by LeCoeur, Ami
Tina and Greg walked by just then, waving to me as they stepped into the taxi that would take them back to the ship. Watching them and thinking about Antonio’s arms around me just now, something suddenly came over me. Maybe I remembered the dream from the night before, or maybe I just lost my resolve to keep everything strictly business. Whatever. I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled his face down to meet mine.
He was almost as surprised as I was by the kiss, but after only the briefest hesitation, I felt the rigid tension in his shoulders slip away. His hands moved to my hips as his soft, delicious lips melded with my own. I slid my tongue into his mouth, eagerly entwining with his as our kiss deepened.
So you do want me, I thought, pulling away to gaze into his dark, searching eyes. Maybe this is what he'd been waiting for this whole time? For me to make the first move? He’d seemed to be in charge over everything, but at this moment—after he thought he’d lost me—he seemed far more vulnerable, more tentative, and maybe even a bit defenseless. Did that mean he did have feelings for me?
I gave him a coy smile. “Yeah. Maybe I missed you too.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Antonio was strangely quiet on the taxi drive back to the ship, but he kept an arm around me, holding me close. He directed the cab into the city, to an outdoor cafe where we sat to have coffee.
“It was pretty scary,” I said, blowing lightly on my coffee. “The roads are bad enough without a rockslide sending us bouncing down the mountainside.”
Antonio gave me a half-hearted laugh. He was listening to everything I said, asking questions about the volcano and the people on the tour, but he was still restrained. And he kept watching me, as if he thought I’d disappear the moment he took his eyes off me.
We finished our coffee and left the restaurant. We walked down to a local art gallery. Our fingers brushed together as we walked down the street, and a few more times as we admired the paintings on the wall. It didn’t seem to be an accident, and when it happened once more, I caught his hand, entwining my fingers with his. He glanced down at our joined hands, then back up at my smiling face. I saw some of his tension ease, and from that moment on, we were like any other happy couple enjoying the sights together on an exotic island vacation.
***
“I’m sorry. I know I’ve been too distracted, Angela,” he said that night at dinner. We were finally back aboard the ship, sitting alone by candlelight. “I want to spend more time with you, but this business I’m handling is taking far more time than I'd planned on.”
I reached across the table, touching a finger to his. “You know, I am your associate,” I said. “Is there something I can help out with?”
He shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to deal with this myself. It should be finished soon. Then I can focus more on the enjoyable parts of this trip.”
I liked the sound of that. Heaven knows I was tired of the conflicting messages I was getting from him. And tired of the sexual tension that seemed to always end in frustration. I mean, really, how much does a girl have to take?
I sipped my wine, remembering my vow to start living my life more fully. Then I slipped off one shoe and boldly slid my foot along his leg. “Maybe I can help you in other ways.”
He looked up at me, his eyes narrowing as a slight smile crossed his lips. I think he was as surprised by my actions as I was, but I wasn’t going to let him know that. After everything I’d been through, I decided that I wasn’t going to let this night end in frustration again—I almost blushed thinking about it, but I remained resolute. I leaned forward at the table, knowing the top of my dress would fall forward a little to expose my cleavage.
I turned his hand over, drawing lazy little circles in his palm. “Why don’t we head back to the room early tonight?”
He looked at me through slitted eyes. I couldn't tell exactly what he was thinking, but suddenly he pulled me up into a standing position, almost dragging me toward the elevator.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Back in our room, we stepped out onto the veranda, watching the sparkle of the moon on the waves. I leaned back against him, my mind was calmed by the view, but my heart was racing from his nearness. He stroked my face, smiling down at me.
"Let me please you," I said. He placed a single finger to my lips, stopping me from speaking any more.
For the briefest instant I feared that maybe I’d gone too far, maybe I'd been too bold. But then he moved his mouth to my ear.
“Dance for me,” he whispered.
I looked up at him, searching his eyes as he fished his cellphone out of his pocket. A moment later, soft music drifted into the air between us and even in the darkness I could see his smile.
“Dance for me, Angela,” he said once more, sitting down. “Please me, Cara.”
That voice. Those eyes. The soft music filling the air and hanging between us like a gentle fog.
Like the perfect movie setting, it evoked a dreaminess that sent my mind reeling with desire. Some small part of me couldn’t believe I was doing this, but the rest of me wanted it very much.
My heart raced as I thought back to the burlesque show, the long legged women in their tight skimpy little outfits, their lithe bodies writhing away on the stage. I drew in a shuddering breath and turned my back on him.
This is it.
I closed my eyes, my body trembling. Taking a deep breath, I listened to the music for a few seconds, letting it get inside me, feeling the beat of the drums and the dulcet rhythm of the saxophone. The soft caress of the warm air coming off the water below.
I willed my body to relax. To enjoy just this one moment. And then the next. To focus only on the moment. I remembered how it felt to be held in his arms, the warm whisper of his breath on my skin, the sweet touch of his lips on my neck. The rigid length of his manhood pressing up against me. Then I felt my hips begin to sway, almost of their own volition and I smiled.
I could do this.
No, I wanted to do this.
Very slowly, and in time to the music, I raised my arms above my head as my body swayed. I ran one hand down the length of my arm, tracing along the back of my neck and gently scooping my hair to one side.
I stretched both arms over my head again, arching my back, then drawing my hands down to trace the curves of my body. I glanced over my shoulder to see if I had his attention. Even in the dark I could see the glint in his eyes.
Emboldened by the hungry look on his face, I turned slightly to run my hands down over my aching breasts, cupping them and caressing the nipples with my thumbs. I heard the sharp intake of his breath and remembered my dream from the previous night.
This turned me on even more and I moved my hands to the thin straps of my dress. I slid a thumb underneath the one closest to him, teasing it away from my shoulder so that it fell against my arm.
I turned a little more then, my dress slipping to reveal the side of my breast in its black lace bra. I took encouragement from the smile I saw on the corner of his lips and slipped off the other strap, turning away again as a tease. I leaned back towards him and he obliged by releasing the hook at the top of my bodice.
I turned again and with a Marilyn-Monroe-sultry kind of shoulder shimmy, I released the fabric I had been holding over my breasts—slowly, seductively, revealing the scanty black lace bra that barely covered my hard nipples. When I saw the look on his face, I was grateful for Priscilla's good taste in undergarments.
Doing my best imitation of the girls in the show, I slowly wiggled and twisted, working the dress down over my hips, then let it fall to the floor. I stepped out of the puddle of clothing and stood before him, now wearing nothing but my scanty lace bra and panties.
I looked him straight in the eyes, holding his gaze as I sauntered forward, my hips swaying from side to side, my steps matching the beat of the music. My body magnetically attracted to his.
I was no longer in control of my thoughts or actions. Some primal need had taken over, pushing me forward while my cons
cious mind watched from a distance. It was exciting and a little scary to lose control in this way, wanting, needing, lusting after this man who held all the cards.
Antonio watched me with those predatory eyes, and for once, I knew I was in charge, in control of the situation.
I was the hunter. And I instinctively knew just what I had to do to catch my prey.
I moved around behind him, trailing a finger along his shoulders, running my fingers up through his hair. I pulled his head towards my breasts, and into my cleavage. Then I reached behind me with one hand, undoing my bra and letting it slide down my arms. I dangled it in front of his eyes before letting it fall into his lap. He leaned his head back again into my breasts. A soft moan escaped my lips as his velvety hair brushed against my aching nipples.
I leaned forward and kissed the top of his forehead, running my hands down the sides of his face.
He pulled me around in front of him and I smiled down at his upturned face. Holding the gaze of his dark, intense eyes, I placed one hand on each of his knees, pressing them apart. In time to the music, I lowered myself to kneel on the ground in front of him, then ran my hands up his legs towards the obvious bulge in his pants. But, I stopped just short of actually touching his cock. He wanted me, I could tell, but I wasn't ready to let him have his way. Yet.
I saw the flash in his eyes when I stood up suddenly, the way his tongue slid across his lips.
Disappointment? I hoped so. Turn about was fair play. I placed my hands back on his knees, leaning forward as I pressed my breasts together with my arms and the flash was there again.
I stood up, slipping fingers down to the tiny lacy fabric that covered my hot, wet slit. With one hand I rubbed myself gently, remembering the nights I'd had to take care of myself. By now I was far too into this to stop what I was doing or have any conscious control at all. I wanted this man. He wanted me. And I didn't want to wait any longer.
I stepped forward, placing the inside of my right leg against the outside of his left one. In one swift move I was straddling him, pressing my groin into his hard, bulging cock. I could feel the warmth and heat through the thin fabric of my underwear. I pressed harder and felt him pulse in response.
"Oh, Tony," I whispered as I reached down to unzip his pants. Suddenly his hand covered mine. He became still, even pulling away slightly.
Startled, I looked up into his eyes…
"Angela." I couldn't read his voice and I couldn't read his eyes. But I suddenly felt very naked and vulnerable. And foolish.
He moved my hand away from his zipper and gently grabbed my hips, lifting me off his lap. I watched as he turned off the music.
"Tony, what's wrong?"
He reached down to pick up my bra and handed it to me.
I stood there, blinking in confusion. “What?”
He raised a hand to my shoulder, pressing me back gently. “You should get dressed,” he said quietly.
He rose as I stepped back, wrapping my arms around myself. I had heard the words he spoke, but somehow, they weren’t registering.
“Your robe, Angela,” he said, nodding to the door.
Suddenly I felt cold—as if he'd dashed me with ice water. I turned and hurried inside to grab my robe, then sat there on my bed, my head resting in my hands. What had I done wrong? Had I gone too far? Shit! Would I ever figure out what this man wanted from me?
Ten minutes later, he stepped back inside. He didn’t look at me, or say anything. I was still so confused, I barely heard the door to our suite shut as he slipped into the hallway, leaving me alone.
I couldn't stop the tears from tumbling out. I wanted to scream into my pillow and beat it up like when I was a kid and so frustrated that I didn't know what else to do.
In some ways, I felt like I was still a kid. But I didn't want to be.
I thought about the only other guy I'd ever been with, my college sweetheart. How he'd strung me along. Getting his way with me, having his way with me, shaming me into feeling like there was something wrong with me.
He'd been selfish and manipulative. And he'd dumped me. He'd pretty much soured me on relationships. I hadn't seriously looked at or thought about any man since then.
That is, until I'd met Antonio Mancini. A man so different from anyone I'd ever known before, that I still couldn't begin to figure him out.
But, there was one thing I had figured out. Antonio Mancini wanted me. I knew he wanted me. He had been worried and sweet to me today, ever since he met me at the airport. Then tonight, his body told me in ever so much clearer terms just how much he wanted me.
And, even though I'd struggled with myself for the last several weeks, I'd discovered how much I wanted him, too. More than anything I'd ever wanted before. And that scared me all the way down to my toes.
Because, something was wrong. Something was getting in the way. The worry-wart side of me said it must be something sinister. Something deep and dark. Some hidden part of his past that he couldn't let go of or get free from.
I swiped at my tears with the back of my hand. Whatever it was, I was going to figure it out. I had to figure it out.
I wracked my brain, looking for clues, for causes or reasons. Was it related to his gambling? His mob connections? The other women in his life? Or, was he just a petty thug like the nasty looking men I'd seen him with?
I shivered with exhaustion, tired of this war going on inside me. It didn't seem to matter how much I tried to talk myself out of my feelings, or how much I tortured myself by dredging up all the dark things I could think of to turn me away from him. Even with all the sinister overtones, no one could deny he was attractive, rich, and sexy as hell. And that tortured me worse.
And then, suddenly, my tears stopped. My mind went silent. My breathing calmed. Something clicked into place, and in that moment, nothing else mattered.
I had always walked the straight and narrow. Always the "good girl", following the rules and playing nice. But after tonight I knew I didn't care about that any longer.
Antonio Mancini wanted me as much as I wanted him, and it was time for me to go all in, to step up. I could no longer lie to myself. I was hooked.
He might be a "bad guy", maybe even a criminal. But I had seen a whole other side of him. And not just once. He had helped Gisele, and the burlesque dancers had called him a benefactor. And even with me. He was paying for Maria's operation as well as giving me a chance to pay off Dad's debt.
I didn't know what it was going to take, but I had made up my mind. I knew I was up for the challenge. As I shut my eyes, I felt a calmness wash over me for the first time since Maria's accident. Here was something I finally knew about myself and my commitment.
Antonio Mancini—you are not going to walk away from me again!
>>>>End Book 2<<<<
Release ScheduleBook 1 - Released September 25, 2014
Book 2 - Released October 10, 2014
Book 3 - due out October 24, 2014
Book 4 - due out November 7, 2014
Book 5 - due out November 21, 2014
Thank You - You Have My Deepest Appreciation
Thank you for purchasing this book. I sincerely hope you enjoyed discovering the characters as much as I did while writing their story.
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xoxox
Ami
About the Author
Like most romance writers, Ami LeCoeur is a romantic at heart, but in her heart it's the classic Romanticism of the late 18th and early 19th c
enturies.
She is also a painter, glass artist, and award winning poet, as well as a writer.
When she isn't traveling, she lives on California's Redwood Coast with her husband and two kitties. She loves her wonderful ocean view, and when the fog comes in—as it always does—she's either curled up with a good book, or busy writing.
If you like Ami's stories, please let your friends know.
Table of Contents
* * *
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Release Schedule
About the Author
PUBLISHED BY:
Career Life Press
Copyright © 2014
Ami LeCoeur
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior written consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events, is entirely coincidental. All names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and situations are either the product of the author's imagination, or used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real.