Beat of the Heart (13 page)

way on the menu ever since.”

Warmth flooded my cheeks. “Thanks for the embarrassing story, Daddy. Why don’t you take AJ

back to your office and show him some of my baby pictures next?”

AJ nudged me playfully. “I loved that story. And I bet you were a real cutie when you were little.”

Daddy grinned. “She could certainly be a precocious little handful.”

“I don’t think that has changed,” AJ teased.

Reaching over, Daddy cupped my cheek. “But most of all, she’s been the greatest achievement and

blessing of my life.”

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat at his words. Willingly myself not to cry, I wrapped

my arms around him again. “Thank you. I love you so very, very much.”

He kissed my cheek. “Go on and have a seat. I’ll get Pauley to bring out the wine and dessert.”

“Thanks, Duke,” AJ replied, thrusting out his hand to shake Daddy’s again.

“You take care of my little girl now,” Daddy replied.

“Would you stop? I am twenty-eight, not twelve.”

AJ winked at me. “It’ll be my pleasure taking care of her.”

I narrowed my eyes at his innuendo while Daddy reached over to give him another hug. “I’m happy

to hear that.” He then glanced over at me. “See you Sunday night?”

“Of course.”

“Bye sweetie.”

As I watched my dad’s form retreat down the hallway to his office, AJ motioned for me to have a

seat. Instead of sitting across from me, AJ slid in next to me in the booth. “Nothing like having you

and my dad sharing the same air for a few minutes on a first date,” I groaned, as I smoothed down my

dress.

“Hey, you should be thrilled that he likes me so much.”

“Yeah, I’m not so sure if that’s a good thing or not.”

We were interrupted by Pauley returning with the wine and mousse. As he set down the plates, he

smirked at AJ and me. “Gay friend my ass.”

I grimaced. “Sorry, but I was trying to keep you guys off my back.”

“Then next time try not to make-out on the dance floor. We’re running late on dinner plates because

half of the kitchen and wait-staff were watching you two.”

“Oh God,” I muttered, cupping my head in my hands.

“Quit your bitching, cuz. You looked good out there.” When I peeked at him through my fingers, he

was smiling genuinely at me. “It’s been a long time since we saw you looking so happy.”

“Thanks, Pauley.”

“You’re welcome.”

After Pauley left us, AJ eyed the mousse before smirking at me. “Hmm, can’t wait to get a taste of

Mia’s Moose.”

“You’re an ass,” I replied.

“If I remember correctly from earlier this evening, it was mighty tasty.”

I smacked his arm. Hard. As he grimaced, I replied, “Just shut up and eat.”

On my command, AJ took a hearty spoonful. “It’s kinda rich,” I warned, but he shoved it in his

mouth anyway.

He closed his eyes in exaggerated bliss. “Damn, that’s good.” He grinned at me. “Orgasmically

good.”

“Whatever,” I mused. After such a big bite, he had a glob stuck on the corner of his mouth. Using

my thumb, I reached over and swiped it off. Before I could get my napkin, AJ grabbed my hand and

brought it closer to his mouth. With his eyes locked on mine, his tongue reached out and licked my

thumb. I held my breath as he sucked my whole thumb into his mouth, suctioning off the chocolate. I

instantly had a heated flashback of what that tongue had felt like on me earlier in the limo. Blood

rushed to both my cheeks and lower half.

“You want some?” he asked, his voice taking on a lower, husky tone.

I bobbed my head. Instead of using the spoon, AJ dipped his finger into the chocolate and brought it

to my lips. Leaning forward, I sucked his finger into my mouth, never taking my eyes off of his. As I

pulled harder against his finger, swirling my tongue around it, a lustful gleam burned in his that

caused me to shudder.

“We should go.
Now
.”

I was having a weird déjà vu moment from earlier in the dance studio when AJ was ready to leave

in a hurry so he could ravish me in the limo. A delicious tingle of anticipation ran down my spine. I

still couldn’t help questioning, “Don’t you want to finish the wine and mousse?”

“I just wanna finish you off a time or two…maybe more.”

“Oh, Jesus,” I muttered as my panties instantly moistened.

AJ chuckled. Pulling away from me, he searched the restaurant for Pauley. When he saw him, he

waved him over. “We’re going to need the check. ASAP.”

Pauley ducked his head, trying to suppress his laughter. “Uncle Duke said it was on the house.”

“He didn’t need to do that, but tell him thank you for both Mia and me.”

“I will.”

AJ reached in his pocket. I watched him slide a crisp hundred bill over to Pauley. “For your

excellent service.”

Pauley’s dark eyes widened. “Holy shit! Thank you, man.”

“You’re welcome.” Pauley stepped aside to let AJ rise out of the booth. He held out his hand for

me. “Coming?”

Pauley snickered at the loaded innuendo. I rolled my eyes, feeling like I was surrounded by teenage

boys.

“Goodnight, Pauley. And do me a favor?”

His brows rose. “Anything for you, cuz.”

“Wipe that shit-eating grin off your face.”

He nodded. “Will do.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Leaning over, he gave me a kiss. “Have fun, cuz.”

“I’ll try.”

AJ and Pauley shook hands. “Can we go out the back? That’s where our driver is waiting.”

“Sure thing. You know the way?”

AJ nodded. “It’s usually how I come and go when I’m here.”

“Night,” I called as I strode through the kitchen door.

The moment I entered the room a shouted chorus of “Emiliana!” went up all around me.

“Hi Louie, Petey, Carmine, Carmilla!” I shouted over the sound of clanking plates and silverware

scraping food preparation bowls. I would have stopped to talk, but AJ’s insistent hand was against

my lower back, pushing me along. As soon as we were out the door, his hot mouth was on mine in a

hurried, frantic kiss. Pushing me against the brick wall, his hands started roaming over me. “Not

here,” I panted against his lips.

“Ready sir?” Benny called behind us. I actually felt sorry for him. He was going to need a whole

lot of eye bleach to get rid of the images we’d given him in the last five hours. With my past, I never

would have expected or imagined that I would be comfortable with such PDA, yet with AJ, it felt

right.

“Yeah,” AJ grunted, pulling away from me. My heels clicked along the pavement as I made my way

to the limo. Benny stood, his head tucked to his chest, with the door open.

“Take us home, Benny,” AJ instructed, as we collapsed into the limo in a wild tangle of arms and

legs.

“Yes sir,” came the mumbled reply, before the door was shut tight behind us.

Once our bodies had adjusted on the bench seat, AJ crushed his mouth against mine, thrusting his

warm tongue into my mouth. He tasted sweet like the chocolate and wine we’d just consumed, and I

moaned into his mouth as our tongues intertwined. With one hand cupping my ass, AJ brought his

other to my breast, slipping through the satin of my bodice to cup my naked flesh.

As much as I hated to, I jerked away from him. Our gazes locked, and I’m sure mine mirrored AJ’s

lust-filled one. It took me a full minute to find my voice. Even AJ’s broad chest heaved up and down

from our passionate lip-lock. “We should go to my house.”

“Nuh-uh,” AJ grunted, his hand kneading my breast harder.

“But you’ll need to drop me off at my place anyway,” I argued, trying to ignore the heat pooling

below my waist at his actions.

AJ shook his head. “Mine’s closer. And I don’t wanna waste any time before I can be buried back

inside you.”

His words stoked the fire burning within me. I couldn’t believe just thirty minutes ago we’d been

slow dancing at my family’s restaurant. Now we were mauling each other like sex-starved deviants.

Of course, it was that damn chocolate mousse that had turned dessert into foreplay between the

dancing and the limo.

As his thumb flicked over my pebbled nipple, his other hand snaked up my dress to find my already

damp center. When one finger slid inside my panties, I involuntarily thrust my hips up. Although I

wanted nothing more than to be with him again, I smacked my palm against his chest, pushing him

away. “Oh no, just a minute, big boy.”

AJ’s chuckle scorched against my neck as he nudged his erection against my exposed thigh.

“Thanks for the compliment, babe.”

“I’m serious.” Grabbing the sweat-soaked strands of his hair, I jerked his head up to meet my gaze.

“You’ve already had me once in this limo. What kind of girl do you take me for?”

A wicked gleam burned in AJ’s dark eyes. “The kind who gets off on satisfying her man.”

I quirked a brow at him. “Oh, but you’re not
mine
, Mr. Latin Lover.”

“I’ve
had
you, Mia. So you’re
mine
,for the night.”

Shaking my head, I scooted away to where I was on the opposite bench seat. AJ shot me a

predatory glare, reiterating the fact he was not accustomed to females not giving him his way. “Quit

playing fucking games,” he growled.

“I said, no.”

“Yeah, well, I call your bluff since I can smell how fucking aroused you are right now. Not to

mention, you’re practically soaking the seat.”

He leaned over to grab me, but I nailed him in the chest with my stiletto heeled foot, thrusting him

back against the leather seat. His gaze dipped from mine to my pump and then he snorted. “Are your

‘come fuck me heels’ really supposed to deter me?”

When I shrugged, he dropped his head. Never breaking eye contact with me, he then ran his tongue

over the strap slowly before taking it between his teeth and jerking. The wet leather smacked against

my foot, and I shivered at his actions, causing him to wink at me. “These heels just make me want to

throw you on your back and pound you even harder as they dig into my ass.”

His tempting words caused me to press my legs tighter together to ease the tension while at the

same time I crossed my arms over my chest. “Baby, your little machismo act may work for some

helpless bimbos, but I’ve got strong Italian blood pumping through me. I fuck when
I
want to.” I

flashed him a defiant look. “And right now, you’re
not
having me in this limo.”

We stared each other down in a silent battle of wills. AJ eyed me so intently that I could almost see

the wheels turning in his head, like he was sure at any moment I would relent and let him take me on

all fours like he had earlier. In a firm voice, I said, “Not. Happening.”

Keeping my foot firmly against his pectoral, I inched my skirt further up my thighs. His nostrils

flared at the sight. “Don’t. Fucking. Tease. Me.”

I gave him a sweet smile. “I’m not teasing you, babe. Just giving you a preview for later.”

An agonized groan escaped his lips as his hand cupped the bulge in his pants. With his gaze still

locked on mine, he rubbed the length. “Mia…” His voice had taken on an almost pleading tone.

My mouth ran dry at the image before me, and I licked my lips. “You want me that bad?” I

questioned in a whisper.

“Fuck yes.”

“Show me,” I commanded, nodding towards his crotch.

Without a moment’s hesitation, AJ’s fingers quickly worked the button and zipper on his khakis.

Raising his hips, he eased down his pants and boxers to his mid thighs, exposing his erection to me.

“Stroke it.”

AJ’s hand gripped his hardness before he began to slide his palm up and down. “You owe me,

remember?”

“I do?” I replied, playing dumb.

“Yes,” he hissed.

“Oh right, I promised you some oral attention for playing gay.” Crossing my legs, I adjusted my

dress and shook my head. “But the cat’s out of the bag now with my family, so I don’t owe you

anything.”

“Mia,” he growled, causing a tingle to run from the top of my head down to my toes.

“Fine, but we do it on my terms.” When he let his erection fall from his hand, I made a tsking noise.

“I didn’t tell you stop, did I?”

A lazy grin stretched across his face. “You’re fighting a losing battle here, amorcito mio. You want

control, and I don’t give it up.”

My brows rose in surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was under the impression you wanted me to suck your

cock.”

A strangled noise came from the back of his throat. “I do,” he replied hoarsely.

“Then we do it on my terms. Capisce?”

“Si.”

“Glad to hear it.” Easing off the seat, I knelt down before him. I knocked his knees further apart

before wedging myself between them. Sliding my hands up his chest, my fingers came to rest on the

bulge of his tie. I kept my eyes locked firmly on his as I undid his tie. With a jerk, I slid it off his neck

and dropped it on his exposed thigh.

“Mia, everything you need is uncovered right in front of you,” AJ protested.

Ignoring him, I then began undoing the buttons his shirt. Slowly I worked myself down to his waist.

When I was done, I opened his shirt, exposing his bare chest and feasting my eyes on the six-pack I