Childhood Dream

by Theresa Paolo

  He stepped into her, lacing his fingers through hers, then spinning her around. A laugh bellowed from her mouth as they sang the lyrics at the top of their lungs.

  The raging wildfire turned into an all-out inferno as heat prickled her forehead and neck. She waved a hand at her face.

  “Hot?” he asked, and she nodded. “Me too. Let’s go get some air.”

  Air sounded good. She skipped behind him, away from the reception and out onto a secluded patio that overlooked the water. The cool air clung to her skin and the scent of salt was strong in the air. It smelled like home.

  “Are you having fun?” Tony asked, his silky voice washing over her like a warm bath.

  “Honestly? A blast. Thanks to you.”

  “I just asked you to dance; the rest was all you.”

  She shook her head. “If you didn’t ask me, I’d be trying to sneak read under the table.”

  “Krissy Turner, the only girl I know who would bring a book with her to a wedding.”

  “Not a book exactly. I have an app on my phone.”

  “That does not surprise me.”

  While she was hot, the February air whipped against her, causing goosebumps to spring to life along her skin. She rubbed her arms.

  “You’re cold now,” he said. “We can go back in.”

  “No, it’s peaceful out here. I wouldn’t mind staying for a little longer.”

  “Okay.” He slipped his suit jacket off and draped it over her shoulders, running his hands up and down her arms. His scent surrounded her, and she inhaled. “Better?”

  “Much. But aren’t you going to be cold?”

  “Born and raised in Willow Cove. We don’t get cold.”

  “Considering I was born and raised here that argument doesn’t hold much water.”

  “You’re in a sleeveless dress. I’m in pants, a t-shirt, a dress shirt, a vest, and a jacket. I’m surprised I haven’t succumbed to heat exhaustion to be honest.”

  “You do have a lot of clothes on,” she said, and her brain flashed to an image of them strewn across her hotel room floor. She swallowed back the unexpected desire to have Tony in her hotel room, naked and hard, and focused on the water.

  Tony sidled up beside her, his arm pressing ever so slightly against hers. It wasn’t uncommon for them to stand close. But tonight, she was acutely aware of every little thing about him. His dark chocolate eyes followed her gaze toward the moonlight dancing across the water’s surface.

  “It sure is beautiful out here,” he said. “Sometimes, I get so caught up in my art that I forget there’s an entire world of art right outside my door.”

  There’d be days and sometimes even weeks that would pass, and Tony wouldn’t emerge from his studio. It had become a part of his process, but it still worried his family. Krissy loved the idea of shutting the world out and disappearing into your own mind.

  “What are you working on now?” she asked, genuinely interested.

  “I have a bit of a block, though I hate using that term. It’s not like I can unclog myself and get the creative juices flowing. I guess you can say I’m percolating. I’m letting the juices drip through until they’re ready to create the final cup.”

  “I like that and who knows, maybe tonight will be exactly what you need. Sometimes when I’m trying to come up with a new ice cream flavor, I step away from my notebook and just go have a day to enjoy myself. My best ideas always come at the end of that. Like the flavor Sunday Afternoon came to me when I made a peanut butter, jelly, and fluff sandwich. I used to eat them as a kid all the time, but never thought to transform that into ice cream.”

  Her father had made them for her after her mom up and left and he was too depressed to do much else. It should’ve been a bad memory, but the tastes were soothing. It was as if those sandwiches were Dad’s way of comforting her when he couldn’t even comfort himself.

  “That’s one of my favorites,” Tony said.

  “It’s so good, right?” She was proud of that flavor. She was proud of all the flavors she added to the menu since she took over ownership of the ice cream shop. She hoped her aunt was proud of her, too. Aunt Doris had built that business from the bottom up, and Krissy’s only dream was to continue the legacy—honor her aunt, who had become a beacon to the community through her infectious joy and kind heart. They were big shoes to fill, but Krissy was confident she’d fit them just fine.

  Cheers erupted from inside, and Krissy swung her head to the door. “Sounds like it’s getting a little crazy in there. Did you want to go back?” She blinked up at him, and their gazes crashed in an intense explosion. She sucked in a startled breath as the remnants of the crash showered down on her. Need, desire, want… all mixed together in an unexpected turn of events.

  She stepped away before she could submit to the clawing desperation to kiss him, to thrust her fingers through his hair and tug on those unruly curls.

  Biting back the overpowering craving to know what his lips tasted like, she nibbled on her own, worrying the plump skin, which only aroused her more.

  “We should go back,” she said, slipping off his coat. She handed it to him, but her bracelet got stuck to the button on the cuff. In her haste, she yanked a little too hard and his button clanked to the floor beneath them. “Oh no!” she exclaimed and dropped to her knees, running her hand along the patio. Her contacts made her vision blur.

  “Got it!” Tony announced and held the button up.

  “I’m so sorry. I can fix it. I have a needle and thread in my room.” She had opted to stay at the venue for the night after much persuasion from Ella and Cami. They didn’t want her to miss the morning after breakfast and seeing the couple off to their honeymoon. Krissy figured she wouldn’t have to worry about finding a designated driver or calling a cab, so she caved.

  “Do you always travel with a needle and thread?”

  “Actually, yes. You never know when you’ll need it.”

  “Always prepared. Okay, let’s go get this bad boy sewn on. Lead the way.”

  Krissy nodded and walked through the doors, leading Tony farther away from the wedding guests and closer to isolation, away from the craziness.

  “I’m on the third floor,” she said, coming to a stop outside the elevators and pressing the button for up.

  They waited in silence and what felt like forever, though, was probably mere seconds. She could feel his heat emanating from him, and she licked her lips as she imagined being surrounded by that very heat. Their fingers brushed against each other, shooting sparks up her arm.

  She swallowed, attempting to ignore the idea of a hookup but finding it hard to resist the man beside her. He was funny, sweet, and everything she would want in a guy, but this wasn’t about a relationship. Those were complicated and scary. This would be sex and nothing more.

  The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Tony held his hand against the doors, and Krissy stepped in first. Tension filled the small space, and she shifted from one foot to the other as he joined her.

  The doors shut, and the air became impossibly thick. Her thighs ached for his touch and unable to resist the pull she turned to him just as he faced her.

  She didn’t know who moved first, but his hands landed on her cheeks, hers went right into his unruly curls, and he backed her up against the wall as their mouths crashed together in a clash of teeth and tongues.

  Red hot desire spiraled through her veins, fueling the inferno that had been raging from the minute he held her on the dance floor. She yanked on the curls, loving the way they felt in her hold as their tongues created their own dance.

  A moan rumbled up her throat as his body pressed against hers, trapping her between man and wall. His hair was softer than she expected, body harder, and the bulge grinding against her center bigger than she could have ever imagined. She rubbed against him, kicking her foot up and snaking it around his waist. She pulled him closer, wanting to feel the rock-solid length on her sex.

  The elevator dinged, and she
jumped back from him. Disappointment and regret seeped through her system as the space between them grew.

  She wanted this, damn it. One night together. No strings attached. She peered out of the elevator to make sure she wouldn’t have to explain her actions in the morning. “Coast is clear,” she said, leaning against the elevator door and keeping it from closing.

  She bit her lip and attempted her best come hither look. It must have been sexy as hell because Tony rushed to her, hands cupping her cheeks and turning her toward the hall.

  Excitement and anticipation fueled her movements. She jumped up, his fingers slipping beneath her dress and landing on her ass as she wrapped her legs around his trimmed waist. “Which way?’ he asked as their mouths parted for a breath.

  “Third door on the right.”

  He kissed her, deep and mind-numbing, and didn’t stop as he moved with purpose toward her room. “Key?”

  She reached into her bra and pulled out the keycard.

  He laughed. “What else do you have in there?”

  “Get us in the room and you can search all you want.”

  He stopped kissing her for a moment and smiled.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing, it’s just this is a new side of you.”

  “Are you complaining?”

  “Not at all. I like discovering new things about you.”

  “Then get us in the room so you can be more thorough.”

  He kissed her hard, and she moaned, pressing her aching sex against him. He took the card out of her hand and swiped it. The door clicked open, and he pushed them inside. He pinned her against the wall. His head dipped, and his hands ripped her dress down, revealing the black lace strapless corset she’d opted for.

  He groaned at the sight, and she bit her lip as a satisfied smile spread across her face. His tongue trailed along the lace, and she arched, offering the small mound to him. Her nipple popped out from the restrictive material, and he took the tight bud between his teeth, nibbling and sucking before swirling his tongue around the taut flesh.

  Pleasure wracked her body, the feeling too good, but she missed his lips. Needed them. She grabbed his cheeks and pulled his mouth to hers. As soon as their lips came together, his mouth parted and his tongue darted out, searching. She met him across the divide, sliding in erotic strokes that had her moaning for more.

  His finger curled around her panties and yanked them aside. The pad of his finger swiped lovingly across the swollen bundle of nerves. Her body bucked at the intense pleasure. Her hands clawed at his back, searching for purchase as her soul momentarily left her body.

  He nipped at her lip; a sharp pulsating pain cut through her but vanished as his tongue and lips soothed. She rocked against his hand, and his finger dragged through her moist folds. She whimpered against his ear before sucking his lobe between her teeth.

  Just as she released his lobe, his finger pushed inside her. A cry tore from her mouth, and she buried her head in the crook of his neck, letting the wave of ecstasy carry her away. He moved in and out of her with precision and skill she didn’t expect. His finger curled, hitting her in just the right spot.

  She sucked on his neck, trying to keep from crying out again as he continued to work her toward the edge. She teetered there for a moment, but then his thumb brushed her clit. Pleasure rocketed through her, her nails bit into his shirt, and any attempt at muffling her cries were lost.

  Her body shook at the intensity, and she dug her hands into his shoulders to keep herself from falling to mush on the floor.

  “Beautiful,” he said and kissed her neck. The wall disappeared from her back, and Tony’s strong hand held her before placing her down on the bed. She sunk into the mattress, and he stood, unbuttoning his shirt. She didn’t waste any time, reaching for the hem of her dress and attempting to pull it over her head, only to realize there was a zipper.

  “Oops,” she said with a laugh.

  “Let me help you with that.”

  His hand rested on hers, and her eyes locked with his. Two circles of dark chocolate that she wanted nothing more than to get lost in. His hand moved to her zipper and slowly inched it down. She shimmied out of the dress, and he draped it over the chair beside the bed before coming down on top of her.

  His upper half was bare now, dark curly hair dotting his firm chest. A line of painting tools was tattooed into the olive skin of his forearm. She skated her hand over the hair, roaming along the hard lines and cut muscle. She had no idea all of this hid beneath his paint covered t-shirts. She leaned up, pressing a kiss to his chest as her fingers fumbled to undo his pants. With a determined yank, she got the zipper down and shoved the material over his ass.

  His erection sprang free, and she let out an accidental gasp. She reached out, running the pad of her thumb over the head. She swallowed at the smooth skin and ran her hand down the rigid length. Tony’s entire body tightened as she stroked him, feeling him harden beneath her fingers.

  She glanced up through overdone lashes and watched his eyes slip closed, pleasure relaxing the lines at the bridge of his nose that were always scrunched. Her head spun as she leaned down and touched the tip of her tongue to the engorged flesh.

  Her tongue swirled around the firm skin and when she took him in her mouth, his hand clamped down on the bed frame. Smiling to herself, she glided lips and tongue deep before slowly pulling back up.

  Tony’s hand curled into her hair, and he yanked her to him. A squeak flew from her mouth, but was muffled as his lips crashed to hers. He pushed her back on the bed, hovering over her in all his masculine glory.

  “Condom?” she said.

  “Shit,” he muttered. “I didn’t plan… I wasn’t expecting this.”

  “My bag.” Krissy pointed to the bag on the floor.

  His eyebrow lifted as he drew away with a smirk. Her body chilled as soon as he was away from her, and she desperately wanted his heat back, warming her, consuming her. He opened the bag, and his eyes widened. “I’m guessing you were expecting something to happen tonight?”

  She shook her head. “Cami likes to shove condoms in my bag.”

  “Remind me to thank her.”

  Krissy sat up, the buzz in her mind clearing. “No!” This was a hookup and there was no reason for Cami or anyone other than the two of them to know about it.

  Tony didn’t question her outburst. He ripped the wrapper open and slid the condom on as he walked. Multi-talented, that one.

  “Kidding,” he said, climbing on the bed, his knee going between her legs and spreading her wide for him.

  The panic of Cami finding out got lost to the needy desire sparking to life as his heat reclaimed her body. His eyes met hers, a whirlwind of want and need darkening his already dark eyes. He held her gaze as he slid into her slowly, allowing her body to accommodate him.

  She lifted up, an invitation for him to go hard and deep, but he continued course, holding steady with slow strokes.

  Her hand rested against his cheek, and she smiled. “I won’t break, you know. You can go faster.”

  “I’m enjoying the moment,” he said before his hands grabbed her hips and angled her. His body pulled back, and he thrust into her, detonating a quick explosion of pleasure that spread through her. Losing control, she cried out, her fingers latching onto his shoulder and holding on as he moved in her, creating a rhythm that short-circuited her mind. She couldn’t think or speak, all she could do was feel.

  His thumb swiped against her clit, and the world titled on its axis. The heavens parted, and white light flashed behind her eyes as she convulsed into paradise.

  Tony flipped them over and scooted to the edge of the bed. Her body weighed down by the intense pleasure, she held on to his neck. He grabbed her legs, wrapping them around him, and he tilted up, pushing inside her, creating friction and heat so intense her body bucked.

  His fingers laced through her hair, angling her to look at him. Her eyelids drooped, but she managed to stare into the cal
ming darkness. His body rocked, arms wrapping around her, their slick chests gliding against each other.

  They were no longer having sex. This was something more…intimate. It felt too good to stop. Her body, overwhelmed with pleasure, settled into the sensual pace, absorbing the slow gentle strokes. Tony cupped her breast, and her nipple tightened as he ran his thumb across the tight bud. His head dipped, taking the bead into his mouth and swirling his tongue before pulling back and doing the same to the other.

  “How are you so good at this?” she asked.

  He responded with a laugh, then his hands were on either side of her face, the pace of his strokes increasing until he thrust deep and hard. His body shivered beneath her touch, but she couldn’t enjoy his pleasure before searing hot ecstasy tore through her, and she collapsed against him.

  Exhaustion overcame her, and she nuzzled into the warmth of his chest before the world went black.

  Chapter 2

  Tony hadn’t slept a wink. How could he, when the essence of beauty lay beside him? He couldn’t take his eyes off Krissy. Her bare back was like a work of art waiting to be painted, her hair a sex messed array of brown strands, and her lips kiss swollen and beautiful. He noted the delicate curves and marked them to his memory.

  Sunlight filtered in through the crack in the curtain, creating a glittering effect across her skin, making her appear as if she were glowing. She said she wouldn’t break, but she was so small in his arms, so precious, though he knew despite all that, she was full of strength.

  He didn’t want to fuck her, though. He’d waited for this night for what felt like his entire life. He wanted it to be special, and it was. It was a night he’d never forget.

  Krissy stirred beside him, and she let out a distressed mumble. Her hand smacked against her face, and she pushed her hair back.

  “Morning,” he said, placing a kiss on her bare shoulder. Her entire body stiffened, and she jumped up, whacking his chin. His teeth snapped together, pain ricocheting through his jaw. He rubbed at the spot, then looked at her. “Ow.” He laughed, but there was no humor in her eyes. The passionate heat that consumed her irises last night was gone.