Love in the City, an erotic romance novel (13 page)

“A bit?” Giorgio said. “Coffee. Twice. Now ketchup. I need to stand a little further away from you when food and drinks are being served.”

“Probably a good idea,” she said. She tried to wipe some of the ketchup off with napkins, but it was going to be impossible to get out without a full wash. She sighed. “Listen, my apartment isn’t far from here. We can wash your clothes. Maybe save them before those stains set in.”

Giorgio looked to Joe and raised an eyebrow.

“Better do what the lady says,” Joe said, winking at him. “Who knows what’ll happen if you don’t.” He handed him his hot dog. “And about the ketchup…”

“Yeah, I got that.”

They headed over to Anabelle’s apartment, polishing off their hot dogs as they walked. Giorgio decided to leave his car parked where it was to avoid getting ketchup anywhere else.

“So, I finally get to see your place,” Giorgio said.

She nodded. She felt more at ease with him now. “It’s not much,” she said, “but it’s home. You can meet my cat Jasper. He likes people.”

“Good to know. I wouldn’t want to get my eyes scratched out by a kitty who thinks I’m his competition for your affection.”

Anabelle laughed and elbowed him. “I make no promises. He sees himself as the main man in my life.”

“Uh oh, I’ll have to tread carefully.”

“You got that right, mister.”

They reached her apartment. It was on the third floor in a five-floor building and had a tiny balcony. It was a modest apartment, but Anabelle had it decorated nicely with a Moroccan feel, lots of rich colors, rugs, tapestries and cushions, making it seem a little higher end and cozy than it would have otherwise.

“Nice place you have here, Ms. Parker,” he said, then he heard Jasper meow. He looked down and the short-haired grey kitty with the green eyes came over to greet
them. Giorgio smiled and knelt down. “Well hello there, you must be the man of the house.” He petted him. “May I have permission to come in and visit with your mommy?”

Jasper nuzzled in close.

“I think he smells the ketchup,” Anabelle said.

“Yup,” Giorgio nodded as the cat pushed his nose in close to his shirt. He stood up and Anabelle took his coat and hung it up. At least something of his had escaped the ketchup assault.

“Alright,” she said, assessing the damage, “you need to get out of those clothes.”

He gave her a sly grin. “Is this part of the punishment you had in mind for me?”

“Oh, you’ll find out,” she replied, winking at him.

“Uh oh,” he said.

“Mmmhmm.” She nodded her head and then pointed at him. “Strip! You can use the bathroom.”             

“Yes
, ma’am,” he said.

“Toss your clothes out. I’ll throw them in the wash with some stain remover.”

“If it doesn’t come out, it’s really no big deal,” he said.

“Maybe not to you, but I don’t like to wreck or waste things.”

“Just one more thing…” he started to say.

“What?”

“Umm, I will be rather…undressed.”

“Oh
, right,” she said, blushing.

He smiled. “Is this
also part of your plan to punish me? You’re going to make me vacuum and dust your place in the buff or something?”

“Great idea, I like it,” she said with a
wicked grin.

He gave a long, dramatic sigh. “I’m going to be a nude, unpaid house servant.”

“That’s right, they won’t find you for a long time either. Your car is parked a ways away.”

“Right,” he said, then he looked at her with a puppy dog expression. “Do I get bonus points if I go a good job?”

“Nope, but you’ll get more punishment if you don’t.”

He whistled.

“Okay, time to strip mister! Before those stains become permanent.” She thought for a moment, assessing his tall, broad frame. “What can I get you to wear in the meantime? I don’t really have anything that will fit you. How about a robe or a blanket or a towel?”

“You know, maybe I should jump in the shower. I think I smell like ketchup, it leaked through my shirt and possibly my pants. Towe
ls will do just fine for now.”

“Deal,” she said, going to grab him some towels. She found the biggest bath
sheets she had, and handed him three. “The bathroom’s through there.”

“Thanks,” he said.

Anabelle threw all of his clothes in the wash and proceeded to turn on some music. She fed Jasper, boiled some hot water to make tea, brought out a plate of cookies, then sat down on the sofa and grabbed a
travel magazine to read while she waited.

Fifteen minutes later, Giorgio emerged from the steam-filled bathroom. His dark hair was wet and wavy and he had a towel draped around his waist.

Anabelle’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw him. She hadn’t seen so much of him yet. And he was an Adonis. He had broad shoulders and his chest was muscled with dark hair across his pecs and down the center of his stomach. His biceps were large, but not overly huge. His warm tan-colored skin and dark features were striking against the white towel. His stomach was nearly flat, and his legs were long, with lean, cut muscles. He was the definition of sexy. All manner of X-rated images flashed through her head.

He casually walked towards her smiling. “That feels better,” he said.

She was speechless as she watched him saunter over to her. It was like watching a commercial for men’s cologne; he looked like something out of a magazine or movie. He was all man.

He sat down next to her on the sofa, his solid weight nearly displacing her.

She blushed as she looked at his damp wavy hair, then down the long length of his body.

He saw her eyeing him. He grinned. He leaned back, his legs parted. “Thanks for letting me shower,” he said, his head turned towards her.

“Thank
you
,” she said without thinking.

He laughed, then ran his fingers through his wet hair, showcasing his broad chest, still slightly damp from the shower.

She was sure he knew what he was doing and he wasn’t playing fair. “Um,” she said, feeling her temperature rise, “would you like some tea or water or soda? There are cookies here, too.”

“Great,” he said, looking at the plate on the coffee table. “I’ll have whatever you’re drinking.”

“I was making some tea. Earl grey?” she asked.

“Perfect,” he said
, sitting up and grabbing a cookie.

She got up and went to the aisle kitchen to brew the tea, trying to clear her head. He was having a powerful effect on her.

While she was doing that, he got up to have a look around. The place was about 650 square feet, but the way Anabelle had it arranged and decorated gave it depth and texture. He admired her use of space. There was a bookshelf in the living room next to the TV, and it was filled with historical and contemporary romance novels, along with some books on travel, history, and fashion.

He noticed her bedroom, gave it a quick glance inside, then walked over to the area that served as the dining room. On the way between that and the kitchen was a large corkboard that was hung on the wall. It was covered in pictures and postcards. “Are these places you’ve traveled
to?” Giorgio asked.

Anabelle looked up from preparing the tea. “I
wish. No, they’re places I’d like to visit someday. That’s my dream board.”

“Dream board?”

“Yeah, you know, visualizing things you want.”

He grinned at her. “Am I on it?”

She set the teapot down. She looked at him standing there in the towel, all tall and masculine and exquisitely shaped, with a face that could get away with anything. “You should be.”

He tilted
his head. “Good answer. I thank you for that.” He winked at her and turned his attention back to the corkboard. There were pictures from all around the world, ancient historic sites, islands, major European cities, sailboats, yachts, cruise ships, spa retreats, the works. All luxury places. He spotted one in particular.

Anabelle came out with the tea and set it down on the coffee table.

“I see Greece is on your dream board,” he said, walking over to her.

She blushed. “Yes, it’s beautiful, so scenic. I’d love to go there. The beaches, the history, the architecture, the food…all just amazing.”

He stepped closer to her, towering over her. He raised an eyebrow.

She looked at his
bare chest, then up into his dark lash-rimmed blue eyes. “The people…”

He grinned at her. “Will I do for now?” he asked, as he gently tipped her chin up.

She nodded. “Oh yes.”

He smiled. “Another good answer,” he whispered, then bent down to kiss her.

Her body felt like it was on fire. She ran her fingers across his chest, touching his skin, feeling his strength, how solid his body felt. His size made her feel incredibly feminine. She loved the sensation. She could get lost in him.

She paused for a moment, still staring at his chest. “You know, part of me wondered if you had pulled away because I had…you know…put the brakes on things the night of our first date.”

He regarded her with amusement. “I’m not that shallow and self-involved, in spite of what you might think.” He ran his fingers through her hair and gazed intently at her. His blue eyes were penetrating. “Do you feel more at ease now?”

She nodded.

“Good,” he said, wrapping his arms around her.

She moved to circle her arms around his waist, but her fingers caught the edge of his towel, nearly dropping it. She
gasped as she grabbed it before it fell off completely, but not before exposing his right buttock. She felt her feminine desire flare up at the sight of his well-rounded, muscled body.

Giorgio
had managed to grab the towel in front, keeping himself covered where it counted.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” she started to say.

He laughed, securing it around his waist again. “You know, you just have to ask if you’d prefer me nude. You keep spilling things on my clothes and now you’re trying to
accidentally
disrobe me. It’s okay, I won’t mind. You don’t need excuses.” He tilted his head, giving her a sexy, playful grin. “Punish away.”

She blushed f
uriously. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“I think that you like me,” he said with a sly smile as he
placed her hands around his waist, pressing her palms against the thick muscles of his back. He shifted, his muscles undulating under her touch. He bent down to kiss her, more heatedly this time. His tongue pushed into her mouth, seeking to get closer to her, as his hands gripped her waist.

“Mmmhmm,” she responded. Her body was aroused. It was craving his touch, his body. She wanted to slide her hands under that towel. To feel him, to see him. She moaned as she pressed her hips into him
and ran her fingers seductively over his strong back.

His hands sli
d with a feather touch, up her sides, holding her, his thumbs barely touching the sides of her breasts. He waited for a moment to see if she would push him away, but she didn’t.

She took a deep breath and arched her back towards him, her breasts now touching
his chest through her sweater. “Is it getting warm in here, or is it just me?” she asked.

“It’s not just you.”
He pulled her sweater off, leaving her wearing the black tank top. He noticed she hadn’t worn a bra. He smiled. He knew the signs. He moved his hands to the top of her tank top straps, then slowly slid his palms down over her breasts, feeling her erect nipples beneath the thin fabric. He looked down as he cupped her breasts. He could see the outline of her nipples showing through her top.

“You are so beautiful, Anabelle,” he said as he stared at her chest. “So shapely. So womanly. You drive me wild.”

She took another deep breath and pressed his hands firmly to her breasts. “Me, too,” she said, her voice breathless, seductive.

He bent down and pulled her right strap down across her shoulder. He kissed her just below her collarbone. His tongue exploring her bare skin.

She moaned and brought her hand to the back of his head, lacing her fingers through his damp hair, letting him know she wanted his touch.

His hand moved up to cup her breast again, while he kissed the
upper swell of it.

She writhed against him, feeling him shudder.

Suddenly, he picked her up in his arms, as though she weighed next to nothing. He looked at her, his eyes filled with desire, and carried her into her bedroom.

Her heart pounded as he carefully laid her down on the bed.

He laid himself down beside her.

“Giorgio,” she said, “I’m still not sure if I’m ready to…”

“Shhh,” he said, stroking her bare shoulder, “it’s okay, we can just cuddle. I just want to be close to you.”

“But, I don’t want to tease you
again…I just…”

“Let’s just be together, however you want.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” he whispered in her ear. “You can be in the driver
’s seat. Sex can wait.”

“Really?” she
asked, genuinely surprised. “How very un-man-like of you,” she teased.

“Oh, I can give you man-like if you want,” he said in a deep
, throaty voice as he shifted to move his body on top of her.

She giggled and held her arm out to stop him. “No!”

He leaned back down next to her, propped up on an elbow facing her, grinning like a naughty schoolboy. “Ah, the mixed signals of the feminine gender, always so confusing for men.”