and walked toward the kitchen.

  Vinny closed the distance between them, leaning down to kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear, “How’re you doing?”

  “I’m fine.” She took a step away, not sure if her boys would appreciate any public displays of affection.

  Vinny turned to her boys. “Hello, I’m Vinny.”

  “Oh, yes,” Allie said. “Vinny, this is Gabe.”

  Vinny shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Marino,” Gabe said in a subdued voice.

  “This is Luke,” she said.

  Luke shook Vinny’s hand. “Hi.”

  “Nice firm grip there,” Vinny commented. He turned to Jared. “I remember you, Jared.”

  Jared beamed. “I remember you too! You let me use your hammer.”

  “What?” Allie exclaimed. “When did that happen?”

  Vinny laughed. “You never asked your mom if it was okay, did you?”

  Jared ran over to Angel and said something to him.

  “I didn’t know that,” Allie said.

  Vinny shrugged. “He came up to the art studio and said it was okay with you. I let him hammer in some sheetrock.” He turned to his boys. “Come on over. She doesn’t bite.”