Victoria opened her mouth but quickly closed it.
Jack cleared his throat and stood.
“Tasha, you look beautiful,” he said before leaving the room.
Natasha watched as Jack made his escape. She turned to Victoria, who was still silent. “What? You don’t like it?”
Victoria exhaled a deep breath before saying, “Tash... Just last night you walked around a room full of oversexed men in what you described as a rubber–band, and tonight you plan on going on a date with “tall, dark, and handsome” dressed like an Amish woman?”
Natasha gasped. She felt as if she’d just been slapped. She looked down at her outfit and back to Victoria. She had never been one to dress provocatively.
Since Natasha’s curves had developed at an early age, her aunt scrutinized everything that she wore. In Natasha’s eyes, she must have been the only child in Chicago to have a dope fiend religious fanatic as a guardian. Not to mention, the looks that she got from her aunt’s many boyfriends prompted Natasha to cover up.
Victoria smiled sympathetically and grabbed Natasha’s hand.
“Come on,” she said softly as she led Natasha out of the family room and up the stairs.
After forty–five minutes filled with makeup, flat irons, and rummaging through Victoria’s closet, Natasha was successfully transformed.
She stood in the mirror in a black wrap dress that tied at the waist. The dress displayed a generous amount of cleavage and a skirt that flowed loosely and stopped just before her knees. On her feet were a pair of five inch red Jimmy Choo pumps that Victoria insisted that she wear. Thankfully, they were the right size because walking in heels was already hard for Natasha, but it would be disastrous if they were too small or too big. Victoria styled Natasha’s hair with loose curls that bounced against her shoulders when she moved. Admittedly, the look that Victoria had put together was sexy without being overly sexy.
Victoria walked up and stood behind her like a proud mama. Natasha smiled at her friend’s reflection. She was grateful for the help. Truthfully, even before she had money, Victoria had a phenomenal sense of style. Natasha walked away from the mirror and sat on Victoria’s bed. Now that she was dressed and ready to go, her nerves were getting the better of her. Victoria’s brow furrowed as she joined Natasha on the bed. Natasha reached over and covered Victoria’s hand with hers.
“Thank you.” Natasha said in a whisper.
“You’re welcome. What’s wrong?”
“I’m really nervous about going out with Gianni. Truthfully, I keep asking myself why he asked me out,” Natasha admitted.
Victoria blinked her surprise at Natasha’s ridiculous admission. “Are you fucking serious?”
Natasha looked down at their joined hands.
“Natasha, Gianni asked you out because you’re absolutely gorgeous. You have big
beautiful eyes, kissable lips, and a flawless body. You’re quiet sexy. Not to mention; you’re a fucking hero. And hell... if you weren’t my friend, I’d be all over you.”
Natasha smiled at the last part of Victoria’s declaration. She was well aware of Victoria’s bisexuality, but she knew that her friend was only trying to boost her confidence. Natasha gently nudged Victoria’s side.
“Don’t be trying to push up on me.” Natasha chuckled
“Ha ha,” Victoria snickered just as the bell rang. “Well, no turning back now. Gianni is here.”
CHAPTER 12
GIANNI
Gianni sat on the sofa and stared at the tiny little person in his arms. He ran his fingers through her soft dark curls. He could swear that her hair had grown an inch since he saw her last. Jasmine yawned and blinked up at Gianni with striking blue eyes.
“Jack, she’s beautiful,” he whispered while gazing at her in awe.
“She is,” Jack responded. His voice was filled with pride.
When Jasmine closed her eyes, Gianni snuggled her closer and began to softly rock back and forth.
“Wow, Gianni you’re a natural,” he heard Victoria say.
He looked up prepared to respond, but the sight of Natasha standing next to her rendered him speechless. There she stood in a sexy black dress and a pair of red “come fuck me” heels. Her golden brown skin seemed to glow, and he instantly wanted to touch her. Natasha smiled and her hazel–ish eyes sparkled. In fact, it was her beautiful smile that kept Gianni from blatantly staring into her cleavage.
He stood with Jasmine in his arms and walked over to Victoria and Natasha.
Gianni was sure that everyone in the room could hear his heartbeat. He smiled at Natasha, and he was positive that he’d heard her breath catch, which caused him to smile inwardly.
Gianni kissed the top of Jasmine’s head and gently placed her in Victoria’s arms. He returned his attention to Natasha. She was a vision, even more beautiful than he remembered. Gianni slid his hand slowly down her arm until it reached her hand. He wrapped her small hand in his, and for the second time, Gianni could feel electricity pass between them.
“Hello, Beautiful,” he said before placing a lingering kiss to her cheek.
Gianni inhaled her scent. It wasn’t perfume, but remnants of fresh soap and pure Natasha.
“Hi, Gianni,” she responded, quietly.
Gianni could feel her warm breath on his face. Her voice was almost a whisper.
It was so close to his ear that it caused his cock to twitch. Since Gianni had no intention of getting a hard–on in front of Jack and Victoria, he took a reluctant step back. He turned to Jack, maintaining a soft grip on Natasha’s hand. Gianni looked from Jack and Victoria, who were studying the two of them intently.
Gianni cleared his throat, creating the only sound in the room.
“We should get going,” he said directly to Natasha.
Natasha nodded and made a movement toward Victoria, but Gianni’s hold remained.
She looked down at her hand and then up to Gianni, who had no intention of releasing her. Victoria, apparently recognizing the gesture of possessiveness, stepped toward Natasha. Jack chuckled from the sofa as Victoria hugged Natasha and advised her to have a good time. Jack stood, and he and Victoria walked them to the door. As they made their exit, Victoria gave Gianni a look that he was sure was a look of warning.
NATASHA
Natasha walked hand in hand with Gianni as he led her to the black Lamborghini Roadster. Natasha had only ever seen the vehicle on television, never on the streets of Chicago. As she stood up close and personal to such a beautiful car, she realized that its beauty was incomparable to Gianni’s. When Natasha walked into the room and observed Gianni gently rocking Jasmine, she was hit with an unexplainable desire to be held by him. He stood wearing a dark suit that was unable to mask his muscular frame. With every movement, his dark hair bounced against his perfectly chiseled face, with a five o’clock shadow that only added to his beauty. And when he smiled, he was the very definition of temptation.
Lost in her admiration for Gianni, Natasha hadn’t realized that he was holding the passenger door open. Since the car was so low to the ground, Gianni helped her into the passenger seat. Natasha’s dress slid up her thigh, and Gianni actually stood, waiting to see how far it would ride. Natasha adjusted her dress and looked up into Gianni’s smoldering gaze. His eyes turned a darker shade of green. He blinked a few times before closing Natasha’s door. He walked around the back of the car and got into the driver’s seat. Natasha looked around the high tech car. The dashboard resembled a pilot’s cockpit. She fastened her seatbelt and allowed her fingers to caress the supple leather seat.
“Nice car,” she muttered.
“Thanks, but it’s not mine. This baby belongs to Jack,” he admitted.
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Jack likes his toys,” he said, pushing the button on the side of the steering wheel that started what felt like a very powerful engine.
“And you?” Do have toys?” She asked.
“A few.” He confessed with a smile. “But my toys are in Pa
ris.”
Oh, he’s from Paris. Hence, the accent.
Natasha wondered why she didn’t get the low down on Gianni from Victoria before she agreed to a date. Not that he gave her a choice in the matter. He basically told her that they would be going out, and in her post orgasmic condition, she couldn’t even begin to put up a fight.
For twenty minutes, they engaged in polite conversation until they ended up downtown, at Hugo’s Frog Bar.
“I hope seafood is ok.”
“Love seafood,” Natasha replied enthusiastically.
Gianni pulled up to the valet and hopped out. A valet approached Natasha’s door and opened it. He reached in to assist her from the vehicle and Gianni actually pushed his hand out of the way. Gianni narrowed his eyes at the young man and said, “I got it.”
After helping her from the car, Gianni placed his hand into the small of her back. Again, Natasha could feel the electricity pass between them. They walked into the very crowded restaurant, and the hostess hurried through a crowd of people that were waiting to be seated. Once she reached them, her gaze was fixed on Gianni.
“Good evening, Mr. Storm. Good evening, Miss.” The hostess was breathless as she stared shamefully at Gianni, without so much as a glance in Natasha’s direction. She was like a puppy looking up at its master. Natasha couldn’t help the giggle that escaped, causing both Gianni and the lovesick hostess to turn in her direction. Natasha gave Gianni a knowing smile, causing him a little chuckle as well.
“Everything has been prepared for you, Mr. Storm. If you’ll follow me please,” the hostess managed to say.
As they walked hand in hand through the restaurant, Natasha noticed the attention that they received. Some patrons had actually stopped all conversation and watched the couple. The hostess led them to a winding staircase in the middle of the main dining area. Gianni ushered Natasha up the stairs. When they reached the top of the stairs, Natasha noticed that it was another dining area, and it was completely empty. They were led to a table in the middle of the room.
It was beautifully decorated with candles and a gorgeous centerpiece filled with orchids. In the corner of the room was a man playing soft music on a piano.
The hostess stood aside as Gianni pulled out a chair and gestured for Natasha to sit. When Natasha took her seat, Gianni leaned into her and placed a kiss to her neck. Natasha actually shivered.
He whispered in her ear, “You look breathtaking.”
“Thank you. And you’re beautiful,” Natasha responded in a small voice.
“Beautiful? Thank you,” Gianni responded with his sexy accent as he tucked
Natasha comfortably under the table. He dismissed the hostess and walked away, promising that he’d be back.
Natasha sat alone at the table, wondering where Gianni had run off to. She focused her attention on the piano player in the corner. He played beautifully, reminding Natasha of her mother. Before Natasha was born, her mother was a very successful Jazz vocalist. Her sultry voice was soothing, and it had never failed to coax Natasha to sleep. Suddenly, she was snatched from her nostalgia by the sight of her super–sexy date walking toward her table in a white apron, carrying a tray of food.
“What is this? What have you been up to?” Natasha asked pointing to the apron.
“I came in earlier and prepared our dinner. I just wanted to make sure that everything was perfect for you.” Gianni was wearing a smile that almost melted her panties.
She instantly imaged him naked in her kitchen, wearing that apron. Natasha crossed her legs and pressed her thighs together, in order to stop the throbbing between her legs. She had no problem admitting that when Gianni was present, he definitely controlled her body’s physical reactions.
“You cooked?” Natasha asked, not hiding her astonishment.
“Yes, Mademoiselle. I’m a chef,” Gianni said proudly. “That’s how I ended up in Paris. I studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Tokyo, London, and then Paris. But, Paris is where I ended up. That’s where I call home.”
“Wow. I’m impressed,” Natasha admitted.
And Natasha hadn’t lied. She was impressed by a man that could cook. Natasha being a total foodie, almost began to clap and hop up and down in her seat when Gianni placed a plate on the table. She closed her eyes and inhaled the delicious aroma.
“What you have in front of you is Oysters Rockefeller topped with caramelized garlic. The main course will be served shortly.”
As Gianni described the appetizer, Natasha didn’t know what she wanted to attack first, the food or Gianni.
He opened a bottle of white wine and filled two glasses. He sat the glass of wine in front of Natasha and slipped his apron over his head. He placed it on a chair next to him and sat across from Natasha.
“Toast,” he said, raising his glass. Natasha nodded and raised her glass as well. “To the beautiful woman before me.”
A little embarrassed, Natasha looked away.
“Natasha!”
When she looked into his sparkling green eyes, he repeated, “To the beautiful woman before me.”
Natasha smiled and raised her glass a little higher.
“Cheers,” she said with enthusiasm.
Natasha had decided to really let her hair down and enjoy her time with Gianni.
He was clearly attracted to her, and she was desperately attracted to him. She’d just let the chips fall where they may.
She sipped from her glass and appreciated the burst of tangy fruit that tickled her taste buds. Natasha watched as Gianni brought the glass to his lips, and time seemed to slow when he pressed his luscious mouth to the glass. It was like an erotic scene in a movie, filmed in slow motion. Natasha drank more wine, without once diverting her attention from Gianni’s sexy mouth. He smirked behind his glass and Natasha knew that he was aware that she was watching him. She blinked away and looked down on the table.
“So is this deliciously looking appetizer just for show, or can I dig in?”
“Please do. I hope you like it.”
She did enjoy it, along with the rest of the meal. Between the crab bisque and lobster topped filet mignon, Natasha was convinced that the man was a genius in the kitchen. But, the only thing better than the food, and the two bottles of wine that they destroyed, was the stimulating conversation and humorous banter between the two of them. Natasha was totally at ease in Gianni’s presence, and she couldn’t remember being so comfortable.
“Dance with me,” Gianni said, extending his hand toward Natasha.
Natasha placed her hand in his and stood to her feet. He led her to the dance floor and pulled Natasha into his arms. When Natasha placed her head on his chest, the rest of her body melted and molded into him. As they swayed back and forth to the instrumental version of Etta James’ At Last, Gianni’s hands roamed down her back and over her backside. Natasha’s hands slid up his solid biceps before she wrapped her arms around his neck. The fact that she could feel his arousal on her stomach only fueled her desire for him. Judging by the huge rod that rested against her, Gianni would definitely be able to please her with more than just his fingers.
“Mmm, Gianni. Dinner was sooo good. You’re a wonderful chef,” she moaned.
“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered in her ear.
Natasha nodded. And dance be damned, Gianni damn near dragged her out of the restaurant. The car was still sitting in front. She wondered if they’d ever moved it.
“Goodnight, Mr. Storm,” the valet said as he handed Gianni the keys to the car and opened the door for Natasha. The valet quickly got out of the way, remembering Gianni’s earlier response to his attempt to assist Natasha.
“Goodnight,” Gianni responded while handing a bill to the valet.
It must have been a large bill, judging by the grateful smile that he received in return. Gianni assisted Natasha into the passenger seat and jogged around to the driver’s side. As Natasha melted into the soft leather, warmness spread throughout her body. It wasn’t the wine; it was him
. He had commanded her thoughts from the moment she laid eyes on him. Natasha no longer feared being a notch on his bedpost, she simply wanted him. But, what excited her the most was the fact that he seemed to really want her.
Gianni started the car and revved the engine, causing Natasha’s body to vibrate.
They had driven for a few minutes before they arrived at what looked like a high rise building made of mirrors. Gianni stopped in front, and a valet appeared at her door. Gianni, without unlocking her door for the valet, hopped out of the car. When the valet walked around to the driver’s side, Gianni pushed the button that unlocked the passenger side. He walked around to Natasha’s side and assisted her from the vehicle.
Natasha looked up at the fancy building. “Where are we?”
“My place. Is that ok?”
Without a thought, she answered, “Yes.”
Gianni led her inside and through the lobby. They entered the elevator, and after punching in his security code, they began to ascend to the penthouse. Gianni pulled her against his body and gently tugged her hair, forcing her to look into his eyes. At that moment, Natasha came to the conclusion that Gianni had to be a hypnotist. She was entranced by his green gaze. Gianni slowly ran his finger down the side of her face until it reached her chin. Natasha’s body was on fire.
Gianni leaned in and placed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth.
“Gianni?”
“Yes?”
“What’s the deal with you and valets?”
Gianni chuckled.
“They want to look up your skirt,” he responded. “I can’t have them taking sneak peeks at what I plan to claim tonight.”
Before Natasha could respond to his presumptuous declaration, the elevator doors opened to what looked like the VIP section in a nightclub. The walls were two shades of gray, one darker than the other. The sofa was black and covered with silver throw pillows, flanked by two oversized black leather chairs. Across the room, next to a set of patio doors, was a fully stocked bar made of metal. The lighting came from circular designs on the floor, and to the left, were two sets of stairs. One that led up and another was a wire supported staircase that led down. Natasha immediately thought; sexy dungeon.
Beautiful Prey 2: The Storm Series (BWWM Romance) Page 7