Liv helped her into the elaborate crimson gown and she put on the heirloom necklace that Alex had selected.
“The gown is too long.”
“Relax. I have to put shoes on.” Emilia was amazed that she was the calm one.
Stepping out onto the terrace, she saw her grandfather and parents waiting for her. The photographer took several shots of her alone and then asked for her to stand with her grandfather and then parents.
A limousine was waiting in the driveway to take them to the event.
Her mother approached her. “Lia, you look beautiful. I can’t believe how grown-up you have become.”
Looking at her mother, she realized that, no matter how old she was, her mother would feel the same way. Maybe it had to do with watching a child grow up—you were never really prepared to see them as independent.
“Mama, you look amazing as well.” Her mother had a good figure and beautiful features, but for some reason she dressed years older than her age.
Emilia whispered to Liv, “Wish me luck and thank you.”
During the ride to the event, her mother said, “It’s odd. Attending an event in order to help the auction house sell our heirloom stock.”
Emilia responded, “As you know, the company needs the cash. And there is publicity to be gained as well.”
Her mother stated, “Publicity doesn’t sell jewelry. A quality design does.”
She didn’t want to argue. Her mother abhorred the spotlight. But at least she had come tonight to show support.
Her grandfather changed the subject to politics and the four of them debated different issues.
The limousine pulled up to the five-star hotel. The driver opened the door and her parents stepped out first. Emilia held out her hand for her grandfather and they walked in together. It was light out, and numerous paparazzi had gathered outside and were taking photographs.
When they walked into the main foyer, a representative from the Armati Auction House greeted her. She let her parents and grandfather go into the event while she was whisked off to a private room.
A makeshift photography studio was set up and she was asked to stand in front of a white screen. The photographer called out directions and she turned her body or changed her expression.
Alex walked in and greeted everyone. The photographers kept snapping photographs and her heart rate sped up. She thought he was staying in New York tonight. Her nerves buzzed with sensation.
Stepping in front of the screen, he placed his hand in the center of her back. The photographer asked her to look at Alex. For fifteen minutes or so, the photographer captured images of them. Emilia had to remind herself to relax and look at ease, but by the time the session was called, she wanted to burst into tears. It was too much pressure.
Alex clasped her elbow and led her to an empty conference room.
He looked deeply into her eyes. “Why are you upset?”
Holding back tears, she said, “I wasn’t expecting to see you and all of this feels like too much.”
“This is all part of the process, cara.” His stance became rigid.
Her hand touched the necklace. “I hate this.”
Lightly touching her shoulders, he said, “You will be fine. You look stunning. Everyone at the event will want to say hello and hear about Berceto.”
“There is nothing to tell.”
“You are wrong. Berceto is on the path to enormous success. Now if only you could seal the deal with your investor.”
He pulled her forward and brought his lips down on hers. She pushed against his chest, but his hands moved and held her head for his kiss. She let out a sigh and then opened her mouth for him, enjoying the feel of his tongue sliding against hers. He continued the slow exploration of her mouth and she was lost. She wanted the kiss to go on forever and her body shuddered in response. Her hands lightly skimmed the front of his shirt and he responded by moving his hands to her hips and pulling her closer.
He left her mouth and placed tiny kisses on her jawline and neck as he whispered, “I missed you, cara.”
She stepped back in shock. What were they doing? She shouldn’t allow herself to get involved with Alex. It would end in disaster.
“I can’t say the same.” She needed to create a barrier between them.
He laughed. “Your body sends a different message.”
She wanted to strike out at him, but reined in her temper.
“Your control is admirable. We should join the party.”
Emilia gasped in surprise when they entered the ballroom. Alex took her hand and the announcer for the event introduced them as a couple and mentioned the necklace.
Alex didn’t seem to mind that his supposed girlfriend was wearing a necklace that he intended to sell to the highest bidder.
Her natural grace and politeness took over as she made small talk with everyone who approached her. Mostly other women admired the necklace, but a few asked how she could part with it. She turned the conversation to the new launch that Berceto was doing in a few weeks.
Alex pulled her onto the dance floor and took her in his arms. She tried unsuccessfully to put space between them.
“You are giving everyone the impression that we are an item.”
Emilia tried to keep her expression neutral, but his closeness was creating a reaction deep in her body. She could feel her sensitized skin wanting to make contact with him but instead she tried to hold herself apart.
“We are.”
She whispered, “I’ve no desire to have a public relationship with you.”
“You wish to keep it a private affair?”
He was playing with her and she needed to gain the upper hand.
“I don’t see how this could benefit you.”
He met her gaze. “Thirty seconds alone and I could demonstrate how I plan to benefit.”
She held his gaze and became lost in his intensity. She had missed him terribly and was less on edge now that he was back.
Her grandfather approached them and asked to dance with her. Alex was gracious and greeted her grandfather warmly before leaving them.
“You are glued to his side tonight, Emilia.”
An older couple paused to greet Leo and then drifted away.
Emilia smiled at her grandfather. “Apparently he is making the most out of showcasing the necklace.”
Her grandfather cautioned her. “It’s more personal, I think. You should be careful. He is a man of the world and may not be interested in a permanent relationship.”
Feeling guilty, she said, “It is more personal. There are things I haven’t shared with you. But this is not the place, Nonno.”
They walked back to her parents’ table. Her dad was deep in conversation with an old friend while her mom was listening to a socialite talk about parties she had attended recently.
Emilia suggested softly to her grandfather that they escape the ballroom for a few moments. They went outside and looked at the night sky.
“How are you feeling tonight? Has this been too much for you?”
A waiter interrupted them offering champagne. Her grandfather took two glasses and handed her one.
“I was wrong.. I shouldn’t have cautioned you against Alex. He is a good man with strong integrity. He is not responsible for his grandfather’s lack of judgment or questionable morals.”
“Nonno, I’m old enough to make up my own mind.” She was drawn to Alex whether he was good for her or not.
Taking a sip of champagne, her grandfather said, “Your parents have been too protective and haven’t let you live.”
She thought about his words. He rarely commented on her upbringing, but she knew he thought her parents smothered her.
She needed to tell him the truth. “Alex Armati was the man in those scandalous photographs of me. At the time, I didn’t think revealing that would help the situation. But he is insisting I tell the family.”
Her grandfather took another sip of his champagne. “That’s very interes
ting.”
She watched his expression carefully. “Are you upset?”
“No. Delighted in fact.”
Before he said anything else, Alex approached them.
“Emilia revealed tonight that you were the man in the photographs.”
Emilia looked up and saw her parents behind Alex. The scene was playing out is slow motion, her mother clutched her father’s arm.
Alex turned and greeted them.
There was a brief silence. Then Emilia said, “This is not how I wanted you to find out. I was planning on telling you in the next few days.”
Her mother looked at Alex. “Why didn’t you come forward at the time? Instead you let the endless speculation ruinmyruin my daughter’s reputation.”
“Mama, that’s not fair. Alex left the next day on a business trip and by the time he returned, I was in Florida. I refused his phone calls because I didn’t want it to become any more complicated.”
Her mother was shaking. “So, you undressed my daughter in public and then let her take the fall.”
Her father tried to quiet her mother. “This is not the place, Francesca.”
Alex said, “Why don’t we go somewhere less public to discuss this?”
Her mother said, “There is nothing else to say. I’m leaving before I say more than I should. But I expect you to treat my daughter with respect.”
Alex shook her father’s hand and said good night to her mother. Her grandfather decided to leave with her parents and within a few minutes, she was alone with Alex.
She couldn’t meet his eyes. “That was unfortunate.”
“It needed to happen.”
He pulled her into an embrace and said, “Come dance with me.”
“I don’t think we should call any more attention to ourselves.”
“That is what this night is about, cara.”
He led her back to the dance floor. Others around them smiled as Alex led her through a series of ballroom dances.
She relaxed and followed his lead as she tried not to notice the photographers snapping their picture.
As the gala began to wind down, he whispered in her ear, “I intend to take you back to my place tonight.”
She met his darkened gaze and wanted to kiss him, but resisted. It was too public of a place.
He stepped closer and said, “You have too much control, cara. I look forward to dismantling every ounce it.”
Pulling her to him, he lowered his head and kissed her deeply before taking her hand and leading her from the room.
She was shaking as she stopped him in the foyer and said, “Alex, there is too much unresolved between us. I know you want something from Berceto. Something I can’t figure out yet.”
He lightly ran his hands down her arms. “We need to put the business issues aside and explore what lies between us. We started something four years ago that we never acted on.”
She kept her voice down, becoming aware of people hanging out by the reception desk. “The problems won’t go away. How could we possibly start a relationship when we know that there is a business connection between us?”
“Emilia, you are more than just Berceto Designs. I promise you that we will keep the two separate and not allow our feelings to influence our business decisions.” He put his hand on her lower back and pulled her forward into his body. “Trust me, cara.”
As they stepped outside the hotel, more photographs were taken of them as Alex took the keys from the valet and opened the door of his silver Bugatti sports car for her. Climbing into the low car, Emilia held her gown and hoped the photographers didn’t get an awkward shot. Alex shielded her as much as possible and then closed the door before he walked around and climbed in.
Within seconds they were speeding away from the hotel. Emilia thought about how much her life had changed in a few short weeks. Instead of hiding away, she was learning how to court the media and was even contemplating getting involved in a relationship. Glancing over at Alex, doubts began to surface. How could they keep their private and professional lives separate? Wanting a physical connection with him wasn’t enough to base an entire relationship on.
Glancing at her phone, she clicked through to some of the links that Liv sent. She looked amazing in the photographs and it seemed her inner turmoil wasn’t evident in any of the comments. The Berceto name was getting a lot of hits and Liv reported that their website had unprecedented volume.
Pulling into his circular driveway, Alex cut the engine and turned to her. “Having second thoughts, cara?”
He reached out and gently traced her cheek with his fingers. She did the same and he grinned at her, saying, “We are going to have fun tonight.”
He opened his door and came around the car and gently tugged her into his embrace. Running his hands down her bare arms, he told her, “You are so beautiful.”
He kissed her until she had to stop for a breath. Alex picked her up and glanced into her eyes. Approaching the front door, he put in a code on the entry panel and pushed the door open while carrying her.
“I didn’t think you would come tonight.”
“I cut my business trip short to be back in time to see you in this gown.”
“I need to take the necklace off.”
He led her down the hallway to his office. She looked at the wall when he switched on the light. The photographs of them were still hung on the wall as before. She was amazed to see passion and not something tainted.
He came up behind her and removed the necklace while kissing her neck. Instead of continuing the seduction, he went to the safe built in behind a bookshelf, placed the necklace in the unit, and closed the door. He pushed the bookshelf back in place and she caught his glance.
“Why do you have the photographs on the wall?”
“I like to look at you, cara.”
It wasn’t the response she was expecting and it threw her.
He stepped forward and turned her around again so she was facing the images as he placed his hands on her waist. “I sometimes would begin to think that you were a figment of my imagination, and then I would come in here to remind myself that you were real.”
She tried to articulate her feelings. “There was this connection between us, but the press ruined it.”
“We are wiser and know more now.”
She studied the images of them and enjoyed the feel of his hands on her body. She wanted to forget the past. Turning, she reached up and kissed him. He deepened the kiss and held her body close to his.
In between frantic kisses, he said, “Let’s go upstairs,” as he unzipped her gown.
“Step out of the gown and we can leave it here.”
She shook her head. “I can’t walk through the house naked.”
“We are completely alone, cara.”
Meeting his gaze, she asked, “What about your housekeeper or security?”
He said slowly, “I no longer use a security detail and I gave my housekeeper the night off.”
He helped her step out of the gown and she stood before him in a black lacy bra with matching panties and four-inch heels.
“I don’t know that we will make it upstairs.”
She started to unbutton his shirt and he pulled her pointedly against his erection, “I need you.”
She stepped back and looked at him. He held her hand and pulled her out of the office and to the staircase.
“I’ll follow you.”
She had never walked in front of a man barely dressed and was hugely self-conscious.
Alex walked behind her up the staircase and couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Her graceful walk and beautifully toned body captivated him.
She stopped in the upstairs foyer and waited for him. He had unbuttoned his shirt and it hung open as he yanked her into his arms. He could feel the warmness of her skin and his mouth devoured hers as he pressed intimately against her.
“I can’t believe how long I waited for this.”
He breathed in her scent and his b
ody hardened. He needed to slow down. He wanted to savor every inch of her and give her so much pleasure that she would cling to him.
Opening the first door on the right, he touched the light switch and the room illuminated.
“Is this your room?”
“I can’t wait, cara.”
He devoured her mouth as he unclasped her bra, feeling the delicious weight of her breasts in his hands. Gently squeezing her nipples, he heard her gasp and he lowered his mouth to heighten her sensation.
She pushed the shirt from his shoulders and he suckled her breast as he used his hands to undue his belt and then his trousers. Pushing her back onto the bed, he took a second to take off his shoes and socks before slipping out of his pants.
“I’m sorry. I forgot a condom. Give me one second.”
Emilia froze. Taking off her shoes, she contemplated if she should remove her panties or wait for him. Her brief experience didn’t include consummation so she was at a loss.
Alex returned smiling. He removed his black boxers and she noticed he was completely at ease with his body. He walked to the bed and gently lifted her hips to pull off her lace panties.
“I’ve never had sex.” She awkwardly blurted out the words.
He stilled. She continued, “I know it seems strange to be twenty-six and have no experience but…”
He stood over her. “It’s fine. Don’t worry. We’ll go slowly.”
Climbing onto the bed next to her, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. As his mouth explored hers, he used his hands to stroke her body. She was desperate for him to touch her breasts again, but he took his time kissing her neck and touching her back.
Her body arched into his, and he laughed against her neck. “Patience, Emilia.”
She explored his naked chest with her hands and heard his indrawn breath. He wasn’t as in control as he let on. She took his nipple into her mouth and he pushed her onto her back. “Please, cara.”
His hands returned to her nipples and squeezed gently, causing her to writhe beneath him. One of his hands moved down over her flat belly and gently touched her there. She moaned as each stroke became harder until finally he was exploring her fully.
He positioned her underneath him and as he plunged his tongue into her mouth, he slowly entered her. An excitement raced through her body and she responded to each thrust by matching his rhythm.
The Exiled Jeweler: a contemporary romance novel (The Rosa Legacy Book 2) Page 10