He sat down on the bed. As soon as it was in place, she knew she made the right decision. The necklace looked like it had been made to nestle against his bronze skin. He stood up and pulled her into his embrace and walked over to the mirror.
“How do we look, cara?”
She turned her gaze so she could see their reflections in the mirror. They looked good together.
“Perfect,” she whispered.
Antonio tilted her head back for a kiss. A moment later, he pulled back. “You call your parents while I finished getting dressed.”
She nodded and walked toward the phone, trying to keep her mind focused. Dialing her parents’ number, she sat on the bed. Her father answered.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Hey, baby. Are you all packed?”
She smiled. “Yes, I am. I’m getting ready to have dinner shortly.”
“You ready to come home?”
She looked over at Antonio, who was busy pulling his shirt over his head. “Believe it or not, Daddy, no, I’m not.”
Her father remained silent for a moment. She continued before her father could ask any questions that would have her spilling all of her secrets.
“I checked earlier, and so far nothing with my flight has changed. I’ll be on flight 5151 when I land, but if anything changes I will let you and Mom know.”
“Okay. I have it written down. We will be there to get you as soon as you arrive.”
“Good. I will call you once my flight touches down since I probably won’t be able to call you before I leave here.”
“We will be waiting for your call then.”
She spoke with her father a few more minutes before he put her mother on the phone. After a brief conversation with her mother, she disconnected the call.
“Are you ready?”
She glanced up at Antonio and smiled. “Yes, I am.”
They left for his parent’s home. As usual they were the last to arrive. She could only shake her head as each of the Carabelli’s embraced her. She was thrilled to see Daníella, Sophia and Talía showed up as well. What amused her the most was how Daníella and Carlo avoided each other as if their lives depended on it, yet each of them snuck glances at the other when they thought no one else was looking. The entire interaction was amusing. The two of them didn’t realize how much they still cared for each other because they were too busy avoiding each other. She looked up as Leonardo walked up to her. He held a piece of a paper in his hand, which he handed to her.
“Antonio wanted me to give this to you.”
She scanned the paper quickly, fighting back tears as she did. Just when she thought Antonio couldn’t get more generous than he already had, he went and proved her wrong. She stared at Leo, speechless. He seemed to understand. “Show this to customs and you shouldn’t have any problem claiming your jewelry.”
“Thank you.”
Leo hugged her. “You are welcome, and in case no one else has told you, you look beautiful tonight.”
The corners of her mouth tilted upward. “Well, you are the first to tell me, but Antonio was the first to show me.”
* * * *
Tierra settled back into the passenger seat, holding onto the panna cotta Mona wrapped up for them to take. They stayed later than planned, but it was worth it. She’d been introduced to another Italian delicacy. Mona made lasagna magro. Antonio told her it was a type of lasagna commonly found in Southern Italy. The lasagna had been delicious. Still, she saved room for dessert. She had a special night planned for her and Antonio. He’d been quiet once dinner started, staring at her intensely throughout. She was certain he had a lot on his mind, just as much as she had on hers. They arrived at the hotel quickly and went straight to hotel room. He took the dessert from her.
“Why don’t you get comfortable while I set up the dessert on the balcony?”
She headed into the bathroom to change. Knowing how the evening was going to end, she kept it simple by just putting on a robe. The less she wore the sooner she could feel his touch. She joined Antonio on the balcony. He stood there only wearing his jeans and the gold necklace she gave him. Looking at it made her hand go to the diamond pendant necklace he gave her. She loved the matching set and would cherish it forever. She moved toward him. He glanced up when he heard her footsteps. Her eyes skimmed the space, and she smiled when she saw his set up.
“Are you ready for dessert?”
She nodded, and he held out the chair for her. He took his own seat before picking up the solitary spoon. She opened her mouth for the first bite he offered her.
“Mmm. I think I like your mother’s recipe a lot more.”
He took a bite before nodding in agreement. “Yes, that is the reason why it’s my favorite.”
They ate in silence, and a short while later the dessert was gone. She started to speak now that they had nothing else to distract them, but the sounds of a violin reached her ears. The music sounded beautiful.
“I wonder who is playing.”
He shook his head. “Probably my neighbor. I believe he is a part of a local group.”
She closed her eyes, letting the music surround her. A moment later, her eyes opened when Antonio stood, his chair scraping the floor. He extended his hand to her.
“Let’s dance.”
She instantly took him up on his offer, taking his hand and allowing him to pull her into his embrace. They began to sway to the music, moving together as one. She laid her head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his arms surrounding her. If this were the last night she ever spent with Antonio, it would be one she remembered fondly. She pulled back to look at him, and he smiled.
“You look so beautiful, cara.”
“You make me feel beautiful,” she replied. “You make me feel special.”
His hand came up to brush her cheek.
“You are special, very special, and I hope you will allow me to show you how much so one last time.”
She knew what he asked of her and nodded. He lowered his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss as they continued to sway to the music.
The song ended, and another started. Antonio lifted his head, ending their sweet kiss. “How about we go inside now?”
She nodded before stepping out of his embrace, leading the way inside. Antonio followed her, closing the door to the patio as well as the blinds, enclosing them in privacy. He drew her over to the bed, undoing the slash of her robe. It fell apart, exposing her body to him, a body he’d come to know very well. As he went to slide the robe off her shoulders, she stopped him.
“Wait. There is something I want to do first.”
He opened his mouth, but when her hands found the snap on his jeans, slightly brushing his semi-hard erection, his breath escaped him in a loud whoosh. She made quick work of his jeans and underwear, leaving him naked. He looked at her with surprise.
“Don’t worry, I’m going to take good care of you.”
Before he could say anything, she pushed him back on the bed and joined him. He looked down at her, but she didn’t let his gaze distract her. Her mind was on his beautiful, rock hard erection. His breath hissed out from between his teeth when she reached for him, taking him between her palms before taking his erection into her mouth. He moaned loudly and shuddered. His hips arched upward when she sucked him deeper into her mouth. He cried out, and his control snapped. In a move that spoke of desperation, he hauled her up and under him before she could draw her next breath.
She watched as he fumbled for protection, covering himself quickly. He entered her quickly, sliding as deeply as he could. His movements were out of control, but she didn’t complain. They could do slow and controlled later. He pushed them over the edge. They cried out in unison, clinging to each other as they climaxed together. It was several heartbeats before either of them recovered. He pulled back and looked at her with so much emotion in his eyes it was blinding.
“Now, cara, we make love.”
Chapter 15
“Just for th
e record, we aren’t happy you are leaving.”
Tierra looked at Carlo, one corner of her mouth curling upward. There was a hint of a smile on his face, a rarity that seemed to be reserved for her at the moment. She hugged him tightly before stepping back.
“I will be back for another vacation before you know it.”
Carlo gave her a look that spoke of pure disbelief, and she couldn’t blame him. Right now she wasn’t certain when or if she would return herself.
“But if you need to talk to me, your brother has my contact information. You can call or email me anytime.”
Carlo nodded before placing a brief kiss on her cheek. “Take care of yourself.”
Her eyebrows rose at the statement, and she looked over at Daníella, who already said goodbye to her. She now stood back with Amalía, Talía, and Sophia.
“Only if you promise to do the same,” Tierra replied when her eyes came back to rest on Carlo.
He remained silent, but she knew he understood her. They began announcing the boarding for her flight, and Carlo murmured another goodbye then stepped aside. When Antonio appeared in front of her, the tears she’d been holding back sprang forward. She stepped into his embrace, burying her face into his shirt. When she pulled back, she tried to smile.
“Thank you for everything, Antonio.”
He brushed his hand against her cheek. “No, cara, thank you.”
The flight attendant at the desk announced they were boarding her section. Antonio’s hold on her tightened slightly.
“You don’t have to go, Tierra.”
She nodded. “Yes, I do. I have to do this.”
How could she make him understand she didn’t want to wake up in the middle of the night six months from now and resent him? It was important for her to go home, to figure everything out in a place where she could have a clear head to think. She looked up at him as he sighed dejectedly.
“Okay, cara. Make sure you call me to let me know you have made it safely, no matter what time it is.”
She nodded again. “I will.”
He stared at her for a moment before smiling. “I can’t let you leave without telling you how I really feel, cara. I know this was only supposed to be an affair, but we both know it has become so much more. I love you, Tierra.”
Hearing the words seemed to make time stop, and her heart soared. She responded the only way she knew how. Honestly. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she went up on tiptoe and kissed him with every ounce of emotion she had in her. When she pulled back, she smiled.
“Té amo, Antonio.”
Shock appeared on his face as she said the words. She placed a finger to his lips to keep him from responding, otherwise she might be tempted to miss her plane. A flight she had to make. Saying what she felt aloud gave her even more to think about on her trip back to the States.
“I will call you when I get home.”
She told everyone one last goodbye before walking to the entrance of the gate. She boarded the plane quickly, not looking back once. The last thing she needed to do was chicken out or suffer from a lapse of sanity and run back into Antonio’s arms. It wasn’t until the plane began to taxi that she could breathe.
By the time the flight attendant came around to take her drink order, tears flowed down her cheeks. She had no idea how she would make it through this flight. She hadn’t been away from him a few minutes, and she already missed him. The last thing she needed to do was bring more attention to herself. Her tears already concerned many on the flight. Right now, the best thing she could do was sleep. Closing her eyes, she drifted off with her thoughts on Antonio.
She fell into a restless sleep, and by the time she landed in the States, she felt more tired. She called her parents, letting them know her flight was on schedule. They would be waiting for her when she touched down in Las Vegas.
A few hours later, she touched down in Las Vegas with a sigh of relief. All she wanted to do was get home and go to bed. When she saw her parents waiting for her, she rushed over to them. They embraced her warmly. Her father placed a kissed on her forehead, then took her luggage and carry-on bag.
“You look refreshed. The trip to Italy did you some good.”
She nodded as she as they made their way to the car. “Yes, it did, Daddy.”
Soon they were headed for her parents’ home. She closed her eyes letting the motion of the car relax her.
“Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. “No, Mama. I had a few meals and snacks on the flights here.”
“Okay, but I will start on dinner when we arrive home.”
“That sounds good, Mama. I will help you if you need me to.”
She opened her eyes and found her mother smiling at her. “No baby, you sound tired.”
She nodded. “I am. The jet lag and change of times zones is getting to me already.”
Her mother gave her a look of understanding before turning around to face the front. The rest of the trip home was in silence, until they neared her parents’ home.
“Well, this cocky son of a—”
“Earl Davis!”
She opened her eyes to see what caused her father to come so close to using profanity. Her eyes fell upon Quincy’s Lexus parked at her parents’ curb. He stood outside the car, waiting. When she looked at him now, she had to wonder why she’d ever been attracted to him in the first place.
“Tierra, you go on in the house with your mother. I will take care of this idiot.”
She smiled as visions of her dad taking care of Quincy raced through her head, but she knew this was something she would have to take care of herself. Reaching forward, she touched her father’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, Daddy. I will take care of Quincy so he gets the message clearly.”
Both of her parents turned to look at her. Her mother spoke first.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded and sighed, then opened the door and stepped out of the car. This was the last thing she wanted to have to deal with upon returning home. Couldn’t she at least take a nap prior to dealing with this crap? Taking a deep breath, she headed in the direction of the man who now repulsed her. He even had the nerve to smile, which made her skin crawl.
“What do you want?” she asked, as soon as she neared him. When he made a move to touch her, she quickly stepped away. He frowned at her.
“Is that any way to treat your fiancé?”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Don’t you mean ex-fiancé?” A second later she laughed. “Oh, don’t tell me Shannon has dumped you already.”
His facial expression confirmed her suspicion. “Oh, that is just rich, Quincy. You break up with me on our wedding day for my best friend that you just so happen to be cheating on me with almost the entire time. Now you have the audacity to come crawling back after she has used you up.”
She shook her head in disgust, appalled he even showed up to try to beg for her to take him back. Did he really think she was weak? Desperate?
“Get real, Quincy. I’m done with you.”
He gave her a disheartened look. “Oh, come on now, baby. You don’t mean that.”
She frowned at him. “Actually, I do, Quincy. I was a fool to stay involved with you as long as I did. Even a bigger fool for believing you actually loved me.”
She crossed her arms across her chest. “I’m finished with you, Quincy. So, it would be best if you don’t show your face around this house anymore. My brother and father aren’t too fond of you right now, and, frankly, neither am I.”
Her words had the effect she hoped they would because his expression fell. Suddenly, he gave her his self-assured smile—one that now nauseated her.
“You don’t mean that, Tierra. You will change your mind.”
He might have been right two weeks ago, but after her trip to Rome and after the time she spent with Antonio, there was no chance of that happening. She looked at Quincy and shook her head.
“No, Quincy, I mean what I said. I want not
hing else to do with you. The moment you told me you wanted my best friend over me, I stopped.”
He gave her an apologetic look. “I made a mistake.”
She nodded her agreement. “You are right, Quincy. You did. It is also one you will have to live with because I’m done.”
When he started to reply, she cut him off.
“I’m done, Quincy. Now, you show your face around here again and I can’t promise I will be able to hold my brother and father back.”
His mouth fell open in surprise. She could understand why. Normally, she’d gone along with whatever he wanted, but it had been a mistake, a huge mistake. One she wasn’t going to make again. She smiled at Quincy, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Have a good life, Quincy.”
She turned to walk off, but stopped. “Oh, and if you are ever lucky enough again to find a good woman, try not to screw her over like you did me.”
She didn’t bother to wait for a response. None was needed. Tierra made her way up the walkway to her parents’ house. Her father stood in the living room waiting.
“Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “Everything is fine, Daddy. I don’t think we will be seeing Quincy again.”
As if to prove her statement, the sound of Quincy’s car peeling off was a good indication he was gone for good.
Her father smiled as he opened his arms to her.
“I’m proud of you. I know it has been tough for you recently, but you haven’t given up, and you haven’t complained.”
Her fathers’ words meant a lot to her.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
She took a deep breath, figuring she better tell her parents everything about her trip to Rome. It would only be a matter of time until she had to make some more tough choices.
“Daddy, I have an important call to make, but afterward I would like to talk to you and Mom.”
Her father pulled back and looked at her. “This sounds serious.”
“It is.”
Her father gave her a small squeeze. “Well, go take care of your phone call then we can talk.”
Propositioning the Rich Italian Page 14