When he reached down and lifted her away from his cock, she moaned in complaint. An instant later, her heart raced when he lifted her onto the countertop and tugged her jeans off. He took a moment to remove his pants and retrieve a condom from the pocket before thrusting inside her. Their joining was almost violent.
She was gushing with juices just from sucking his beautiful cock. She didn’t mind the rough way he’d taken her. In fact, she reveled in his lack of restraint. He kissed her neck as he plunged deep inside her. Suddenly, her T-shirt and bra were cumbersome. She wanted to feel his flesh against all of her. Ripping both over her head, she then tugged on his polo shirt. He lifted his arms, expediting the process.
Her pleasure rose to just below the surface. She was close to going over the edge. His warm skin and the hair on his chest abraded her nipples with every thrust. Her body trembled against the cold granite. Isaac pulled his body away a few inches, slipped his hand between their bodies and rubbed her clit. She screamed as the orgasm shook her. He didn’t stop rubbing and her rapture soared higher. Her legs shook and she gripped his back and neck. Nothing had ever been quite so intense in her entire life. An eternity passed while the ecstasy continued.
A deep groan escaped from his lips as he pumped harder, faster and deeper inside her sensitive flesh. She wouldn’t have thought it possible, but when he came, another orgasm rocked her.
They clung together, her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him.
Naked and still intimately joined, he lifted her from the countertop and walked toward the bedroom. She clutched at him, still shaken from the intensity of her frenzied release.
Once he’d gotten them to the bed, she relaxed her clinging limbs and stretched out in a feline pose with her arms high above her head. It was heavenly to feel the soft sheets against her still-vibrating skin. Isaac’s hand slid from her hip to her abdomen and upward, until he covered one breast and she moaned.
“Giada, I’ve never felt this way.”
She wanted to believe him. Long ago she had learned that the things men said while involved in the act of sex were usually forgotten in the morning. She smiled and arched her back into his caress, reveling in the scratchy surface of his calloused fingers as they teased her breasts and nipples. His mouth replaced his hand a moment later and she let out all her breath. Her clit tightened once again. She’d just had him, but her body demanded more. Inch by inch, he kissed his way down her rib cage to her stomach. His tongue dipped inside her navel and she gasped, clutching his dark hair with both hands. She didn’t know if she wanted more or if it were too sensitive. Not having the will to push him away, she allowed the sensations to course through her.
His hand slid between her legs and thick fingers slipped between her wet folds before pressing inside her.
“Isaac.”
He licked her from the top of her crease to where his fingers disappeared and up again before taking her bud in his mouth and suckling. Her hips rose from the bed, arching tighter to the source of pleasure. A moment later her pelvis rocked, fucking his mouth and fingers. Her climax once again built deep within her. She wanted him inside her when she came again. It took all her inner strength to push his head away.
With confused eyes, he stared up the length of her body. She smiled and turned over onto her knees and elbows. It didn’t take him a second to take advantage of her position. A quick trip to her nightstand and he knelt behind her. She heard the foil pack ripping open. Slowly, he slid his thick cock deep into her pussy in one long thrust. She screamed into the feather pillow, clutching the soft cotton case and rocking back into his every pulse. His hands gripped her hips, setting a rhythm that gained speed and ferocity until she had to come. She reached below and rubbed her clit hard and fast, bringing her the pleasure she needed. She cried out and came hard while Isaac slowed his pace to give her time to fully enjoy the orgasm.
When it had passed, she stretched her fingers lower to the soft skin of his balls. He groaned and his pace quickened again. Harder, he plunged inside her. His grunts and groans came faster as he stiffened, continuing to plunder her already tantalized pussy. She rejoiced in the roughness of his thrusts. The near violence of the moment pushed her to another thrill at her core as they came together.
Isaac kissed her back several times before moving off toward the bathroom. Giada rolled onto her back and pulled the blanket and sheet over herself. When he slid in beside her, she sighed and settled her back to his chest. She didn’t even know if it were late enough to be going to sleep, but exhaustion overtook her ability to glance at the clock.
Chapter Eight
In one week everything he thought about himself had been shattered. He never thought he could love again and now he was holding Giada in his arms, watching her sleep, and he was most definitely in love. She had fallen asleep and he watched her for a long time before going back in the living room and shutting out all the lights, checking that the door was locked and pulling the plug on the tree lights.
It was only nine o’clock. If he’d been home he would have done some work or watched television to wind down before bed. With Giada in the next room that wasn’t going to happen. The temptation to hold her in his arms was too great. He picked up all the clothes from the kitchen floor and padded back into the bedroom. Dropping them on the chair in the corner, he climbed back into bed and pulled Giada into his arms.
A satisfied moan rumbled from deep in her throat and she snuggled back against him. It must have been tiring for her to expend all that emotion she worked so hard to control. He loved that she’d let down her guard. She trusted him.
Leslie had trusted him too. Pain shot through his chest. “Giada.”
“Hmm?”
“I should have driven Leslie home that night. I should have taken better care of her.” What was he doing? Why was he opening up this subject with her and waking her up to do it? The answer was right in front of him, she had the right to know. He needed her to know.
Giada rolled toward him. Sleepy eyes blinked at him in the bed. The only light came from the parking lot but he could clearly make out her features as she tried to banish sleep. “Why would you think that?”
“It was raining and late and I let her drive home because I was working.”
Her hand cupped his cheek. “Isaac, you have to forgive yourself. Bad things happen all the time. I’m sure Leslie knew how much you loved her. She probably knew that you worked too much and she loved you in spite of that.” She sat up and pushed her hair out of her face. “Look, I didn’t know her but I’m sure she wouldn’t want you to suffer like this. She’d want you to be happy.”
Her gesture and words eased the throbbing in his heart. “I don’t know how to forgive myself.”
She smiled. “I think talking about it with the people who love you is a great start.”
He didn’t know if she was talking about Sadie and his mother or herself. He liked to think she meant the latter. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
She pressed her hand to his shoulder and he leaned back, wrapping her in his arms. “I don’t mind.” She yawned.
He kissed the top of her head. In seconds she was breathing deeply and regular and her head became heavy on his shoulder.
Still, it was an hour before he finally fell asleep.
* * * * *
She was already in the kitchen when he woke up. He’d been a bit disappointed that she hadn’t stayed in bed. He still hadn’t experienced the thrill of waking up with Giada in his arms. He smiled to himself and thought of the following morning. It was nice to have something to look forward to. With Giada there were always moments of expectation.
“It smells good.”
“Pancakes and bacon.” Her expression went from joy to horror in an instant. “Oh my God, do you even eat bacon?”
He laughed and rounded the counter that separated the living room and dining room from the kitchen. He pulled her hips against his crotch and kissed her neck. “Relax. I eat everything. I’ve never e
ven lived in a kosher house. Mark’s family kept kosher, so Sadie does.”
She relaxed and flipped the first pancake while wiggling out of his grip and giggling. “Go sit down. This will be ready in a couple of minutes.”
He left a lingering kiss at the top of her spine and she moaned. “Merry Christmas, Giada.” He loved the bright smile that lit her face.
“Thank you.”
Doing as ordered, he sat at the table and looked over at the tree. She’d plugged it in and the lights were twinkling happily. He was no expert, but he thought it was a pretty nice Christmas tree.
A few minutes later, she came to the table with two plates of bacon and pancakes. “I was thinking of making a big dinner tonight. The supermarket is open for a few hours today. I think I can get a turkey and fixings. Do you think your family would want to come for Christmas dinner or would they be offended?”
“We’ll have to ask them, but I’m sure they won’t be offended.”
She beamed. “Great. After breakfast I’ll call your mother and Sadie.”
“Why don’t we just ask when we go over to take the bike for a ride.”
He loved the change in her expression as she thought that through. “Just a short one. I have a lot to do for dinner.”
“I’ll help you,” he said. Of course he would help. She was feeding his family, it was the least he could do. She got up and kissed him in spite of the maple syrup that was likely on his lips.
He’d had other plans in mind for the day, but he would work them in too.
* * * * *
Sadie, Mark, Giada and the two kids stood in the driveway as he rolled the Harley out of the shop. “Okay, assistants, come on over, let’s get you on this thing.”
Daniel ran over and was the first to be lifted onto the seat. Abigail stood clutching her mother’s leg.
“Mark, can you hold on to this guy for a second?”
“Sure thing.” Mark kept his son balanced on the seat.
Isaac crouched by his niece. “Don’t you want to sit on the bike, Abigail?”
She shook her head and buried her face behind Sadie’s leg.
“No one is going to force you, but you did help me put the bike together and I hope you know I’d never let anything happen to you. If you’re sure you don’t want to, then stay right here.” He stood and took the two steps toward the bike.
She ran up behind him. “I want to try.”
He lifted her, smiling, and placed her on the bike behind her brother. The bike started right up, rumbling under the two kids. Abigail held her ears. Daniel screamed with laughter. After a few moments, he shut the motor down. It really was too loud for their little ears. He would have to get some earplugs for the future.
“It sounds awesome, Isaac,” Mark said.
“Thanks, man, and thanks for saving her.” He slapped him on the back.
“What are you going to do with it?” Sadie asked.
“If Mark doesn’t mind, I’m going to have her shipped back to New Jersey.”
“I don’t mind. I think it’s a great idea.”
He plucked the two helmets off the back where they hung by the chin straps and turned to Giada. “Do you want to go for a ride?”
She nodded and took the new helmet he’d bought, hoping she would be the one to wear it. Once he was on, she straddled the seat behind him and gripped him around the waist.
“We’ll see you later,” Sadie said.
They nodded and waved as Isaac started the motor up and gave her gas. He rolled down the driveway into the street, put her in gear and took off. Giada clutched his waist so tight he had trouble breathing for the first mile. Then she relaxed her grip. They drove west where the roads were less crowded and more fun to ride.
Thirty minutes later, he pulled off onto a dirt road and stopped.
She got off and lifted her arms above her head in a long stretch. “That was fun. I’ll bet it’s really great in the spring.” She rubbed her arms and looked around. “Where are we?”
“It’s an old mining road. I used to come up here when I was a kid. It’s a good place to think.”
“What did you think about?”
“School, my dad wanting me to be more mature, what the coach had said that day, but mostly I thought about you.” He put the kickstand down and got off the bike.
She pulled her helmet off and ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t believe you.”
“I did. I thought about you all the time.” He placed his helmet on the sissy bar.
“If you say so. So, what are we doing here now? Do we need to think about something?”
“I wanted to talk to you without all the distractions of town. And yeah, I guess you do need to think about something.”
She turned toward him and her eyes grew wary. “I do?”
“How attached to Georgia State are you?”
“What?”
He was messing this up. “I mean. Do you ever think you might want to move on to a school with a larger liberal arts program?”
“You brought me up here to discuss my career? Is this one of those reality television shows where someone jumps out with a camera?”
He really was making a mess of things. “No.”
“Well then, what is it you’re trying to say?”
“If you really love your job here in Georgia then I have to rethink this thing.”
“What thing? You’re not making any sense.” There was a large boulder near the tree line. She turned her back on him and walked over to sit down.
He followed her, but stood, shifting from foot to foot. “I don’t want to mess up your life.”
Now her eyes were wide but she didn’t speak.
He took a deep breath. “Look, I’m in love with you and I don’t want what we’ve started to end because you’re here and I work in New York. I’m willing to relocate back to Georgia if that’s what you want, but I will need to talk to Ben. I may have to get a new job unless he lets me work remotely. If you’re happy here, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Her mouth was open and her eyes were as wide as saucers. She snapped her mouth closed and then whispered, “You’re in love with me?”
Was that the only part she’d heard? He chuckled and reached out to tuck a wild hair behind her ear. “I’m desperately in love with you.”
Her gaze darted from the ground to the trees and then back to him. “What’s the other possibility? I mean, if I’m not in love with my job or Atlanta?”
His heart felt as if it were lodged firmly in his throat. “I have a nice apartment in Jersey City. It’s big enough for the two of us. If you don’t like it we can look for something else. Cornel has an excellent liberal arts program, as I’m sure you know. Maybe you’d enjoy living in a big city again. At the very least, you could come back with me and spend your winter break on the Hudson River. It would be like a test drive.”
“You want to have a test drive?”
He was an idiot. “No, not for me, for you. You might hate me after you spend some time with me. As for me, I’m all in.”
She stood up and placed her palms on his chest.
“You want me to sell my condo, quit my job and move to New Jersey?”
When she said it like that, it sounded as if he was a jerk asking her to give up her entire life for him. “Um…well, that’s not the only option that I put out there, but it would be my first choice.”
She walked to the pavement, away from him. It was a serious moment, but he couldn’t help thinking about how hot she looked in those jeans that hugged her round ass, black leather boots and a leather jacket. Hanging from her hand was the helmet, held by the chin strap as she looked down the road. He wished he had a camera but his phone was in the saddlebag and this was not exactly the moment for a photo op.
He waited an eternity while cars drove by and she didn’t move. Finally she turned back toward him, tears streaming down her face. He rushed forward and pulled her into a hug. “If you don’t want to move in together
, I understand. I’ll move down here and stay with Sadie until you feel more comfortable. I’m not rushing you, Giada. I don’t want to pressure you. I just don’t want to lose you for another fifteen years.”
“Lose me? You can’t lose me, Isaac. I’ve been yours for as long as I can remember. Of course I’ll move to New Jersey. I love you. I never want to be away from you.” Tears still coursed down her cheeks as she looked up at him.
“Then why are you crying?” He used his thumbs to dry her tears. His heart was pounding so hard and fast that he might burst out in tears himself. He grinned at the idea.
“I guess that’s what happens when all your dreams come true. I don’t know. I’ve never been this happy before. Maybe I’ll cry every day.”
On the dry, dusty road with cars driving by and his refurbished Harley standing only feet away, he leaned down and let his lips drift over hers. She was the first to demand entrance. He loved that she knew exactly what she wanted and she wanted him. He couldn’t believe his luck. Tilting his head to one side, he deepened the kiss, gripping her tighter.
He lifted his head and waited for her eyes to open. “No you won’t. We’ll be having too much fun for tears. Didn’t I tell you? I’m promising a lifetime of happiness, Giada.”
“How can you be so sure?”
He smiled. “I know that as long as you are with me, I’ll be deliriously happy. If I thought you’d say yes, I’d ask you to marry me today.”
Terror filled her eyes and she was about to say something, but he cut her off.
“I know it’s too soon.”
She nodded.
“Let me prove to you how happy we can be and then, when you’re ready, I’m going to marry you.”
Fresh tears welled up in her eyes.
“Is this happiness again?”
“Yes.”
“It’s no wonder you’re always hiding your emotions. You’ve got them all backward, my love. You’re supposed to cry when you’re sad and laugh when you’re happy.”
Revving Up the Holidays Page 8