Loving A Romano (2 page)

Ashley didn’t know if she liked the teenager who had been spawned while she and Heather had been working on their master’s degrees but it definitely made for never a dull phone call home to check on the folks. She’d been there for all the ups and downs and in between times to include frantic phone calls from his mother, Maura, looking for an M-I-A Wade, a never ending stream of girls, an unbelievable amount of partying and an exorbitant amount of drinking.

Ashley took a seat in front of the couch on the coffee table, pulling her robe closer around her body. The hardened imprint of her nipples pushed through the thin material making her suddenly very much aware of how little she had on under it. She quickly crossed her arms over her ample breasts and glanced at Wade to see if he had noticed. One bloodshot blue eyeball gazed intensely back at her. The look left no doubt that not only had he noticed but where his thoughts were.

She prayed for strength since she found her own mind traveling down that same dirty road a lot as of late. Though she had a boyfriend there was no denying her growing attraction to him. With each trip she found it harder to get back.

Her gaze fell to his slightly parted lips. Behind them lay the object of so many sleepless nights and countless wet dreams. He stuck out his tongue for her to see. As if knowing where her thoughts were he slowly licked his lips giving her just a glimpse of silver.

“So… what was it this time N
icki?” she asked taking her eyes off him in an effort to compose herself.

Anything to get her thoughts out o
f places they shouldn't be. Almost immediately she wished she hadn’t asked because she was sure she already knew the answer. It was probably some girl. She frowned. It was always a girl.

“Dana dumped me. Can you believe it? She said I wasn’t giving her the attention she deserved. Whatever the hell that means.”

No ready image of the now ex-girlfriend came to mind. They all seemed to blend together and there were so many of them she had stopped keeping track a long time ago.

“I’m sorry to hear that
,” came her automated response.

“Are you really? The one time you met her, I got the distinct feel
ing you didn’t like her.” He stared at her intently.

What could she say? He was probably right. In the past few years, as the number of girls he had felt compelled to introduce her to increased, her distaste for all of them had been instant. It prompted Heather to ask on more than one occasion if she thought anyone was
good enough for “her Nicki”. It wasn’t that she didn’t, it just wasn’t what he was bringing home.

“Since she’s no longer in the picture, it really doesn’t matter now does it?” She looked away from those piercing eyes.

“Yeah well it was doomed before it began. Sorry I woke you,” he said with a half grin on his handsome face.

“It’s no big deal. Are y
ou sleeping down here or coming upstairs?”

As she stood, Ashley realized how her innocent question might sound. She glanced down to see his raised eyebrow. Her insides begged him not to ignore it while her brain tried to work quickly for a possible rebuttal.

“Does that invitation include your room?” He asked a little above a whisper.

A soft sigh escaped
her. She raised her hand and ran her fingers through her hair but moved it behind her back when she noticed the slight trembling. Breathe, she told herself. Even that small task seemed impossible as the heat of his gaze caused her insides to tighten.

Could he somehow see she was nearly naked beneath her robe? Did he know moisture was threatening to run down her legs as her body responded to the desire filled gaze staring back at her? She had to think and fast. She closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at him as she prayed for rational thought not to fail her now. It was too bad he never made this offer when he was sober. Ashley paused but refused to think further on the thought. Sure she would have to deal with it and all the other odd places her mind was venturing with regards to Wade but later. Much later…when he wasn’t lying on her couch looking oh so tempting. A deep breath of frustration escaped her parted lips. Sometimes it was damned depressing always doing the right thing.

“It does if you’d feel more comfortable sleeping on the floor,” she said trying for a nonchalant tone.

It almost hurt to watch the flames of desire go out in his eyes befo
re he lowered his head. Her insides screamed no but her heart knew it was for the best.

“No thanks. I guess I’ll stay right here in my usual spot if you don’t mind.”

“I can’t say I blame you.” She offered him a tentative smile as she tried to bring back some sense of normalcy.

Giving in to her sudden need to tou
ch him, she leaned down, brushing the hair away from his forehead.

“Do you think you'll need an extra cover or anything?”

The cool grip of his fingers closed around her wrist before lifting her hand away from him. She tried not to feel hurt by the action.

“No that’s okay. I think I’m plenty warm already.” His eyes met hers once more.

Gone was any hint of the desire she had seen displayed in their depths a few moments ago. A feeling of disappointment came over her and she tried to pull out of the grip he held on her wrist but his fingers didn’t give.

“Don’t go just yet. Can't you stay with me a little longer?”

The request took her back to a simpler time. Looking down at him she didn’t see the twenty something young man he was now but the little boy he’d been when she used to baby sit him. He would look up at her with those bright blue eyes and a smile that melted her insides every time. Feeling his thumb softly caressing the underside of her wrist brought her back to reality. Her eyes almost closed against the feelings he was invoking. She allowed the touch for a moment longer before pulling gently from his grip, thankfully this time he allowed her freedom.

“Then have sweet dreams of me,” she whispered before hastily leaving the room
.

Standing just outside her living room she couldn’t help but wonder what kinds of dreams a twenty-three year old Wade would have of her and would they be as steamy as she sometimes found her dreams of him?

Chapter Three

Thoughts of Wade continued to plague Ashley as she checked the locks and set the alarm before heading upstairs. The feelings he invoked still made no sense to her. After all she had known him practically all his life. Lately things were different between them. Hmph, who was she kidding? Things had been changing between them since he turned eighteen taking him officially out of little boy status and headed straight to the helluva sexy man category.

Though try as she might to keep him the three year old she had first met, her wandering mind sometimes just refused to see him as that little tow headed boy who used to follow her around. No amount of denying could change the fact she found him attractive.

She paused midway up the stairs, her hand gripping the rail to keep her balance. It was the first time she had allowed herself to admit even that small fact. She found Wade Romano attractive. How could she not? The whole damn family was gorgeous, from the oldest, her best friend, Heather, who was Wade's half-sister down to the youngest.

In her opinion Wade had gotten an overdose of gorgeous. Sexy washed off of him in waves. At six feet five inches with a slender frame, it was easy to take him for just another awkward skinny guy upon first glance. The gracefulness with which he carried himself always caused one to stop and stare. Years of playing sports had layered his body with light compact muscles. His dark chestnut hair begged a woman to run her fingers through it and framed an angel’s face. He had the typical olive complexion denoting his Italian heritage. Add in eyes that could change from Carolina blue to the color of sapphire when his emotions were at their highest and it all made for a sinful combination. The look in those eyes came back to her now. It was a very tempting package. Hell one would have to be blind not to be affected by the mere sight of him.

Continuing up the stairs, she realized she had always thought admitting her attraction to him would cause the world to all of a sudden come to an end. She now knew it was what she did with the knowledge that would make all the difference. Ashley planned to do exactly what she had been doing since he had turned eighteen and legally available. Not a damn thing. To do anything else would be foolish on her part and just begging for trouble. Besides, she thought with a smile on her face, I got a man already.

Slipping quietly into her bedroom, Ashley dropped her robe at the foot of her bed and slid under the covers. Her body had been on a slow burn from the moment she had pushed her curtains back to discover Wade standing on her porch. Now it was on fire and if there was any hope of her getting back to sleep she needed to have the flames extinguished. She told herself it didn’t matter if the ache had been caused by someone other than the man lying beside her. She tried to convince herself the fire rushing through her veins, demanding attention, could be put out by anyone. To prove her point she lightly ran her hand along the well-muscled thigh of the man next to her.

“David,” she whispered close to his ear.

Ashley grazed his ear lobe with her tongue. She giggled softly and managed to move backwards before his hand swatted her away. Undeterred she reached across his hip and rubbed the flat of her hand against him before reaching inside the waistband of his boxers. Pure stubbornness kept her from admitting defeat before she had even begun. It was hard finding a man who had a good job, good looks and a good sized dick. David was what she had and it would have to do. Thoughts of another played around the edges of her mind. He was so close and unless she had been misreading things completely over the years he was more than willing. No, she told herself gripping David’s dick a little firmer. She would not dwell on what could never be.

“Come on baby get hard for me,” she whispered into the darkened bedroom.

A few more moments passed with her alternating between long and short strokes. She was almost ready to give up when she felt him finally begin to harden. She smiled in triumph though she knew she was wrong. Her body had been sexually deprived from David being on the road for three weeks.

Moving closer, she rubbed her body against his back and sighed in pleasure. The lace of her camisole scrapped against her hardened nipples with each movement. She hoped he woke up soon. She needed the fire burning a path through her body relieved and maybe after their little talk sex would be better. Hell it was impossible to believe it could get any worse.

After several failed attempts to get David to understand how she needed and liked to be touched she had finally just come right out and told him. She needed him to understand there were times she needed a little foreplay. Not every time but dammit once in a while would be nice. He’d taken it surprisingly well and had promised to do better. Tonight had been her first opportunity since their conversation to see if he’d taken their talk to heart.

Her body had been so deprived of sex she had begun dripping as soon as she had opened her door to see him standing there. But it quickly became apparent sex was not on his mind as he had missed her mouth, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Her hopes were further dashed when he announced he was tired and headed upstairs where he proceeded to undress and go to bed.

Attempting to push those thoughts away, she continued to rub her breasts against his back. She lifted her leg across his so she could rub her lower body against him. The friction against her clit caused a surprised gasp to leave her lips.

“David,” she called a little louder.

The only response she received for her efforts was a loud snore before he rolled over onto his stomach. She barely had enough time to remove her hand from the front of his shorts before he crushed it beneath his weight. The quick movement caused her to fall backwards.

Ashley blew her hair out of her eyes in frustration. The ache between her legs became more pronounced.
Now what?
She threw another glance at David’s back. Maybe if she…. David let out a loud snore and the bed vibrated.

“Never mind,” she mumbled to herself in the dark.

If she could just take the edge off—enough to get to sleep. Parting her legs, she placed a finger between her moist folds and began to stroke her swollen and aching clit. Pleasure moved through her body. She applied more pressure and moaned aloud. The edge she continued to tell herself as she stroked harder before inserting a finger into her dripping cunt. It was quickly followed by another. In and out she moved them, lifting her hips to allow for deeper access. It wasn’t enough.

What she craved was something much thicker and longer. Disgusted, she gave up. Moments passed while she lay there staring up at her ceiling. Anger warred with desire. Both emotions caused the heat between her legs to intensify. Not able to take it any longer, she flung the covers aside, this time not caring if she woke her bed mate or not. This was ridiculous. Why the hell did she have a man sleeping in her bed if he wouldn't even wake up when she was hot and horny needing to be pleased?

“We’ll see about that,” she mumbled under her breath on her way to her walk-in closet.

Standing on tiptoes she pulled down her beloved case of toys from the top shelf. She had never been shy about the fact she enjoyed sex and it was a guarantee she had a toy in her case able to scratch any itch she had. Walking out of the closet, she glanced at the lump lying in her bed, before heading down the hall to one of her spare rooms. She couldn't help but wonder why she had kept their relationship going. Good sex had always been a requirement to holding her attention in a man.