The Italian Heartthrob: Forbidden Standalone

by N J Adel

  “I see.” He pursed his lips. “That means we need to find another way to loosen you up.”

  Smiling with mischief, I got on my knees, sheets falling off my naked body. “Does that mean we’re doing that encore?”

  “Absolutely. But let me give you your presents first before I forget again.” He grabbed for his jeans, tossed on the floor.

  “Presents?”

  “I forgot to give you your birthday gift last week.” He brought out two jewelry boxes and handed me the smaller one. “I couldn’t give it to you at the party. I was going bonkers thinking you were marrying that fuck.” He shook his head as if pushing away the memory. “Then we were on the run, and then I went bonkers again.” He chuckled. “For all the good reasons, though.”

  “Thanks, babe, but you already gave me the dress.”

  “Which is no good now.” He pushed the box into my fist. “Go on. Open it.”

  He stared at me expectantly as I lifted the lid of the box. A gasp escaped my mouth as I took in the pair of diamond baguette earrings set in white gold. The diamonds were at least a carat each. “Oh. My. God. These are…beautiful.” I touched them with the tip of my finger. “And obnoxiously expensive.”

  He looked at me, perplexed. “You like them or not?”

  “I love them.” I leaned into his arms. “They’re just too much. You don’t have to get me stuff, you know?”

  He took my hand and planted a kiss inside my palm. “I wanted to. I wanna do all sorts of clichéd romantic gestures with you. All the time.” His gaze lingered on the abandoned bouquet on the floor. “Unfortunately, you’re not the kinda girl that likes…romance.”

  I blinked. “I didn’t know you were romantic. Like really romantic.”

  “Guilty.” His shoulders lifted with a shrug. “My movies rubbed off on me.”

  “Okay. That’s new info. I-I can be romantic.” I labored a smile, feeling his disappointment. He hadn’t had a girlfriend in eight years, and now all he got was me, a girl who hated shopping, flowers, accessories and fancy restaurants, and couldn’t care less about his entire list of romantic movies.

  He laughed. “No, you can’t. You’re super smart, but you’re romantically…slow.”

  I grimaced. “Don’t give up on me. I can try.”

  “Vita mia, thank you. Saying this alone is romantic enough.” He brought my fingers to his lips. “But I don’t want you to be anything you’re not. Not even for me.”

  A warm feeling folded my heart, sending a genuine smile on my mouth.

  “I can be romantic for the both of us. All I ask is that you let me,” he said.

  “Okay. I can do that… I guess. Just out of curiosity, what gestures do you have in mind?”

  “Buying you flowers on the way home…” he started.

  I should have just taken the goddamn flowers and thanked him. But, like he said, I didn’t want to pretend or be someone I was not. Now that I, finally, could be myself. With him.

  “Texting you that I love you anytime, that includes mornings when I wake up,” he continued. “Breakfast in bed. Taking you to the movies. Candlelit dinners. Holding your hands in public. Dates on private boats. Dates on private islands. Making love under the stars. Surprises of all kinds including very expensive gifts for no particular occasions.”

  I fanned myself, dazed. “That’s…a lot, and mostly can only be done if people know about us.”

  “You asked me what I had in mind.”

  “You know you’re gonna have to wait like a year to do these things.”

  “Don’t remind me,” he muttered.

  I turned, placing the box on the nightstand. Then I looked at him over my shoulder. “But I kinda…like…what you said you’d do.”

  His eyes sparkled. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying…I want…all these things. And by want I mean I can’t wait.” I bit my lip. “So, maybe, we do it after Black Sheep?”

  He cracked a surprised laugh, crawling to my side. “Yes.” He gave me a kiss that made me dizzy. “Yes, Maggie. I was going to ask you, to beg you, to do just that. Grazie mille, amore. I can’t wait for it to happen, too.”

  “So maybe we can, for the time being, practice some of these yucky, disgusting romantic things. You know, so I can get used to them and not freak out?” I might not be who he needed, but I’d die trying.

  “We totally should.” He handed me the second box. “Happy anniversary, Carolina.”

  “That was creepy fast.” I raised my brows, glancing at the bigger velvet box. “What anniversary? We’ve been together for a week.”

  “Yeah. Our one week anniversary. Open it, please,” he urged.

  “More jewelry. This is insane.” I opened the box lid with a sigh. Inside was a piece of paper folded to fit inside the box. My eyes shifted toward him as I unfolded the paper. “What’s this?”

  “Read it.”

  Stock Certificate

  My eyes widened at my name written next to where shareholder was printed, and Mondo M as the company name. “No fucking way.”

  “You now officially own ten percent of the company,” he stated. “And when we go public, you’ll have more shares. I couldn’t do it now ‘cause it’ll be too conspicuous.”

  “No.” I breathed out, light-headed. “No. I can’t take it.”

  “It’s already done. Don’t freak out on me now.”

  I looked at the certificate again. “You are freaking me out. This is the kinda gift you give to your wife. Or when you’ve done something really bad.” Slowly, I lifted my head from the piece of paper to him. “Have you?”

  His eyes tightened. “First, stop joking about these things. Second, if I cheated on you, would I let you be my partner forever?”

  “Makes sense.” At least that part. “But why? It’s your company. Your money. Why are you giving me a piece of it?”

  “I just wanna be tied to you in every way possible. Any other way…” he squeezed my hand, his eyes begging me to understand, “would give you a panic attack.”

  I felt all the color rush from my face.

  “Hey,” he whispered and put his mouth on my cold lips. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t waste another second—I’ve already lost so many years because I was a fucking coward—but I know you’re not ready, so don’t give me that look, please.”

  I nodded, my chest tight with labored breaths.

  “I just wanted you to know that I’m in this for life.”

  I gulped, sweat trickling down my back. “Thanks…for letting me know.”

  He blanched, too. It was his turn to panic. “Maggie, you’re not gonna…”

  I shook my head, my heart and breath steadying. “I’m here. Not gonna flip or run away.”

  “Phew.” He drew a hand across his forehead and threw his arms around me. “You scared the shit outta of me.”

  All my life, I’d wanted his love. And now that he was here, telling me he wanted me forever, fear took over me. Fear of the future. Of commitment. Of happiness. But as I relished his embrace, and his heart pounded with a soothing rhythm against my chest, a smile triumphed on my lips.

  Scene 47

  Maggie

  The bed creaked as I rolled to meet Mike’s face. He was watching me sleep—again. “You gotta stop doing that,” I said.

  “I’m making sure you won’t disappear on me.” His voice and face were alert. He must have been up hours ago.

  “Is that a joke or a statement?”

  “Uh…both.”

  I kicked off the sheet and got out of bed. “Poor Mickey. Got himself a girlfriend who’s mental as fuck.”

  He laughed, and I rolled my eyes. “Hah-hah.” That was sarcasm, not humor, you asshole.

  My feet stumbled on the scattered clothes on the floor, which brought my attention to the fact that I was wandering around the room completely naked. Being naked with a man in bed was one thing. Strutting around nude in broad daylight was something else—something I’d never been comfortable wi
th, especially sober.

  Instead of picking up the first item to cover myself—like I’d always do—I spun and looked him in the eye. He was staring, his breath hard and loud in the room. And the tint of his growing cock against the sheet…

  Okay. You’re forgiven. “I’m gonna hit the shower.”

  I sauntered to the bathroom and closed the door but didn’t lock it. Then I turned on the water, stepping into the oversized shower—four adults could fit in here. The water was warm enough to build a little steam and wash away the fatigue—I’d already been worn out when Mike came to my room yesterday, but I didn’t mind losing whatever energy I’d had to him. Not at all.

  Why hadn’t he joined me yet? Were my eyes not inviting enough?

  I tilted my head to the back, the water sliding from my neck down, tantalizing my nipples, images of Mike’s tongue moving in circles around them forming behind my eyelids. Then I felt him. The rough fingers against my back, following the curves of my waist, taking their time, making me shudder.

  “Thought you might need some company, Ms. Dawson.” His rugged voice was even sexier when he whispered. Opening my eyes, I twirled. His hair was longer, black when wet. The steam gave his flesh a glowing sheen, so irresistible I wanted to lick the water droplets off his skin. My hands slid down his wet chest, my eyes dropping to his dick jutting from within the tangle of pubic hair, rigidly standing forward—it almost looked painful, but so was the throbbing between my thighs.

  His fingertips climbed up to my ribs, teasing between my breasts. I traced his lips with my fingers, and he nibbled and sucked at my fingertips. My breath caught when he rolled his thumbs over my nipples. As they hardened, he put his mouth on one and his hand between my legs, spreading them.

  He dropped to his knees. His tongue licked along the folds of my pussy. I tilted my head back and let the water fall over my face and hair, the steam adding to the pressure building inside me as Mike sucked on my clit. Opening me further to him, he slipped a finger inside, then a second one, while his tongue drew circles around my clit.

  I pulled at his curls, and his eyes rolled up at me. I wanted him. Inside me. Filling me.

  As if he heard my thoughts, he stood. His palms gripped my ass, and he lifted me in his arms and pressed my back against the cold tiles. I wrapped my legs around his hips, and his lips took mine in a blistering kiss as he pushed inside me.

  My lips parted for breath while his measured strokes ratcheted up my desire to a new level. He swiveled his hips over me, grinding against me. I ran my fingers along his jaw as he gazed into my eyes, his groans wild.

  “What the fuck do you have down? Your pussy is…” he rasped. “I can’t…” His voice broke on the two words.

  A gasp seeped out of my mouth as he pulled out of me and braced me against the wet tiles. Swiftly, his mouth was fucking me.

  “Did you come?” I asked.

  He shook his head against my pussy. Then he lifted his head to me and pushed three fingers, one at a time, inside me. “Stopped just in time. Gonna fuck you right as you come.” His words were painful and tight, gritted out between his teeth, and I nodded, unable to form words while I clamped around his fingers.

  I gripped his shoulders, pressing my lips together in a muffled moan, pressure gathering low. “Now. Now, Mi-ke.”

  My knees hooked behind him fast as he rose. He slid inside me, holding tight to me as I rode out the stings of this fucking orgasm. It was nothing like I’d experienced before. Not even with him. Different. Rough. Good. I hugged him, pressing his hard chest to my breasts, as he gasped against my mouth, his hands moving around my body with manic need.

  “I love you, Maggie.” He pushed into me one last time, his head against the hollow of my throat. Then he pulled out, moaning my name as if he was breaking.

  As I watched the bursts of his cum trickle down my thighs, my pussy ached with new pressure. I trembled. “What the fuck? Shit. It’s not over.”

  “What?” he whispered, his breath hitching.

  My mouth covered his as I filled myself with his cock until I was coming again. “You son of a bitch,” I cried out and slapped him. “You fucking gave me a multiple.”

  He gaped at me, putting my legs down, shaking the slap off his crimson face. “You have an awful way of showing gratitude.”

  Slowly, I came back down, blinking, and was able to think again. “Oh my God. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I…I…”

  He just kissed me, hard.

  I was sure my face was equally red, with embarrassment, with unbearable heat. “You did that to other girls?”

  He shook his head, his lips curving with a grin, hot water streaming onto him, onto me, our bodies tightly encircled by arms, with hands clasped onto the other’s asses. “I guess there’s something about us that fits like no one else.”

  I couldn’t agree more. “I love you so much. More than I ever loved anyone.”

  “Is this the multi-orgasm talking?”

  “No. I mean you’re giving me the best sex of my life, but it’s not just the sex.”

  “Good, ‘cause I don’t just love you.” He kissed me again. “I can’t picture my life without you anymore.”

  I saw the passion in his eyes. I also saw the fear. He was afraid of losing me as though it was a given. Why couldn’t he trust me? Why did my words mean nothing to him? Why…

  “Carolina, there’s something that you really have to know.”

  “Maggie!” Samantha’s high pitched voice disrupted the moment.

  “Is that Devries?” Mike whispered with a grimace on his face.

  “Maggie!” My manager’s voice approached the bathroom door. “You in there?”

  “I better go see what she wants or she will never go away.” I stepped out of the shower, grabbing for towels. As I handed Mike one, the door opened. “What the fuck, Samantha?” I glared at her, folding the towel around my body as fast as I could.

  “Sorry, but this is urgent.” She shrugged, no remorse in her tone, her eyes fixed on Mike’s naked ass.

  “I’m right here.” I snapped my fingers at her, and then looked at him. “Can you move any fuckin’ slower? Cover the fuck up.”

  I darted forward, practically pushing Samantha out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. “If you ever ogle him like that again, you’re fired.”

  “You won’t fire me because you’ll love me so much when I tell you what I have for you. So stop being such a hot-headed Italian and hear me out.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest, my hair dripping on the refurbished floor. “Spit it out.”

  “Andrew Callahan agreed to your date. I even pushed for an extra fifty, and he said yes.”

  My jaw dropped. “Shut the fuck up!” I glanced over her shoulder, where Mike, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, was picking his clothes up off the floor. I would never get used to how casual he was about his body, but that was a different conversation. “Amore mio, did you hear that?”

  “Uh…yeah. Not sure I understand, though.” He threw his clothes back on the floor. “Samantha, could you be a doll and grab me my bag from my room? It’s right down the hall on the right. 516.” He winked at her, flashing his signature smile, stretching two fingers at her with a keycard between.

  “Sure thing.” She swaggered out of the room.

  I bit my fingernail, arching a brow at Mike. “I know it’s in your fucking blood to flirt whenever, wherever, but don’t do that in front of me. You’re not the only one who’s jealous, Gennaro.”

  “You got it, signorina.” His smile turned into a more genuine one, and then his lips brushed mine. “What’s going on with Callahan?”

  I pushed my hands together in tiny claps, rising up on my tiptoes. “He made me an offer to direct a psycho-drama. He’s gonna pay me a hundred and fifty grand.”

  “Wow.” His eyes shone with excitement. “Congratulations, vita mia.” He pressed me to his chest. “That’s fantastic. You have a date? I heard Samantha say something about a date
.”

  I looked at him. “Yeah. The problem was he wanted to start after I finished Robello’s. I told him we already set a date for Black Sheep, and I also had Dark Hopes after, but the date wasn’t settled yet. He kept pushing. Samantha kept pushing. I told him I’d squeeze it between our movies, and he said yes. So the date is set, July 14, right after Black Sheep.”

  He blinked, his lips twitching. “I see.” His hand ran through his wet hair, smoothing it back, as he turned.

  “What is it? Did I do something wrong?”

  “No. Of course, not.” He glanced back at me, a faint smile on his lips. “I’m sorry. I’m just surprised. I thought we were gonna shoot Dark Hopes right after Black Sheep. But it’s absolutely your right to make that movie since we haven’t set a date.”

  “That’s the producer talking.” I approached him, linking my hands behind his neck. “I wanna hear from my boyfriend.”

  “The boyfriend is so proud of his girlfriend, a little taken aback knowing he won’t be working with her all year as he hoped, and a little upset that he only found out about this now. How long have you been in negotiations?”

  “Four days.”

  He took a step back as if he’d been hit. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  I could come up with a thousand reasons, but I opted for the truth. “I didn’t know I was gonna get it.”

  “So you wouldn’t have told me if you hadn’t got it?”

  “No, I wouldn’t have,” I admitted, my arms dropping. “I don’t like to be a disappointment.”

  “Disappointment? Maggie, you’re never a disappointment. Not to me.” His hands rubbed my arms. “You should be psyched about this offer either way. Producers of all kinds are coming to you. Want you. Whether you get the gig or not doesn’t change that.”

  “Well, I don’t get psyched about things either, not until they’re real. Maybe not even then,” I muttered.

  He stared at me in disbelief. “Why the fuck not?”

  “I don’t know. I should be really happy right now, right?”

  “Don’t wanna sound like a twelve-year-old, but duh!”