Childhood Dream

by Theresa Paolo

  The door opened, and she stumbled back. Tony filled the doorway, his hair pushed back with a navy blue and white bandana, his shirt and pants splattered in a multitude of different colors of paint. Bags lined his eyes, but he didn’t look tired. He looked energized. Full of life.

  “Hey,” she managed.

  “You’re not the pizza guy,” he said.

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

  “I’m not disappointed at all.”

  “Really? You sure could have fooled me.”

  His eyebrows pinched together. “What are you talking about?”

  She had tried to keep her resolve, but seeing him looking devilishly handsome, something inside her snapped. “I don’t know. You told me you loved me, gave me the best orgasm of my life and then you just disappeared for a week.”

  His mouth parted then quickly pressed into a smile. “Best orgasm of your life, huh?”

  She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Sure, let’s focus on that and ignore everything else I said just like you’ve been ignoring me for a week.”

  He stepped out of the doorway and cupped her cheek. “I haven’t been ignoring you.”

  “Then what the hell do you call it? I haven’t heard from you at all. You haven’t answered my calls.”

  “Sorry. I turn my phone off when I get a burst of inspiration so I can give all my attention to my work. What day is it anyway?”

  “Seriously? You don’t know what day it is?”

  He scratched the back of his head. “No.”

  “What the hell have you been doing in here? Seriously, you better have painted a masterpiece.”

  “Would you like to see?’ he asked.

  For some reason, she had expected him to tell her it wasn’t ready and that she couldn’t see his work yet. Not until it was finished. She definitely didn’t expect him to show her.

  “I’d love to.”

  “Then come in.” He stepped aside, letting her into his studio. Large and small canvases lined the perimeter. Canvases upon canvases. She walked closer and picked one of the smaller ones up. She sucked in a breath when her eyes settled on the exquisite detail. He’d combined his abstract style with portraits, and she’d never looked more beautiful. The portrait style he had used on her original painting that she sat for was what he used for her face and shoulders then her body and dress melted into the background. There was so much movement and energy within the vibrant colors that it practically jumped off the canvas.

  Her favorite was of her in black, the black melding into blue, purple and green hues, engulfing her into the surroundings. Her hair was pinned up like it had been at the wedding and wisps fell around her face. Her neck was elongated, the curves so delicate and precise. What she loved more than anything was in this picture, as elegant as she was, she still wore her signature black-framed glasses.

  She turned to him, hugging the canvas to her chest. “They’re all of me.” Every single canvas held her face, her naked back, her bare shoulder, her eyes filled with so much emotion.

  He took the canvas from her grasp and placed it back in the pile before snaking his hand around her waist and pulling her close. He smelled like paint and the soap she had given him, just the right amount of masculinity. His curls were wet beneath his bandana.

  “You’re a pretty fantastic subject. I guess you’re the muse I’ve been looking for my whole life.”

  “You showered?” she said, unable to accept the overflowing feelings streaming through her very soul.

  “Even in my bursts I manage to maintain my hygiene. Besides, showers help to keep me awake and think more.”

  “It’s like your recharging station.” She laughed, but couldn’t ignore the overwhelming emotions colliding inside her. She reached up, tugging on a curl that dangled beneath the back of the bandana. Her eyes met his, and the world around them shifted. “I’m your muse,” she said, the words weighed down by the joy and love filling her heart.

  He cupped her cheeks. “Who knew my childhood dream girl is also the key to my passion.”

  “But why did it take so long to ignite?”

  “I don’t know. After finding out about my dad, something inside me snapped. The need to paint exploded inside me, and I let the process take over. At first the paintings were angry splatters of paint, but then your face popped into my mind, and the anger morphed into sunshine.”

  She was an idiot. She knew the news about his dad had affected him more than he portrayed. Realization punched her in the gut. He hadn’t abandoned her. She’d abandoned him.

  In the fear of becoming her father, she chose anger instead of heartache, and in doing so, she’d became her mother. “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “For what?”

  “I shouldn’t have let you go that night. I should have been there for you like you would have been there for me.”

  “You did exactly what I asked you to do. What I needed you to do. I needed to be alone in order to process it all. If anything, I’m sorry I shut you out.”

  She’d messed up yet he was the one apologizing. He loved her despite her flaws, and though love was a horribly terrifying notion to her, when she looked at Tony, his chocolate brown eyes fixated on her, his unruly hair fighting against the bandana trying to restrain it, she was no longer afraid of becoming a hollow shell.

  His love had never wavered. It had only grown stronger over time. She wasn’t perfect, but he knew that. He didn’t put her on a pedestal because she was perfect, he put her there because she was imperfect. He saw her in a way no one else did. It was evident in the paintings that surrounded them, in the way he looked at her now.

  She swallowed, holding his intense gaze. The air between them sparked and sizzled like electric current ready to explode. “I know it took me a long time to catch up, but…” The words jolted on her tongue with the slightest of gasps as reality sunk into her mind and strangled her heart. “I love you, too.”

  His eyes widened for a split second then his mouth was on hers, hot and desperate as if he’d been holding back all the times before, and had finally been released. Her lips moved with his, a race to keep up as they became a mess of limbs.

  He bent, his hand latching onto her thigh and lifting her up his body until one leg wrapped around his torso. He moved with long determined strides, bringing them to the couch and lying her on the black leather. His fingers curled into the hem of his shirt, and he ripped it off over his head. Coming down on top of her, he braced his arms on either side of her head, thighs bracketing the outside of hers and his muscled abs pressing against her soft curves.

  Needing to feel his skin against hers, she lifted, pulling her shirt off and tossing it to the floor. His head immediately dipped, dragging his tongue along the lace of her white bra. Lifting, he reached behind her, snapping the clasp. One strap at a time, he drew down slowly, kissing a path from shoulder to arm as he went.

  Bare from the waist up, cool air brushed against her, pebbling her nipples. Tony’s large hand engulfed one breast while the other ran a thumb across the tight bud. “So beautiful,” he said before taking the hardened bud into his mouth.

  She sucked in a breath, body arching, as tendrils of pleasure unfurled through her body. His hand moved down her side, splaying over her stomach and grabbing her waist. He pressed into her, his hard erection straining against his pants.

  “Condom,” he said.

  Condoms had kept a necessary layer between them, but now she wanted to be free of those layers. She wanted all of him. “I’m on the pill and clean.”

  “I’m clean.”

  “Good.” She stroked him again. “I want to feel all of you.”

  Need and impatience took over, and she reached for his zipper, yanking the small metal tab down and freeing his cock.

  “I like this no underwear thing,” she said, taking his hard length in her hand and stroking.

  His head fell to her shoulder, teeth scrapping against sensitive skin as she continued her movements from root to ti
p. He moaned into her neck, his tongue snaking out and swiping with a body trembling lick.

  She absorbed the tremors, relishing in the mind-numbing sensations overtaking her body from a single swipe of his tongue. God. She needed him.

  She shoved his jeans down then fumbled with her own. Tony’s hand stilled on hers.

  “Let me,” Tony said, his voice thick with arousal.

  Relinquishing control, she let her arms fall to her sides. He drew her zipper down, and as she lifted, he pulled the restrictive material down her legs. He leaned back and lifted her ankle, removing her shoe then sock before yanking the jeans from her leg. He kissed her ankle before moving to the next.

  Desire rushed through her, and she shifted her ass as he took his time, trailing his lips up her leg. He stopped at her thigh, dragging his tongue along the sensitive skin. She arched, and he smiled at her.

  “Someone is impatient.”

  She bit her lip as his words heated her skin. “Very,” she managed. “Please do something.”

  His finger curled into her panties and he yanked them aside, his mouth instantly covering her swollen nub. He sucked and her body jolted, hands slamming into the leather, and searching for purchase as his mouth began to move, his tongue gliding lazily over her folds, creating a never-ending flow of sensation rushing through her body.

  Helpless to the million tiny sparks detonating from her core, she curled her fingers into the cushion and held on. “Better?”

  “Mmm.”

  “I think you want more.” He thrust a finger inside her and twisted., his tongue swirling the bundle of nerves, working her toward the edge. He sucked, and the world exploded. White lights burst behind her eyes. The room spun around her, and every beat of her heart was to keep her body from succumbing to ecstasy.

  His mouth dragged along her body, over her stomach, passed her breasts, stopping right by her lips. A smile blossomed on his face. “Say it again,” he said.

  “Say what?” she breathed as her body zinged with the aftermath.

  “That you love me.” His voice deepened, and an ache shot right to her heart.

  She grabbed either side of his head, pulling his forehead to hers. Her breath came out in pants, her body a newly lit inferno of need. She tilted back, her eyes meeting his, looking deep beyond the surface to a place she knew only she could see.

  “I love you.”

  He thrust, his cock pushing into her. A gasp cut through the air, and her fingers dug into his shoulders. He drew back slowly, then shoved forward again. Hard, long strokes that caused bursts of pleasure.

  His hand cupped her neck, and he held her head to his, picking up speed and pumping into her hard and fast. She absorbed every thrust, every spark, and clung to him with every ounce of her soul, baring herself completely as he pushed her once again toward the edge.

  “Come with me,” he said, and his thumb brushed across her clit. She cried out as the sensations ricocheted through her body, destroying her resolve until liquid fire erupted, spiraling her into sweet bliss.

  “There you go, baby.” Tony pumped into her, and his body shuddered with his release.

  He let out a breath and fell to her side, gathering her in his arms and kissing her shoulder.

  “I love you,” he said against her ear, and she managed to say it back before drifting off to sleep.

  Chapter 16

  Mornings had always been Tony’s favorite. The sun rose with a new day and fresh inspiration was alight. But waking up to Krissy in his arms, her breaths lightly brushing against his bare chest, her scent of waffle cones, surrounding him, it couldn’t get better than that.

  He glanced down at her, his fingers itching to pick up a paintbrush to capture her beauty in the sliver of sunlight that shimmered through the window and across her cheekbone. It was as if the light was attracted to her, absorbing into her essence, then exploding out into a bright shimmer across the room.

  His sketch pad was just in reach, by the pizza box they eventually brought in last night, so he shifted, careful not to wake her, and retrieved the book and a pencil. He wasn’t much for drawing with pencil and paper, preferring to use paint as his tools, and only had the sketchpad for when he first attempted portraits, but Krissy inspired him to step outside of his box, and pick the pad up again.

  Sitting up, letting her head stay snuggled into him, he put pencil to paper and let his hand move freely across the page, creating the beautiful lines of Krissy’s face. Working on a wisp of hair that had fallen over her cheek, she stirred.

  A satisfied moan rumbled against his skin as she stretched out her legs. Her head tilted, and she looked up at him with a smile. “Are you drawing me?”

  “You’re too beautiful not to.”

  “Stop flattering me. I’m sure I look awful after last night.”

  “Sex rumpled is my favorite look on you.” He leaned down, kissing her forehead between the split of her bangs. “I’m sorry I disappeared on you, especially with everything you’re dealing with. It was never my intention.”

  “It’s okay.” Her fingers traced the line of hair on his chest. “I was worried in the beginning because of what you had found out about your dad.”

  “Only in the beginning?”

  “After not hearing from you for a week, then I just thought you were a jerk who got what he wanted and bailed because it wasn’t what you had hoped for.”

  He sat up, bringing her with him. “You know I would never do that.” She didn’t meet his gaze, so he nudged her chin with his finger.

  “You wouldn’t have been the first person to,” she said, her voice quiet, a painful ache radiating from her words.

  He wanted to hurt every person who had ever hurt her. Who made her for one second feel unworthy of love and happiness. He vowed in that very moment to not only cherish and appreciate her, but to let her know her worth.

  “I’m not that guy, and I never will be. I promise you that, but I need you to promise me something, too.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Promise me that no matter what, you’ll remember I’m not that guy.”

  She nodded, her hair falling in her face, and she tucked it behind both ears. “I promise.”

  “And for the record, it was more than I ever hoped it would be. I couldn’t have imagined how great it actually was.”

  She turned into him, pressing her hand to his chest, her bare legs curled up in his lap, and kissed him. He leaned back, her hard nipples brushing against his heated skin. She nipped at his lip, and he pinched her nipple. She squeaked, and it was damn adorable.

  He hooked his hand around her neck and captured her lips. She rocked against his growing erection, and he moaned at the sensations creeping through him.

  “I’ve had enough!” A shout came from outside.

  “Can you calm down?” Another voice, and Tony sighed.

  Krissy pulled back, her naked body leaning over him, hair draped around him like a curtain. “What was that?” she asked just as the door to the studio cracked and flew open. Marco stormed in like a man on a mission.

  Krissy screeched and grabbed for her shirt, holding it over her chest.

  “What the fuck!” Tony exclaimed, pulling his shirt over Krissy’s head and setting her aside. He wrapped a blanket around his waist and stood.

  Marco tossed his thumb over his shoulder, eyes as wide as quarters. “I—” He shoved his hands in his dark jeans pockets and leaned back on his heals. “Okay, this is not what I was expecting.”

  “Did you kick my door in?” Tony asked.

  “You’ve been locked in here for a week. What the fuck did you expect?”

  “For you to respect my process and stay the fuck out.”

  “Is this part of your process?” He motioned to Krissy on the couch, lips swollen, hair rumpled.

  “Out!” Tony said, flinging his finger toward the door.

  “What’s going on?” Enzo came in and Tony tried to block Krissy with his body. He could feel the heat of
embarrassment flowing through her.

  “Oh!” Enzo exclaimed.

  “Out! Both of you get the fuck out.”

  “How long has this been going on?” Enzo asked, and Tony shoved him toward the door.

  Once his brothers were outside, he slammed his door, realizing it no longer shut. Great. Just great. He opened the door. “You owe me a new door, asshole.”

  With a deep breath, he turned back inside. Krissy was gathering her clothes, and he cursed his brothers for ruining his perfect morning. “Don’t go.”

  She pulled her pants up and buttoned them. “Considering you no longer have a door, I don’t think much is going to happen.”

  “We can go into the bathroom.”

  “Have you seen your bathroom? It is literally the size of me. There is no way the two of us will fit in there.”

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  “I know, but I think you should talk to your brothers.”

  “Why?”

  “Everything with your dad. I’m sure they want to discuss it with you.”

  He rolled his eyes and sighed. “You’re probably right, and I should have spoken to both of them already, Ella too, but—”

  “You used that as fuel to paint.”

  She knew him too well. “Exactly. All those emotions just exploded out of me. I thought I was numb, but numb was just on the surface. Beneath it…”

  “I know.” She pushed one of his curls back, her pretty hazel eyes meeting his. In her gaze, he could tell that she understood exactly what he had gone through. “I wish I could have been here for you.”

  “Like I said, it was better that you weren’t. As much as I love having you around, because I truly do, I needed the release.”

  “I get it and I’m happy you found it.” She pressed up on tiptoes and kissed him. She went to walk away, and he grabbed her hand, yanking her back to him. She spun into him, her hand landing on his chest, and he tilted her head up with his finger. He kissed her right this time, showing her how much he appreciated her.

  He drew back, and she smiled. “Good morning to me.”

  A laugh bellowed out of him. “Did you walk here last night?”