After a brief pregnant pause, the men all burst into laughter and Cat was startled by the large guffaws that permeated the room. When Gio made lascivious actions with his tongue, she did something else she had not done in some time. She blushed, and that angered her. “My wine, you buffoon,” she added petulantly then stomped out of the room with Andreas after her. He worked hard to suppress his own laughter, glaring at Gio who was crying from laughing so hard.
He caught up to her as she was about to pass the dining room. “Cat, come in here. My brother can be a pig. I’m sorry. He meant no harm.”
“A great big pig,” she pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. “I was embarrassed.”
He rolled his lips over his teeth trying not to laugh. “I’ll make him apologize,” he stated stiffly.
“You think it is funny too?” she asked, her anger turning on him.
He took her arms, and brought her closer. “It’s our American humor. Inappropriate at times. More so when we are just with family. But, take it as a compliment that he felt comfortable enough to tease you.”
“I don’t know,” she contemplated, but looked up at Andreas whose eyes were twinkling at her. She had the urge to feel his gruff. She wanted to feel it again on her cheeks.
“I suppose,” she murmured.
“Very good, Cat.” His hands on her arms now began to stroke them. His mirth was beginning to turn into something more.
She felt the goosebumps, and could not help let a low moan escape from her lips. She stepped closer, almost touching her breasts to his broad chest. Her body’s instinct to make contact with him was overpowering her. His hands made her feel alive. She swayed towards him and they were touching. He groaned primitively.
“You like that?” he asked, purring the words seductively, his face buried in her hair breathed in its scent.
“I do. It feels . . . . Nice,” she murmured feeling limp.
“Nice?” he asked beginning to change the pattern by making swirls along her arms.
“Mhmm, yes, and I have been thinking I would like you to kiss me gain, like you did by the pool. I want to know if it will feel the same.”
Andreas laughed sexily, and pulled back just a hair so he could see her face. “I would love to do that.”
Her body was already on fire. Ignited by his words, his every touch. She felt her nipples pucker even before his lips were on her.
“Do you want me to kiss you now, Cat?’
“Yes. Please!” she whined as the muscles between her legs clamped tightly and she felt warmth pool inside her pussy. She had to squeeze her legs together.
Leaning against the buffet, he positioned her between his long legs, and held her tightly.
Again, she felt more connected to this man than ever. That was her last thought. As soon as his lips touched hers, all she could do was feel. Divine. Limp. Excited. She wanted more.
When it was over and he pulled back, his smile told her wanted more. Needed it. But his single word, confused her.
“Well?” he asked.
Her mind had lost its ability to form a coherent thought. She lay her head against his strong chest as he stoked her back which only kept her dizzy. “Well what?” she replied.
“Did it feel as good as last time, Cat?” he asked, chuckling and she could feel the rumble vibrate in his chest.
“Better,” was her answer.
It was for him too. Each time he touched her, kissed her, held her, he wanted more. They held on to one another for a moment longer, until the sounds of Johnny running out of the study made them part. They could hear his voice in the hallway calling out, “Uncle Andy, it’s your turn. I just slaughtered Uncle Nikko, and now it’s your turn to face defeat.”
Cat shook her head and laughed at the intrusion.
“I better go.” He indicted the direction his nephew’s voice was going.
“Oh, but my wine,” she stopped him with a hand on his arm. She could feel the muscles jump beneath the skin at her touch. It made her feel suddenly powerful.
“The wine tasted fine, Cat. Delicious.”
She focused on his face, tearing her eyes away from his arms. “What?”
“I tasted it on you,” he teased and winked and added mischievously, “It was a treat.” He gave her a peck on the cheek and went off to find his nephew.
With her hand to her mouth, she suddenly realized what he had meant. She had tasted the wine to see if it was sweet enough, and he tasted it when they kissed. Feeling warm, she made her way back to the kitchen.
* * *
The day had been perfect. Perfect. Thanksgiving was always one of his favorite holidays because it always brought his family together. His home had been fuller than it had been in a long time. All of his brother’s had married in the past year, and their wives brought laughter into their lives. And love. Love, he thought, as he twirled the stem of his wine glass, watching Cat who had been given a seat next to his Aunt Mary.
She was sitting at the opposite end of the table. He watched her talk to his aunt, and several times, saw her touch the older woman’s hand, laughing while they talked. His Aunt had been born in the old county. She had come to America as a young girl after World War II. From the snippets of conversation he could hear across the expanse, they were sharing stories of life in Europe versus America. She would occasionally glance his way, and when she did, their eyes locked, and she would blush and turn away.
There was something happening between the two of them. They both knew it. It was more than simple attraction. Andreas was just surprised he wasn’t running away scared, and that he didn’t want to run. But he knew he still needed to take his time with her.
* * *
When Aunt Mary and Nick, Monica and the babies left, the other Marinos dispersed to their respective rooms leaving Cat and Andreas alone in the study. Cat, full from trying all the specialties made, yawned but patted her belly appreciatively. She was reclining on one of the sofas, and looked quite comfortable.
Hating to disturb her, he asked her if she would like a drink, and she shook her head in the negative before replying. “No, thank you. I have never eaten so much in my life. I don’t think there is room in there,” she laughed still patting her stomach.
“Even as a child,” he asked, “You never gorged like that?”
“No, on holidays, we paced ourselves a bit more than that. But, no.”
He joined her on the sofa, pulling her legs onto his lap and was pleased when she didn’t resist. “Well, I’m glad you experienced this tradition with me.” He patted her legs, and when she still didn’t pull away, he tentatively stroked one leg from the knee cap down.
“When I . . . was a captive, sometimes even a small meal was difficult to come by. The men who held us were always afraid of us getting fat.” She hadn’t known where that had come from as she rarely thought about that time.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” He could only sympathize, he could never understand, so he said no more. He would allow her to reveal what she wanted to in her own time.
She shrugged nonchalantly. “It made me who I am. I quite like the life I have made, and even if others do not understand it, I have helped the girls who worked for me. It pains me deeply that three of them have lost their lives to this madman.”
“I know it does. I can relate to that. I feel guilt too, Cat. If I would have caught him all those years ago then they would still be here, and others.”
“Is that what makes you so stern at times, Andreas?” she asked as he continued to stroke her legs. It felt quite divine and she did not want him to stop.
“Yes, and no,” he answered vaguely.
“I notice, like me, you don’t like to show your feelings,” she added when he looked up.
He smiled softly at her, understanding. “I mask my emotions from my brothers out of the need to be the strong one for them, and out of guilt. Why do you hide yours, Cat?”
“Hmm, well, that’s a good question. I guess, when I wa
s first taken, showing my emotions often got me beaten or worse. Denied food, or water, when I was little. Then, later, it was to not let my captors know they had beaten me, taken my soul.”
“Did they, Cat? Take your soul?” he asked curious as to how she had survived it all.
“When I was on the streets in Amsterdam, for two years Andreas, I was a runner. I ran errands for some of the girls in the red light district. It was a way to survive. I had heard stories of children in foster care, and so chose my own path.”
“But you were only nine?” he questioned revealing he knew the timeline of her existence.
Her eyes had that faraway look in them. She was remembering. “Yes, but even at nine, I was old. My mother died of a drug overdose, and her parents were dead. I came to live with my great grandmother then. She was a strong woman, a survivor of the Holocaust. She taught me much, all that I needed to know to survive. My grandfather was her liberator. A Russian soldier who had come into her camp after the fall of Berlin.”
“Wow, Cat. I had no idea.” This was not in any of the documents he had received from Connor.
“Yes, well, she sent me to school to learn the basics, but I learned more from her in those six years than I had from anyone else.” His hands on her legs felt right. She wondered briefly why she was telling him so much. But, she wanted him to know her. The real her. “From her, I learned to survive in a cruel world. She told me of her experiences and how she survived. She had two daughters, one who died young, and then my grandmother. Her name was Nelda, and she became a doctor. She was very proud of that. Her daughter, a doctor. Nelda had two children, one of whom was my mother. My grandmother was killed picking up her other daughter, who was sixteen, at a party she was not supposed to be at. My mother was only 14 and missed her sister and mother terribly. She began to be reckless, and my great grandmother, Katarina Rose, for whom I was named, could not console her. She did drugs, and found herself pregnant. I was three and my mother died at her own hand. My father, a soldier she had met on leave, never knew of my existence. An American. That is why I was allowed to stay in this country. An accident of birth.”
“You were dealt a lot. My own childhood was remarkable. I wished you could have had some of that.”
She sighed. “It made me strong though. Prepared me for what came afterwards. But, I can see how close you are with your brothers. I don’t envy it because I can’t miss what I have never known. But it is nice to see,” she spoke the words softly, no trace of bitterness in her tone.
“You are a remarkable woman, Cat. You really are.” He scooted up the sofa to be closer to her, but she swung her legs onto the floor.
“Ech, enough reminiscence tonight, Andreas. Come, let’s shake off this grogginess and go for a swim, shall we?” she suggested.
Andreas agreed because he liked the idea of spending more time with her, and being close to her while she was in a bathing suit wasn’t something he wanted to turn down either. “I’ll go get my suit. It’s upstairs.”
“No need.” He saw the mischief in her eyes. “You have boxers? Yes?” she pulled his hand towards the patio doors, not waiting for an answer.
“Yes,” he murmured as the coolness of the night refreshed him.
Chapter 19
Giving In
Cat let go of his hand and he continued to follow her. She walked towards the pool, and as she did so she pulled her light blouse over her head, and then turned to face him.
She wore a simple white demi bra underneath. The moonlight glowed upon her pale skin, and he sucked in his breath at the sight of her. She was not embarrassed in the least. But she was waiting for him to make the next move, and he obliged by pulling out of his shirt dropping it on the concrete beside her’s.
She smiled and quickly scanned his torso, the muscles rippling of their own accord. She kicked off her sandals and then reached for the fastener of her linen capris. Unhooking them allowed them to slip off of her slender hips and she stepped out of them.
Andreas sucked in his breath. Her body was perfect. Skin almost translucent in the moonlight. He kicked off his shoes, and then made quick work of his socks and his pants and soon they were in a pile by his feet.
Cat took a moment to admire his body, and then turned. Her bare feet slapping the concrete she dove smoothly into the cool water.
Watching her for a moment, he admired her form once more. She was incredible. When her head surfaced above the water, she beckoned to him, and he did not hesitate a second longer. He took two quick strides and dove in after her, surfacing next to her in an instant. She was inches away, and as soon as he flicked back his hair from his face, she wrapped her arms around him. The coolness of the water was no longer on his mind. Just her. He pulled her close, and by instinct she wrapped her legs around him. He felt her heat, and he resisted the pull to do more. Her pace.
She tilted her head giving him permission, and he went in for the next kiss he had been contemplating all day. It was a dueling of passions, but spoke of more. Of longing, passion, and desire. Both of them allowed it to take them in its grip, and this time there were no interruptions. It made it better than the first, better than the second, and neither of them wanted it to end.
“Andreas, I want you to make love to me,” she whispered against his neck when it finally ended. Her back was against the side of the pool and she had no idea how she had gotten there. But she was in his arms, and it just felt so right. “I know we said we would wait. Explore this later. But I want you. Now.” He hadn’t expected those words from her lips, but his need to know her was just as great. The proof was his erection firmly pressed up between them.
“Are you sure, Cat?” he wanted to make this about her. Her choice, although his heart beat a wild tattoo.
“Yes, I am,” she whispered nuzzling the side of his face with her own.
He began to walk towards the steps, still carrying her. He let out a small growl of triumph. “If you want me to stop, at any time, just say the word. I will.”
“Okay,” she panted against his neck, as he nipped her ear lobe. She tilted her head back for more. Wading across the pool with her in his arms, he mounted the steps in the shallow end.
He kept kissing her, as she shuddered, but it was not from the cold.
“I’ll warm you soon,” he promised. “There is a bed in the pool house. Is that okay?” His instinct had been to take her to his room, but that could also mean they might get stopped by any number of persons.
He felt her nod and so he headed in the direction of the small bungalow that sat on one side of the pool. It took him just a moment more to reach it, and without setting her down, he turned the handle and the door sprung open.
Inside was a large room, with a bathroom attached for guests to use. There was also a small table, two chairs in one corner, and large bed center stage. He walked towards it and dropped her down on the edge. Turning to the bathroom before she could protest, he retrieved two towels. He handed her one and used the other to quickly pat himself dry as she took most of the moisture out of her hair. But neither of them looked away. Their eyes still locked on one another.
Andreas took the towel from her and pulled her up to him. He gently patted her down to remove the rivulets of water still coursing down her body. When he was finished, her mouth was open and she was panting. Taking her into his arms, he kissed her senseless, while he unclasped her bra and pulled it away from them. Stepping back, he feasted on her high, firm breasts. He couldn’t wait to taste, and touch them, but he needed her naked. Now. He looked down, and then watched as she hooked two fingers, one on each side of her thong and pulled it down over her hips, kicking it to the side. He pulled down the boxers he wore, and his manhood already hard sprung free. Her eyes went wide at the sight of him, but he saw no fear. Reaching for her, he stroked her neck, and allowed his hand to touch the tops of her soft globes, and then he cupped her breasts, first one and then the other. When her eyes closed, he took it further, squeezing one, and then placing hi
s mouth on the other. He took one nipple into his mouth, and gently tugged on it with his teeth. Her cry was soft, but needy. He felt her legs begin to buckle. He released it, but took in her other nipple giving it the same attention. She moaned again, louder. It was all he needed to hear to make him continue. He drew her closer with one arm and then let his other drop to stroke her thigh and he felt her tremble. Her legs were weakening. He heard her gasps, and her little moans encouraged him to do more. He wanted more.
Gently he eased her back onto the bed, but without breaking the contact he craved on her breast. He licked, and sucked hard, pulling the nipple into his mouth. Bearing his weight on one elbow, he lie beside her, still worshipping her body, but he let his free hand roam straight to her thighs. He hadn’t explored all of her yet. And he needed to. He wanted to know every inch of this woman. Her body was lean, and her hips slight but with a curve. It was enough. Perfect. She was perfect for him.
“Andreas, don’t make me wait,” she called reaching for him, as his eyes continued to feast on her delectable little body.
Her words snapped him to attention, but he did not want to rush this. He wanted her to experience real pleasure, for the first time, with a man who would be gentle and touch her body as it was intended to be. He released the hold he had on her breast and began to kiss and nip along her rib cage. His hand found her pussy and he cupped it. He felt her push into his hand and knew she was ready, but he wasn’t, not yet. He stroked her and found her entrance was already wet, but he didn’t enter; he wanted her to know how he felt. “I have never wanted to please a woman more than you, Cat. Ever.”
“Yes,” she hissed, pushing up on her heels to raise her pelvis high enough to reach his hand. That was all the invitation he needed. He found her sensitive clit, and began to work her. Circling, and pinching, eliciting tiny moans of pleasure. When she began to squirm against him, he stretched his body up to hers to press a kiss to her beautiful mouth. He wanted to swallow those moans and the pleasure he was giving her.
Once he claimed her lips, she was returning each stroke of his tongue with one of her own. He inserted first one finger and then two. He felt like he was going to explode when her slick sweet pussy began to convulse around him. She was coming undone. He wanted to see it. He broke the kiss just in time to see her grey eyes glow and then melt silver. “Oh, my, yes,” she cried out, as her hips met his thrusting digits stroke for stroke. When her first orgasm subsided, Andreas slowly drew out his fingers, and brought them to his mouth. She still watched him, and her eyes closed momentarily and then opened once more. The sight of this beautiful man touching her warmed her more than words could say.
The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set Page 81