Baby V (Chianti Kisses #1) (12 page)

I secretly beam with satisfaction at my newfound strength. I
t’
s short lived and quickly turns to trepidation as he falls forward, bracing himself on the wall around me. His body towers above me, inches away. I can see his biceps flexing as he supports his weight on them. The muscles of his clenched jaw twitches.

I’
ve bitten off more than I can chew. Anxiety rises, and I notice my chest swell as my breaths come fast and shallow.

His eyes open, darker and larger than they were. He lowers to me, his lips hesitating to touch mine, deep brown eyes invading my own. After what feels like an eternity he states matter-of-factly
“
V... you know what yo
u’
re doing to me.
I’
ll let you have the upper hand this time but when I get back, i
t’
s my turn
.
”

I pant as my insides perform cartwheels. He forcefully kisses me, sliding me up against the wall as he pushes his body mass deeper in.
I’
m caught in a vice, unable to move other than to the passion of his mouth. My hair jostles free from its towel and springs free around me, its dampness cooling my now burning skin.

Dom fists my hair harshly and expertly pulls it back, lifting my chin as a result. His tongue strokes mine fluently with a rhythm that is deep, wanting. The heat of my skin is scalding now causing me to moan in need of some way to soothe it.

Dom releases his kiss but holds onto my tangled hair tight, searching my eyes as if he were reading my soul.

“
Be good while
I’
m gone, hmm?
I’
ll call you tonight, baby
.
”

With one final sweep of my upper lip, he pushes himself from the wall around me and is gone, disappearing through the door to his own room, leaving me in knots.

CHAPTER NINE

Dressing in a pair of skinny capris,tank top and flats, I accept the fact that I need to get out of here fast. I need air, space... not to be surrounded by reminders of Dom every where I turn. I swipe a hair band from the bathroom counter and hold it in my teeth as I grab my curly, naturally drying hair into a loose ponytail.

My purse and jean jacket are the last to be taken in my exit. Do
m’
s left by now... the women of the house are gathered on the front porch waving at the shrinking car in the distance. I hurry past them afraid to make eye contact as if the
y’
d be able to see evidence of my recent behavior.

“
Bye Momma!
I’
ll be home late. Love ya
!
”

I fumble in my purse as I increase my pace over to my car, parked next to moms, thankful someone had thought enough to bring it over from our old house before
I’
d arrived.
I’
ve always taken good care of it, but it is obvious that i
t’
s been recently cleaned and detailed as I open the door and slide in. The leather being shiny and the air scented. I turn the car engine, fetch my phone and quickly text Theresa before heading away down the drive.

ON MY WAY OVER!!! W
E’
RE GOING OUT FOR A DRINK. ASAP.

Ideally one does
n’
t escape to the sister of the man sh
e’
s currently obsessing over, but with Stephanie half-way around the world and my siste
r’
s in law both busy with kids/impending babies, i
t’
s my only viable option.

My Mercedes purrs softly as it speeds along, destined for There
s’
a building.
I’
ve missed driving my own car. It was a gift from my family last year on my twenty-first birthday. The old VW Beetle
I’
d been driving since eighteen was starting to feel cramped and had lost i
t’
s appeal once I left my teenage years behind. I donated it to charity when this baby appeared in my driveway with a big red bow around it. Apparently I was not the only one wh
o’
d tired of the yellow bug I was driving.

John had thought it time for me to start acting like an adult... with a respectable adult car. I had
n’
t picked it out but I loved it just the same. It was just a shame I could
n’
t take it up to school with me. St. Bar
t’
s has a very stric
t“
no car polic
y”
on campus. Of course they did. It would be a means of escape and they would
n’
t risk that, now would they?

Traffic starts to build as I head into the city but I make pretty good timing, I think. I drive along the narrow streets near Theres
a’
s building, searching for a parking spot. Parallel parking is
n’
t my strongest attribute so I decide to pass over a few empty spots until I come to one I can realistically enter with little to no damage to either care next to me. Now parked, I add some gloss to my lips utilizing the rear view mirror.

Shoving my keys deep into my pocket, with the beeping of the locks behind me as I walk further away, it strikes me that Theresa might not be home. She never answered my text and it
is
a Tuesday Afternoon, after all.   There is a strong probability that sh
e’
s at work, in her office twenty minutes away.

Crap!

I’
d been in such a hurry to get out of the house that I had
n’
t thought this through. I check my phone to inspect the inventory of incoming messages, but there are none.

Walking in to the small lobby of There
s’
a building I smile at the older doorman bidding me welcome as I enter. He looks vaguely familiar, but I ca
n’
t seem to recall his name. I haven't been here since before Christmas and I do
n’
t want to risk offending him.

“
Um, hello. I do
n’
t know if you remember me?
I’
m a family friend of Miss DiBenedetto on the third floor.
I’
m not sure if sh
e’
s remembered to meet me for coffee today
.
” I flash him my best please help me,
I’
m lost, kind of smile.
 “
Do you know if sh
e’
s in
?
”

Either I am really convincing as helpless or he remembers me from my many visits, because he smiles and nods, divulging the information I need.
“
Oh, yes. Miss DiBenedetto arrived home early from work about ten minutes ago. Please head up
.
”

Such a nice man. I thank him kindly and continue my way to her condo. I remember the first time I visited her last summer after sh
e’
d moved in. I was so jealous. Dom had bought her the condo after graduation, so that she would be close to her office at ATH. What I would
n’
t give to have my own place. John would never buy me one like Dom had for Theresa, H
e’
s too old fashioned and controlling to believe That I can take care of myself in a
 “
big, bad, dangerou
s
” city like New York all on my own.

I ca
n’
t buy one for myself yet, as I wo
n’
t have access to my trust until I am either married or twenty-five as per da
d’
s will, whichever comes first. So,
I’
ll have to do it the tried and true way of getting a job, most likely a paid internship given my lack of credentials and rent an apartment with a roommate to split the expenses. Stephani
e’
s solution to share the rent on an apartment is a blessing even if means living with a virtual slob. Otherwise,
I’
ll be cruising the roommate section on Craigslist with nothing but a hope and a prayer that I do
n’
t end up living with a psycho.

The elevator deposits me on the third floor down the hall from Theres
a’
s private sanctuary. The building is old... I guess i
t’
s more politically correct to call it a landmark, but completely remodeled, warranting the hefty price tag. I press the doorbell and wait, admiring the carpet, fresh flowers and lighting in the hallway.

About to press again, I hear the chain sliding on the other side of the door. Theresa opens and steps aside, allowing me to pass.

“
Hey... I just got your text a little while ago. Yo
u’
re lucky
I’
m playing hooky for the afternoon or yo
u’
d be drinking by yourself
.
” She is still dressed in her business casual clothes, but has managed to change in to her pink fuzzy slippers.

“
Yeah, sorry. I forgot that some people actually work
,
” I joke back.

Theres
a’
s condo is large for a single girl on her own, but i
t’
s better to have too much space than too little, I guess. I park my behind on a breakfast stool at her kitchen counter and drop my head down on the granite as she slides the lock back on the door and joins me.

“
I need to vent and I need you to be a good friend and just pacify me
,
” I muffle into the cool countertop.

Theresa laughs back.
“
Oh, God.
I’
ve seen this before. I
t’
s a guy.
I’
ll get the vodka
.
”

I raise my head to observe Theresa breaking out the frosted bottle from the stainless steel freezer compartment. She mixes some fruit juice and ice in the blender before pouring the alcohol in. Very thoughtful. I
t’
s still early enough where we do
n’
t want to act like alcoholics, anyway, by drinking it straight.

She sees me sulking at her breakfast bar, smirks, then tips some more Grey Goose into the canister before sealing the top and letting the machine whirl. Topping off two glasses to the brim, she brings them over placing one in front of me and holding her own up toast with. I gladly accept my drink and half-heartedly raise my glass with a quizzical look toward my host as she prepares to offer salute.

“
Ahem... to men. May they continue to drive us crazy and make it worth the while
.
”

I clink my glass to hers.

“
Nicely done
.
” Tasting the cold sweet concoction, I note that it is heavy on the vodka but definitely presentable. I control myself not to drink the required amount for brain freeze before setting it back down on the coaster miraculously placed in front of me. Theresa is nothing of not an obsessive, neurotic neat freak. That had been a strong deterring factor in my seriously considering rooming with her in her new-found palace of freedom. That, and it will probably put her in a tough spot with the family who will positively be against me moving out.

“
OK. Spill it
.
” She gestures to the living room and starts to walk in its direction with her drink in hand, waiting for me to respond.

I follow with my own half empty drink to the sectional sofa along the walls of the decent sized room. Placing my pink icy beverage on yet another coaster on the coffee table, I slip off my flats and cuddle my feet under as I sit on the butter soft suede. Theresa sits cross legged facing me.... waiting. Here goes nothing.

I take a deep breath, a large sip, and I start.

“
Le
t’
s say, hypothetically, a girl starts something with an older guy. Something crazy, intense..
.
” I suddenly have the need to take my jacket off as my skin begins to burn thinking of Do
m’
s eyes. Theresa waits patiently, eyes laughing as I peel the denim off.

“
And this girl, le
t’
s say sh
e’
s not exactly, er,
well versed
  in those kinds of things. You know, maybe things are getting carried away and sh
e’
s going to fall flat on her face like an ass when he realizes
.
” I take one last gulp as I finish the drink.

Theresa gets up on cue to fetch the pitcher and refills our glasses. When my second serving is poured I sit back and wait for it. Theresa sips slowly as if thinking before offering her words of advice.

“
Ok. This
girl
. Does she really like this guy? Or is she just looking for a sure thing
?
”
 
Tha
t’
s why I love this chick. She gets right to the nitty-gritty.

Another sip, another dose of courage.

“
I think she really likes him
.
” My eyes widen in response to a sudden possible revelation
.“
Theresa! What if
h
e’
s
just looking for a
sure thing!
How can you tell
?
”
 
I slump back into the cushion with the sudden realization that this could simply be a convenient live-in drive-by. I loose sight of Theresa as
I’
m lost momentarily in my own thoughts. She puts her drink down, fingers free to twirl around some of her hair.

“
You have to listen to your gut, V. I do
n’
t think it is, though. yo
u’
re not exactly the kind of girl that gives off the whole
I’
m an easy lay
  kind of vibe
.
” Once again her bluntness takes me slightly off guard, But, i
t’
s what I need right now. No need to worry about a bruised ego when it comes to my v-card.

Sh
e’
s right... Dom knows me well enough that he could never confuse me with a
n
“
easy la
y”
. But, that is after all what h
e’
s been used to. I voice my concerns.

“
But what if he has a history, A reputation of being kind of, er, experience
d
…”
 
I hide my face in my glass as I finish the sentence, trying to mask the blushing of my face.