Fire and Desire (BWWM Romance)

by Watts, Rebecca K.

  “Così bella.” He licked his lips and leaned forward, sniffing her. “So beautiful.”

  Antonio gripped her butt cheeks and pulled her down on his face. His tongue flicked her clit. Her bud hardened to his touch. Licks turned to suckling.

  “Oh my.” Mercedes ground her body on his tongue.

  Using her foot, she massaged his crotch. His dick stretched the confines of his slacks. She moved her leg to the side, allowing him to fumble with his belt and loosen it. Mercedes pushed his hands out the way and slid her hand down his pants. She found her prize and freed it. Wrapping her hands around him, she stroked his dick up and down.

  Antonio pushed his pants and boxers down far enough to kick them off the rest of the way. Changing position, he laid her down on the ottoman and removed his shirt. Mercedes marveled at his chiseled chest. She kissed and sucked his nipples as he licked along her neck. Her body tingled with pleasure.

  He brought his mouth to hers, running his tongue against the rim of her lip. Her mouth opened, and it slipped inside. Their tongues danced while his hands explored the curves of her body.

  “Tell me you want me,” she said, gasping for air.

  “Desidero che voi siate miei.”

  Never had she heard words of passion spoken so eloquently, even if in another language. Her body yearned for him. “Then take me.”

  Gently, he entered her moisture-filled walls, giving her what she had been waiting for. Pumping back with a fever of her own, Mercedes matched Antonio’s deep strokes. Years of reading romance novels couldn’t prepare her for energy she felt between them. He was gentle, yet full of power, and her body welcomed him.

  She wrapped her legs around him, granting him full access. Sweat soaked their bodies. Mercedes gripped the edge of the ottoman and arched her body as he moved deep within.

  Antonio pulled out and rolled her over. He placed an arm under her stomach, lifting her slightly before entering her again.

  “Yes, baby, yes!” she cried.

  She pumped her body back against him. Squeezing her vaginal muscles tight, she gripped him with each stroke.

  “Oh, baby, damn,” he said.

  He pumped harder. She matched his pace. Not relenting, she milked him with her inner walls.

  “Ooh, argh.” Antonio collapsed on top of her. His hot liquid filled her.

  “I win,” she whispered in his ear. Her body went limp, exhausted from all of her gymnastics.

  Chapter Six

  Antonio leaned back in his leather chair. One more interview for the day and he’d be finished. He glanced at the clock and laughed at the thought of actually calling it before five o’clock. Prior to meeting Emily he’d never had a reason to want to. Even though it had only been a few weeks, his heart warmed whenever he thought of her. The Marine, trained to be a defender of the nation, taken down by the smile of a five foot six chocolate vixen.

  His phone rang interrupting his thoughts.

  “Ciao nonna, hello grandmother,” he answered.

  “Hello nipote,” a raspy female voice responded in a thick Italian accent. “How’s my favorite grandson doing?”

  “I’m you’re only.” He smiled.

  “Hmph, it’s only a matter of opinions. When do I get to meet this lovely girl who’s taking all your time?”

  “Nonna.”

  “Don’t nonna me. I know you.”

  Antonio closed his eyes and listened. He knew better than to dare interrupt his grandmother, or any elder Italian woman for that matter.

  “You’re a Moretti, of my blood line, and we love hard. If she didn’t interest you then you wouldn’t be bothered. Your mother tells me the woman isn’t Italian…” she paused. “But she runs her own business. I guess that should be enough to make up for it.”

  He rolled his eyes before responding. Antonio had no doubt his grandmother had moved her hands left to right across her chest and then from her forehead down in the sign of the crucifix when she paused. She’d been on him for years about finding a nice Italian girl. “Emily is an amazing woman nonna. Her fire can match any Italian woman and she’s managed to capture my heart.”

  “Ah.” She clapped her hands. “When do I get to meet her?”

  “In due time. I have to go nonna. I love you.”

  “Anche io vi amo nipote, I love you too grandson. Just make sure I’m not in my grave before you decide to let me see her.”

  The line went dead. Antonio placed the phone down just as his receptionist buzzed him.

  “The next applicant’s here,” she said.

  He pressed the intercom button. “Send him in.”

  Footsteps neared his doorway. Antonio looked up. “Dwayne Brown?”

  The man gave a cocky grin and extended his hand for a fist pump. “That’s me.”

  Antonio ignored his lack of professionalism. He’d grown accustomed to it. This line of work brought in all sorts. “Have a seat.”

  Dwayne sat down—legs spread and elbow propped on the arm rest.

  Antonio cleared his throat and adjusted his posture, straightening more than he already was. As anticipated, Dwayne repositioned as well. It was a simple maneuver he learned while training his fellow Marines. All orders didn’t need to be shouted.

  “I’ll get right to it. From you resume I don’t see much in the way of providing security outside of your current job but I notice you played football in college.” He looked at Dwayne and gave a half smile.

  “Defensive tackle.” He stuck out his chest.

  “It looks like you’ve kept yourself in shape since then as well.”

  “I work out five days a week.”

  “I see.” Antonio narrowed his eyes. “How are you when dealing with a room full of half-naked women? It’s a big difference than providing security for an apartment complex.”

  If it weren’t for two other contracts along with Emily’s grand opening he wouldn’t have let Dwayne in on the interview process. Apartment security was lower than a mall cop. All the guy had going for him was he wasn’t bad looking. Along with protection for her girls Emily wanted descent looking men as eye candy for the club. They’d gone round and round about it but she stood firm.

  After the other three interviewees, Dwayne looked like a shining star. He was one of the few who’d bothered to complete the application, aptitude test, and provide references online. Antonio called the number for the apartment complex Dwayne provided and the woman spoke highly of him.

  “I don’t have a problem with it.” Dwayne shrugged his shoulders. “I mean I know I can’t touch them or try to get with any of them.”

  Antonio crossed his arms. “No you can’t. You need to be focused and do your job.”

  “Understood.”

  “Good. Provided you can pass a drug test you’re hired.”

  Dwayne nodded and smiled. “Cool."

  “Tasha, my receptionist, will give you all the information you’ll need. It was nice meeting you.” Antonio stood.

  Dwayne followed suit. He held out his hand for a shake instead of a fist pump. Antonio smiled and accepted. He watched Dwayne walk out his office before checking the time. Four-thirty, plenty of time to stop and grab flowers for Emily before surprising her with a small celebration dinner.

  ***

  Emily was hooked. Though it was she who posed the challenge, it was Antonio who bested her. Never had she met a more skilled lover and friend. It seemed as if she known him for years. He was so easy to talk to, and he actually listened to what she had to say. They’d become almost inseparable after the night she won the bet. She’d become so used to his company over the following weeks, she started to include him in on her plans for the club. He’d become her confidant in the cutthroat business.

  Antonio surprised her with a night on the down to celebrate her success. She drank way too much and didn’t hear him when he left. When her alarm went off, she hit the snooze button four times before realizing she was supposed to have a phone conference with a potential club investor. Rel
uctantly, she got out the bed dragging her weary body to the shower, desperately trying to wake up. If coffee didn’t upset her stomach, she would’ve injected herself with it. Her business line rang as she stepped out the shower.

  “Emily speaking,” she said, straining to sound chipper. Drinking Tequila had made her voice raspy.

  “Good morning! This is Edmond. I’ll get straight to the point. I love your business plan for the club. You have impeccable business sense, and your vision can be a huge success with my help. I’ll be willing to front all of the money, and you can just follow through with those brilliant ideas of yours.”

  She was finally able to get a word in. “Why thank you, but I don’t need someone to pay for my business. I just need a small investment to put a credible name behind my project to bring in more white-collar clientele,” she responded, now fully alert.

  “That’s exactly what I have in mind. You wouldn’t have to worry about such thing. That’s for me to do for you.”

  “Thank you. I have several investors interested. I’ll have to get back with you.” She hung up the phone.

  There were no other investors, but she had a gut feeling there was something off about Edmond. People too willing to throw their money around often had alternative motives. Emily didn’t want to risk Edmond trying to take over her dream. She refused to be like other businesses—a person has a vision but not enough money, so they get an investor who lets the idea person start up. Once the business takes off, the investor takes over, and the person with the vision is left in the cold.

  Instead of going back to sleep, Emily watched a few early shows. Security wasn’t due to arrive until two when Asia was scheduled to work. She watched as Desire, a Latina goddess, put on a show, imagining the man she was performing for was in the room with her. She was wearing a black sheer gown with a plunging neckline and feathers around the collar. Her bronze legs were straddled over a red velvet chair. Her black wavy mane flowed freely as she spoke seductively to her client in Spanish. Emily watched as Seduction moved her hands slowly across her breasts as if they were her client’s hands exploring her body.

  Movement in another entertainer's show caught Emily’s attention. Amber had a private show and was performing using a sex toy. Emily chuckled to herself while she watched as Amber’s head bobbed up and down, her mouth engulfing the toy.

  The camera zoomed out. Emily’s bottom jaw dropped. Amber wasn’t using a prop at all. There was a man in the room with the model. She was performing on the real thing.

  “Hell no! Not this crap! It is too early in the morning for this drama.” Emily pushed a button and killed the live stream. She had strict rules, and having sex on her website went against all of them. That’s not what her site represented.

  Typing with lightning speed, Emily sent Amber an instant message that read, “Be at my house within the hour. We need to talk now.” No matter how hard she tried, she was not getting through to the girls. They didn’t have to screw someone to get paid. It may have been her boyfriend, but to Emily, it made no difference. Now the client will think he can get full hardcore porn, and word could spread. The Playhouse was a fantasy. The point was for the men watching to imagine themselves with her models.

  “Ugh!” Emily pushed away from her desk and stormed across the room to her cell phone charging on a shelf.

  She needed to talk to someone with common sense. Emily punched in Janet’s number but hung up prior to it ringing. Janet was with her new man—Ryan. She dialed Antonio. Voicemail picked up, so she called Kenny.

  “Good morning,” he answered.

  “Are you online? Did you see that crap Amber pulled? What’s wrong with these girls? She’s messing with my reputation!” She paced the floor.

  “Slow down and explain what’s going on.” He let out a yawn.

  Emily took a deep breath and let it out. “Amber. She was performing oral sex on some man in her show.”

  “Oh, wow.” She could hear Kenny punching the keys on his computer.

  “I’m sick and tired of these girls acting like the rules don’t apply to them.” She stopped pacing and plopped down in her office chair.

  “I just pulled it up. This isn’t good. What are you going to do?”

  “Fire her ass.” She placed the call on speakerphone and massaged her temples. Her head was pounding.

  “I agree one hundred percent. I’m taking her off the site as we speak. There will be no presence of Amber remaining once I’m finished.”

  “Thank God.” She sighed. “I don’t want the client running his mouth and sending others to The Playhouse looking for her.”

  “It’s going to be all right. You’ll have another girl to replace her in no time.”

  “You’re right. I have a bunch of applications to weed through as we speak.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  She looked at the time on the bottom right of her monitor. “Thanks for listening. I’m going to get lunch ready for Sean and have him safely back in his room before she gets here. He doesn’t need to be a witness to anything in case Amber decides to act out.”

  “Okay. I’m here if you need me.”

  Emily hung up, feeling a lot better. The situation would be quickly resolved and not become a financial burden for her. She headed out of her room and to Sean’s. He lay across his bean bag chair, playing an educational video game. Emily walked in and kissed him on the cheek. Sean smiled but kept his focus on the word game.

  “I’m going downstairs to make you something to eat.”

  “McDonald’s!” he said excitedly.

  “No, but you’ll like it.” She rubbed his head and walked out.

  Two hours later and there was still no sign of Amber. Sean had been fed and sent on his way to a play date and then sleep over with the people who lived a few doors down. Paul, the newest edition to the security team, had shown up along with Asia. Each went to their respective locations and stayed out of Emily’s way. With each passing minute, her annoyance elevated.

  By the time her doorbell rang, it was four hours later.

  “I got it, Paul.”

  He looked at her, nodded, and went back in the office. At first glance, Paul didn’t look like much in the lines of security. He barely weighed one hundred and fifty pounds and stood at five foot five. But he held several titles in the martial arts, and Emily was sure he could hold his own.

  She opened the door. “Come in. Have a seat.”

  “Is there something wrong?” Amber looked innocent and non-assuming in her sweat outfit, no make-up, and her hair in a ponytail.

  Quite brazen, aren’t we? Emily didn’t blink. She could play the game just as well. She wasn’t about to be manipulated by an amateur nor would she sit and go step-by-step over Amber actions.

  “You’re aware of the rules, right?” Emily pointed for Amber to have a seat in the same spot where she conducted her first interview.

  She did as instructed. “Yes, but I thought—”

  “You thought wrong.” Emily picked up an envelope off the coffee table and held it out. “Here’s your check. You have been removed from the website, because your actions are not in tune with The Playhouse. You just told me you were aware of the rules, which means you understood your actions.”

  “But I—”

  Emily held up her hand and shook her head. “In the words of Donald Trump, you’re fired!”

  Amber’s mouth dropped open. She snatched the envelope, almost ripping it in half. “Whatever! We’ll see who gets the last laugh.”

  “We just did.” Emily stormed back to the door and held it open. “I wish you well. I hope you find something else you’re good at.”

  “Piss off! I bet your man jacks off to me as he watches me on the monitors.” Amber’s eyes narrowed in defiance.

  Emily sized her up and stood face to face with her. In a controlled tone, she said, “Just because you can pull perverts off the internet doesn’t mean you’re the queen on the throne.”

  “Whate
ver. I’m every man’s fantasy…black, white, and even Italian men.” She looked her up and down. “Isn’t that why you hired me, boss lady?”

  “Just keep on giving me more reasons to let you stay,” Emily retorted sarcastically. “Now get the hell out my house.”

  “Is there a problem?” Paul stood in the hallway with his arms crossed.

  “Nope. I’m just taking out the trash.”

  Amber rolled her eyes at Emily and looked back at Paul. She brushed passed Emily and headed out the door. Emily slammed it behind her.

  “You good?” Paul’s eyes were trained on her.

  “Yes.” She nodded.

  “Okay.” He stepped back in the office.

  It took everything Emily had not to snatch Amber bald, but she couldn’t get caught up in a cat fight. Emily came out on top without throwing a punch by simply firing the girl. People who behaved like Amber got on her last nerves. They did something wrong and then got upset at the repercussions for their actions.

  Pushing the buttons on her cell, Emily tried calling Antonio again.

  “Ciao, amore,” he answered.

  “Where have you been?”

  “In meetings.” His voice deepened. “You sound upset. What’s the matter?”

  “I just fired Amber.”

  “What did she do? Never mind. I’m on your side of town and will be there shortly.”

  The concern in his voice touched her but did little to simmer her anger. “You better get here quick before I change my mind about kicking her ass and going after her.”

  “I’ll get there as fast as I can.” The truck let out a revving sound.

  “I promise I’ll stay put until you get here.” She hung up and headed to the kitchen. A glass of wine had her name on it.

  By the time Antonio arrived fifteen minutes later, she was on her second glass. She fell into his arms for a warm embrace.

  He lifted her head up by the chin and gave her a peck on the lips. “Now tell me everything, my little spitfire.”

  She led them to the kitchen and took a sip of her drink. “Amber had open relations on the website, and then when I just fired her she had the audacity to imply you’d rather be with her because she’s biracial.”