by Michele Hart
Greg softly combed her hair away from her face, spreading it over his pillow, then he kissed her tenderly.
When he began to move, the pleasure multiplied with his every plunge made her cry out, turned her mindless and lost to any thought not dancing to his orchestration. He kissed her, lightning and thunder struck, but she could only moan in his mouth from his steamy dominance rocking her. His whispering of her name brought her to full and explosive peaks of ecstasy like nothing she’d expected.
When he finally reduced her to exhaustion, limp limbs and lungs far behind in their job, and they’d bathed in the mix of their perspiration and lust-filled pheromones, he held her desperately against him in his final thrusts, then he stilled over her a moment, sending her a last shuddering pleasure before he sacked against her completely.
His arms around her, she felt herself soar like a falcon over a great canyon of mountains and color and breeze, gliding over tides of wind lifting her through the wondrous sky.
The rain outside pounded so loudly, drowning out all other sounds, but the lightning and thunder grew weaker, moving away from them to haunt others with dark passion and energy. Elissa wanted this moment never to end.
After a long, silent moment between them appreciating the rain pour, Greg rolled them both over until he was on his back with Elissa tucked under his arm beside him. She felt bliss flow through her like she’d never known before.
Everything about Greg was nothing she’d ever experienced. She hadn’t remembered this much ecstasy in the act of intimacy. Or maybe no other man had ever made love to her with so much want.
Is this having sex or making love? she asked herself, and feared the answer.
Greg gathered her against him and stroked her hair, his caress soothing. It was so easy just to fall asleep against him. Her eyes closed, taking her under and into peace.
* * * *
Elissa sprang out of bed with a jolt and darted through the room, struggling to recall where her clothes had gone. Almost faster than she could think after so shocking a rise, she leapt into the glass-tiled shower and scrubbed herself down, rinsed, then shot from the shower, snagging a thick bath towel in her exit.
To her relief, she found the white blouse and bra she’d worn to his house, and she rushed to button up her blouse when her eyes landed on Greg awakening and propping himself up on his elbows to watch her scramble.
She stopped cold to notice how handsome he was with messed-up hair, a sensuous light hint of stubble, and sleepy eyes. The crests of his dark, beautiful biceps stole her attention, and she thought for sure she should be sliding her fingers through the soft hair of his chest, nibbling him to discover his every erogenous zone, then wandering down his flat stomach, following the line of his body hair to—
“Do you have somewhere to go?” he asked innocently when she imagined wicked acts of debauchery.
Somewhere to go?
School.
“Of course, I do. I have a class in a half hour,” she said, going back to tugging yesterday’s shorts over her knees, and then her thighs. She hopped up and down tugging her socks on her feet, and she sat on the bed corner for the placement of her shoes.
Greg rubbed sleepy eyes. “Do you have a class this afternoon?”
“Nope, just this morning. In minutes,” she replied, dragging her brush through her disordered hair, and mourning the fact that she had no time to make herself look any better.
“Any way you could return and wait for the security company?” He blinked his big brown eyes at her, prying her heart up to his every will.
“I have a part-time position in the afternoon doing books at the planetarium, but I can move those hours around.”
“I’ll pay you for the time you miss from work.”
Elissa stopped at the bathroom sink, snatched up his toothbrush, squeezed the toothpaste, and shoved it into her mouth for a vigorous scrubbing. Between sweeps of the bristles through her mouth, she muttered nearly incoherently, “I owe you a new toothbrush. Sorry, I’m desperate.”
“Don’t worry about it. I have extras.” He chuckled, appearing thoroughly entertained watching her panic attack.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, rushing from her purse back to the mirror, toothpaste foam over her lips.
“Now I know what you’ll look like if you ever contract rabies.”
“You don’t have to pay me to do you a favor. I’ll house-sit for you. It’s hardly hard time. I’ll study,” she told him through the toothpaste foam, then she sucked in a handful of water and rinsed.
“Yeah, but you’ll miss pay hours, and I don’t want that.”
Elissa resented the subject of money coming up, but blew off the small irritation, went back to her task of twisting and trapping her thick, red hair.
“My hours at the planetarium have been shrinking by the week. They won’t mind me rearranging my schedule. I’ve needed to do it before. I can be here at one.”
Greg smiled as he climbed from his bed, wearing only boxers he'd slipped on somewhere during the night, looking Latin-handsome all the way down to his ankles. “Thanks. I’ll reward you.”
A smile split her face in anticipation of his rewards.
“Call Penny and have her come over,” he suggested. “I don’t want you to be alone.”
Chapter 8
Elissa unlocked the door and threw it open to see Penny standing at the columned entryway of the house, smiling as big as day and marveling over the exterior of the home.
“Elissa, I’ve never seen a more beautiful house,” her neighbor announced, speaking almost in a whisper and wide-eyed with wonder.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Closing and locking the door behind them, Elissa took hold of her friend’s hand and pulled her down the hall and into the big mocha-latte living room stolen from House Beautiful. Penny stopped cold in her tracks, and she emitted a low gasp to see the carved fireplace, the ridiculous amount of blinking electronics, the wood floors. Then her eyes shot to the glass doors where she spotted the stone-inlaid pool in the back yard.
Then she turned and gasped over the grapes-and-vines dream kitchen with a big island in the middle and a flat-top stove, a big preparation area, and every kitchen amenity Elissa had ever dreamed of and a few she’d never considered.
When Penny finally closed her gaping mouth, she gained a terribly worried look.
“What’s wrong with him, Elissa? It’s got to be something terrible. If he were this great, he’d already be taken. He’s a serial rapist, a power freak, a secret drug addict, has some skeleton in a closet. Did you check the closets?”
Elissa tugged her to the couch, pushed her down into a soft leather cushion, and beamed with a delight that would not stay hidden. “I can guarantee he’s not gay.”
Penny emitted another great gasp, then her eyes flared provocatively. “Good for you,” she muttered low.
Elissa smiled so hard it hurt. “He’s definitely not gay.”
But then her friend’s expression settled, distressed again. “You should come home, Elissa. I don’t like the feel of this. Something tells me all this beauty and luxury won’t come free.”
Elissa sacked down beside Penny and ran her hands through her hair. Being near Greg was already costing her concentration. She was going to miss karate class tonight if Greg gave her the slightest enticement to spend the time with him.
“You’re right. I can’t get a thing done in the way of study when I’m near him. If I’m smart, I’ll put some distance between us. But he makes me stupid when he’s near.”
Penny looked let down.
“There’s something strange going on here that’s tickling my mind, but it’s not Greg. He seems as baffled as I. Rubia’s, his family restaurant, has been robbed twice.”
Her friend’s eyebrows rose, and she appeared as though a meteorite had struck her in the noggin. “Greg’s family owns Rubia’s Restaurant? You’re hanging out with Rubia brats?”
Her friend flash
ed a warning she’d never seen come from her eyes. “You haven’t been in this town long enough, Elissa. My aunt taught at the private schools the Rubia brats attended. You’ll never hear of more spoiled teenagers, ill-behaved and arrogant in their old money. How on Earth did you become so well connected?”
“I believe I went ketchup shopping looking my worst.”
Penny crashed into a disbelieving smirk. “I do that twice a week, and I never score. Robberies, you say? Good-looking rich man in legal trouble. You hit the jackpot.”
Elissa nodded, tried not to give away her elation to face a detection challenge, and it looked—and felt—as hot as Greg. “Fate loves me this week. Someone broke into Rubia’s stock room two nights ago. Julian discovered the back door open, but nothing missing.”
Penny’s green eyes grew big again, becoming a common sight. “Julian Rubia?”
She started smacking her lips. “I’ve seen his name and picture in the papers for years, saw a recent news story of him accepting an award for the most fabulous fattening thing in the world. A big blond, lots of muscles. God, I love muscles. Is he as gorgeous in real life as he is in print?”
Elissa nodded. “He’s damned sweet on the eyes and a nice guy. I’ll swear to God he’s an amazing cook.”
Green eyes twinkled in interest. “Two robberies, you say?”
Elissa nodded. “I was almost robbed at gun-point just yesterday.”
The new smile fell from her friend’s face, making Elissa swear she’d just seen every emotion pass over Penny in the last ninety seconds. “I don’t like the sound of that, Elissa. Did you hurt the guy?”
“I was about to when Greg showed up, did the hero-thing. He thinks the robberies are related to the Bay Cook-off, an important competition that goes down this weekend.”
“I read about it in yesterday’s paper.”
“Oh,” Elissa muttered in relief. She’d only lived in Tampa since she transferred to USF from Florida State a year ago, and she hadn’t wandered past her books for very long. She knew nothing of the area’s annual events, being a fan of international news channels. “Thank God, you’re informed. Tell me all about it.”
“It’s held every year at Vinoy Park right beside Tampa Bay, with open-air kitchens for each competitor, lots of salt air by way of the Bay to add to the flavors. Tickets for tables are sold for big money, the bucks going to charity. National food critics choose the winners. It’s always a large affair but this year’s the tenth anniversary, and a bigger deal than usual, already sold out, big media event.”
Elissa gave Penny the short version of yesterday’s felony and explained they house-sat today so a security system could be installed in the house.
Penny’s eyes traveled the room and its iron-and-wood designer features. “One would think the owner would’ve put a security system in long ago.”
“I agree. Greg says he’s just been too busy with work for the last few years, and the neighborhood had never had a problem before. I ran a check on the area this morning. He’s right. They’ve had no big problem before.”
Penny looked Elissa right in the eye. “Have you told Greg of your college major?”
Elissa began to scrub a spot in her palm with her thumb, a nervous expression she’d had all her life. Most of the time she could deny the compulsion with little problem, but apparently not when it came to Greg.
“Well, I kinda fudged that a bit. You know I don’t tell anyone. If I can keep a low profile in this town, there’s a good chance I can get an assignment back to this area, closer to Mom. The subject of my college major came up that first night I met him, so I gave him my standard story.”
Penny knew her cover story well. “That you’re studying astronomy.”
Elissa nodded. “I hadn’t expected much to come from the meeting. But here we are.”
Always too astute at reading between the lines, Penny sat back into the cushions of buttery-soft mocha-latte leather. “So, what’re you doing with Greg, Elissa? Is what’s going on between you just an extension of this practical joke you’re pulling off for his friends?”
Elissa feared to ask herself those questions.
“I’m playing a game for a month with a handsome man who has it all,” she said, and really wanted to believe her words. “I’m having fun right now, and I know it’s going to go away in a few weeks. I’ll have had a wonderful time with an incredibly sexy man, and the memory of it will tickle me in my golden years. I’ll file it into the realm of happy adventures. When it’s over, I’ll go on with my plan.”
“You’re going to Quantico for FBI training.”
Elissa nodded. “I’m not straying from my path. I’ll have my Master's in criminology after this last semester, then it’s Quantico, here I come.”
Elissa chanted the words to herself in her head, committing it to her inner programming for the countless time.
“What if it hurts, Elissa, ending this thing with Greg?”
She blinked for a few seconds, wishing she didn’t have to confront that possibility. She already liked him too much, probably shouldn’t have spent the night with him. Yeah, that had been a bliss-filled mistake, if she wished to keep her peace of soul. She needed to keep a slipknot around her emotional heart, and she needed to yank it back when Greg sent it into a shiver.
“Ever since my father’s funeral, I’ve wanted to be an FBI agent. And I’m not straying from my road. Greg is a rest stop along the highway to Quantico.”
Penny just set her eyes on her as though she didn’t believe a word of it. “A damned good-looking rest stop. All in all, he has lots of eye appeal. Italian men are heart-rippers, Elissa.”
“Not my heart. I’ll not get hurt because I am unavailable for pain. This party has a time limit. A month from now, the bet will be resolved, and I’ll have part of my last class’s book loan. Greg and I will kiss goodbye, and I’ll go back to my plans. He’ll go back to his.”
“You’re nearly there, Elissa. Don’t stumble now.”
“I can’t,” she vowed, scraping her palm with her thumb again. The thought of not making it across the finish line cut into her self-respect. “If I blow my goal now, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Penny said nothing more, but her worried frown bespoke the wisdom of changing the subject.
The arrival of the security installation crew was a welcome break from the tension between the two friends. Her neighbor didn’t cast another woeful glare.
Elissa and Penny watched the workmen pace in and out of the house attaching sensors to every window, alarm code pads at every exterior door. The foreman described the system to Elissa, and after her quiet inspection of the network setup, she felt it appeared well thought-out for such a fast fix, and it appeared capable of safeguarding the house, every access to the inside now monitored.
Greg even had the crew place a camera at the entrance door, its monitor sitting on the kitchen counter. Elissa liked the way one button gave her a wide view of the entire driveway or a detailed view of anyone standing at the door. No unknown face would fool her again.
By the time the security technicians cleared away all evidence of their project, Greg arrived, and Elissa was relieved the foreman gave him a run-down on the operation of the system so he could ask questions.
Finally thanking the last of the work men, Greg closed the door, then he swept Elissa into his arms and pressed kisses to her giggly shoulders, bringing back all of last night’s tingle. Her neighbor cleared her throat, reminding them of their guest.
“Penny!” he declared his pretended sudden awareness of her presence.
“Greg!” she countered, an enthusiastic volley.
Elissa watched her neighbor give off her I’m-undecided-about-you vibes to him, which he seemed to deflect with his super-powered cool shield.
Greg squeezed Elissa under his wing, appearing content to have her trapped against him. She smelled his sandalwoodsy scent, and her entire body reawakened to him like the dawn rise of a plumy flower. His smile just
made hers blossom.
“Good day?” Elissa asked, as he shed his suit jacket, tossed it over the couch, and flopped down on the cushions, taking her with him.
“Good day,” he confirmed. “A local news article came out today, putting Julian the odds’ favorite for winning the Bay Cook-off. I’ve arranged for our investors to take a table at the competition, watch Julian’s win, and feast on the master’s magic. The moment Julian is declared an eight-time winner, Rubia’s stock value doubles.”
Greg wiggled his eyebrows humorously.
“Ew....” Elissa replied. “You must be some negotiator.”
He shrugged humbly. “You gotta know when to play your hand. I’m just trading on family excellence. It’s more about the talent in my family. Everything about Rubia’s was creativity from generations of Rubias. The recipes, the restaurant’s interior and atmosphere, our service and business reputation. The restaurant has always been the family’s heart and soul. Other restaurants don’t have Rubia’s history and legacy.
“And they didn’t have my father’s vision. My father was a fine business mind, had planned for expansion far in the future. Over the decades, he’d turned much of Rubia’s profits into investments in the future, encouraging my cousins to cook and sending them to the best schools to earn the chef's hat. Dad made sure I went to a better school than he’d attended to learn how to manage what becomes of my family’s talent.”
Elissa smiled, loving the Rubia history summary. “Smart man.”
Greg nodded. “He really was. When he passed away a year and a half ago, I came out of college and took over the business, picked up the threads of his plan and ran with them. My father was a man of vision in many ways.
“His children, my side of the family, took after him as good managers. We’re all on the management end. I’ve kept Derek at USF and not at a big-name school purposely so he can remain local and still work in the restaurant instead of how I’d done it. I’d gone to school out-of-state, and didn’t get to spend any college time at the restaurant I’d been planning to expand, had much to learn because of it. When Derek graduates, he’ll be fully immersed and prepared to take on a big part of the management. By that time, we’ll have a couple of restaurants, and I’ll need the help. And the rest.”