Danni let out a resigned sigh. “I’ll do my best, Nico. But know this. I’m ashamed of myself, you, Felice, and Robert for starting this whole mess. For Mom not caring, and for Robert being a gambler and thief. I’m ashamed of myself for letting them get me into this mess and you for helping them. What I can’t get past is that the netsukes mean more to me than my own self-respect.”
“Walk away, last chance.” He touched her hand again, and she all but jumped in her seat and snatched it away from him. Nico knew Danni had a crush on him years, before but had always regarded her age. Now she was of consent and he’d not hold back any longer. He tried being soft and kind, offering to marry her. She insulted him and belittled him. Now he’d take what he wanted from her without guilt. “Are you going to jump every time I touch you, Danielle?” The reminder of the dare of the dragon.
“Probably!” Danielle gave Nico a strange look and continued. “We need to discuss this, Nico.” She blushed, but didn’t look away, not realizing how hard he’d grown, stretching his jeans to the limit, thankful the table blocked her view. He nodded, and she should continued. “It’s just that I’ve been…busy. With college and grad school, the sommelier course I just finished. Every summer, I apprenticed at a different winery or farm.”
“Get to the point, Danni. I know your history. And stop fidgeting, please.” He reached across the table and took the paper napkin she was shredding.
“I’m not as…worldly as you might assume.” She saw him take her words to heart. He knew she dated while in high school and probably assumed she’d had many lovers through the years.
“Forget your expertise or mine. What we do together will be unique. It will never be the same for either of us with any other person.” The waitress appeared and took Danni’s untouched plate along with Nico’s half-finished one. He declined coffee when it was offered and asked for the check. “Are you truly physically afraid of me, Danni, or is it any man?”
“I’m not afraid of you, Niccolo Severino.” She’d said it more to reinforce the premise to her than him.
“Then we should get started.” He waited for her response and got none. “Danni?”
“We’ll have to wait for the weekend. I have my cycle now.” She’d managed to look him dead in the eye, and he didn’t blink or blush.
“Good, that will give us a few uninterrupted weeks.”
“Nico, just tell me this one thing. Did I slight you somehow, sometime, without realizing it? It seems you want to possess a part of me and I don’t understand why?”
“You were the forbidden fruit, Danielle. It was the right thing to do all those years back, stopping before we got too far. Now, you’re of age and willing. So am I. I intend to make every minute count. I’ll never have you any other way, I’ll take what I can get.”
“I was young. I couldn’t do anything about my age. And if you remember, I wanted to go further several times and you always stopped us.”
“It wasn’t a game, just the right thing to do. Do you have any idea how hard it was to stop, to be on the edge and have to pull away? One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was stop loving you. Now I have an opportunity to possess you, even if it is just for a few short nights. I’m going to take full advantage. You might not enter this experienced, but you’ll leave it with a new perspective on sex and life.”
“But not love?”
“You’re the one who insists on no romantic entanglements. We can go back to my original offer. Marry me and I’ll give you the netsukes as a wedding gift. I’ll even give you the hillside acres for your olive trees.”
“You truly are a bastard at heart, Niccolo. To bribe me with my heart’s desire but never once have you mentioned love and meant it beyond the word. It’s only a concept to you, not an emotion. I couldn’t marry any man I didn’t feel loved me. You’ve made it apparent I’m good for sex but not for love. I’m strictly a financial gain and window dressing. I can further your label with my expertise.”
Danni waited while the waitress placed the check on the corner of the table and mumbled thanks as she passed. She knew she was interrupting and chose to insure her tip rather than get bits of gossip. That was why they’d chosen this restaurant, so far away from their normal haunts and homes. He stood, dropped several bills on the table, waited for her to stand, and gently guided her toward the door with his hand on her back. Outside, the breeze kicked up dust from the parking lot as he walked her toward the old farm pickup.
“I don’t see any other way out of this, Nico. Do you?”
“I’ve given you options, bella. You’ve made the decision which road we travel.”
“Yes, I have. I’ll give you my body willingly, Nico. But you’ll never possess me the way you might think. You can’t have my soul too. I’m already selling it for the netsukes!”
“If you do this, it will always be a part of you.”
“I know, and you too. Only you’re not afraid. To you I’m just another conquest, a business deal with a twist.” He laughed aloud, and she glared at him. “You’re enjoying all this way too much!”
“Let’s wait and see what you get out of it, Danni. You might be surprised.”
“It’s a heavy price to pay for my heritage, or what’s left of it.” She opened the truck door and he waited while she climbed in, not resisting the urge to palm her buttocks in the process. She pulled away and dropped in the seat quickly, tugging the door from his grasp.
“Friday night, Danni, I’ll pick up you at five. Be dressed like a lady.”
“Be dressed like a lady,” she mimicked, and he stopped several steps from her. Suddenly her face became very serious. “Nico, if I ask you to stop…or…”
“We’ll work it out as we go along, bella.”
“I hate it when you call me that.”
“You used to think of it as a term of affection.”
“I used to. Please don’t use it anymore.”
“I’ll try. Danni, just relax. You yourself said you wanted to take things further years back. We’re just catching up on lost time. When spring comes, life will figure itself out for all of us.”
“In the spring a piece of me will be dead.”
“I have no illusions about my life, Danielle. I win because I play the game well. I’m successful because my only true love is the Severino land and vines. She’ll always be first in my mind and heart. In a strange way, the vines have been my mistress before I could understand the concept.”
“And I’m just passing through, a gamble that worked out.”
“To put it bluntly, yes. Your stepfather gambled away the Cirillo land and its history, not me. I was just in the right place to pick up the pieces.”
“I hate you, Nico. This dark dragon that appears and takes no account of emotions or feelings.”
“You’ll feel, Danni, I promise, you’ll feel! And yes, you’ve declined my proposal, so at the end of our eight weeks, I’ll walk away. No hard feelings, just business. If things were different, we might even develop a deeper relationship, but you’re closed to anything other than a full-out win back of your land and the netsukes. It’s a pipe dream. Let it go.”
“Nobody can ever know about us or this, Drago.” She used the term for his name and he didn’t like it.
“Bella, be careful when and how you entice me. I take no prisoners.” He let out a breath and added, “Nobody will ever hear about this from my lips.”
“Nor mine!”
“Be ready when I come for you.”
“I’ll meet you somewhere. I can’t have you driving me home at daybreak, not with Carmen in the house and all the extra security.”
“All right, come to Casa Maria at five. We’ll leave from there, but that’s my only concession.” He sauntered toward his new, shiny pickup while Danni ground the ignition several times before hers caught, sputtered, and spit. He left the parking lot before her and she noted he didn’t head toward home.
Chapter Six
Arriving ten minutes before the
appointed hour, Danni was surprised to see the black town car parked before Casa Maria’s front entrance. Taking one last glance in her truck’s rearview mirror, she saw nothing that she could do on short notice to change her appearance. As she was leaving the truck, a man in a black suit was carrying out two large suitcases. Maria Severino followed behind, checking the contents of her purse. Nico was only a few steps behind her, tugging the door closed behind him. He acknowledged Danni with a nod, then went to the rear door of the vehicle and settled his aunt inside.
“Good, you’re on time.”
Not the statement Danni had been expecting, although to be honest, all day she’d been dazed and off-kilter. She no longer had apprehensive pauses about her bargain, instead chose to view it as a new learning experience, one just for herself. Nico was a gift she’d give herself before the Cirillo label fell apart and she moved on. As she dressed for this evening, trying to look like a lady as Nico had requested, she’d realized the silk undies she’d bought earlier in the week were more for her, not for him. He’d like them of course, but they made her feel feminine. Any butterflies she had buzzing in her brain or stomach were now just about the waiting.
She’d made her decisions, and now she wanted to get started. The sooner she had the taste of Niccolo Severino’s skin on her lips, the better off she’d be. Heat had been building inside her all week. Danni knew emotions and hormones were playing a large part with her attitude, but in general, she’d decided to do this for her. Taking the experience with her could only help her future. In fact, she was horny, hot, and bothered, and the sooner she got the itch scratched, the better she’d feel.
Nico was beside her before she realized he was there. Her first glance had been of him at the door, grey flannel slacks over his black polished boots. A navy blazer was tailored to perfection, his shoulders broad, thinning to his slim middle. The pale blue sport shirt under it was open at the collar. What a picture he made, and now, next to her, she could smell him. The scent of his soap was familiar, clean and simple mixed with just the man. He never wore aftershave, and she was thankful. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to take one long, deep breath before turning to confront him with a half smile and her shoulders back in a stance of slight defiance.
“You look nice, Danni. Thanks for coming early.” His warm hand guided her toward the waiting vehicle, slipping her easily to his aunt’s left. He walked around to sit on her far right. She gave him an odd glance, but Maria started talking before Danni could find the right words. His slim smile told her he’d put one over on her.
It seemed, according to Maria, her flight wasn’t until this evening, which gave them time for an early supper at her favorite restaurant in San Francisco before dropping her at the airport. Trying to relax beside her, Danni glanced to Nico, who had finally smiled. She’d have to wait, even to touch him, for hours it seemed. His small torture would be returned, she knew, at a later date. Engaged in conversation with Maria, they reached the restaurant in record time, passed an enjoyable hour over wonderful food prepared by Maria’s old friends, and then continued on to the airport. The driver pulled up to the departures area, and after taking her luggage to the cart, nodded to Nico for whatever was pre-arranged, returned to the car, and moved it from the lane.
Inside, the bright light was almost blinding. They stayed with her in line, through her checkin, and were able to walk her to the security gate. There she gave Nico a big hug, whispering words Danni couldn’t hear. She was next, swallowed up in Maria’s warmth, their cheeks pressing. “I don’t know all of what’s going on, Danielle, but if you need anything, go to Nico. And if it’s about Nico…” His aunt pulled back and smiled, “You’ve always been family, to make it permanent would make me very happy. Bambinos running through Casa Maria are exactly what we all need.” She laughed, adding, “Don’t be so shocked, I’m an older woman, not old!”
“You’re mistaken, Tia. Nico and I are just friends.”
“You keep believing that for now if it’s what you need to do, but remember, I’m only a call away.” She pressed a small slip of paper into Danni’s hand and gave Nico one last hug. “Be nice,” she said, turning toward the security personnel before her. Once through the process, she paused to blow them a kiss before walking steadily toward her gate.
Nico dropped his arm over Danni’s shoulders as they walked toward the exit. It was an automatic gesture, one he’d done many times with her. She didn’t question the movement.
“Do you want to wait until her flight takes off?”
“No, she’ll be fine. She’s right, you know. She’s older, not old. I realized that today while I was trying to organize her.”
Danni laughed aloud at the concept of anyone organizing Maria Severino. She slipped her arm around his waist and tugged him closer, wanting to feel the solid mass of him nearer.
“Maybe she’ll come home with a boyfriend,” Danni said, only as conversation, and felt Nico flinch. “What? She’s still young enough to marry, maybe not for childbearing, but certainly to spend time with a man who loves and respects her.”
Nico had no further comment other than a grunt while lifting his other arm. Their car pulled up toward them. Once inside and away from the airport rush, Danni turned to Nico.
“Would the thought of having another man in your vineyard be so terrible if it made Maria happy?” Danni was curious, not hesitating with her questions.
“Maria can bring home any man she wants, but he wouldn’t be in my vineyard. He may live at our home and on our land, but he’ll never have any say over the label or the vines.”
For Danni, that one sentence summed up Niccolo Severino. She’d always be second to an inanimate object, even though she understood how he felt. “No, nobody will, ever. As you told me once, she’s your mistress and you don’t share.”
“That’s an odd reference, Danni. Are you spoiling for a fight, hoping to ruin the arrangement?” Their gazes locked and she paused to consider his taunt.
“Not at all. In fact, this little excursion you planned worked quite well. I’m well past my nerves and just horny now.” Before he could counter, she continued. “Is the privacy screen truly private, Nico? Is that what you had in mind?”
She slid across the leather seat next to him, reached toward his chest, and slipped along the cotton-covered flesh until her fingers met skin at his neck. Danni twisted around, dropped onto his lap, and, with one arm around the back of his neck, started effectively to unbutton his shirt with the other. She touched her lips everywhere—his cheek, his chin, his neck, but not his lips. She felt him swell under her, the unmistakable pulse making her squirm deeper in his arms. He allowed her to unbutton his shirt, to stroke his chest with her hands as she finally lowered her lips over his.
Nico gave her full control, took what she gave, and answered in kind. It was an exercise in tortured lust, her touching and him holding back. She skimmed his nipple with her fingernail, and he didn’t hold back his groan. Danni left his mouth to travel to the flat tip and licked it with her tongue. He relaxed under her, his hands running along her thigh and her upper arm, pulling her tighter. She knew she had to stop soon or he’d take her then and there in the back seat of the hired car.
She was startled and slightly dazed when he forced her head up and tugged her chin toward his mouth. Only it didn’t stop at one kiss. It became two, then three, and then continued until they were exactly as they were when he’d tried to slow her down. This time, he lifted her slightly and placed her on the seat beside him, with his arm over her shoulders holding her in place. She was confused by the movement; her look questioning him. She didn’t know they had another stop to make.
“What?” she whispered, attempting to slip her hand back across his chest.
“Settle down, Danni, we’re almost there.”
She looked outside, for the first time realizing they were in the heart of San Francisco now. There was little time to right her clothing and hair, let alone repair her lipstick before the car s
lowed before one of the larger hotels. Her first instinct was he’d taken her here instead of his home. She could understand that. He wouldn’t want her memory around him. The idea hurt her, but self-preservation was important to both of them. She was more confused after hearing him tell the driver to pick them up in an hour.
He ushered her inside, the lobby was a grand space. To the right was a doorway into a darkened lounge. He directed her to the space filled with soft music from the three-piece combo set off in the corner. Several couples were dancing, others were attempting to dance, and some were just sitting quietly with a drink enjoying the music.
“What would you like Danni?”
His words asked for more than one answer. This was a new side of Nico Severino, one she’d only experienced in glimpses. Tonight, she wanted to experience the whole man, outside the vineyard, away from business. The dark dragon she’d heard the rumors and stories about. The man who only accepted surrender, and got it because of his masculine, seductive air. Danni’s lower lips moistened, dampening the small swath of material covering her intimately. Nico knew she was craving his touch, and his strategy worked on her. Danni made a point of not squirming in her seat. A girl had to keep some element of self-respect, albeit a small one.
“No wine!” she said with a laugh. “Tonight, I’m in the mood for something strong and hot—brandy, I think.” She sat back, letting him place her order, taking in the surroundings. When she glanced to Nico, he wore a strange smile. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head with a laugh, accepting she’d gotten his number. Psyching Danni out wasn’t going to work.
“Did you think you were the something strong and hot I wanted?” He turned to look at her but didn’t answer. “You are my dark drago. But you seem to have a plan, so I’ve decided to go along with your seduction.”
Her Dark Dragon Page 6