“You were protecting your sister.”
“I should have handled it better.”
“You did the only thing you knew to do.”
He shook his head. “I was twenty-four. Old enough to know better. That’s why I walked away from your house that day the cops came. I was so enraged. I didn’t want to do or say something to Allen that I would regret later.”
Ronnie didn’t think now was the time to bring up what had happened with Allen last week. If Vic knew he’d tried to kiss her, he probably would have handled him like he handled that mugger!
“Thank you for sharing your story with me, Vic. I know it took a lot. And I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions about you.”
“Are you sorry you hired me?”
“Never.” She played with the soft hairs at the nape of his neck. “Hiring you was the best decision I ever made.”
His green eyes held her captive with his hungry stare. “You mean that?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I’ve missed you, Vic.”
“Not as much as I’ve missed you.”
He dug his fingers into her hips. She felt the heat of his hands through the denim of her skirt. Only he had the power to melt her resolve, turn her insides to mush. She lost control whenever he touched her. And she loved it.
“Tell me you want me,” he whispered.
“You know I do.”
“I want to hear it from your lips.”
“I want you, Vic Romano.”
Vic pulled her into his embrace and she melded her body against his. Her senses were overwhelmed as she felt the velvety texture of his tongue sensually exploring hers. She felt the kiss deep to her core. A rush of warmth blossomed between her legs and flowed like lava through her. She was caught up in the moment, riding a wave of euphoria.
His hands were everywhere, erotically fondling her skin and branding her with heat from his fingers. She returned the favor, boldly exploring the hard lines of his physique. His body was sculpted and toned. She couldn’t get enough of touching him. The low groan in his throat told her he liked what she was doing, so she didn’t stop.
Then, without warning, he switched positions and hoisted her onto her desk. Her stapler and office phone clattered to the side. Ronnie was too caught up in the moment to worry about it. The hem of her short skirt climbed toward her hips, and she instantly felt the cool wood of the desk against the backs of her thighs. Vic spread her dangling legs apart and inserted his body snugly against hers. She gripped his firm buttocks and she grinded her clit against his rock-hard erection. More jolts of electricity coursed through her as his palms caressed her breasts. When he expertly pinched the nipples before lowering his head to suckle on each one, she gasped with desire. With one hand she dug her fingers into the depths of his thick hair. The other served as a human kickstand, steadying her body on the edge of the desk.
Vic’s tongue probed through the cottony fabric of her shirt, instantly wetting the material in his attempts to slather each nipple with affection. The heat of his breath forced the hard buds to pucker in his mouth.
At the same time he pulled his shirttail from his pants, Ronnie shifted positions and moved forward, reaching for his belt buckle. She tugged frantically at the leather strap. Vic pushed his pants and boxers down in one fluid motion. His rock-hard erection sprang from the confines of his trousers. Practically salivating in anticipation, Ronnie gently grasped it in an erotic caress. Her slender fingers barely met her thumb as her hand encircled the thick, hard flesh in her loose fist. As she slowly pumped it, her fingers felt each hard ridge of his long penis. Vic’s guttural groan came from somewhere deep in the back of his throat.
His fingers traced a path lower, past the tight curls between her legs. He slipped one of his long fingers inside her, instantly bringing out a creamy wetness. Ronnie moaned with pleasure, grinding her pelvis against his hand as he fingered her. She undulated her hips to the rhythm, her body screaming for more. As if sensing her eagerness, Vic hastily grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and before Ronnie could blink, he was sheathed and ready.
“Damn,” she murmured.
Vic leaned her back on the desk and hovered over her. “I told you I’ll never be unprepared with you again, woman.”
He confidently pushed his way inside her and settled in like a lover who knew his place. She crossed her legs around him, pulling him deeper, grinding against him. She wanted him closer, until she couldn’t tell her flesh from his.
Their lovemaking was deep, satisfying, and hungry, each trying to give the other the ultimate pleasure. Ronnie slow-grinded her hips against Vic’s, tightly holding him to her, anxious for release, but wanting to delay her orgasm just to feel him inside her for a few moments longer. They made love slowly, erotically, to the beat of their own sensual music. Then, finally, Ronnie couldn’t hold back the floodgates. A white-hot explosion catapulted her toward an orgasm. Her screams of ecstasy were muffled when Vic captured her lips with a penetrating kiss that rocked her with the force of its intensity. He followed seconds later, with a release that she felt with every fiber of her being. Vic pumped relentlessly, clutching her hips as he poured every ounce of himself into her.
“Ronnie,” he rasped into her ear.
Afterward, she clung to him, not wanting to let go. It was only when she felt a binder clip digging into her back that she remembered she was in her office.
“Oh, God,” she muttered. “I can’t believe we just did that.”
Vic grinned. “Yeah, that was damn incredible. Even better than the first time.”
She couldn’t argue with that. No matter what their differences, she had to admit, they were kindred spirits in the bedroom. Or in this case, the office.
Vic discarded the condom, and they both fixed their clothing. As Ronnie pulled her skirt down and tried to retrieve her sandals, which had slipped off her feet somewhere between his first kiss and his last thrust, Vic pulled her against his chest.
“Woman, you light a fire inside me. I can’t keep my hands off you.”
She gave him a naughty smile. “Who says you have to?”
They’d just had amazing sex on her desk, yet Vic was devouring her with his gaze. Incredibly, she felt her second set of lips pulsating again. She was ashamed to admit, she was ready for round two. Vic was like a drug, and she was having withdrawal symptoms big time!
She traced her tongue along the bottom edge of his full lips. She nibbled his mouth, surprised by her boldness. He brought out the freak in her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and cradled her in his embrace. He deepened the kiss, his tongue quickly becoming the aggressor, seducing hers into submission.
Ronnie heard a series of clicking noises. Startled, she pulled away from Vic. She was embarrassed to see his sister standing in the doorway holding a digital camera.
Andrea smiled and said something in sign language.
“What did she say?” Ronnie asked Vic.
“She said she can’t leave the room for a minute without us putting our hands all over each other.”
“Goodness,” Ronnie replied. Even though it had been more than twenty minutes, it was true. Keeping her and Vic separated was like pulling apart two dogs in heat.
When Andrea signed again, Vic’s deep chuckle filled the air. Then, he picked up a paperclip from Ronnie’s desk and threw it at Andrea. To her credit, she adroitly dodged it.
“Vic!” Ronnie chastised. “Why’d you do that?”
“She asked if the two of us wanted to make an X-rated movie for her photography class.”
Ronnie laughed. “If only she’d been here five minutes ago, she would have really gotten an eyeful.”
Andrea signed again, and once more Vic translated. “She said I almost blinded her with that paperclip. If she would’ve come home blind and deaf, Maria would have kicked my ass.”
Ronnie giggled. “Tell her the more I watch you two interact, the easier it is to see that you guys are related.”
Vic signed to
Andrea, who cracked up laughing. Then, she motioned for them to come look at the photo she’d taken in her camera’s display window.
When Ronnie saw the image of her and Vic folded in each other’s embrace, lips pressed together, her heart skipped a beat. She studied their body language. It was easy to see the caring in Vic’s embrace. The way he held her. The possessive position of his hands on her hips. Anyone looking would think they were a couple in love.
Andrea picked up the pen and paper again and wrote a message to Ronnie. When Ronnie read it, she couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.
THIS PIC IS BEAUTIFUL! I’M GOING TO CALL IT BLUEPRINT FOR LOVE.
Ronnie’s heart soared. Was it possible for her to love again? She gazed into Vic’s eyes. They were brimming with emotion. With him, she’d felt more desired, more wanted with one glance than she’d felt in her entire marriage with Frank. Could this truly be the blueprint for love? One thing was sure—it wasn’t impossible.
EPILOGUE
Ronnie pecked away on her computer in her office. She had a few more figures to enter on her monthly report, and then she’d be done for the evening. This late on a Friday, the office was empty. So, she took advantage of the quiet to get some work done. Olivia had left over an hour ago, only after Ronnie promised she would soon follow.
Ronnie’s cell phone chimed, interrupting her flow. She knew from the ringtone it was Candace. “Hey, Sis,” she answered, with eyes still glued to the computer monitor.
“Are you still at work?” Candace demanded.
“Yeah, just finishing up some stuff. What time is it?”
“Half past quitting time.”
Ronnie laughed. “Good one.”
“I’m serious. Even the Man in the Moon is asleep by now. Get your butt home.”
“Jovan is staying at a friend’s house tonight. There’s no rush.”
“Don’t you have to do something with Vic tonight?”
“Uh, excuse you, Miss Nosey. Don’t you have to do something with your man, too?”
Candace giggled. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. Didn’t you tell me today’s your five month anniversary or something like that?”
“Oops! You’re right. I totally forgot I’m supposed to have dinner with him—” She looked at her watch—“In twenty minutes.”
“Usually, it’s the man who forgets this kind of stuff. You suck as a girlfriend.”
“Ah, shut up. I’m a great girlfriend.”
“Well, prove it. You’d better get your rear in gear, girl.”
Ronnie couldn’t believe she was anybody’s girlfriend. After Frank’s death, she never envisioned herself cozied up with any guy. Frank’s lack of affection had made her apprehensive about being in another long-term relationship. She rationalized that she had her work, and she had Jovan. Both were good enough for her. She didn’t need to go looking for love. Yet, ironically, the man of her dreams had arrived on her doorstep. She and Vic had officially been a couple for almost half a year.
Ronnie saved her file and shut her computer down. “I’m leaving now.”
“Good. What are you going to wear? Something sexy?”
She looked down at the designer jeans and silk blouse she’d worn to work. She’d instituted casual Fridays, much to the delight of Olivia, who used the opportunity to wear tight jeans and low-cut shirts. Ronnie still couldn’t bring herself to be too casual, so she dressed hers up with stilettos and a blazer. Unfortunately, she didn’t think about her date with Vic when she left the house this morning.
“I don’t have time to change,” she told Candace, “So, I guess I’ll have to wear what I have on.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” she heard her sister chastise. “You forgot about dinner. You didn’t dress up for your man. What do you have to say for yourself?”
She grabbed her purse and headed out the door. “You’re right. I do suck as a girlfriend.”
# # #
Ronnie pressed harder on the accelerator. There was no way she was going to make it across town to Henri’s restaurant in twenty minutes. She prayed Vic wouldn’t be mad at her. She knew he’d put a lot into planning this evening. It was bad enough she’d be looking all homely in these jeans, and he’d probably be dressed for the occasion. Even though she thought he was sexy as hell when he wore his dusty jeans and tight t-shirts that accentuated his well-defined muscles, she also loved those rare occasions when he dressed up.
Despite his background, Vic was comfortable in any setting. No, make that confident. When she’d first met him, she’d mistaken that trait for cockiness. Now, she knew that was simply Vic being his usual confident self. And his self-assuredness was what turned her on. Ronnie liked that he knew just how to handle her—with firm, loving care. He was everything she wanted in a man. Warm, compassionate, phenomenal in bed, and super smart. He wasn’t a yes man, not even to her. He moved to the rhythm of his own beat, and he wasn’t shy about standing up for what he believed in.
He was a man’s man. She loved that powerful, virile side of him. The way he picked her up and carried her to the bed, or the couch, or her desk, or wherever the hell it pleased him. He was unselfish in his lovemaking. He always made sure she came first. Sometimes, she would watch him as he slept, hardly believing she’d almost missed out on this blessing.
She adored his sister. Both Andrea and Vic had taught her sign language, so they could all communicate together. It was like viewing the whole world from another perspective. Ronnie felt like they were all in on some secret that the rest of the world didn’t know about. And when those two were together, fighting like a typical brother and sister, they cracked Ronnie up.
His mother, Maria, would take a little longer to get used to. But the world wasn’t perfect. And Ronnie didn’t expect it to be. What she had with Vic was perfect enough. Even her sisters noticed the difference in her. It was amazing how well Vic and Jovan got along too. They went to the Miami Marlins games together all the time. She realized she and her son had both been missing the same thing: A man in their lives. Ronnie couldn’t imagine it being anyone other than Vic.
She sped along, weaving in and out of lanes trying to make it on time. A man blew his car horn at her as she almost cut him off. Her heart jumped. For a minute, the guy looked like Allen. But she knew it couldn’t be. That fool was in jail. A month after he tried to jump her bones at her house, she saw him on the news. He’d been involved in one of the biggest Real Estate fraud rings in the state. She’d never even known Allen owned a host of subcontractors. Apparently, he and some of his company officers were bribing city officials to win bids, and then performing sub-standard work.
Ronnie was even more shocked to learn that his brother, Kent had been posing as her foreman before Vic came along. The two brothers were both implicated. And her missing stash of copper was found in the basement of one of his companies.
Her stomach turned when she thought about how Allen tried to infiltrate her inner circle. And he’d had the nerve to talk about Vic’s criminal past. Allen was a bold ass snake. She breathed a lot easier knowing he was in jail.
Ronnie’s cell phone buzzed, pulling her from her reverie. Vic was texting her. She didn’t normally drive and text, but tonight, she would make an exception. She glanced at the text.
Hope you’re not stuck in that traffic on I-10.
Shit!
She had ten minutes to get to Henri’s. She wasn’t going to make it in time. She’d have to take the short cut. She hadn’t traveled that road in damn near seven months, after the night Vic came to her aid. She would still be about five minutes late getting to dinner, but at that was better than getting bogged down in traffic.
She exited and slowed down to match the speed limit on the road. Unlike last time when it was almost pitch black, the full moon had peaked in the night sky, casting a soft yellow glow over everything. She felt more confident tonight. She had plenty of gas and a spare tire. Hopefully, she wouldn’t get a flat this time.
No so
oner than she’d formed the thought, did she notice an SUV parked on the side of the road in the distance with its hazard lights flashing. Some poor soul must have had a break down out here. Her heart went out to whoever it was. She hoped it wasn’t a woman. Ronnie knew how helpless it felt to be stranded on this road.
She slowed as she passed the vehicle. She would offer her help, but only if it was a woman. It wasn’t safe to stop for a man.
Her heartbeat kicked into overdrive as she spotted a lone figure leaning against the side of the SUV with a tire jack propped against the wheel. The man’s mischievous glance darted to her.
“Didn’t I tell you not to take this road again?” he said.
Ronnie’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “Vic!”
He wagged a finger at her. “I knew you would take the shortcut.”
She had to laugh despite getting caught. She silently appraised Vic. He looked damn good in his black jeans and leather jacket. His shoulder-length hair was unbound from its customary ponytail, making him look like a quintessential bad boy. Her fingers itched to play in the dark locks.
“What are you doing out here?” she asked.
“Waiting for you.”
“What? I thought we were having dinner at Henri’s.”
He threw her a devastating smile. “Get in.”
“What about my car?”
“Park it in front of mine.”
“Vic, what’s going on?”
He shook his head. “Woman, when will you learn to listen?”
Ronnie pulled in front of Vic’s Explorer and got out. The chilly night air made her suck in her breath. Vic held the passenger-side back door to his car open for her.
“Why am I getting in the back?”
He grinned. “So many questions.”
The moon roof was open, giving her a perfect view of the full moon. She recalled Candace’s crack about the Man in the Moon being asleep, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
Vic hopped in from the driver’s side back door and covered her legs with a downy blanket. Then, he opened a cooler at her feet. She hadn’t even noticed it; she was so busy staring up at the moon. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but then snapped it shut. Vic had accused her of asking too many questions, so she’d let him take the lead on this one. She had to admit, this was kind of romantic.
Blueprint for Love Page 14