“Promises, promises.” I laughed.
“That’s a promise I won’t have any trouble keeping, baby,” he assured me as he pressed into my backside, showing me just how excited he was. “See? You’ve already got me to where I don’t want you to leave for work now. Keeping you naked in bed for two days will be a no-brainer.”
Chapter Twenty
Leo
The drive up the coast was beautiful, albeit long, as my mind continued to overflow with thoughts of what I’d be doing with and to Grace very soon. When I thought about the time in Bora Bora and how good we’d been, actually, how deprived we were, I almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. This was definitely going to be a much different trip. We pulled up to the Little River Inn, and I suggested that Grace wait in the car while I went into the office to check in. The room I’d been lucky enough to snatch up on a last-minute cancelation wasn’t here in the main hotel and restaurant, which sat on the east side of the road. This part of the inn still had views of the ocean but wasn’t nearly as secluded. The room I’d requested was located a couple of miles south, sitting on the ocean side of the highway with spectacular views of the water and was very private. I could have taken one of the other similar rooms, but the one I reserved was the best.
After driving back south on the highway we arrived at what they called the Electra room, which was actually an upstairs cottage with a spectacular view of the ocean. I parked the car and hurried over to Grace’s door, opening it. As she stepped out and looked out toward the water, I watched her wide eyes take in the view across the large blanket of green grass and the expanse of blue ocean beyond it. I took her hand and guided her up the steps to the upper deck and toward the sliding glass door. I unlocked it and placed my hand on the small of her back, edging her inside.
“Oh, my. Leo, this is beautiful,” she said as she stepped over some rustic-looking tile and onto a light blue carpet. Her hand glided over a royal blue leather sofa that sat in front of a square, wooden coffee table and a real fireplace with enough wood piled next to it to keep us warm for at least a week. She strolled toward the back of the room where a large, king-size bed backed up to a wall with doors on each side. I followed her through one of them into a huge ceramic-tiled bathroom, complete with a jetted tub large enough for two. A walk-in shower gleamed to the right. The room was done in whites and soft blues. A white, intricately quilted spread covered the bed, giving the gigantic piece the appearance of a fluffy cloud. A window seat covered with comfy pillows to the left showed off the beautiful expanse of lawn outside. Grace walked back toward the sliding doors and out onto the private patio equipped with a built-in hot tub and a beautiful view of the ocean.
“This is like a dream. It’s all so stunning. And private.”
“I love private.” I grinned and skimmed my hands up along her sides, taking in the smoothness of her skin that I couldn’t wait to get my lips on.
She turned and smiled back at me. Her golden brown eyes sparkled with delight. “Leo, you have a one-track mind.”
“I do. It’s all on you, baby.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Grace
As we stood outside, a cool ocean breeze flowed over us. It was still summertime, and the nights on the California coast in late summer could be either warm or cool. Tonight it was cool, and Leo wrapped his arms around me, pulling me back against his chest. I loved when he held me so closely.
“Do you like it?” he asked, taking my hair in his hand, placing it over my shoulder so that the strands flowed loosely over my breast while he nuzzled his face against the opposite side of my neck.
“It’s gorgeous.”
My head fell back on his shoulder as his lips grazed the nape of my neck. “I’m glad you like it,” he mumbled against my skin as his hands roamed down my stomach. He dipped his fingers between my legs and pressed against me, his hardness evident against my backside. I pressed back a little at the sensation, and a heady feeling engulfed me.
“I want to pleasure you on every piece of furniture, on every space of flooring, in every inch of our suite.” At that point, I melted and turned to face him as his lips found mine with an urgent hunger that pulled me further into his spell. If I didn’t know better, I’d accuse him of sorcery.
He picked me up, cradled in his arms, and carried me back to the bedroom. “Here for starters,” he said as he let me down on the soft, white, quilted spread and removed my sandals. “Nice pink toes, by the way.”
“Thanks.” I grinned. I’d just had them done the day before he asked me to go away.
He crawled up, hovering above me as he undid my pants, pulling them down and discarding them somewhere on the floor. Without much of a pause, my top and bra went next. As I lay there staring up at him in nothing but my underpants, I should have felt self-conscious. But I didn’t. The raw emotion behind Leo’s dark, golden-speckled brown eyes as he stared back at me showed me how beautiful he thought I was, and I struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to flood my eyes. Then he showed me with a tender kiss exactly what his eyes had. But the kiss didn’t stay gentle. Within seconds, I thought his mouth would devour me completely. He slowly pulled away, licking his lips and hurriedly removing his clothes. When he crawled back on top of me with his knees on either side of my hips, he slowly inched down my panties. When he found my clit and massaged up and down, I swore my mind and body were already halfway to ecstasy. Pleasure swamped me as his mouth made its way to my core. My heartbeat thumped so loudly in my chest, I thought it would burst out when his tongue dipped inside me. I’d never had a man like Leo. Someone who wanted to make sure I was taken care of before himself. Craig had always been selfish that way, never really taking the time to satisfy me. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to think of that time in my life. I’d been so naïve back then. I realized that now, thanks to Leo. Even on the island of paradise, and without even touching me, he’d shown me respect and made me feel special. But now, with the wonderful sensations his tongue provided, all I could do was whimper in ecstasy. He kissed his way up my stomach then reached for the condom he’s set on the nightstand, ripping the foil open with his teeth, he unrolled it over himself. His dark brown eyes locked with mine as he entered me with a slow thrust before pulling out and then pushing back in, stronger, deeper each time. My fingers dug into his backside, urging him, tugging him closer. I couldn’t get enough and I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Look at me,” he growled out in a raspy voice. “I want to watch your beautiful eyes as you come.” Just the mention of a climax sent me further up the golden ladder, and my core clenched. I moaned with pleasure as the orgasm exploded at the same time his eyes glassed over and he growled out something unintelligible as his release flowed from him.
“By the time we leave here, I want the scent of our lovemaking on every inch of this room,” he said as he lay beside me on his back, his arm wrapped around my shoulders and my leg draped over his legs. I nuzzled into his chest, completely sated, but smiled with anticipation of what was to come over the next several hours. I knew there would be no mercy for any piece of furniture or floor in this place.
We sat in the hot tub outside with foaming bubbles floating around us as Leo handed me a glass of chardonnay. “This is so romantic,” I hummed out the words as I stared at the ocean. The jetted tub sat on the deck, and since we were up on the second floor, the view was amazing.
“I think I should get one of these installed at home,” Leo said as he sipped the golden liquid before setting it down on the small table beside the spa. Then he placed his hands along the edge of the pool on each side of me as his knee snuck in, separating my legs. “Ever had sex in a hot tub?”
I shook my head as his mouth crashed against mine. The frenzy behind his kiss exhilarated me as his deft fingers found the tie at my back and neck and the top of my bathing suit disappeared into the bubbles. “Why are you even wearing a suit?” he growled, pulling the bottoms off so they joined the other half, floating.
“Because we’re outside, and someone might see us.”
He laughed. “We’re up here on the second floor, believe me, most people are not going to look up here when there is that beautiful view out there in front of them.” He pointed toward the ocean.” Besides, no one else is around. It’s midweek. Even this place has a Tuesday to Wednesday lull, and the room downstairs is vacant.”
“You checked?”
“Mmmm…hmmm. When we got here. Plus, the lady at the registration desk told me that we’re the only ones here because the people who originally reserved this room and cancelled also had the bottom suite, as well. It was a girls weekend or something.”
When his erection stroked against my thigh, heat rose up my body. When had he taken his shorts off? His fingers dipped inside of me, wiggling, and I forgot about everything except Leo and how he made me feel. Without much warning, he picked me up and maneuvered me so that my legs straddled his waist. He propped me up on the edge of the tub and then lowered me onto him as he stood on the step. Once inside, he pulled me against him, and holding my hips firmly, he pumped into me, hard. His thrusts became faster, and I reached my peak several times before we fell back into the water, just as another orgasm burned through not only me but also Leo.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Leo
We went on a short hike along a trail that paralleled the coastline. Normally, I would have led the way, but this time, I hung back just so I could watch Grace walk in front of me. She wore a pair of very short and sexy denim shorts that hinted at a peek of her ass cheeks. She definitely hadn’t had those shorts in Bora Bora. I would have remembered shorts like those. If I’d thought we’d be running into other people along this trail, I would have suggested she change into something else. But since there weren’t many sightseers around, I figured I might as well enjoy the view…and I wasn’t looking at the ocean.
“Grace, do me a favor.”
“What’s that?” She turned to glance back at me but kept walking.
“Don’t wear those shorts out in public, okay?”
“What’s the matter, Leo? Don’t you like looking at my butt?”
“Honey, I love looking at every inch of your ass. But I don’t want anyone else gawking at it.”
She laughed. “Are you gawking at my ass, Leo?”
“Damn right.”
“But you’re missing this gorgeous view.” She held her hand out toward the ocean.
“I have a great view. Why do you think I’m walking behind you and not leading the way like a gentleman?”
“You told me there weren’t many people around. And I don’t really want you to be a gentleman right now.”
As we approached a small patch of grass, I sped up and grabbed her around the waist, tackling her to the ground. We fell with her on top of me. My hands went to her bottom, my fingers wedged up inside the shorts, splayed over her bare cheeks. “You’re not wearing any underwear.” My voice turned husky with desire as heat soared through my veins. I kept one hand on her ass and caressed the nape of her neck with the other, gently tugging her head down and closing the short distance between us so that her lips had no place to go but onto mine. My hand slid down and into her slit, and I slipped my finger inside. She was already so wet.
While we kissed, I pulled her shorts down and off. Then she sat up on top of me and undid my zipper, freeing my erection, and stroking her hand up and down my length. When she rose up and slid down onto me, I sucked in a breath and bit my bottom lip as I became buried deep inside of her.
The ride back to Anchor Bay was quiet but tranquil. I was getting a bit hungry, but not for food. We’d already eaten. I just wanted more of Grace, and I wanted to bury myself in her again. I was even thinking of stopping somewhere, maybe a hiking trail off the highway—that sounded perfect.
Everything about Grace turned me on. From the way she walked and talked to the way she ate and slept. Yes, I’d grown hard several times over the past few weeks while watching her sleep, dreaming about what we’d do when she woke up. And she never disappointed me. I ached for her now, but turned on the radio for a distraction.
“My mother lives around here,” Grace blurted out at the same time the radio blared. I turned it off.
I shot her a surprised look, and my eyebrows rose in question. “She does?”
“Yeah. Close. She lives just a little southeast of here in Ukiah.”
“Maybe we should stop and say hello.”
“You want to meet my mother?”
“Of course.” I reached out and took her hand in mine. “I want to know everyone you know, and there’s no better person to start with than your mother.”
“Okay. I haven’t seen or talked to my mom much over the past couple of weeks, and we are practically driving right past her house. Well, with a small twenty-minute detour to the east.” She smiled.
Her mom’s house was a small, two-story bungalow hidden up at the end of a long and narrow mountain road, secluded by redwood trees.
“What’s Oliver’s car doing here?” Grace mumbled as I took in the black Mercedes sitting in the driveway when we pulled in.
“Who is Oliver?” I didn’t remember Grace ever talking about anyone named Oliver, though she might have in Bora Bora and I just didn’t remember. I thought maybe it was her ex. Suddenly, I wanted to take a sledgehammer to the gorgeous car.
“My stepfather. But they’re divorced now.”
“Oh.” Relief flooded me, and I internally gave thanks that I didn’t need to pound anybody’s head in today to stake my claim on Grace.
No sooner had we gotten out of the car than the front door swung open.
“Grace!” a woman yelled and waived. Her mom, I presumed, came running over to her, arms enveloping Grace in an enormous hug. “You’re here. I’ve missed you so much, honey. How are you?” she asked as she eyed me up and down, and I knew Grace hadn’t mentioned anything about me to her. She had said they hadn’t talked. A man strolled over and pulled Grace in, wrapping her in his arms, his lingering embrace squeezing just enough that I could tell he thought the world of Grace.
“I’m fine. Mom, Oliver, this is Leo D’Amoré.”
“D’Amoré? Like the inn where you work?” Grace’s mom asked.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, sticking my hand out toward her mother. “It’s my father’s inn, not mine,” I assured her, not wanting to give any indication that Grace was screwing her boss. I knew Grace wouldn’t want that. But I had been thinking a lot about that lately. I’d never wanted to own the inn before, but now that Grace was there, I’d been having second thoughts about that.
“Nice to meet you, Leo.” Oliver came over and shook my hand since her mother seemed too dumbstruck to take it.
“Well, come inside. Why didn’t you call and tell us you were coming? I would have prepared lunch.”
“It was a spur of the moment decision. We’re on our way back from a short getaway,” Grace took my hand as we followed her parents inside.
“Oh. From where?” Oliver asked, his arm draping around Grace’s shoulders. She let go of my hand to walk close with him. It was nice to see she had an easy-going relationship with him.
“Mendocino. We took a couple of days and stayed at the Little River Inn,” I supplied, and her mother gave me a small smile. There was something hidden behind her eyes, a question or something that I couldn’t quite figure out.
“Grace, you didn’t tell us you were involved with anyone.” She glanced at me then back to her daughter. The word hit me. We were involved. Finally. My heart did a happy dance inside my chest, and I grabbed Grace’s hand and placed it on my lap as she sat down next to me. I had no plans of ever letting it go. Letting her go.
“It happened recently. I haven’t talked to you.”
“That’s why we’re here,” I supplied with a smile that seemed to be plastered on my face. The fact that Grace had allowed me to meet her parents gave me a great sense of contentment. When she’d mentioned that her mom l
ived so close, I’d immediately wanted to meet her, and the idea that she wanted her mom’s approval of me filled my heart with happiness.
“Well, we’re glad you took the time to stop by,” Oliver said. “We love our girl, and it makes us happy to see that she’s found someone who obviously seems to care about her.” He eyed our linked hands.
“Oliver, what are you doing here?” Grace asked.
He took Grace’s mother’s hand in his. Bringing her knuckles up to his mouth, he pressed his lips against them.
“Oliver moved back in here with me.”
“Really?” Grace’s broad smile told me everything I needed to know about her feelings about the two of them.
“When did this happen?”
“Last week. Your mother finally came to her senses and took me back. I’ve been trying for a while, but she seemed oblivious to my charms until recently. I think she was just playing hard to get.” Oliver laughed and squeezed her mother’s hand.
It was nearly five in the evening when we left Grace’s parents’ house to head home. We had about an hour and a half drive still left ahead of us. I was glad that she’d wanted me to meet her mom, though I missed the intimacy I’d dreamt of having with her underneath a canopy of tall trees and leaves. But it would be dark soon, and that idea would have to wait for another time. Somewhere closer to home, I mused.
“Thank you for taking me to meet your parents.”
She smiled. “They liked you. I could tell.”
Broken Wide Open: A Stand-Alone Romance Page 14