by Lea Hart
Letting out a breath, she nodded. “Okay, let’s table the marriage and living together conversation and see who shows up with Kumarin’s kid.”
“Fine, but I still want you to stay in your castle and make it a home you’ll love.”
Groaning, she threw back her head. “Please, at least pretend to listen.”
“I am listening and will do whatever makes you happy.”
“Including not giving me a hard time when Bruno and I move out?”
“Well…”
“Hah!” She snapped her fingers and closed her eyes. “I knew it.”
Taking her hand, he shrugged. “I want to wake up to your face every day and sleep entwined every night. I’ve waited for years, and now I don’t want to let you go.”
Letting her head fall against his chest, she laughed. “Say that then, and I’ll consider it.”
“Grazi, mi amore. I’m hungry for you in a way that has me half-crazy, and if I think you’re trying to get away, I’ll lose what little sanity I have left.”
“A little?”
“Be nice; you have me tied up in knots that I’ll likely never be free of.”
She ran her hand over his chest and bit her bottom lip. “I should be offended by your crazy declarations, but somehow I’m not.”
The waitress approached with a bottle of wine and Gio nodded for it to be opened. Once he and Valentina had a glass, he lifted his in a toast. “To a love story for the ages.”
“To surviving the love story.”
“Always.” He clinked his glass and then gave her a kiss that let her know he’d accept nothing less.
***
Valentina sipped her coffee and leaned into Gio’s shoulder. “That is one of the best meals I’ve ever had.”
“Fabrizio is a genius, and now that he has my baby sister, Alessi, in the kitchen, there will be no beating the Red Door for fine dining.”
“Until I open my little club and steal your sister away.”
“Not possible.” He pressed a kiss to her head and then grinned. “Don’t you have any great chefs in the family?”
“Not really. My brothers only care about the family business, and none of them have a creative bone in their body.”
“Tell me about the Ceylon Rose.”
“It’s a supper club that features music nightly and a burlesque show on the weekends. We modeled it after the clubs from the fifties. It’s got an old-school rat-pack vibe with all the modern amenities. Bruno and I wanted to appeal to couples who want a naughty night out, and we’re all about seduction. We’d like to think our customers take home the sexy vibe and have a great night with their partners.”
“What made you decide to go with a burlesque theme?”
“Everything is readily available, and I think people have forgotten the value of old-fashioned seduction. Denying or delaying gratification is a lost art, and I think sometimes the most alluring thing in the world is the least obvious.”
Nodding, he looked out over the dance floor. “Look at my members. They’re a perfect example of what you’re talking about. The women are, for the most part, scantily clad and the men are either showing off their wealth or physique.”
“It makes sense since you’re offering them a place to indulge their fantasies. Some nights are for seduction and others are for immediate satisfaction. They both have a place.”
“You said you had some suggestions earlier and I’d love to hear them.”
“Now that I’ve thought about it, I’m going to keep them to myself since they’re more appropriate for my concept. What you have here is perfect.”
“You should build your club next door and then we’ll have the market covered. If you want a night of debauchery, then come to the Red Door, a night of seduction will be spent at the Ceylon Rose.”
“And if you’re gay and want a night out, then go to Bruno’s club.”
“Really?”
Covering her mouth with her fingers, she shook her head. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Tesoro, do you think that I care that Bruno is gay?’
“No, but we’re only in the conceptual stage of putting the business together, and our market research is in its infancy.”
“I like the idea of having all the clubs together so that whatever mood you’re in, we’ve got you covered.”
Shifting her shoulders, she nibbled on the biscotti that had accompanied her coffee. “You like the word we.”
“I do when it comes to us. It’s not a pronoun that I’ve used with a woman before, and I’m enjoying the hell out of thinking about an us instead of just myself. A life means nothing without a family, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever have a chance at one.”
“You must have a horde of women clamoring for your attention. Did none of them appeal?”
“I was waiting to experience the feeling you gave me at twenty-one and never found it. Until you got off the plane on Monday.”
Looking up, she saw once again that Gio meant what he said, and she pressed her hand to her heart. It was beating out of her chest, and she felt a flash of heat race across her body. “I’m overwhelmed.” His arm went around her shoulder, and she moved into his embrace, knowing that any arguments she made against them trying would be futile.
He was, after all, the man she’d been dreaming about since she was sixteen. She’d never managed more than a month with any other man because of not only who she was but more importantly because none of them were Gio.
“You feel it, don’t you, Valentina?”
“I do,” she whispered. Burying her face in his neck, she let his warm musky scent surround her and wanted nothing more than to drag him out of the club and show him exactly how much his words meant.
It seemed a thing that could only be communicated with their bodies tangled together, hearts beating as one, and nothing between them but their love. “I wish we could go home now, so…” Before she could finish her sentence, he was pulling her out of the booth. “I didn’t mean we had to leave.”
“Believe me; I’m more than ready and was only trying to be a good host.”
He held up his hand, and she watched both Bruno and Sal move in their direction. “Gio, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure.”
Gio had a short conversation with Sal, and then they were moving toward the hall that would lead them to the parking lot. Two of Gio’s men flanked them as they moved through the club, with Bruno taking up the rear. Hearing Bruno snicker, she looked over her shoulder and figured he thought their hasty exit was funny.
There would be only one cause, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t too hard to figure out. Not that it bothered her a bit because she’d been waiting for exactly this feeling and excitement for as long as Gio had.
“Enjoy, cara,” Bruno said against her ear as Gio’s men pulled the SUV up to the door.
“I’m certainly going to try.” Gio tightened his hold on her hand and knew he’d never let her go. Not in this lifetime or the next.
CHAPTER NINE
Gio started shedding his suit the moment the lock snicked closed on their bedroom door. The ride back from the club seemed to take ages, and his need for Valentina was so far off the scale of acceptability that he prayed for divine intervention.
He slung his coat over a chair along with his tie. Shoving his shoes off, he stalked toward her and hit the switch that lowered the blinds. As he got closer, he saw her hands trembling as she slipped off her shoes and wondered what he could do to put her at ease. “I know that it’s going to take some time to get used to the idea of us being together.”
Pulling him closer, she played with the buttons on his shirt. “It is and, as much as I’d like to take things slow, I’m not sure it’s possible.”
“I know I’m rushing you, but I can’t help myself. I think I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you and, as crazy as that is, I believe it’s true.”
“But we really don’t know one another.”
> “Do I know what your favorite breakfast food is? No. Do I know what your favorite vacation spot is? No. But, I know what’s in my heart and learning all those details will not change that.”
“I’m afraid of rushing into this dream I’ve held onto for so long and finding out it’s not possible. It’s like I’ve been given a chance to have everything I want and…”
“We’ll figure it out, mi amore. One way or another, we’ll find a way to make our love story come true.”
“Promise?”
“With every fiber in my being.” Seeing small tears form in the corner of her eyes, he wondered if she was ready to let go of her arguments and fall headlong into the thing brewing between them. She was a fighter, and he wanted to convince her that he was now at her side and would never let her take a dragon on alone.
“Yes.”
Dropping his head, he let it rest against hers and took a moment to appreciate that God had blessed him with all that he would ever need. Not money, power or position would ever mean shit if he didn’t have Valentina as his mate.
She was his North, and he would keep her at the center of everything he did. “I will never let you regret that yes.”
“Tell me five things about you.”
“Now?”
“Yes, before we get lost in one another’s bodies, tell me something.”
“Okay…I prefer football to basketball. I would happily eat chocolate ice cream every night but often have fruit instead. I get crabby if I don’t work out and enjoy lifting weights and boxing. I’m an introvert with an extrovert’s job and hate small talk. I love my family, but they make me crazy, and I plan on never joining the family business full time. I want a big family and hope for boys first, so they can protect the girls. I’ve never traveled much and would very much like the chance to do it with you. Preferably before our first child shows up.” Running his hand over her bare shoulder, he nodded. “Your turn.”
“Well…I like baseball games and musical theater. Motown and jazz are my favorite music, and I wish I had a decent voice, so I could karaoke without shame. I’ve traveled a great deal but would like to see the world eventually and hope to take one major trip a year. I want four children and hope that I get two sets of twins, so I only have to go through childbirth twice. And, if only given one choice, I’d choose salty over sweet and only work out when my pants don’t fit.”
“I think we may be the two most well-suited people in all the history of the world.” Seeing her eyes light with amusement, he waited and then saw her head thrown back as she let out a full belly laugh.
The sound filled him with happiness because it sounded like it was coming from her heart and soul. Needing to have her in his arms, he scooped her up and walked over to the bed and fell against it. They landed in a tangle of limbs, and he watched her amusement morph into desire. “I love you, Valentina Conti, and suspect I always have.”
“Gio Zanetti…”
Holding his breath, he wondered if a declaration of love was possible. “Yes, cara?”
“I…think…that…I…might…feel…something…very…similar.” Closing her eyes, she pushed her face into his chest.
“Know that I will do everything so that you’ll be absolutely sure at some point in the near future.” He felt her hand slide under his shirt and rest against his heart, and thought it was the very best answer he could’ve hoped for. “I love you, cara.” Moving his mouth to hers, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips and felt her hands move around his neck.
The heat churning between them was beginning to move in waves, as he took the kiss further by opening his mouth and sweeping his tongue inside hers.
There was a need in her kiss that hadn’t happened before, and he hoped it was from his declaration of love. Her hand danced across his back as it tugged his shirt free and he was as eager to be skin to skin as she was. Moving away from her hands, he got rid of their clothes in less than a minute and pulled her soft body under his.
Bracketing her in his arms, he pushed her hair away from her eyes and connected them in the most intimate way possible. Thrusting inside with one long stroke, he felt the connection and breathed deeply, feeling a now familiar possession rage in his gut. “This is the most perfect moment in all the world.”
Wiggling her hips, she smiled. “It will be as soon as you start moving.”
Canting his hips, he gave her a short stroke. “Like this?”
“Gio, don’t be a tease.”
“Tell me.”
“What?”
“You know.”
“Beast.”
“No, the other thing.”
“Really, you’re going to hold my orgasm hostage until you get what you want?”
“I might.” He felt her legs go around his waist and let out a laugh. “Three little words and I’ll give you whatever you need.”
“You should be ashamed.”
Giving her a full stroke, he let out a laugh. “Not even a little.”
“Fine.”
Holding completely still, he waited and prayed she would open her heart and let him in.
“I love you.”
“Really?”
“Yes…I do.”
Responding with a feral kiss, his need for her exploded as he thrust into her welcoming heat. Again and again, he bound them together and buried himself so deeply in her body that they were close to becoming one.
“Yes, Gio!”
Her thighs gripped his waist, and her nails dug into his back, and the thing between them rocked on the precipice of burning out of control. Feeling her climax grip his cock, he let himself go and roared as he released himself deep within her body.
He’d never been more connected to another human being and knew their hearts were joined on the most primal level.
Theirs was a bond that could never be broken.
Lifting his head, he watched her eyes meet his and knew she recognized what they’d made.
A love that would last a lifetime.
***
Valentina leaned against the bathroom counter as she finished brushing her teeth and heard the door open. Lifting her eyes, she saw her very own Adonis slowly walk in. “Did I wake you up?”
Gio laughed, stroked his cock and grinned. “Yes, because the bed was empty.”
“I was just going to take a quick shower. I’m not used to the heat of the desert yet.”
“Well, let’s make sure you’re really sweaty then.” He lifted her on the counter in one smooth motion and untied her robe. “Show me how ready you are.”
She shook her head and pressed her legs together. “Say it nicely.”
“Please, my love, show me your pretty pussy dripping with sweet honey.”
“I didn’t mean a graphic description; I was just hoping you’d say please.”
He opened her legs and licked his lips as he slid his finger along her slit. Gliding his finger into his mouth, he licked it clean. “I love the taste of you in my mouth.”
“Maybe I should take you in my mouth.”
“Next time,” he mumbled, grabbing her ankle and propping it on his shoulder. “I want you to watch my cock as it goes in and out and see me pulse as I come inside your pussy.”
Letting her eyes fall, she watched him slide in and felt her body clench. He slowly dragged himself in and out, and she couldn’t look away. Every thrust drove her need high as he rocked in with deadly precision. “Why do I like watching this?”
“Because it’s us coming together as one.”
Bowing her head, she watched his thumb go to her clit and felt her body begin its long slide into ecstasy. Arching, she called his name as she pulled him in as deeply as possible. Feeling her walls crumble, she held tightly as he pulled her legs around his body and prayed she’d survive whatever they were about to become.
“Love you, cara. So very much,” he murmured as his hips moved slowly.
She buried her face in his neck. “Yes, I love you too.”
Lifting her in hi
s arms, he walked into the shower and turned on the water and sat on the bench. “Now, this is the way we should end our day.” He kissed a string of kisses along her neck and moved his hand across her back. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Letting me in and allowing yourself to see what’s always been true.”
“You make us sound like star-crossed lovers who were kept apart by evil forces.”
“Maybe we kept ourselves apart until we knew we’d be ready. We both had to finish our educations and accomplish something in the world that told us we could be successful outside our families. Your years in Macau had to happen just like the time I spent running my father’s operations.”
“I suppose.” Letting her head fall to his shoulder, she felt exhaustion wash over her limbs. “I’m about to fall asleep.”
“Let me wash you, and then I’ll take you to bed.”
Nodding, she kept her eyes closed and felt Gio’s gentle touch as he ran soap over her body. Not only was he a greedy and demanding lover but a gentle man.
Which made the feelings in her heart feel a little less crazy.
CHAPTER TEN
Gio checked his watch and then drained his coffee cup as he watched the sunrise. Being at his desk at five in the morning is not where he wanted to be, but the situation with Maksim Kumarin needed to be handled.
Scraping his hand over his rough jaw, he let out a sigh and watched the video of the kid and his twin brother trying to get into the Red Door last night. Not only was the little shit obsessed with his sister, but apparently was here to work on his father’s agenda as well.
Which wasn’t going to happen because his family did not, nor would they ever, deal in drugs. And why Maksim’s father couldn’t get it through his thick skull was pissing his father off in ways he’d never seen before.
Seems that playing nicely wasn’t going to be an option for very much longer and how much blood was going be spilled would be up to the Kumarins. And according to Stefano Conti, they had a taste for it.
The conversation he’d just had with Valentina’s father made him realize that the bad blood between the Contis and Kumarins was long from over and he had no choice but to keep Valentina well under wraps until the situation was resolved.