“I knew it. You and your brother don’t mind sharing women or cheating on one to be with another. It’s all a game to you.”
“It was a game but not now.”
Sadly, it took men forever to grow up. “Aurora told me you and your brother had a challenge to find the right girl and get her to say ‘I love you’ within a certain amount of time. Is that true too?”
He looked uncomfortable, but she didn’t care. He’d tricked her. She was sure of it. She waited for him to spin a wild tale, instead of telling her how he’d attempted to win Aurora away from his brother.
“Yes. It’s all true. I thought I was in love with her. But she wasn’t the one for me.” He stood and straightened his loose tie. “I can see this isn’t going to work with you.”
She stood too, a last challenge to make him come clean in his madcap adventures with his twin. Tricking women was plain unacceptable. “I wish things could have been different between us. I really do.”
“Me too, carina. I am only a man who wants a woman he finds incredibly attractive.”
Oh God, he looks so sad.
Could she be wrong? What if this was Brent? What if he truly cared about her, and she pushed him away because he might be his brother? But if she was right and it was Bryce? She’d be as bad as Jon, the man who wooed her while she planned his wedding to another woman. How would she really know?
“If you are Brent, the man I was supposed to meet that morning, tell me now.”
He sighed and stepped closer than she would have liked. She could barely breathe her heart beat so fast. His warm body heated the space between them and she ached to have him hold her again. “I am Brent Lovella, not Bryce Lovella. I want you to believe me. I want us to have a chance to explore these feelings we have between us. I know you are loyal to Aurora. And I would never want to destroy that loyalty.”
His spicy masculine cologne tickled her nose in such close proximity. She wanted to believe him, to trust him. She wanted to feel his mouth on hers, be held in his strong arms, and enjoy passionate sex with him. But she didn’t want to be hurt again. She didn’t know what to do. Her body screamed yes, and her mind stubbornly said no.
Dammit. She had to give him a chance, or she would never know what she’d missed. Better to be hurt and lose at love than never experience love at all, right? “I want to believe you. I know I shouldn’t, but I do.”
His mouth hovered over hers and he whispered, “La mia bella amante.”
She didn’t have a clue what he’d said, but she did understand the power of his kiss. She sighed in anticipation. This was the same man she had wonderful sex with in the shower. His lips caressed hers like a long-lost lover, and his masculinity overwhelmed her senses. He swept her away in one breathless caress.
****
Brent lifted her skirt. He had to feel her, to make her squirm. He pulled her hips against his so she could feel his desire. “Danielle, I need to bury myself inside you. I crave your closeness. I need to feel you hold me.”
She stepped back to remove her panties and slipped them down inside her purse. He unzipped his trousers and pulled out his swollen erection. Lifting her into his arms, he held her above his aching cock. He kissed her and pushed deep inside in one smooth movement. They were so right, such a perfect fit. He pumped into her, lifting her bottom, squeezing her thighs, harder and faster…until she arched her back and let go. He sucked in a breath with the intensity of his release, then covered her mouth in a tongue-dueling kiss to muffle her moans of pleasure.
“I’ve never…had…such great…sex.” Her breath came out in little gasps. Her pretty face was flushed with fulfilled desire, and her blue eyes sparkled with passion—for him.
“We’re good together, carina.” He lowered her to the floor and tugged her skirt back down. He zipped up his pants and tucked in his shirt, just as his uncle burst into the room.
Damn, perfect timing.
“So sorry, you two.” Antonio seemed flustered and didn’t notice anything had happened between them. “We had a large party come in, and I let them have our ziti. No problem. I made more for us. I will be back in a few minutes with a wonderful lunch.”
She giggled after Antonio left. “I’m glad he didn’t—”
He put his fingers to her lips and laughed too. Close call. In afterthought, he pondered what would have happened had Antonio walked in a few minutes sooner. “I think he would have scolded us both for having a quickie in his restaurant, but Uncle Tony believes in amoré above all things. He would understand.”
“I’m just glad our secret is still a secret.”
“Amoré segreto!” Brent held out his hand, and she accepted. Her dainty one was secure in his, and his heart lightened. She trusted him enough to give him a second chance. “Let’s go wash up before lunch.”
****
Danielle followed him out the door and down the hallway toward the bathrooms, mentally trying to translate his words. She understood a little Italian, but they spoke it far too fast for her to catch most of it. Amoré was love and bella was beautiful, but he lost her on the rest of it.
“Come.” He tugged her inside what looked like the office and locked the door.
“Wait. What are you doing?”
“I need a few more minutes with you in case you change your mind after lunch, and you push me away again.” He nibbled along her neck up to her earlobe and met her mouth with a hungry kiss. “Il mio amoré.”
His words of love softened her heart. She hugged him to her breast and whispered into his ear. “Are you my dream lover?”
“Sognatore? Ah, yes. That would be me.” His low laughter made her smile.
It was good to feel special by this awesome man, almost too good to be true. She’d keep a watchful eye on him to make sure he wasn’t simply stringing her along.
“Come here, Danielle.” He walked over to the wet bar and grabbed a clean towel from beneath. With one end of the towel dampened at the sink and the other end dry, he kneeled and cleaned her up.
“I can do that.” She giggled at his gentle touch but slapped his hands away when his fingers decided to play a bit. Once was enough. They were lucky they hadn’t been caught in the act by Antonio.
“Tutto fatto.” He stood and tapped the tip of her nose.
She rolled the words over in her mind. Nope. She didn’t have a clue. “I love when you speak Italian, but I don’t always understand. Did you just call me fat?”
He laughed and ran his hand up her bare thigh, sending a shiver to her feminine core. “No, I said all done. You are not fat, you are bellissimo.”
“Beautiful?”
“No, lovely. You are very lovely, carina.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, one short sweet kiss, before he let her go.
“Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say. You’re a hunk and I am dying to be with you? It sounded about right, but she couldn’t say it out loud.
He turned on the water, pulled out another clean towel and discarded the used one in the trash. “Please, let’s not fight anymore. I’d rather make love to you.”
She’d rather have him make love to her too. She smiled as they washed their hands in the sink. If only he’s for real…
Chapter Two
Chef Antonio brought a big platter of baked ziti into the private dining room, followed by one of his sous chefs carrying the chilled vino and a basket of his tasty garlic bread. The aroma was delicious, but Danielle’s appetite had been satisfied with a lust-filled tryst. Now she was concerned if she’d done the right thing, letting a known playboy back into her heart.
“Is there something troubling you, Danielle?” Antonio dished her a small portion.
“No, I’m fine.” She accepted a glass of vino from the server and promised herself it would only be one glass. Glancing across at Brent, she wondered once again if this twin was really the brother of the groom or her best friend’s fiancé.
“She looks fine to me.” Brent winked, and she read his
silent message loud and clear.
Antonio grinned and dug into his baked ziti with gusto.
Another long swallow of wine and she set the glass aside. Wait, she had his uncle right here to confirm which twin she was dating. This was her chance to discover his true identity. Surely, his own uncle would know. “Antonio, who is this young man? I know you brought him to my dinner party last fall, but I can’t remember his name.”
“Did I forget to introduce you? Mio caro, I am sorry. I thought you knew each other.” The jovial, middle-aged man chuckled a very pleasant sound. “This is one of my nephews. Brent…or possibly Bryce. I have a difficult time telling them apart.” He turned to the person in question. “Which of my boys are you, eh?”
“Brent, Uncle Tony.”
“Ah, but you boys like to play tricks on me. Just the other day it was Bryce, and he said it was you. I knew by his clothes. You look like Brent to me. But still, I am not sure.” He leaned toward his nephew. “Be honest with this girl. I like her.”
Danielle poured herself more wine. Gosh, she was thirsty all of the sudden. So, this was Brent? Or at least Antonio said it was the twin she wanted him to be. She studied the two men across from her as they ate and spoke in Italian. Antonio told her he’d raised his brother’s sons after the sudden death of their father. Their mother only lived one short day before she passed away after their birth. Twins alone in the world, except for their uncle who adored them. And he’d admitted they’d gotten away with many pranks over the years.
She took another drink of the dark vino. This one was tasty and mellow.
“What do you say?” A deep male voice whispered at her side. “Can I drive you home?”
She focused on his face but it seemed blurry. “That depends on who you really are.”
“Do you want me to be Bryce or Brent?”
“Brent, of course.” She giggled and covered her mouth.
“Okay, Brent it is. Let me be a gentleman and drive you home.”
“Are we done eating?”
She didn’t recall tasting the food, let alone feeling full like she’d eaten a meal. She was laidback and relaxed, and she didn’t have a darn thing to worry about. But she should. Worry was an important part of life. It kept a person in line, it kept people from lying, and it made her life a mess. Sheesh! What kind of crazy wine did Antonio serve with their lunch?
Brent’s face was far too close, his breath brushed her cheek. “You passed out next to your empty plate. Don’t worry, my uncle made you a to-go box. Now, let’s get up.”
What else could she do except let him have his way? She wasn’t in any shape to drive, and he was here ready and willing to take care of her. “Sure. Do you know where I live?”
“My uncle gave me directions. I can find it.”
“Okeydokey!” She squirmed when he lifted her under the arms into a standing position and wrapped a strong arm around her waist. “I can walk. I don’t need help.”
“Just be good and I’ll have you tucked safely in bed within the hour.”
Oh, that sounded promising. “Will you come too?”
“Perhaps.”
****
It was an invitation Brent found hard to resist. But in her current state, he was more concerned about getting her home to sleep off the effects of the strong vino. He didn’t plan to seduce her in this condition, but he sure wouldn’t mind a few kisses from her sweet lips.
He settled her into the passenger seat, strapped her in, and placed her carton of food his uncle handed him on the backseat. He turned and hugged the older man. “Thank you, Uncle Tony. I’ll take care of her.”
“See that you do, Brent. This girl is important to me. She is a good planner of weddings. She brings me lots of business.”
“I promise.”
He climbed in his side of the red roadster and waved to his uncle as he pulled out of the restaurant parking lot. It wasn’t quite three o’clock in the afternoon, and she was passed out cold. She had really enjoyed the vino. He smiled. He enjoyed a glass of wine too, but he always ate food when he imbibed. And he’d been raised on wine with meals. He didn’t see her take one bite of the wonderful baked ziti. No wonder she was inebriated.
Uncle Tony told him Danielle lived about a ten-minute drive from the restaurant. He found her small, well-groomed house easily, pulled into the paved driveway, and got out to help her inside. This wasn’t the house he remembered, but she may have moved since the party last year. “Where are your house keys, carina?”
She mumbled something unintelligible and giggled. He assisted her up to the door, dug through her purse and found the keys. It wasn’t easy to hold her upright and slip the key into the lock but he managed. Once inside, he walked her into what appeared to be her bedroom with flowery wallpaper and a huge orange cat sprawled out on her bed.
“Move cat. Your owner needs to sleep.” He laid her down and slipped off her shoes. The stubborn feline refused to move and instead cuddled up closer to Danielle. “Okay, you win. You stay in here and watch over her. I’ll go out to the living room and listen for her to waken. Sound fair, cat?”
“Meow?” The cat blinked its large gold eyes.
“I agree. Goodnight.” He closed the door to a crack so he could hear Danielle if she woke. He stretched out on the sofa. Nice house. Tastefully decorated. But he remembered a two-story house, not something this small and cozy. Maybe she’d downsized. Or maybe she was divorced. He didn’t really know anything about her, other than her profession and the fact she enjoyed spontaneous sex. For instance, she could have a lover on the side or maybe more. She was much too sexy to be celibate.
For some reason the image of another guy touching her, being intimate with her, irked the hell out of him. Danielle was special and the sooner he let her know she meant something to him, the sooner they could move on with their relationship.
****
Danielle woke up to loud purring. Jax laid stretched out alongside her. It was dark inside the house. No lights, except the nightlight in her bathroom. She read the time on her LED alarm clock. Eleven. How long had she slept? Her head ached and her mouth was dry but nothing a good drink of water wouldn’t cure. She was extremely thirsty. And hungry. She rolled off the bed, wobbled a bit and focused.
Okay, so she drank little too much vino at lunch. She was fine now.
She flipped on the night lamp and decided to dress for bed before she went out to the kitchen. She removed her skirt, blouse and bra, and tugged a short nightie over her head. Better. Barefoot, she padded out to the kitchen, turning on lights as she passed. She took a second glance into the living room. There asleep on her sofa was Brent or Bryce, or whoever he really was. She couldn’t believe he’d stayed. Gosh, what an attractive man.
She snuck closer.
He had a nice square jaw lightly sprinkled with a dark five-o’clock shadow. His hair was raven black and wavy, the kind a woman ached to run her fingers through. Muscular arms, flat abs, strong legs, and that ever-present part of him bulged peacefully beneath the zippered surface of his slacks. What if this was really Brent and not his twin? Why should she be deprived of spectacular sex because of a little mistaken identity?
A sudden naughty idea popped into her mind, and the urge to touch him was far too great. She placed her hand on his thigh and ran it up and down toward his cock, remembering how well he filled her completely. And how good he tasted in her mouth.
Okay, I’ll just have a tiny lick.
Her fingers worked the zipper down and deftly released his cock from its pocket. Warm, throbbing, huge…oh God…this was like dessert. She had to sample him. She lowered her mouth and hovered just above his masculinity. One tiny lick…
He groaned in appreciation.
She looked up at his face, his brawny arms circled his head like a halo. He didn’t open his eyes. No smile, just a light snoring. She returned her attention to the area of interest, running her fingers up and down his shaft. He grew until he was rock hard. A tiny dot of semen
peeked from his tip, and she licked it off. Not salty, but so male. She blew warm breath on him, and he shifted his hips. Unable to resist, she closed her mouth over the head of his cock.
“Hot damn, woman!” His eyes opened and seared her with desire. He propped up on his elbows and a sensual grin appeared. “I thought I was dreaming, but you’re real.”
She kept sucking and he raised his hips for easier access. Wrapping her fingers around his thickness, she slid her hand up and down in mock simulation of what he would do to her, inside her, pounding and pulsing—
“Enough. My turn.” He raised her up and pulled her onto his lap to straddle his crotch and his pulsing thick arousal. “I thought you didn’t trust me?”
“Depends.” She wiped the excess moisture from her lips.
His dark eyes sparkled with amusement. “On what?”
“Who you are.”
“And what if I tell you I’m Bryce?” He slipped his busy hands under her nightie.
“That’s not funny.” She never slept in underwear and the pair she’d worn today was still tucked in her purse. He had full access to whatever he wanted. She clenched her pelvic muscles as he pressed a finger against her nub.
Ohh…
“Who do you think I am, cara mia?” This time his endearing dimple appeared on one side of his mouth when he smiled.
She gasped as he hit the perfect spot. Wiggling and yearning for so much more, she couldn’t hold still. She wanted all he had to offer, every last drip. She pulled her nightgown over her head and tossed it aside.
“Tell me, Danielle. Tell me who I am.”
Suddenly, she understood. “My dream lover.”
****
Brent gently lifted her from his lap and stood to undress, his aching cock begging to be free. He took her hand and led her into the bedroom. “We will make love in the true way of lovers, cara mia.”
She followed willingly and shooed the cat from the room. Closing the door, she turned and smiled. “This is a big step for me. I am trying to trust you here, and I hope you’re being honest.”
Tempt Me Page 3