by Chelle Bliss
I sit up, turning to face her, totally enthralled by this glimpse into her life. “Did he rescue you?”
“Lorenzo came out of nowhere and chased the man down and brought my purse back.”
My smile widens. The story seems like a perfectly romantic beginning to a beautiful relationship.
“After he helped me off the ground, he said I had to kiss him if I wanted my purse back. He told me that he was owed such a gesture after he saved me.” She laughs a little harder and shakes her head.
“Did you kiss him?” I ask, forgetting all the sadness I had just felt thinking about last weekend.
“I did, and the rest is…how you say…history.”
“You kissed him and knew it was love?”
“I’d like to pretend it was that easy, but love never is, my dear. Lorenzo was a looker. All the girls in the village wanted to be his wife, and my parents had already promised my hand in marriage to another son of a family friend.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“Times were different then. It seems so old-fashioned, but my parents never ventured out of the small town and believed in doing what was best for the family to find me a suitable partner.”
“But Lorenzo ruined everything.”
“My parents didn’t like Lorenzo. His family didn’t have a good reputation and weren’t thought of as upstanding citizens. But after my lips touched his…” Her fingers sweep across her lips as she stares straight ahead as if remembering how he felt against her. “I knew I wanted no one else but him.”
“What did you do?”
“We ran away and eloped.”
I gasp. “Wow.”
“It took years before my parents would speak to me again and even longer before they accepted Lorenzo as my husband.”
“What changed their mind?”
“The children. Once I gave birth to our first child, they finally let the illusion of my marriage ending go and accepted us as a married couple.”
“You were so brave.”
“I was in love and foolish.” She pats the top of my hand, turning to me with a small smile.
“Love makes us go against the grain. Even when we know it won’t be an easy path, our heart is something we can’t deny. I knew when I ran away with Lorenzo that there would be heartache ahead, but the thought of not having him in my life hurt worse than anything else.”
“Do you regret it?”
“I did for a second.”
“Why?”
“I found out that he set the entire purse theft into motion. It wasn’t luck that he was nearby when the man knocked me down and ran away. Lorenzo had found him in the next village and paid him handsomely to steal my purse so he could rescue me.”
“Men,” I sigh.
“But the man was not supposed to touch me. A year after we married, we ran into the man in the market. He must not have recognized me because he approached us and greeted Lorenzo like they were old friends.”
“Uh-oh.” I laugh, covering my mouth with my hand.
“Let’s just say, it took a long time for me to forgive him. He was very sorry for the lie. But I don’t regret a single day I have spent with that man. He and I were meant to be together for eternity. I don’t believe that when we die all there is is darkness. There’s something more than us, something bigger. Whatever there is, Lorenzo will be with me always.”
“You sound like Antonio.”
“My son can be quite romantic in his thinking, but rarely does he shower someone with affection and kind words like he does you. He called me last week when you disappeared. I’ve never heard him such a mess before. He didn’t have to tell me he was in love, I could hear it in his voice.”
Warmth cascades over me. His mother verifies everything Antonio has said to me before. Everything I know based on his actions, time and time again.
“He saved me,” I blurt out.
She stands and holds out her hands to me. “He would’ve searched the ends of the earth until he found you. Just as I shall search the heavens for my Lorenzo when we close our eyes for the final time. When love is meant to be, we can’t allow it to slip away without a fight.”
I slide my hands into hers and stand from the bench, looking her straight in the eye. “Yes, Mrs. Forte. We do agree on that.”
“And when in doubt, make babies.” She laughs as my mouth falls open and my eyes bulge. “Not too fast, but I’m getting old, my dear. You two would make such beautiful and smart children. I’d like to enjoy them for a little while before I go.”
“Um, okay.” I smile nervously.
Antonio and I haven’t even committed to each other, but she already has me birthing her grandkids. Between his charm and the warmth of his family, I can’t imagine going back to my life of vodka and work will make me happy.
With the help of his family, Antonio Forte has officially ruined me forever.
ANTONIO
Stefano strides into the living room as I watch Lauren and Mother talking near the edge of the lake. “I never thought I’d see the day that you’d fall in love, brother.”
“Come here, you bastard. I’ve missed you.”
Even though it’s been months since I laid eyes on Stefano, it’s like not a moment has passed as we greet each other. He’s the only person in the family who’s so much like me, but it isn’t surprising since we’re twins. We started life together, sharing the same womb and most things as we grew. When we were younger, we even shared girlfriends when it fit the mood or our tastes.
He slaps my back as he gives me a one-armed hug. “I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw it for myself.”
“Lauren’s off-limits, Stefano,” I say, laying the ground work for the nature of our relationship, along with his when it comes to her. “I won’t share her.”
His eyes twinkle, and he gets the mischievous smile I’m all too familiar with. “You don’t need to say that.”
“But I do.” And I will over and over again until he understands the severity of my words.
He smiles. “She must be spectacular.”
I’d told Lauren I had a twin brother, but I left out the part about us being identical in every way. He’s my other half. The same identical genes fill our cells, and besides a few tattoos dotting his skin, our bodies match in every way.
As children, my mother would often confuse the two of us if not given enough time to really study our mannerisms. It was a handy trick we used to our advantage, but since we’ve become adults, it’s not as hard to tell us apart.
“How’s business?” he asks as I turn my attention back toward the window overlooking the backyard.
“It couldn’t be better.”
“I saw Interstellar’s new engine on television and wondered how’d you fare with the takeover after such a big media splash and successful test launch.”
“Lucky for me, we’re merging instead.”
Stefano comes to stand next to me. “How is that better?”
“You see her.” I motion toward Lauren with my chin before turning to face my brother. “She’s the CEO of Interstellar. She wouldn’t be here if we were still trying to take over her company. Instead, she agreed to a merger at the behest of her board.”
“It’s our magical cock.” He slaps my shoulder. “It makes the sanest woman beg for a padded room.”
I roll my eyes. His statement isn’t entirely false because he’s referring to a woman I slept with who ended up attempting suicide after I told her there’d be no future. There were no signs that she was suicidal or even had any sort of mental instability. Ever since that day, Stefano believed it was my skills in bed that drove her over the edge. He liked believing it because he figured he had the same skills as I did, but he didn’t.
“Lauren is different, Stef.”
She’s more than a quick fuck. Even when I met her in the Chicago bar, I hated walking out in the morning without saying goodbye. It was something more than a great fuck, and I felt it, but I thought maybe it was the str
ess of the situation or jet lag. When I found out who she was, I knew it could be more.
“Did you fuck her before she agreed to merge?”
I don’t answer right away, waiting for Lauren and Mother to hit the landing outside just below the window before heading toward the bar. “No,” I lie because I’m not giving Stefano any more information or ammunition to use against me and our relationship.
Stefano follows and leans against the bartop, watching me as I pour myself a glass of whiskey. He pushes a glass next to mine before I have a chance to put the decanter down.
“Then it must’ve been your charm.” He smirks as I glance up and slide his whiskey in front of him.
“It made good business sense for both our companies.”
I’m just about to change the subject and ask Stefano about his business when Lauren and Mother walk into the room. Lauren stands across the room with wide eyes as they sweep between Stefano and me, while Mother heads straight toward Stefano and peppers him with kisses.
“Now, I’m happy. All my kids are home to celebrate,” she says, but I can’t take my eyes off Lauren.
I should’ve warned her because it can be shocking to the system, and that wasn’t my intention. Part of me had hoped he wouldn’t show up this weekend.
“Mamma, come on.” Stefano tries to wriggle free from my mother’s grip and overexuberant kissing. “Be dignified. We have a guest.”
When I glance to my side, Stefano’s eyes are locked on Lauren, and I rush to her. I’m not trying to console her, but rather to mark my territory, which is an asshole move, but it’s the only thing I can do when Stefano’s involved.
“He’s…” she whispers, peering over my shoulder. “You.”
I place one hand on her shoulder and touch her chin with the other, bringing her eyes to mine. “He may look like me, but I can assure you, we’re nothing alike.”
“Sure looks like it.” She smiles, but she leans forward and kisses my lips.
The simple gesture calms my nerves about her meeting Stefano. I know Lauren thought I was ruthless. But Stefano can come across like Prince Charming, when he’s really more like Jack the Ripper. He’s the head of one of the most notorious crime families in Italy. It’s shocking that he’s still alive with half the shit that’s happened under his reign. The fact that he hasn’t landed in jail just reaffirms that Italian law enforcement is for sale.
“Ah, Lauren.” Stefano moves across the room, closing the distance quickly as I’d expected. “I’ve heard so much about you, but your beauty cannot adequately be expressed in words.”
I roll my eyes as Stefano moves me aside to grab Lauren’s hand. She blushes as his lips touch her skin, and my blood pressure instantly skyrockets.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Lauren says with her hand still against his lips.
“It’s entirely my pleasure.”
I growl at the exchange, ready to pull Lauren away until she shoots me an icy stare. I’ve never been this territorial about someone before, and I’m not sure I’m entirely comfortable with it either.
I can tell this is going to be a very long weekend.
Chapter Twelve
ANTONIO
Lauren’s towel-drying her hair, wearing the sexiest silk nightgown that perfectly shows off every curve and the hardness of her nipples. My mouth salivates as her breasts sway with each movement.
“Why didn’t you tell me Stefano was your identical twin?” She peers at me through the doorway of the bathroom as I sit on the edge of the bed, transfixed by her beauty.
“I don’t know.”
I can’t explain what it’s like to have an identical twin. Most people don’t have someone walking around that looks exactly like them, like I do. If I’m being honest, Stefano and I have always competed for the attention of women, especially at first glance.
“You’re worried, aren’t you?” she asks, setting her towel down on the counter. She walks toward the doorway and leans against the frame with one shoulder, watching me.
“A little,” I admit before rising to my feet and walking toward her. “You didn’t like me very much when we met. We were enemies. You don’t have the history with Stefano like you do with me. What would stop you from deciding that he’s worthy of you because the baggage isn’t there?”
She wraps her fingers around my shirt collar, pulling me forward. “It’s true. I didn’t like you.”
I sweep my arm behind her and press my body against hers. “But then I did that thing you liked.” I waggle my eyebrows, referencing our first night together at the hotel. She laughs softly as I bring my lips within inches of hers. “You remember, don’t you?” My cock strains against the fabric of my pants, pressing into her core.
She stares into my eyes, moving her mouth closer as her warm breath sweeps across my lips. “I remember very well, Mr. Forte.”
“Want a refresher?” I raise an eyebrow, aching to be inside her.
“Not until you tell me why you think I’d trade you in for your brother.”
I tangle my hand in her hair before resting my palm against her neck, feeling the steady beat of her heart against my thumb. “We have a long history together, my brother and I. And you and I have a sordid history that complicated everything.”
Her fingers slide under my shirt, splaying against my back as she flattens her body against my front. “But he’s not the one who rescued me.”
“He’s also not the one who tried to steal your company.”
“Once the ball got rolling, there was nothing you could do to stop it. But you’ve done more than enough to make up for it. We’re stronger as a team than individual entities.”
I smirk against her mouth, wanting to taste her. “Does that go for us as well as our companies?”
She blinks slowly as her cheeks rise into a smile. “It does. Together, we’ll be unstoppable.”
“Truer words, Ms. Bradley. Now about that refresher…” I let the words drift into her mouth as I press my lips to hers. Soft at first, relishing the delicateness of her in my arms and against my skin.
Lauren Bradley is intoxicating. Never have I been so swept up in someone that I am willing to give up my position in the company and open up my entire world to her too. I can’t seem to get enough of her even when I’m buried deep inside her. I always want more.
Sliding my hand down her back, I deepen the kiss, moaning into her mouth as my palms cup her ass. I grind my cock into the soft, silky fabric near her core, and when the friction becomes too much, I lift her into the air and carry her back toward the bed.
She moans as my fingers bite into her skin, and she rubs herself against me. I lean forward, placing her gently on the bed before releasing her. Standing upright, I unbutton my dress shirt while keeping my eyes on her.
The look in her eyes is filled with longing and want, and it matches my own. Her gaze follows my fingers as I expose my chest and toss the shirt to the floor. Her eyes linger on my pecs, sweeping over my skin as she licks her lips, making it hard not to rip my clothes off and pounce on top of her.
She places her hands above her head and writhes against the bed as I undo the button on my pants. Patience has never been a virtue of mine, and the way the light splinters off her nightgown, showing off every dip and curve, makes it almost impossible.
“Antonio, I need you,” she says in a sultry tone.
I strip off my pants, kicking them away from me in a hurry before climbing between her legs. Slowly, I pull down the straps of her nightgown, exposing her plump breasts that are begging for attention. She moans, arching her back as I close my lips around her nipple and flick the hardness with my tongue.
Taking it slow almost to the point of torture, I don’t slide my cock into her right away, although the need to do so is almost painful. I take my time, moving between each breast until she’s unable to lie still. I’m about to push myself down to bury my face between her legs and feast on her until she’s spent and almost unable to breathe, but she grabs my face a
nd forces me to look at her.
“Fuck me, Antonio. I need you inside me.”
Unable to wait a second longer, I grab my shaft and rub the tip through her wetness. Her legs widen as her knees fall to the mattress, waiting for me to push inside.
“Say it again,” I tell her, teasing her with my cock as I rub it around the entrance to her pussy.
LAUREN
I love a good tease as much as the next girl, but right now, the only thing I want is to feel his cock as deep inside me as he can go. I want all of him. Every inch, stroking my insides repeatedly until the need I feel has waned and my body is spent from too many orgasms.
I push aside a few strands of his mahogany hair that have fallen forward, almost covering his eyes, before pulling his face toward mine. “Fuck. Me.” I accentuate each word, driving the point home because my patience is slipping.
He pushes inside, inch-by-inch of his cock filling me so deliciously. Even though we’ve had sex more than a handful of times, each time is more glorious than the last. My body craves him and his touch. I’ve been drawn to Antonio like a junkie to a drug, but I’ll never admit my addiction to anyone but him.
My fingers tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck and I stare into his ice-blue eyes, completely lost in the feel of him. Together, we feed off each other’s need. I push against his cock as he pulls out, only to have him slam into my body so forcefully that tingles shoot out from my clit. I’m quickly driven to the edge as each stroke of his cock pushes against my G-spot.
I gasp for air as his body so completely consumes me and I spiral over the edge, digging my fingernails into his skin as I scream out his name. He follows, holding his breath as he places his forehead against mine, riding the wave of ecstasy we so badly needed.
He collapses on top of me, almost crushing me with his weight. I curl into him, pressing my back into the mattress to fill my lungs with air.
“I’m sorry,” he says and rolls to his side, finally realizing that I can’t breathe.