“Did anybody bring me some clothes to change into?” Tino tries to sit up.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” I ask. I really don’t want him to go.
“You can’t imagine how much I make if I go to the after party.” He hugs Lucas. “People want to see I’m not affected. Nobody cares about a broken body. They want Superman.”
I grab his massive shoulder. “Tino, I don’t think this is a good idea.”
His eyes suddenly change into deep, brown pools of hunger. A complete change from the painful image they were portraying a few seconds ago.
“What?” I giggle.
“I was thinking I deserve a victory kiss.” He raises his brows.
My heart flutters.
“There’s a room full of people.” I bite at my bottom lip, and glance around at all of Tino’s boys staring at me wide eyed.
“Just a little kiss.” He puckers his full lips.
Could he give me any more pressure? I’ve wanted this since that day at my apartment, but not in front of all his buddies. “Fine,” I sigh, and slowly bend over so that our faces are centimeters apart. His breath is warm and welcoming, with a hint of butterscotch from the candy he’s been sucking on. A steady stream of chills runs over my body. I hesitate. He closes his eyes. How does a guy like Tino make a peck on the mouth this hot? I lean forward and slowly press my lips against his. He grabs the back of my thigh, pulling me closer. The sweet taste slipping through his lips is inviting me to stay there longer than I intend. Don’t let go. I silently beg, not even thinking about anything else but the perfect feel of his full lips.
“Gross, Mommy.” Lucas pushes me back.
Our lips part, but Tino won’t release his grasp he has on my thigh. With our faces only inches apart it feels like we’re the only two in the room. His eyes are yearning to speak more than a thousand words that will never be spoken.
My tummy tingles.
It’s been a while since a guy has felt this good.
I’m suddenly grateful that Lucas is here to keep the two of us moral.
I’m not sure I would hold back. I’d have him excuse his boys out of the room and climb on top of him to do things I’d regret in the morning.
“Will you come with me tonight?” He softly breathes against my cheek.
“Is that an invitation?” I purse my lips together, trying to get another taste of his leftover sweetness.
“Nah, it’s an expectation.”
I lift my brows and wrinkle my forehead.
“I ain’t the kind of guy that plays cat and mouse when a woman kisses me like that.” He tilts his head back and closes his eyes. “You clear on that?”
“Not really?” I don’t understand what he’s saying.
“An invitation belongs to the girls I don’t care about.” He lowers his gaze to meet mine. “An expectation is for the woman I want next to my side at all times.”
“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Lucas whines.
“I’ll get you something in a minute. Right now I’m going to call Aunt Issi to see if she’s at her beach house. Maybe she can watch you tonight.” I straighten my stance and squeeze his little shoulders. “How would you like that?”
“Is Uncle Reef there?” he asks with excitement, pulling his elbow to his side like he just won the lottery of Legos. “I’m playing the Wii all night.”
“I’m pretty sure Reef will be there.” I chuckle and pull out my phone, sending Isabella a text. I’m praying she’ll be at her beach house in LA. I can’t imagine taking Lucas back to Nikki. That’s over an hour of driving time.
Her response is lightening fast.
“Looks like Uncle Reef is starting to pop the popcorn,” I joke, and turn back to Tino. “They’re just waiting for me to drop him off.”
Lucas jumps off his lap and runs around the room flying his action figures in the air, and then he rushes back to wrap his arms around his giant basket that Tino gave him, trying to pick it up.
“Mommy, can I take my toys?” he asks.
Tino rubs at his forehead and snaps his fingers. “Whiteboy, make sure somebody loads the toys for the kid.”
I watch him and realize he’s much worse off than he’s leading on.
“Are you sure you’re good?” I rub my hand over his arm.
He grabs ahold of it. “I’ll be fine if you’re by my side.”
“Just tell me what you need and I’ll make it happen.” I raise my brows. “I can be a bossy witch if I need to be.”
“You’re so tough.” He chuckles. “Maybe I should’ve fought you tonight instead.”
My tummy tickles from the way he’s teasing me. Flip. I’m going to have a hard time not losing my job tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a guy, and Tino is feeling fine on the mind. I probably won’t object if he takes things a little further.
Several cars line the driveway of the gated house as the limo parks out front. I can’t help but wonder if the music blaring in the backyard is going to kill Tino’s head once we get out. He’s half asleep with his head in my lap still wearing his robe.
“Tino, we’re here.” I rub the side of his face.
He looks up and smiles.
“I need some clothes from that suitcase.” He points to the black square on the side of us.
I move his head and slide over to zip open the top. There’s enough clothing packed inside that he could do an entire runway show by himself. Jeans will be uncomfortable. I search for something else. Gray sweats. White t-shirt. I can’t even imagine how his body will look in these.
“How’s this?” I hold up the clothes.
“As long as it covers me.” He’s struggling to push himself up.
“Just lay there and I’ll get it,” I say, and stretch the waistband of the sweats to pull his feet through the legs. As I pull the material to his thighs I turn my head out of respect. He lifts his backend and I tug the sweats over his hips, resting them against his lower abs. My fingers tingle at the feel of his skin.
“Thank you,” he groans.
“Can we get you something stronger than Tylenol?” I ask, watching him in that much pain.
He shakes his head. “I’m good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, the doctor knows not to prescribe me anything more than what I need.” He pulls himself into a sitting position.
I’m wondering if this has anything to do with his mother being a drug addict. I reach down and grab my purse, hoping Nikki didn’t take the tube of my famous concoction for sore muscles after we got done with our run the other day.
Nice. She didn’t.
“I’ve got some cream that helps sore muscles if you want some.”
He laughs with a smile large enough to expose his perfect white teeth.
“Don’t make fun until you try it. I’m like the queen of making natural stuff. This stuff really works.” I pull the robe off his shoulders. Damn. His body is even finer this close up. He leans forward so I can pull the robe from behind his back. “I always get shin splints when I’m preparing for marathons.”
“That’s right.” He grins. “I forgot you were a runner.”
“Hold still,” I say, squeezing a huge glob of cream into my hand. “I’m going to straddle you so I can reach your back without having to move you much.”
He sniffs my hand. “What’s in that?”
“Peppermint oil and other stuff. It’s completely natural.” I rub my hands together and press my palms on his back gently pressing into his skin so I can massage it all over his upper and lower back. His hands remain at his sides like a gentleman, or it might be that he’s really not that into me. I grab the bottle and squeeze another glob. “I’m going to rub your chest, is that okay?”
He nods with his eyes closed.
I start at his neck and work down to his collarbone. The strength of his body starts to make my belly tingle, and then I touch his pecks. Stop. He’s not feeling well, Mia. He’s not as turned on as you are. His body
tightens. I begin to rub his abs and he starts breathing harder.
“Are you okay? Let me know if I’m pressing too hard,” my voice trembles.
He grabs my hips and grinds them into him.
“Kiss me,” he breathes into my ear. “Wrap your legs around me and kiss me.”
I shift my legs. In this moment I don’t need him to ask twice.
I slowly lean down and kiss his neck, which is covered in the smell of soap and a clean shower. My favorite. I softly bite down.
“Bashful, now you just be teasing me.” He softly laughs, digging his fingers deeper into my hips.
I move up to his ear and let my breath warm his lobe. “Tell me what you want.”
“Damn,” he sighs. “I want it all. The whole package.”
I slowly reach down and begin to hike up my skirt a little more.
“Slow it down.” He stops me from pulling it any farther. “Let me see how you kiss first.”
“You really are a gentleman,” I whisper and move my way to his full lips. A citrus flavor of his Chapstick is teasing this time. I lick at it and he shivers. “Am I hurting you?”
“Hell no.” He lightly shakes his head.
I press my lips harder against his and take the lead by slowly parting his mouth to swirl my tongue around his. He pleasures me with a smooth response, and then he pulls my body closer to him. I don’t fight. I melt into his massive chest of perfectly sculpted muscles.
“Mia, I gotta stop.” He pulls his lips from mine. “I wanna do things to you that I shouldn’t be allowed to do. Your legs have me imagining all sorts of things I shouldn’t think about. And I’m pretty sure I’m gonna have you do those things if I don’t stop this now.”
I scrunch my face feeling a little disappointed.
“Bashful, don’t give me that pouty face. It’s only making this harder.” He chuckles. “I can barely move my arms. I want something like this to be special. I ain’t gonna waste our first time on a night when I can’t treat you the way you should be treated.”
So there will be another time. I smile.
“Help me get my shirt on so we can get this over with.” Tino dips his head into the collar of his white t-shirt. “Just remember, if I say pineapple sherbet that’s my cue I’m ready to go.”
“You’re hilarious.” I jab his side, making him squint. “And you should remember I could kick your butt as weak as you are tonight.”
“But we’ll keep that between us.” He looks into my eyes.
“Always.” I stretch my body to kiss his forehead.
“You really are one in a million.” He smiles and shakes his head.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I
’m so tired of doing this shit. I ain’t no skid row bum. They ain’t gotta treat me like that. I jut my chin to a few of my sponsors sipping on champagne. Yeah, that’s right. I’m still standin’. They’re next to the glowing pool where chicks are wearing string bikinis. I don’t understand why these men wear suits to a pool party. Maybe it’s their free pass card to get any chick into bed because they don’t have balls to step into a ring and prove they’re a man.
I can’t stand any of their Versace wearing, pansy ass designer looks, or those fake ass laughs. Even the techno music can’t mute out such an ugly sound.
I turn to the house and wonder when Mia will be finished freshening up. I thought I told her I needed her next to me the whole night. Maybe she didn’t take me serious about the pineapple sherbet conversation.
“Does this look any better?” Mia steps out from around the corner. “I’m pretty crafty with a pair of scissors.”
Holy hell she looks fine. “I thought you was using the bathroom,” I check out her dress. She’s cut a few slits in the front, making a peephole to her California tan chest. “Damn, you look good.”
Her eyes sparkle in the twinkling lights.
Just seeing her like this takes my mind off everything else going on around us.
“Did you cut it shorter?” I reach out to touch her thigh.
“A little.” She looks down at her legs.
“Yo, why you be playing with me like this?” I scan the area and check out the fools I’ll have to protect her from. “I ain’t in the best shape to tame these boys tonight if they start acting up.”
“I’m just trying to fit in.” She nods and bites at her bottom lip.
“Hell, you’re so fine you’ll be standing out.” I laugh. “I guess you ain’t bashful tonight.”
“Whatever works.” She takes my hand.
Damn.
I reach up with my other hand to make sure my heart didn’t jump out of my chest.
“Tonight everyone will know Tino ‘The Death Tank’ Johnson is a winner. Both in and out of the octagon.” She squeezes my fingers, leading me to the party.
A few people congratulate me, but I don’t pay much attention. Mia is working her magic like nobody’s business with those legs. She has everybody by the poolside staring at her. Male and female. I ain’t so comfortable with her getting so much attention. I can barely see out of my left eye.
“You trying out something new?” Sully leans over with a bottle of beer.
I push it away.
He shoves his hand in his pocket. “No, really. When were you going to tell me about the girl?”
“I just met her.” I clasp my hands together and play with my thumbs as the music blares.
Mia wanders off, owning the crowd everywhere she walks.
“Be honest with me.” Sully lowers his brows. He’s got a heavy sound of blackmail to his voice tonight. “Is that why you just about got your ass handed to you?”
I squint my right eye because the left one is so swollen.
“Don’t be playing games with me.” Sully chokes on the words. “I could still send you to prison. All the money you got won’t keep you out of the big house. All I’ve got to do is claim I was wrong the way I defended you. Do you know how easy I can make it look like it wasn’t self-defense? All I’ve got to do is make one call. You understand me, kid? Your ass is grass if that happens. Stick to the plan and win. I need the money. And don’t go getting cocky on me with that piece of shit business you run on the side. I’m gonna have my name all over that as well in a few years. You hear what I’m saying, boy?”
My eyes are razor sharp. “I hear what your sayin’.”
“Now, why have the boys been telling me that you missed practice all week.”
His words sort of irritate me almost as much as the music making my head pound. This has been the best day of my life because of Mia. He ain’t gonna ruin that.
“Shit. It’s the boys that ain’t been coming around,” I growl. The thought of them turning their backs on me for a few bucks from Sully pisses me off. Lying ass cheats is what they is.
“Is the chick weakening your legs?”
“No. We ain’t slept together.” I roll my eyes.
“Because I’ve been noticing you aren’t wearing the monitor at night.” Sully leans back on his heels. “You need all the testosterone you can get since you’re not willing to take the goods the doctor prescribed.”
“I’m tired and I just want to sleep. I’m sick of that thing waking me up every hour of the night.” I run my hand over my head. “And I ain’t no damn juicer.”
“Well, I’m going to need you to wear the monitor. I can’t afford you to lose any testosterone. They don’t pay us so well when you lose the belt.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve always held it.” I throw back at him.
He tips the bottle of beer to his lips and smiles. “Shit, I ain’t in the mood for you tonight. You ain’t ever had a woman like that. She could really screw this thing we got going if you don’t pay attention and listen to what I’m saying.”
I turn around and notice that Mia has seven of my boys crowding around her. My skin prickles. I want to pound every single one of their faces into the concrete. How ‘bout you go get your head bashed in and come here to celebrate when
you feel like shit ya bunch of pussies. Nah, it ain’t like that. Those pansy ass punks just go and nark me off to Sully like some dumbass prison inmates. Well, I ain’t serving time. I did what was right. I got off on self-defense. Sully ain’t gonna get me behind bars and take over the company. I’ll make damn sure of that.
I don’t look back at the shark lawyer to say goodbye. I’m on a mission to clear the air, even with feet that feel like lead bricks, I wander next to the group. Mia’s in full conversation of American muscle horsepower. Her specialty. Garage talk.
I yank Whiteboy back first to get to her.
Chappo gives me heat. “Easy there, killer. You’re acting like you just didn’t get your ass handed to you tonight.”
“Is that how you congratulate the man that makes your paycheck?” I pull my chin back, and wonder where he’s been the last few weeks.
“This guy’s loco.” Chappo rolls his head. “I think he’s taken one too many hits to the brain.”
What the hell is he talking about? I’m about to beat his ass.
“We were just talking cars,” Mia interrupts.
“This chica knows her stuff.” Chappo looks me in the eye and runs his hands over her leg.
My head pounds, but not hard enough for me to miss popping him in the face.
He drops to the ground.
“Touch her again and you’re a dead man,” I growl.
The crowd grows silent, but the music still plays.
“What? That wasn’t good enough for everybody?” I growl from the anger of Sully blackmailing my ass again, and the crowd appearing disappointed I didn’t put on more of a show. I’m so irritated, I can’t hold still.
I jump on top of him and connect a few more hits.
“Stop,” Mia screams.
I’m guessing ten or so guys slam me to the ground, and pin me down because it hurts like hell. The chicks in bikinis start snapping pictures with their phones, and I close my eyes to avoid their pathetic existences. Everything starts to spin, and my mind goes foggy. What am I doing? I lay on the concrete and the smell of Mia’s perfume makes me look up to see her innocent face staring down at me.
Pretty Woman: Mia (The Billionaire Bachelor Series Book 2) Page 7