His For The Taking

by Kat Walters

  Her cheeks felt flushed, and Isabella brought a hand up to her face self-consciously. She stilled then, not moving from the doorway, her eyes locked on his. The sudden heat she saw in his eyes thrilling her. Alessandro's eyes dropped to her chest, and she knew her nipples were hard, pressing against her dress, telling him exactly what she felt.

  "Come here," he growled impatiently. She did. As though an invisible thread joined them, and he was reeling her in. His voice was husky when he spoke again. "Isabella," it was unbearably gentle. It made her ache. It made her long for the impossible.

  "Don't be nice to me… please." It was a whisper, a plea.

  Alessandro's eyes darkened as she looked into them, and that look pierced her to the core. It stripped her bare, witnessed all her fears. Isabella watched his head descend, prayed she could survive this week…that her heart could survive this week. Then his lips found hers, and all thoughts left her. She was lost. Her arms snaked around his neck, and she arched into him. She heard his groan as his arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer.

  Isabella tasted so sweet, and she was here in his arms where she belonged. His hands slid lower over her bottom, and he pulled her in tighter, grinding his hips against hers. She moaned into his mouth, and he deepened the kiss.

  Don't be nice to me.

  Those words. Her words were breaking through his desire, grating on him. Damn, she felt so good in his arms, tasted so good. Alessandro tangled his fingers in her hair, but her words wouldn't leave him alone. He forced himself to pull back and hold her at arm's length. She was so beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips swollen. He wanted her. His own breathing sounded harsh in the silence of the room. Slowly Isabella's eyes opened, the expression in them dazed, and he lowered his mouth to hers and gave her the gentlest kiss.

  Don't be nice to me.

  He had to know. If he hurt her…

  "Isabella." Alessandro slipped his hand under her hair, cupped the back of her neck, and tilted her head up to him. "Are you a virgin?"

  Everything stilled. Isabella held her breath but eventually, with a small sigh, she nodded. That was all. He exhaled his own tightly held breath.

  "In that case, I'm sorry," Alessandro leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. Beneath his hand, he felt her shoulders tense, anticipating his rejection. She started to pull away, but Alessandro wrapped his other arm around her waist and held her tight against his chest. "I'm afraid I have to be a little bit nice to you, but I promise," he pressed his mouth to hers, kissed her deeply before she could think of pulling away. "I promise to be nice this one time only. I will do my best to make you hate me for the rest of the week."

  "Promise?" Asked between kisses, and it was so unexpected it made him laugh and hold her tighter.

  "Are you nervous?"

  "Not anymore."

  "Because I know?"

  Isabella nodded and pressed her mouth to his. Alessandro lifted her and carried her to the bed. Sitting her down on the edge, he knelt in front of her.

  "I won't do anything you don't want me to do."

  "I know. I trust you."

  "You shouldn't," he warned, but she pressed her fingers to his mouth.

  "Let's not talk anymore."

  Alessandro took her hand, brought it to his mouth, and pressed his lips to her palm in a gentle kiss. His eyes closed as her fingers traced the line of his lips, and he sucked in a sudden breath, needing her with a fierceness that shocked him.

  Finding the zip on the side of her dress, he fumbled with it as he tried to draw it down. It was this betraying tic that made him aware that his hands were shaking. He couldn't think about that now. If he stopped to analyze what that meant, he might not continue. Not making love to Isabella would be akin to asking him to stop breathing. He couldn't give up this night with Isabella any more than he could give up oxygen.

  Isabella stood up slowly, her hair fell around her shoulders, framing her beautiful face, and she reached out and touched his hair, ran her fingers through it. He was on his knees, and she smiled, an impish smile.

  "Did you ever think you would be on your knees before me, Alessandro?"

  He couldn't help laughing at that. It was relief, plain and simple. That in amongst all this nervous tension, they could laugh together. He rested his forehead against Isabella's stomach as she cradled his head gently. The light touch of her fingers as she caressed his neck silenced his laughter, and he inhaled deeply, sliding his hands up her thighs to rest on her hips. Alessandro made himself stay like that a moment longer, exulting in the anticipation building between them. He waited. At last, she fisted his hair in her two hands and tilted his head up to her.

  "Alessandro, I need you." It was a whispered plea. "And I don't know what to do. I need you to show me."

  "Alex."

  Confusion clouded her eyes. Alessandro smiled slowly, and his hands skimmed down her legs to the hem of her dress. Looking up at her, watching her as he ran his hands up her thighs, pushing the dress up over her hips.

  "Call me Alex," he whispered against the warmth of her stomach. He trailed his tongue around her belly button and loved the sudden gasp she inhaled. He waited while she pulled the dress up over her head and dropped it to the floor. Isabella's eyes met his in a question. He tugged on her hand to pull her down until she was sitting again on the edge of the bed.

  With gentle hands, Alessandro pushed her thighs apart and moved between them. He cupped her face in his two hands and kissed her. Isabella moaned as his lips trailed down her neck, and then she moaned again. This time in disappointment when he stopped kissing her and leaned back to look at her. He grinned in response, and she glared at him.

  "I think you're teasing me."

  He chuckled, and her eyes softened as she looked at him.

  "Savouring, not teasing." He said, still watching her. Just watching, not touching. For now, he needed this. He needed to pause, draw breath and just look at her. She wore a simple white lace bra that showed off the swell of her golden breasts. Reverently he reached down and traced the curve of her breasts with light fingers. She arched her back to his touch, and that honest, immediate response sent blood rushing straight to his groin. He was so hard, aching for her, but he wanted to go slow, for her.

  Slipping his arms around her back, Alessandro unclasped her bra, pulled it forward, and off her arms. He looked at her for the longest moment before he finally lifted his hands and cupped her breasts, squeezing them, rubbing the pad of his thumb across her nipples. She arched into his hands, her head thrown back, exposing her neck to his mouth. He trailed soft kisses across her skin towards her chest, sucking one nipple into his mouth before turning his attention to her other breast. Her sighs and soft moans left him aching and longing to be inside her. He stood back and slipped his shirt off. He watched Isabella catch her lower lip between her teeth, her eyes wide as she looked at him the way he was looking at her. With need and want burning fiercely in her green eyes. She was so beautiful, everything he could possibly want. His jeans followed his shirt onto the floor.

  Holding her gaze, Alessandro knelt slowly, smiled as she propped herself up on her elbows so that she could watch him. He placed his hands on her thighs, sucked in a shuddering breath and squeezed slightly. He heard the catch in her breath as he ran his hands upwards along her thighs, parted them, moved between them.

  Isabella sat up and tried to wrap her arms around his neck, but he shook his head. Gently, he pushed her back down, his hand firm on her stomach. Alessandro brought his lips down towards her thigh, trailed his tongue upwards, kissed her hard between her thigh and hip before turning his attention to her other thigh. She squirmed beneath his touch, and he smiled against her skin as his mouth brushed little kisses along her hip.

  He couldn't wait anymore. He had to taste her. Alessandro parted her with his tongue, and her hips lifted right off the bed. His hand on her stomach pressed down firmly, holding her still. With his fingers, Alessandro spread her open. He felt her muscl
es tightening around him as he continued to use his tongue. Her orgasm built, and he felt that shattering moment, the moan that was ripped from her. Alessandro kept his mouth on her until she was spent, her body still, and then he was reaching quickly for the condom he had placed conveniently next to the bed.

  Chapter 6

  Isabella opened her eyes, her head still reeling from that orgasm. She saw Alessandro kneeling between her legs and propped herself up just as he straightened, towering over her. Effortlessly he lifted her up the bed and came down on top of her. He must have sensed her sudden anxiety, for he gently cupped her face and kissed her so softly. Isabella sighed into his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt his hand run down her body, between her legs and then he pushed himself up so he could look into her eyes.

  "Yes," she whispered, knowing instinctively that he would not do anything until she was ready.

  "Wrap your legs around me."

  She did.

  Isabella felt him ease inside her, filling her. She rocked her hips upwards, but it was so tight, and it hurt, she gasped and froze. Alessandro stilled, holding himself above her, waiting.

  "Kiss me?" Isabella whispered it against his mouth. Alessandro's eyes flickered over her face, noticing the strain in her eyes.

  "You're hurting."

  "I won't be, in a minute."

  Humor flashed across his face. "How would you know?"

  Isabella stared at him in consternation, and then a little laugh escaped her. "I just know. Now kiss me," she paused and then tacked on, "please."

  Alessandro lowered his mouth to hers, and the moment his lips found her, she was lost in desire again. The pain was forgotten. Her hips moved upwards, and her legs tightened around his back. Alessandro's soft moan excited her, and she arched again, her eyes closing. The feel of him moving slowly in and out of her body was so unexpected, so…

  He pushed up, changed the angle, and Isabella gasped, reaching for him. She was… oh… she was…stars exploded behind her eyes, and she was tumbling, falling, the sensation so much more than she could ever have imagined. Alessandro was moving faster now, deeper, harder, and Isabella clung to him. Some part of her screamed a warning, but she wouldn't listen, couldn't listen. She was floating, coming down, and he was there holding her, kissing her so tenderly she thought she would cry.

  She wanted to scream at him.

  Don't do this.

  Don't make me love you.

  The face staring back at him looked terrified. It was not an expression Alessandro was used to seeing on himself. Turning away from the mirror, he scrubbed a hand over his face and tried to shake the feeling away. He couldn't.

  Don't be nice to me.

  His breathing was still labored, his heart pounding so loud it was all he could hear. Damn, he had almost blacked out during that climax. That had never happened before.

  Alessandro had watched her, every gasp, every moan from Isabella's lips intensifying his own orgasm. She had been so open, so vulnerable, every feeling there on her face creeping under his own skin, shattering his defenses.

  It hurt. It hurt like hell to feel like that. How did she do it? How could Isabella bear to feel so much? Resolutely Alessandro pushed the feelings down. He hadn't got to this point in his life by allowing his emotions to rule him. His father had let his feelings rule him, and those feelings had killed him. He would never be weak like that.

  Instead, he thought of Isabella, her curves, her skin, her mouth, her eyes. No, not her eyes. Her eyes were dangerous. Her eyes made him feel. Her breasts, he focussed on the feel of her breasts and then cursed himself. What was he doing thinking of her breasts? Already he was hard, wanting her again.

  Alessandro groaned and flipped the taps on the bath. He needed a distraction. Taking a steadying breath, he returned to the bedroom. Stopped. Isabella was perched on the side of the bed, the sheet wrapped around her body. She was gathering up her clothes, clutching them to her as she stood to face him. She looked so fragile and lost, so beautiful. His heart flipped inside his chest, but he ignored the warning. He couldn't walk away from her now, not yet, not like this.

  "Little mouse, where are you running away to?"

  Nothing. No retaliation. Isabella didn't even look at him. She only clutched the sheet tighter around her. Alessandro frowned, strode forward, and hauled her into his arms. What was wrong with her? With a finger under her chin, he tilted her face up to him. Even then, she avoided his eyes.

  "Are you not going to fight with me, Isabella?"

  "Not tonight."

  Silence.

  "Very well."

  Alessandro released her jaw and slid his hand down her arm, caressing her soft skin. She was beautiful. She didn't know. She didn't realize how beautiful she was. He placed a light kiss on her neck and ignored the way she stiffened as his lips brushed the soft skin beneath her ear. She was hurting, and he didn't want that. He'd never wanted that. Not for Isabella.

  Alessandro took Isabella's fingers in his own. He forced her hand to unclench and drop the bundle of clothes she was clutching so fiercely to her chest. With a quick tug, he pulled the sheet from her body and let it pool at her feet. She gasped, but she didn't fight him, and he didn't like that.

  "Isabella," he kissed her. She trembled, but she turned her head to him, and, reaching up on her toes, she pressed her mouth to his. Alessandro cupped her face in his two hands and rested his forehead against hers. It would be so easy to carry her back to bed and make love to her all over again. Her hands skimmed down his naked chest, exploring, and he grinned and kissed her short and quick. "Come with me."

  Alessandro tugged gently on her hand, pulling her with him as he returned to the bathroom. He had dimmed the lights, and now, with the rising steam and the rose-scented water, he tensed unexpectedly. It had not been his intention to create such a romantic atmosphere. Now all he could think about was sliding into that hot water with her. Alessandro wanted to feel her silky skin against his. He wanted to lift her onto his lap and pull her down onto him until he was deep inside her.

  He couldn't do any of those things. It was too soon, and Isabella was feeling too vulnerable. She still hadn't looked up at him. Alessandro brushed his fingers against her cheek, and her startled gaze flew up to his then.

  Alessandro cursed. "Isabella." He pulled her closer, bringing his mouth down on hers in a punishing kiss. "Your eyes are too honest." Alessandro kissed her again, gentler this time.

  Isabella heard Alessandro return as she was climbing from the bath. Drying herself, she looked up to see him standing in the doorway wearing nothing but a pair of faded jeans, his chest bare, a trail of dark hair leading beneath the band of his jeans. Her eyes dipped lower, appreciating how his muscled thighs filled those jeans. He was so strong, and she had a flash of him kneeling between her thighs. Her stomach contracted, her breath hitched.

  "Keep looking at me like that, Isabella, and this will be the second meal we miss tonight."

  Mortified, she looked away. Isabella heard him chuckle, and then he was standing in front of her holding out a red silk dressing gown. Isabella frowned at it then she sighed with resignation and reached for it. As her fingers brushed the silk, Alessandro whipped it out of reach, holding it up high. Her startled gaze clashed with his.

  "There is something else you would rather wear?"

  There was no anger in his voice, only curiosity. A memory of all the party dresses her father had made her wear whenever she was going to be seen in public with him made her tense. Her jaw ached from trying to keep this anger inside. Look the part. Always. Never let anyone know what really goes on behind closed doors. Never let anyone know what you really think or feel. Play your part, your role. And here she was doing it again.

  A silk dressing gown for the mistress.

  It was official. She was Alessandro DeLaurentis’ mistress. Her whole body reacted. It was a visceral reaction, a clenching of every muscle. Isabella didn't want to play a part. She wanted this one thing to
be honest. She wanted this one thing for herself.

  But she couldn't think about herself. Not even now. She had made a deal with Alessandro, and she had to play her part. She had to be what he wanted—the mistress in the red silk dressing gown. She could do this – for Anna. It was only for one week, and then she would never have to do it ever again.

  Isabella forced a practiced smile to her face. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

  She held out her hand to take it, but Alessandro took another step back, still holding the gown out of reach. He was watching her, with eyes that had seen too much already. She sighed, wishing not for the first time that she was a better actress.

  "Alessandro, give me the gown."

  Alessandro's mouth quirked in amusement, drawing her eyes to his gorgeous lips, lips that had kissed every inch of her body. As she watched, he turned and walked away, taking the gown with him.

  "We'll eat on the terrace."

  Isabella watched his departing back. She glared at his departing back. Before he left the room, he tossed the dressing gown onto the bed. It lay there mocking her. Alessandro didn't do anything by accident. She had learned that much about him, and now he'd left the gown there as a challenge. It was beautiful and decadent, but it was everything she didn't want.

  Alessandro was daring her to fight with him. Fine. Marching back to her own room, she ignored the wardrobe full of beautiful clothes. She reached for her bag and pulled out her little grey cotton shorts – the ones she slept in – and a pink tank top.

  Leaving her hair down about her shoulders, Isabella padded barefoot down the stairs, through the living room, and out to the terrace. She stopped abruptly. He was waiting for her. Isabella bit down on her lip - and her excuses - as he turned towards her. Alessandro held out a glass of chilled white wine, a hint of amusement evident in his eyes. Isabella took a tentative step towards him, but then his eyes dropped from hers and traveled lazily over her body. She stumbled to a halt.