“Kiss me,” she whispers.
He does so gently at first, their tongues sliding over each, but it isn’t long before the energy between them changes. Turns electrified. Giovanni shifts position again, so she’s fully under him. Pressing her into the mattress, his mouth tastes hot. She wraps her arms around his neck, inhaling the faint scent of cologne from earlier.
It’s all so good. Lindsay’s glad to be alive in this moment.
“What is it?” he murmurs.
“It’s you,” she says. “Just you.”
He lifts up, meets her eyes, and nothing more needs to be said.
Giovanni runs a hand to her hip. He looks down as if noticing her clothes for the first time. “You’re still wearing the dress you had on earlier.”
“I know.” She stretches her arms overhead and gives him a sexy grin. “You should take it off me.”
His eyes go dark, hungry. “Roll over.”
She does as he asks and feels the zipper slide down her back. Then he’s pulling the dress off her shoulders, down her body until it’s tossed aside. Next, it’s her bra, and then her panties. She squirms with anticipation, waiting for the feel of his hands everywhere.
“What a view,” he breathes as his hands finally stroke her shoulders then all the way down to her ass.
Her eyes drift shut with pleasure.
His mouth moves to the center of her back, kissing her Queen of Hearts while his hands cup her breasts. And then he slides lower to the base of her spine, kissing there too.
“So beautiful,” he murmurs, moving down to her ass. When he gently bites her left cheek, she lets out a moan. He bites the right one too, and another moan escapes her.
Passion floods her veins, running through her like a turbulent river, and she can’t stay still as he continues caressing her with those amazing hands. When he stops and climbs off the bed, she turns and watches him over her shoulder as he takes off his pants, mesmerized by his naked body, all that muscular perfection. It makes her think of the classic sculptures she studied in college.
“You should model for me some time,” she murmurs, still watching him.
“Model?”
“Let me sculpt you. It’d be wonderful.”
There’s a grin on his face, and he seems slightly embarrassed. “I doubt I’d be a good subject.”
“You’d be a great subject. Plus, I’d get to stare at you for hours.”
Giovanni gets back on the bed. All he does is touch her ankle, trail his fingers lightly up the back of her leg. By the time he reaches the top of her thighs, she’s already whimpering with need.
“What do you want?” he asks softly, but he doesn’t wait for an answer and lets his fingers slip between her thighs. A moan escapes her as she lifts her hips.
His breath grows harsh as he caresses her, plays with her while she pushes against his hand the whole time.
“God,” he breathes. “You’re incredible.”
Lindsay’s trying to control herself, but between the emotional need and now the physical one, she’s not exactly doing a great job. “How do you say ‘fuck me’ in Italian?”
His fingers continue to stroke her, his thumb playing with her ass. When he speaks, his voice is rough. “Do you want to learn the nice way or the dirty way?”
“The dirty way, of course.”
But he doesn’t tell her either way and instead, changes position. He grasps both her hips with purpose and tells her to turn over. “Lie on your back.”
“No, I want it like this,” she insists.
He pauses, though she can hear him breathing hard. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” She turns to look at him over her shoulder, and when their eyes meet, she sees his are hot with arousal.
“Then get on your knees.”
She follows instructions and brings her hips up, her hands gripping the sheets in anticipation. It’s hard for her to believe only a few short weeks ago she’d lost her sexual mojo because now it’s overflowing.
He moves behind her, caressing her ass and hips then down to her breasts as her eyes fall shut.
“Never doubt I want you,” he says hoarsely.
He starts out slow and gentle, giving her body what it needs to accept him fully. Giovanni’s large, but he doesn’t rush it, takes his time. “Oh, God,” Lindsay gasps when he finally takes her all the way, moving inside her, because it’s the best ever. The perfect fuck. There’s no other way to describe it.
She bites her lip with her head down, still moaning as he brings his fingers to where they’re joined. The waves of her first climax rise up from nowhere and overtake her. She sobs at the intensity, riding it out long and hard.
He soothes her the whole time. With his hands, but with his voice too, telling her she’s safe, that he’s taking care of her. “It’s okay, baby,” he murmurs in a low rumble. “I’ve got you.”
After she comes a second time, his breath is shaking, hands tight—one on her shoulder, the other grasping her hip, his movements hard. She knows he’s been holding back, but that he can’t any longer. It’s intense. All-consuming. She wants it that way, wants to lose herself, wants to put the past back into the past.
“Wow,” she exhales afterward. “Just what the doctor ordered.”
He collapses on his back beside her, still catching his breath.
She rolls toward him to cuddle. “And you’re definitely not taking it for granted.”
“Taking what for granted?”
“That big cock nature’s blessed you with.”
Giovanni’s brows go up before he breaks out laughing. Lindsay enjoys watching him. When he eventually calms down, and turns to look at her, it’s with such affection it takes her breath away.
Neither of them speaks for a long time as they gaze at each other, the glow from the outside fountain illuminating them in a way that seems magical. And when he finally does speak, what he says rocks her to her core.
“With you,” he whispers, “I know it would be forever.”
In the morning Lindsay wakes up in surprisingly good spirits. Last night wore her out both emotionally and physically, but it helped her too, and she’s feeling more like her normal self again.
What a relief.
She rolls over on her side. They moved themselves to the king-sized bed during the middle of the night, and now she’s ready to take her new man out for a nice long test drive. Unfortunately, Giovanni isn’t there. The bed is empty.
She blinks, opens her eyes all the way, and her relief vanishes like smoke. With the exception of the air conditioner running, the room is quiet around her, and she doesn’t even have to sit up, doesn’t need to search the bathroom and the closet to know he’s done it to her again.
“Motherfucker!”
Suddenly, she hears chuckling. “Good morning to you too.”
“What?” She pushes herself up onto her elbows with surprise. “You’re still here?”
Giovanni is sitting in the easy chair across from the bed. He’s leaning back with his legs crossed at the ankle. His fingers laced across his chest. He’s completely dressed, wearing black straight-legged cords that hug his thighs and a gray T-shirt with the words ‘Las Vegas, Nevada’ on it and a picture of dice.
Lindsay’s eyes travel the length of him and when they reach his face, she sees something’s wrong. She doesn’t say anything for a long moment. “My God, you were going to leave again, weren’t you? That’s why you’re dressed.”
He doesn’t reply. His eyes touch on hers, but then he looks down at his hands.
She sits up straight, bringing the sheet with her. Any anger she felt a moment ago is long gone. She doesn’t even feel angry about the way he abandoned her in the past. All she feels is despair for him because whatever it is he’s struggling with has to be bad.
“Somebody really did a number on you, didn’t they?” she says quietly.
His eyes flash back to her. He’s wearing his usual tense expression. “Something like that.”
He nods and looks across the room toward the open bedroom door like he’s ready to flee.
“Who was she? I already know you were in love with her.”
But Giovanni only shakes his head. “I can’t talk about it. It’s not something I can discuss.” He takes a breath. “Do you want to go out for breakfast, or should we order in?”
“Why can’t you discuss it?”
“Because I can’t.” He gives her a look. “And don’t press me on it.”
Lindsay recognizes that tone, the finality. But she’s never been good at taking orders from anybody, including him. “What happened? You were in love with her, and she died? Is that it?”
He shakes his head, his voice hard when he speaks. “No, that’s not it. And I just told you I’m not discussing it.”
“I see.” She nods. “So you have your secrets too.”
“In a word, yes. I didn’t push you last night, so don’t push me now.”
“Why did you stay then? Why didn’t you just leave like you normally do?”
He closes his eyes and rubs his forehead, but doesn’t say anything.
“Whatever it is that happened to you, don’t you think I’d understand? After everything I’ve told you?”
His eyes open and something flickers on his face, but then it’s gone. “This is different.”
“Did you whore yourself to somebody?”
“No.”
She snorts. “Then how bad could it be?”
“Lindsay, I know you don’t want to hear this, but from everything you’ve told me you were a victim.” He sits up, then leans closer toward her. “You’re blaming yourself, but that’s classic behavior.”
“A victim?” She laughs without humor.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m nobody’s victim.”
He only looks at her with sympathy.
“Do you want to know why I called Natalie in hysterics afterward? It wasn’t just because I’d whored myself. It’s because despite how disgusting the whole thing was, I was terrified I’d do it again.”
He listens but doesn’t say anything.
“If I were desperate enough,” she lowers her voice. “If I had no options left, I was scared it might become an option.”
There’s compassion on his face. “It doesn’t change anything about what I said. We both know that scumbag took advantage of you.”
She wants to believe him but knows it’s only partly true. She scoots further down on the bed, closer to where he’s sitting. “Tell me what happened to you,” she presses. “Please, just tell me.”
His expression turns to stone. He looks away, but not before she catches a glimpse of what’s beneath it, how something ugly has sunk its teeth into him and doesn’t want to let go. It’s damaged him, and it hurts her to see it.
She pulls the sheets off. He looks up at her with surprise when she goes to him, his eyes dropping lower to her naked body. He makes room for her to sit on his lap and her arms wrap around his neck, drawing him close.
Neither of them says anything for a long moment as they hold each other. She can feel his heart beating through his chest. She finally pulls back and strokes his cheek. “Tell me,” she whispers.
“I can’t.” He licks his lips. “But I can tell you why I stayed.”
“Why?”
He looks into her eyes. “For you.”
She smiles softly. “I guess that’s a start.”
Giovanni closes his eyes again, still holding Lindsay in his arms. She’s relentless, and he’s certain this won’t be the last of it. She wants to know everything, but there are some things better left alone.
When he woke up early this morning, he had every intention of leaving. It was the same old impulse, the same compulsion to hit the open road, free and unencumbered. He got dressed, but he never made it to the door. He just couldn’t do it. Instead, he sat there for a long time as she slept. He thought about his recent assignment, how he’s still coming off the adrenaline. Then he thought about the last time he saw Paul, the two of them having a drink together after a long day of work. He sat questioning himself, his life and the choices he’s made.
Until finally he heard her wake up with a loud curse. Right away, he knew he’d made the right decision.
So damn glad I stayed.
He’s never believed in miracles, but he’s starting to wonder if Lindsay coming into his life is exactly that. Because today, for the first time in a long time, he broke the mold and saw the open road for the lie it really was.
She’s still sitting on his lap, stroking his cheek. “If you’re not going to tell me your secrets then come back to bed. Let’s have a nice long morning romp.”
The huskiness in her voice is going straight to his dick. He was already half-hard by the time she sat down, so it doesn’t take much to get him there. He caresses the small of her back then glides over to her hip. The cobra within him coils and his first instinct is to fight it, but then he realizes he doesn’t have to. Lindsay isn’t some one-night stand he has to feel guilty about later. Arrangement or not, she’s his wife, and to his surprise the thought brings a sense of peace.
“When are we flying to Seattle?” she asks. “It’s not today, is it?”
“Tomorrow.”
She smiles. “Good.” She reaches down for his hand and brings it to her breast, pressing it into her flesh.
His pulse quickens as he touches her, running his thumb over her dusky rose nipple until it pebbles.
She sighs, and it goes straight to his dick too.
“Listen, we need to have a talk first,” Giovanni says, trying not to let this beautiful soft woman in his lap turn his brain to mush.
“About what?” She shifts position. Putting her mouth to his neck, she starts kissing him, then licking where she’s kissed. His eyes close involuntarily, giving in to the sensation.
“Protection,” he mutters.
“Protection from what?”
“Pregnancy . . . for starters.”
She stops kissing his neck and looks at him.
“I’ve never been this sexually careless,” he admits. “Ever.”
“And you being a doctor and all . . .”
“We haven’t discussed it, but I assume you’re using some type of birth control? The pill or an IUD?”
There’s a peculiar flicker on Lindsay’s face, but it’s gone so fast he figures he imagined it. “No worries, I’ve got it covered.”
“Covered how, exactly?”
She shrugs. “Do you really want to know the details?”
“Yes, I do actually.”
“Well, I haven’t been on the pill since my early twenties.” She slides her hand beneath his shirt. “So . . .”
He nods. “All right, so you have an IUD.”
“Are we done yet?” she murmurs. Her hand strokes his stomach then moves lower to where his erection is straining against his zipper. Her mouth goes to his ear, and she bites him lightly. “Because I want you to take me to bed.”
He tries to breathe. “We have to discuss this, Lindsay. I don’t even know your sexual history.”
“There’s not much to tell.”
“Somehow, I doubt that.” He reaches down and pulls her hand away from where she’s trying to unzip his pants. “Seriously, have you had a lot of lovers? And have you been safe about it?”
She looks up to meet his eyes. “I haven’t been with anybody since I broke up with my last boyfriend.”
“And when did this breakup occur?”
“A couple months before I went to Germany. We were together about nine months.”
Giovanni pulls back and looks at her with surprise. “You’re telling me you didn’t sleep with anyone while you were in Berlin?”
“Only you.”
“What about that guy I got into a fight with, the one who wanted to marry you?”
“Dieter? I never slept with him.” She shrugs. “I never slept w
ith any of them.”
“He wanted to marry you and you never even slept together?”
“I kissed him once.” She rolls her eyes. “A mistake, obviously.”
He tries to decide if she’s making this up, but he can’t see any reason why she would. “What do you mean by ‘them’?”
“The other guys with their proposals.” Her hand slips beneath his shirt, pushing it up this time.
“Marriage proposals?”
Her fingers start to pluck and play with his left nipple. “Mmm . . . hmm,” she murmurs, and then gives him a sly smile. “I hope this conversation is almost over.”
The nipple thing is starting to make him sweat. He’s still trying to wrap his mind around what she’s telling him though. “You had other marriage proposals in Berlin. How many?”
“Three.”
“Three including mine?”
“No, four including yours.”
“Jesus.” Giovanni stares at her. Her long brown curls fall over her shoulder like an ethereal beauty from a renaissance painting. She’s certainly as lovely as a painting. Her brown eyes take him in with what appears to be growing understanding. He’s always had a weakness for brown-eyed brunettes, though Lindsay’s appeal goes far deeper than that.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who sees it.
She puts her hand to his jaw. “Don’t worry about those other guys. It was nothing.”
He wonders what he’s gotten himself into here and how many men are currently in love with her. The truth is he’s half in love with her himself.
He closes his eyes for a moment, and his head swims.
I sure can pick them.
“Seriously, don’t worry about my history either,” she tells him, moving around on his lap a little. “I get tested at every checkup. Plus, I haven’t been sexually careless in years.”
He nods, still in a daze.
Suddenly, there’s music coming from his phone. Tosca.
“Oh, shit,” he mutters.
“What’s that?”
“My mom calling.” He shifts position to try and reach his phone. “It’s in my pocket,” he tells her.
She lifts her body so he can reach it, and he can’t stop staring at her breasts. His hard-on hasn’t gone anywhere. Even the phone call from his mother isn’t managing to deflate it.
Some Like It Hotter (Sweet Life in Seattle #3) Page 20