Down to Business (Business Series) (43 page)

The door clicked closed behind me and he pulled me back against him, kissing my neck.

“I told you I’d make it a weekend you’d never forget.”

I managed a choked laugh, blinking away my tears. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Everything was so perfect and amazing. “This is crazy…I don’t know what to say.”

“I love you, Autumn.”

I turned to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I love you too Vinny.”

I kissed him with all the overflowing love that I felt. He scooped me into his arms and carried me to the sprawling king size bed with cream and mocha covered blankets and laid me down at its center.

“Wait…” I whispered looking over my shoulder at the beautiful rose petal heart I was about to destroy. “I want to take a picture of it first. Lindy won’t believe this.”

He smirked, leaning over me. “I didn’t do this for Lindy, I did it for you.”

I closed my eyes as his mouth found mine again and he moved over me, his hips parting my thighs. I ran my hands through his hair and over his back before I finally gave in and rested my head back against the petals, the soft scent of roses filling my senses.

He stared into my eyes with a soft smile and reached one hand up to brush some of my hair back. “You’re so beautiful.”

When I finally found my voice, I could barely get the words out. “Thank you… this…this is the sweetest…. most romantic thing… that has ever happened to me.”

His fingers brushed some of my hair behind my ear. “It’s the first of many.”

I closed my eyes as he kissed me again and I swore that I was dreaming.  He took his time undressing me, and once I was fully naked, it was almost painful to watch patiently as he stripped out of his clothes and joined me on the bed. His warm skin making contact with mine caused comfort to wash over me. I shivered as I felt something tickling and trailing up my naked waist. I glanced down to see a rose petal pinned between his fingertips, lightly brushing at my skin. I sucked in a breath as he slid it over my abdomen, up my naval and then into the valley between my breasts. I closed my eyes as the silk petal brushed over my aroused nipples, followed by his smooth warm lips and tongue. While his mouth was preoccupied again, the petal moved back down my abdomen, tracing my thighs until I bent my knees and opened myself to him. I expected to feel the feather light tickle of the petal against my warmth, but when I felt the warm pad of his fingertip instead, I let out a cry, my whole body aching with need. I took his wrist in my hand and guided his fingers inside, needing to feel some part of him inside of me. His two fingers worked their magic while he kissed me until I could take no more. My gentle thrusts against his fingers turned frantic until my body gave in and my walls throbbed against his fingers in sweet release. When I finished there was no question if he was ready for me. I reached down to take his warm silken shaft into my palm and enjoyed the look of pleasure on his face as I worked him to a near orgasm with my hand. Once he was at his brink, he rolled me onto my back and pushed my legs apart, our bodies joining a moment later. I sobbed in pleasure as he filled me completely and we made love in rose petals. After it was over, I laid in the secure cocoon of his arms and wondered how I ever got so lucky.

Even though the sun would be rising soon and I knew how exhausted I was, I just couldn’t close my eyes. I didn’t want the night to end. His fingertips traced over my shoulder and I lifted my head and kissed his collarbone.

“This has been the best night of my life, Vinny.”

“Me too.” He paused and drew a deep breath. “Autumn, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Yeah?” I asked lifting my head again and looking into his eyes.

He rolled over onto his side and propped his head up on his hand, his soft brown gaze narrowed in thought as he looked over my face. I stared back at him and rest my cheek against the pillow, gripping it’s underside in an attempt to hide how anxious I felt.

“Just tell me.” I blurted.

“I bought a house.”

My eyes widened and I lifted my head. “What?”

He half smiled. “It closed two days ago. It’s two blocks from campus.”

“Oh my God!” I sat up on my elbow, and placed my palm against his chest. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! I didn’t even know you were looking for one! I’m so happy for you!”

“Thanks.”

I watched him, waiting for him to look more enthused. If I just bought a house, I would be ecstatic. “Aren’t you happy?”

“Of course,” he said, taking my hand.

“You don’t look happy.”

“Because I’m nervous.”

“About what? Telling your mother?”

“No,” he said carefully, “ I’m nervous about asking you to move in with me.”

I stared at him as the words ‘move in with me’ took a moment to sink in. If I was standing up, I might have fallen over.

“Move in with you, like a roommate?” I asked, the shock apparently turned me into a dense blonde.

“No,” he smirked, “as my girlfriend.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I mean, will I be living there or just spending the night?”

“You’d be living there. It would be our house.”

I smiled and let that sink in. “Are you sure you want this?”

“I’m so sure that I’m waiting for you to pick out the wall colors.”

Tears of excitement filled my eyes and I leaned in, pressing my lips against his. He wrapped his arms around me and rolled me on top of him. “So that’s a yes?”

“That’s a big yes.”

“No, a big yes is what you’re going to be saying in about five minutes.” He gave me a devious grin and slid his hands down over my butt.

I giggled and kissed him again as my heart soared. I couldn’t believe it. I was moving in with Vinny. Nothing felt more perfect, but I knew to everyone else we would probably look like two of the most irresponsible people on Earth. We had only known each other three months, but that was what love was about, wasn’t it? Taking crazy chances and hoping it all fell into place? So far, everything was perfect and I didn’t care what everyone else thought. Nothing made me happier than being with Vinny.

The
next morning I woke up curled beneath the warmest, softest comforter I’d ever felt. I remembered where I was and my heart thumped excitedly. I reached beside me, to feel his warm body, but instead I found an empty bed. My eyes snapped open and I leaned up on my elbows. The room was flooded with morning sunlight from the open drapes that gave me an amazing ocean view. Vinny’s suitcase was open, sitting on its stand against the wall. I glanced over at the clock to see it was just past 9AM. Before I could wonder where he went, I heard the sound of the shower running.

I threw the covers off my naked body and hurried to the bathroom door. I checked the handle and it popped open, letting a cloud of steam slip out. I crept inside and closed the door behind me being extra careful not to make a sound. I stepped over to the shower curtain and drew it back with a grin, seeing him standing under the stream of water, his perfect butt facing me with ribbons of water cascading off it. Unable to resist, I reached out and gave it a hard pinch.

He dropped the bar of soap and jumped about a foot in the air. I started to laugh when he spun around, his face a mixture of shock and irritation. The moment he registered what happened, the look of anger drained away and he just shook his head with a laugh.

“You pain in the ass!” He swatted some water at me.

I squealed and backed away, but he grabbed me before I could escape and pulled me into the shower with him. It wasn’t a very productive shower, as far as showers go, unless you consider skin on skin contact an alternative way of cleaning your body. Up to that point, we had never had sex in the shower and I’d have never considered letting someone wash my body, but after that shower experience I could get used to it.

Once we were done, we wrapped ourselves in terry cloth towel robes and climbed back into bed.

Vinny ordered us room service, which consisted of a plate of fresh fruit, homemade waffles, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, toast, and orange juice. I almost choked on my juice when I heard the grand total of fifty dollars he paid for it, but he assured me that it was normal for room service. No wonder my parents always said no to room service and made us eat the complimentary breakfast when we traveled anywhere.

The food came on silver platters and arranged like it was prepared for a magazine photo shoot. I felt bad touching it, it looked so perfect. Vinny had no guilt in destroying it. He picked off some fruit, two slices of bacon, and some scrambled eggs. I smothered my waffles in warm syrup and butter, and added a few pieces of fruit to the edge of my plate to make it look pretty. Then we sat down at the table in front of the window that faced the ocean.

“This food is amazing,” I said and wiped the syrup off my lips. “Look! The orange juice actually has orange slices in it. They look pretty.”

“Yeah, these eggs actually taste—”

We both looked up as a sudden knock erupted on the door. Vinny bit into his bacon and wiped his hands on his cloth napkin before he got up to answer it.

I watched as he pulled open the door to reveal a man with dark hair in a suit on the other side.

“Hey Vinny! How you doin’?” the man asked in a Jersey accent.

Vinny looked over his shoulder at me then back to the man, trying to close the door enough to hide me. “Hey Leo…I’m doing great.”

“You enjoying your stay at the Seaview? Vivian told me you were here, I could have gotten you this room for free you knucklehead. Why didn’t you call me?”

“Oh…well I didn’t want to ask for any favors…”

“You got some company with you?” he asked, peering over Vinny’s shoulder to look right at me.

I raised my fork and waved it a little with a hesitant smile.

“Shit Vinny, I’m sorry. Vivian didn’t tell me you were coming with a girlfriend.”

Vinny shook his head. “Yeah uh, she’s—”

“Oh I get it, I get it. You fuckin’ dog you! I’ll keep it between us. Let me get you kids some comps. I’m friends with Timmy Toledo. He owns the seafood restaurant downstairs. Grade A food. The salmon will fuckin’ melt in your mouth.”

“That sounds great Leo, thanks.”

“Anytime Vinny. Those comps will be waiting at the front desk for you. You kids have a good time.”

“Thanks. See you.”

Vinny waited until he left to shut the door and pressed his forehead up against it. “Fuck me. You know who that was right?”

I bit down on my fork. “Viv’s uncle?”

“Yeah. I hope to God he doesn’t say anything to Viv about me being here with you.”

“He said he wouldn’t.”

He gave me a look that made me feel like an idiot and I looked down at my plate.

“Fuck it. There’s no use in worrying about it now. I’ll forward her to voice mail if she calls and deal with it when I get home. I’m not letting her ruin our trip.”

I smiled. “So does this mean we are going to get those dinner comps?”

He smirked at me. “If that’s what you want to do. I could always just pay for it.”

“Hey, I never turn down free food.” I said shoving another bite of waffle into my mouth.

He chuckled and shook his head.

After breakfast, we decided to check out the indoor heated pool. I wore an aqua colored bikini that I never would have had the guts to wear, but Vinny picked it out when he was watching me swimsuit shop online a week before. I always felt I was too long and not curvy enough to wear a bikini, but seeing the way Vinny looked at me when I stepped out of the bathroom in it gave me the confidence I needed. It came with a sheer wrap for around my waist, which made me feel a little more comfortable.

Being off-season, we had the pool to ourselves besides a few older people in the sauna. After spending an hour at the pool, we went back to the room to redress and then walked down the boardwalk.  We stopped to eat lunch at a little sandwich shop where the smallest sandwich was fifteen inches and packed with so much meat Vinny and I shared one. Afterwards we walked next door to a casino and I watched Vinny play blackjack. He walked away with three hundred dollars in winnings.

Afterwards, while we were on our way back to the hotel, we walked passed a tattoo parlor, and I yanked him inside, teasing that he should get my name tattooed on him. Having a tattoo was taboo in my family. My father had them but my mother never liked them, therefore I was forbidden from having any. After looking through three different tat design books, I decided that instead of Vinny getting that tattoo, I wanted one.