Tuscan Heat (SoBe Heat Book 1)

by Anise Storm

  As soon as the commercials ended, she regretted it immediately when a local anchorwoman was standing outside of De Palmas, interviewing various customers from the line that was wrapped around the building. She wanted to just turn it off, but somehow couldn’t bring herself to actually do so.

  “And as you can see, the grand opening has garnered a lot of buzz around South Beach.” The breeze lifted the woman’s hair slightly, causing her to pause mid-statement so she could tuck it behind her ears. Then, she turned toward the front and smiled broadly. The cameras followed her every step as she made her way to the front of the building where…

  Her own thoughts were interrupted at the sight of Mario, who was standing there looking every bit the successful businessman. Yeah, that’s what he looks like. Lania couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. The man was sex on a stick, and he damn well knew it. She watched him smirk as he talked to the anchorwoman.

  It didn’t really matter what Mario was saying. Lania was too busy watching the way his dress shirt covered his broad shoulders and lean, contoured chest and torso. Adjusting slightly in her seat, she remembered how awestruck she’d been the first time she saw him naked. Mario probably didn’t realize that she was there in the gazebo the night he, along with a few friends of his, had gone skinny dipping in his pool.

  It had nothing on the actual night she found herself naked, in a pool, with his arms wrapped tightly around her as he thrust deep inside of her. His cock was so large…his body so muscular…and his arrogance on full display when he left her there alone afterward. Lania always ended up getting pissed off again every time she recalled the events from that night.

  Having had enough of the asshole, she was about to turn the television off when a name caught her attention. Rewinding the interview, she had to see if her ears were playing tricks on her. They had to be…or else….

  “Yes, Naomi, this is the third location of De Palmas, which has enjoyed world-wide success. I couldn’t have gotten such a prime location without the help of Gorgio Barone. His development company came through for me in a huge way,” Mario rambled on, and she felt the fury rise inside of her.

  Gorgio Barone? That was her father. Lania couldn’t believe that the slimeball had actually coerced the man into helping him at all. If what he said was correct, that meant her father had willingly attempted to sabotage his own daughter.

  A few tears sprung to her eyes, but she swiped them away. How could her father do this to her? Did he not realize that De Palmas was direct competition of Basilico? Of course he knew. She felt a sense of betrayal she’d never felt before.

  There was no way she’d allow Mario to get away with this. Standing up, she grabbed her purse and keys and exited Basilico through the back entrance. She had no idea what she’d say or do once she got there but would think of something along the way. She got in her Porsche and headed down the block to the bastard’s place.

  It took her a few minutes to find a parking space and once she did, Lania stormed toward the front entrance. She didn’t care whether there was a line or not. Naomi Western had finally left, so her presence wouldn’t be caught on camera. Thank fuck for small miracles. Walking right inside, she brushed past the two hostesses and looked around the restaurant for him.

  Her eyes quickly locked in on his location. Mario was standing beside a corner table, talking to three men. One looked very familiar. If she hadn’t known any better, she would’ve sworn that it was Daxton Boyd. Lania moved to their table, and Mario turned around just as she approached him.

  “Melania, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you. Do you—” he started to say before she interrupted.

  “What the fuck are you trying to do, Mario?” she asked, glaring at him.

  “Would you keep your voice down?” he replied in a low tone. “What do you think I’ve done to you?”

  She almost snorted at that statement. Mario knew damn well what he’d done. What he didn’t know was that Lania had no plans of accepting it. She looked at the occupants at the table and saw them watching the exchange with interest. “If you think I’m going to allow you or my father to destroy me then you both have another thing coming.”

  “Ahh, so you’ve heard that Gorgio helped me with De Palmas.” Mario seemed somewhat relieved that her impromptu visit was because of that news.

  Was he fucking stupid? Did he actually think she would smile prettily and wish him well before leaving? If so, Mario was about to get a rude awakening. “So it’s true? You and my father are in cahoots to bring me down?”

  “No one is trying to hurt you, Melania,” he started to say, and she finally snapped.

  Grabbing the nearest thing to her, which so happened to be a glass of ice water, Lania tossed the contents on him. “Don’t expect me to lie down and roll over for—” she started to say before hearing a low growl. Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled toward the back of the restaurant. She struggled mightily, but he was too strong for her.

  He’d gotten the upper hand when he caught her off guard. Everything was a blur from the time she purposely spilled the drink on him to the time they entered what looked to be his private office. When the door slammed shut, she heard the clicking of the lock being engaged.

  Lania looked up at him defiantly. She had no idea whether he believed this He-Man act was supposed to scare her or not. She shivered slightly but not from fear, if that was what he was hoping for. Mario had torn the wet shirt off, and she stood there gaping like the teenage girls did whenever he was near.

  Lania rolled her eyes at the thought of her acting like one of those bubble-headed females. Throughout high school, most of the girls she knew tried using her to get an invitation to one of the many secretive parties that Mario and his friends would throw. They knew that her family was close to his family and thought befriending her would allow them to be noticed by the Lothario.

  Realizing she’d become one of those girls, she tried shaking it off and remembered her reason for coming here. Feeling the familiar anger return, she placed her hands on her hips and huffed. “I have nothing else to say to you. I want to leave.”

  Mario was in the process of putting on another shirt when he froze. As soon as he turned toward her, the feral grin on his face had Lania taking a few steps back. “You’re not going anywhere, Melania.”

  “Like hell I’m not,” she retorted and tried to make it to the door. Mario stepped in front of it at the last moment, causing her to collide with his shirtless chest.

  Damn, he smelled good. She couldn’t tell if it was the cologne, soap or a combination of both, but Lania felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She brought her hands to his chest and tried to push him out of the way. His body was so hard, and she had to concede that she wasn’t strong enough to move what felt like a brick wall.

  “On the contrary, Melania,” he told her, while reaching out to steady her. “You came into my restaurant and assaulted me after causing a scene. I think that deserves some sort of punishment. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “P-punishment,” she stammered. “What the fuck are you going to do? Spank me like some disobedient child?”

  “As a matter of fact, Melania, that is exactly what I plan to do.”

  His voice had changed, and she felt another shiver wrack her frame. She’d heard about women who liked that sort of thing, but she wasn’t one of them. Besides that, he had no right to even entertain the thought of putting his hands on her, in any capacity. “I don’t think so. Now, let me go.”

  Lania tried to catch him by surprise so she could slide past him, but he was too quick. Mario wasted no time in spinning her around and pulling her hard against him. Even through the fabric of her dress, she could feel the heat radiating off his chest.

  She tried to struggle out of his grasp, especially when he started walking with her toward his desk. Adrenaline and something that felt a lot like arousal coursed through her veins. She’d never had anyone spank her, including her parents, but somehow the thought of Mario marking he
r ass with his hand had her pulse racing.

  The next thing she knew, Lania was chest down on top of the mahogany desk with her cheek pressed flush to the cold wood. Mario held her down with one hand while the other hiked up her dress. Damn, why couldn’t she have worn pants tonight instead? Her thong offered no resistance either, especially as his large hand palmed one of her ass cheeks. The lacy material grew damp the longer he caressed her flesh. Suddenly, she felt pain explode across the cheek as he smacked her.

  Oh my God! He actually spanked me. Lania had initially thought he was joking but when his hand collided with her ass a second time, she knew he wasn’t. Another blow landed and this time tears came to her eyes. Each strike seemed to hurt more than the one before it, yet at the same time, she was only growing wetter.

  “You’ve been a bad girl, Melania. I want you to count off these last ten,” he told her and then smacked her cheek again.

  Lania was sure her entire ass would be bruised by the time he was done. She wasn’t a very submissive female, so if he thought she’d just come to heel with a few well-placed spanks, he was wrong. Another landed, and she forced herself to remain silent.

  Mario cursed, and she almost snickered. Lania was waiting on the next blow, this time determined to be prepared for the pain. The seconds ticked on and on without anything. There were no more smacks or even words. Maybe he’d finally faced the truth that she wouldn’t do what he wanted her to do simply because he ordered her to do so.

  She was about to get up, already mentally rehearsing her parting words as she sauntered out of the office with her dignity intact. That was when he slipped two fingers between her thighs. On reflex, her legs closed around them. It didn’t stop him from running the pads of those long digits back and forth over the wet spot in her panties.

  “I’m starting to think you’re having too much fun, Melania,” he rasped, and the deep tone of his voice had her trembling.

  Of all the damned times to allow him to turn her on, it had to be now, especially when he was in complete control, and she stood no chance of escaping him. A moan escaped her lips when he dipped one of his fingers into her pussy. The memory of something much larger filling and stretching her came rushing back.

  Would he take her right here at his desk? As appealing as that thought was to her raging libido, it was equally as mortifying to her common sense. What was it about Mario De Palma that caused all rational logic to disappear whenever he was around?

  “Let me go,” she managed to get out before he thrust a second finger inside of her. If his intention was to weaken her resistance by completely unraveling her, then he could consider that done. “Please!”

  Damn, the realization that she’d actually begged him for anything sank in, and she groaned out loud. Thankfully, she wasn’t begging him to fuck her even though every cell in her body urged her to do exactly that.

  “You’re going to take the rest of this punishment like a good girl, and when you do, you are free to leave. Until then, I will stay here with you all night.” Lania gulped at his words and nearly choked when he continued. “I will keep you pinned to the desk, alternating my attention between your wet pussy and reddened ass.”

  Lania rolled her eyes but not because of his words. Those fingers of his were wreaking havoc on her restraint, and she knew it wouldn’t take long before she was begging him to fuck her right there on the desk. She’d die before she ever gave him the satisfaction of proving her wrong about anything. “Fine, let’s just get this over with.”

  She needed to get as far away from him as she could and when his fingers left her pulsating core, Lania almost protested, and would have if she hadn’t bitten her bottom lip.

  “Very well then, Melania. Count each one out,” he once again commanded.

  When the next blow landed, she had to grit her teeth as pain once again exploded across the other ass cheek this time. “One.” Her inner curse was silenced by the actual number. Bracing for the next few, he delivered them in rapid succession. “T-two…three…four…five.”

  The initial pain had faded, and in its place a swift heat spread across her entire backside. It no longer ached, at least not in a physical way. Her pussy throbbed with each strike, and as he delivered the next four, she counted them out loud.

  Lania was so damned aroused at this time, she could actually feel her cum dripping down her thigh. God, she hoped he didn’t notice. And then, Mario delivered the final blow. “T-ten,” she stammered as she tried to hold herself back from climaxing.

  The warmth seemed to penetrate every pore, and she was sure that her entire body was coated in a thin layer of perspiration. It sure as hell felt like it, anyway. He removed his hand from her back, allowing her to rise to her feet. What she thought was a touch of mortification turned into full-blown humiliation when her gaze rose to his face and that arrogant smirk of his was present.

  “You fucking barbarian,” she spat out, trying to feign a level of anger that had nothing to do with his spanking but more from the unfilled state of arousal he left her in once again. Mario chuckled at her insult, only causing her to become more irritated. “You’ll pay for this, De Palma. You and my father.”

  Remembering the other person who had betrayed her, Lania forced that to the center of her thoughts. She’d planned to give her father an earful, but to err on the side of caution she’d do it over the phone. There was no way she wanted to subject herself to two spankings tonight.

  Mario didn’t say anything, nor did he make a move to stop her from leaving. She took advantage of it and quickly left his office. She didn’t know how to get out of the building but wasted no time walking up and down the hall until she found an exit. It wasn’t the way she came in De Palmas but that was for the best. Taking the side door, she stepped outside only to be pelted by the heavy downpour.

  “Of course it’s raining,” she mumbled while walking swiftly to her car. She couldn’t go back to Basilico like this, so Lania opted to go home. She needed to take care of a very pressing need, one that wouldn’t wait until she left work.

  That much was obvious when she slid into the driver’s seat and felt her damp thighs stick to the leather of her seat. No, she needed to get home soon. Once she finished what Mario started, she’d shower and then return to Basilico.

  Chapter 13

  MARIO WATCHED MELANIA LEAVE and quickly put the dry shirt on. Always prepared, he was glad now that he’d had the foresight to have an extra one here in his office. He’d never thought he’d have to use it because someone threw a drink at him. He chuckled under his breath. She was so feisty, even more so than he’d remembered. When he finally tamed her, the reward would be so sweet.

  Right now, though, he needed to go check on De Palmas. As he left his office and walked back toward the dining room, he thought about how upset she was. He thought for sure that Gorgio Barone would’ve told his own daughter about his involvement in the place. Had he done that, she might not have been so angry earlier.

  He had no idea why the man kept that information from Melania, but he intended to find out soon. For now, he wanted to put that interruption behind him and focus on what was left of the grand opening. When he entered the dining area, he glanced over at the table where his parents and hers were previously sitting and noticed that everyone had gone. It was for the best.

  Walking across the crowded room, he saw his friends still sitting there and went over to their table. “Sorry about that, guys,” Mario said in apology.

  Brayden smirked as if he knew what had transpired in Mario’s office. The man was a Dominant and that would’ve been one of the first things he would’ve done if he found himself in the same situation. “No worries, Rio.”

  Daxton also grinned. “Damn, little Melania Barone has always been cute, but now she’s sexy as hell,” he stated, and Mario scowled.

  The last thing he wanted was for one of the three men to start pursuing her. Dax was right. Melania had always had a certain beauty to her, but in the years since Tusca
ny she’d grown into her curves. Having seen her naked recently, he could attest to that fact for sure.

  “She’s not available,” Mario told the men, hoping they’d take his subtle warning.

  “Is it a boyfriend or a husband?” Asher asked.

  “Neither,” Mario mumbled under his breath. He should’ve known they wouldn’t have left it at that.

  “Then how do you know she’s taken, Rio?” Brayden inquired.

  Damn his friends! Mario was close to telling them that it was none of their business but knew that would only make them question him more. “She’s not available because I intend to claim her.”

  There! It was out in the open, and Mario hoped they would drop the topic of conversation. That hope was squashed when Daxton chuckled. “A bachelor like yourself intends to claim the wicked bitch of the south?”

  Mario balled his palms into fists. “Don’t go there, Boyd,” he warned.

  “I was just yanking your chain, Rio. I knew you had it bad for her ever since eleventh grade,” Daxton replied before picking up his drink.

  Mario knew exactly what Daxton was referring to, and he had to admit his friend had a point. It was so easy to recall his junior prom where she’d managed to snag a date of her own to the dance. She was only a freshman at the time, and he was upset that they even allowed her entry inside.

  She was a stunning vision in a pink gown that flowed all the way to the floor. The sequined bodice of the dress was tight and pushed up her small breasts. Her hair was in an updo, and he remembered wanting to remove every Swarovski crystal pin with his teeth at the end of the night.