Tempted in the City (11 page)

“That's what's wrong with all of you young people.” Joe looked at Catherine and waved his fork as he spoke. “None of them married. No grandchildren. By Dom's age, I was already with their mother. Did I complain that I had to be an apprentice to my father? Never.”

Catherine ever-so-wisely put a big piece of steak in her mouth as she nodded sympathetically.

“You wanted to be like your father,” Theresa said, “and you still complained. Tony, come help me with the cheese, huh?”

He hated leaving Catherine alone, but the summons wasn't negotiable. “Sure, Ma.” It also wasn't about the cheese.

She took him past the table where the cheese course was set out on a big platter, all the way to the basement door. “I told you something was up with her.”

“What?”

“Only a client? I don't think so. The way she looks at you isn't just being a client.”

“I'm not going to talk to you about this.”

“Okay, fine. But you be careful, huh? She's smart, this one. She'll have you wrapped around her finger before you even know what's what. Take my word for it.” Theresa touched the side of her nose with her index finger. “I'm not wrong about this.”

“Do you want me to take the cheese to the table?”

The stare she gave him meant he'd hear more about it later. When the outsider was gone. He didn't care. The sooner this stupid night was over, the better.

“I have to clear some of the table first.”

“I'll give you a hand,” he said, grateful for the distraction.

She shrugged. “Do what you like. That's all you do, anyway,” his mother said, and walked out.

He heard Catherine offer to help, which was the third time tonight. Like the other times, she was turned down.

Could he even go back out there and be pleasant? None of this should have been a surprise. But he hadn't realized how much he wanted his family to see Catherine as someone special. So maybe he was getting a little serious about her. Hell, he didn't know.

Stupido.

But he'd go back, finish the meal. Make conversation. And hope that when the night was over, she didn't tell him to get lost.

11

“I'
M
SORRY
,”
T
ONY
said the minute they'd left the house and were on the street.

“What for?” Catherine studied his expression, but as usual she was having difficulty reading him. Of course she realized his apology had something to do with the evening, but there were quite a few things he could mean.

“I should have realized it would be uncomfortable for you. My grandmother didn't mean to be rude. I neglected to tell them you spoke Italian. Not that it would've excused what she said. I just wanted you to know she wouldn't have deliberately tried to hurt your feelings.”

“It's fine. Truly, I don't mind. I've hardly met anyone from the neighborhood yet. But tonight was a good beginning. And I like your family.”

“Why? My parents are living in a past that never really existed. It's as if they're stuck in a time warp. It's not just them, either. All the old-timers, they want everything to be the way they remember, but their memories are fairy tales.”

“Wow,” she said, walking toward the subway. “I think you had a much worse time than I did.”

He shifted the heavy bag of leftovers to his other arm. “Where are you planning on keeping this food? You'd have to buy a whole new fridge.”

She latched on to the change of subject eagerly. “I was hoping you'd take it to your place, then bring some of it tomorrow night.”

“Ah. About that.”

She slowed, not liking the hesitation in his voice one bit. “What is it?”

“I know dinner ran late. But I'd like it if we could be together tonight.”

The tension eased out of her shoulders. “Well, I suppose that would mean going to your place because of the food, but I'd have to get up super early to go back to mine before work in the morning.”

“You're right. It's stupid.”

She started walking more quickly. “Not stupid. In fact, I have an idea. Why don't we get a cab, which will take me by the house to gather my things, then we'll go to your place. As long as Dominic isn't planning to make a surprise visit.”

“Dominic knows if he does that again he'll be banished forever. No worries.”

“Good,” she said, waiting for the cloud that was hanging over him to lighten. But it didn't. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“You puzzle me. I can't tell if you were truly bothered by your family, or if you're upset because you think I was bothered.”

He hung his head, but just for a second. “Let's find a cab at the corner. And if you don't mind, let's not talk any more about my family tonight.”

“Deal,” she said, and hurried along with him to the cross street.

* * *

I
T
WAS
A
quarter to ten by the time they reached Tony's place. She was pleased that despite his subdued mood he still wanted her to spend the night with him. It took them forever to put the food away, but only because Tony couldn't seem to keep his hands off her.

“Okay, I think that's it,” she said, closing the fridge door and turning just as he caught her around the waist.

“I wasn't finished.”

“With what?” she asked, all innocence, his hungry look and low raspy voice exciting her.

“Kissing you,” he said, pulling her close. The way he took her mouth, possessive and demanding, accelerated more than her heartbeat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he thrust his tongue between her lips as if he meant to stake his claim.

It was thrilling. Her breasts brushed against his chest, her hardened nipples sensitive enough to make her breath catch. She squeezed her legs together as tightly as she could, needing the pressure, wanting so much more.

His hands tightened on her waist, and he lifted her up onto the center island. Their eyes were level now, and she could see the black of his widening pupils.

“Christ, you're beautiful,” he whispered, then kissed her as he slid his hands underneath her dress, moving them up her thighs, which seemed to part of their own volition. “I've been thinking about this since the last time you were here,” he said. “Except this time, I intend to finish what I start.”

She pulled back, needing to breathe for a moment. The way he skimmed his fingers in circles between her legs, knowing what he planned to do, threatened to make her hyperventilate.

He let her mouth go and studied her for a long moment as one of his hands slid up to her hip.

“What's this?”

“Panties.”

“Really?”

“A different kind.”

“Have I ever told you how much I like the way you think outside the box?”

“What a lovely way to say I've got a thing for fancy underwear.”

“Yeah,” he said. “That, too.”

She bit on her lower lip as he studied her undergarments by touch alone. In the meantime, though, she unbuttoned his shirt, stopping when she reached his pants. She ran her hands over his chest. She liked that he had the perfect amount of chest hair. She'd never been a big fan of shaved chests. Besides, the hair was soft and his flat nipples stood out.

“Can you wait just a second?” he asked, his voice lower still.

“Why?”

“Reconnaissance mission.”

She'd barely nodded when he lifted the skirt of her dress.

“You do like to make me work for it, don't you?” he said with a grunt.

“Not my intention, but it's kind of hot, watching you solve this puzzle.”

“I was going to go caveman style and rip them off, but they look so pretty I think I'd rather watch you take off the dress.”

“Huh,” she said, feeling her blush, but not minding it. “Sounds as though you might have a thing for fancy underwear, too.”

“Not until you I didn't.”

“Don't tell me you haven't been turned on by ladies in their intimate wear,” Catherine said with a seductive smile.

“I have. But not like this. Tell you what. I'm going to switch gears.”

“How?”

“Just relax. It'll be fine.”

His teasing fingers slid down her thighs until he was outside the dress. As he leaned in to kiss her again, this time softly, just lips brushing lips, those same fingers moved to the buttons on the top part of her dress. She actually had to chase after his mouth when he leaned back.

He pushed open the bodice, his eyes darkening as he caught a glimpse of her bra. It was the same silk as her panties, white, with lace on the sides and straps. It was one of her favorite sets, and she'd debated wearing them with garters and stockings, but she'd finally decided to go without. Now, she was sorry. It would have felt wonderful to have him remove them.

His hands went to her breasts, the cups that almost hid her nipples. It was obvious that she was aroused, but that was nothing compared to the havoc he caused when he bent down and sucked her right nipple into his mouth, silk and all.

She moaned at the feeling of his hot breath, the way he wetted the material. She'd always had sensitive nipples, but her body was going into overdrive.

She shivered when he moaned with her in his mouth. She tried to wrap her leg around his hips, but the way he was bent made it impossible. “I'm having trouble sitting still.”

“Mmm. Wiggle some more. I like it.” He gave her other breast equal attention. She touched the wet spot over the breast he'd just left, sliding the material across and around her ever hardening bud.

“Well, shit,” he said, standing up straight. “I can't...” He took hold of her and lifted her, making it easy for her to wrap her legs around his waist, loop her arms around his neck. She got busy as he walked, nuzzling that strong jaw of his all the way through the apartment until he reached the master suite.

He put her down next to the bed, kissing her quickly before he pulled down the comforter. Then he walked backward several paces. “Please,” he said.

It was exciting, taking her dress off for him. She did it slowly, starting with the belt. “I think me taking off my dress means you need to get down to your underwear, too.”

“I'm not wearing anything special.”

“Doesn't mean I won't like it,” she said, teasing him by lifting up her skirt partway—just enough to give him a glimpse of the white lace at the bottom of her satin tap pants.

His cock jumped enough for her to see it through his trousers.

“Come on,” she said, gyrating her hips while she rubbed the still-damp silk over her nipples. That she felt sexy as sin in her La Perla high-wasted culotte and matching bra, despite the fact that they hadn't turned off the lights, made her bolder. As did his dark eyes, his rapid breathing and the sound of his zipper going down. The best part, though, was the visual connection between them. It was so intense she refused to blink.

He dropped his pants, and yes, he'd worn navy boxer briefs. She liked them very much, and let him know by pulling her dress up and off, letting it puddle on the floor. He let his shirt fall, leaning forward as if his body was ready to mutiny and take her as she stood.

“My God,” he whispered.

“I love it when your voice gets all smoky.”

“You do, huh?”

She nodded. “And when you narrow your eyes like you've got some big master plan going on inside that head of yours.”

“Only one thing going on up there,” he said with a husky laugh, his gaze roaming the front of her. “I've never seen anything like that.”

“Really? That makes it extra nice.” She held her arms out, and when she figured he'd looked his fill, she turned around, giving him a view of her behind while she reached back and unclasped her bra.

She heard his sharp inhale when she let the bra slip from her shoulders. Then, in a very Vargas pinup girl move, she looked at him over her shoulder and raised a fingertip to her lips.

“Fuck,” he murmured, although she doubted he realized he'd said it aloud.

“I'm glad you like it.”

“I like everything, except the fact you're too far away.”

She turned back and glanced at the prominent bulge in his boxer briefs. She carefully put her fingers underneath the high waist of her panties, cocked her head as she waited for him to do the same with his briefs, then, smiling broadly, said, “One, two, three, go.” And she stripped off her bottoms, kicked off her shoes and dived under the sheet.

He was still struggling with his socks, cursing again in colorful language, until he finally crawled in next to her.

When they were skin to skin, all the way from her chest to her knees, she sighed and moaned at the same time. But that was okay, because he sounded like a man who'd just found heaven.

“The great thing about our arrangement,” she said, her eyelids drifting closed as he nibbled on her neck, “is that we can do anything we want.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, moving his teasing to her jaw. “Wait, what do you mean?”

“Well, that we're...you know. Not serious. It's like permission. We know it's only for fun. No dire consequences if something isn't perfect.”

He moved his head back and looked at her. “Are you suggesting sex with you could be anything but perfect?”

“That's sweet, but yes. I'm not saying it's not going to be perfect, but if it isn't, so what?”

Tony stole her breath away with another searing kiss, and when they finally took a much-needed breath, he whispered, “I love the way you think.”

12

A
LTHOUGH
HE
'
D
KISSED
that imperfect idea off her lips, Tony actually agreed with her. It was freeing to have no expectations. Though he had that with Rita, and this was definitely not that.

He wasn't sure why it felt different, though.

But he refused to think about it now. Not while he had this beautiful woman in his arms. In fact...

He rolled her gently onto her back, kissed her lips, her delicate jaw, the curve of her neck, then the hollow. All the while, he explored her silken skin. Her nipples were hard like pebbles, and when he squeezed one between his index finger and thumb, her reaction told him a lot. He hadn't squeezed hard, but he was glad to know she was open to exploration.

All the women he'd been with before and after Angie had welcomed a little bit of daring. He wasn't sure why he'd thought Catherine might be the exception, but it was true. Probably because she was so different from anyone he'd ever been with. Certainly more elegant, more worldly.

Her hands, both of them, were in his hair. Not exactly pushing him lower, but there was definitely a suggestion that she wouldn't mind. Far be it from him to question her wishes.

When he lapped at her left nipple, she tugged on his hair in a way that let him know she liked what he was doing. Her moan helped with that, too.

He circled the little bud, and sucked it between his lips. With nothing between him and her skin, she tasted amazing, and it finally dawned on him that she smelled like roses.

Her leg got into the game, pressing against his butt with her calf. It caused his cock to rub against her upper thigh, not quite on the mark, but close.

“Oh,” she said, letting her breath carry the word away. He used his free hand to move down her side, then over to the smooth flesh of her belly.

His reward was a jerk of her hips. There had been a plan, a good one, to take his time and move down her body until he'd memorized everything, but that jerk put a kink in the works.

Instead of the slow stroll, he more or less sped down to just above her delicately trimmed V. The scent of her was stronger here. Pulling at him like a Siren's call.

He looked up at her, and her beautiful blue eyes were half-lidded and dark, her lips parted and the tips of her teeth running over the place he wanted to kiss almost as much as he wanted to explore where he was.

Without losing eye contact, he parted her thighs, lifted her legs and eased them over his shoulders. Then he tore his gaze from hers and used his thumbs to reveal her moist, pink heat.

The first swipe of his tongue made him moan and his cock jerk impatiently. Tough. He tasted the sea and the essence of woman, beguiling and addictive. A few more long strokes all the way up to her clit, and then he circled the bud peeking out from her hood. Her legs on his back trembled. Catherine groaned and tugged on his hair. It didn't hurt. There was nothing but pleasure running through him.

As he learned what she liked best—slow pressed circles, quick flicks, teasing on the outer perimeter—he reacted. She'd urge him to focus, to flick and circle.

Her trembling increased, as did her cries, and with one final tug on his hair, she let go, jerking hard enough to unbalance him as her orgasm swept over her like a high tide.

He zeroed back in.

“Tony,” she said, her voice mostly breath.

He looked up.

“I'd really like it a lot if you put on a condom right now and shagged me into the mattress.”

“Yes,” he said, trying hard not to immediately come, with no direct stimulation at all. “Yes, I can do that.” He somehow got his knees beneath him and bent over far enough to grab a condom. “And for the record, you speaking Euro is very hot.
Shagging
is a great word.”

“You think so?” she said, an aftershock making the last word shaky.

He nodded as he quickly rolled the condom down his cock. “I do. And I'd like to say, also for the record, that I had planned to take my time with you, to give you every pleasure possible, but now that you've asked me so nicely, I'm probably not going to last much longer than I did before.”

“I don't mind. In fact, I'll make it easier for both of us.”

He didn't understand what that meant until she leaned back against the pillows, pulled one leg off his shoulder until her foot was on the bed, and spread the other leg wider. With a wicked smile that looked incredibly hot on her angelic face, she reached down with her right hand and spread herself for him. “I'm thinking that if you stop ogling now, we'll probably come at the exact same time.”

“You think I can touch your body and not come instantly?”

She inhaled raggedly for a few beats before meeting his gaze. “I believe in you. You're a strong, capable man. I think you can take us both to the moon and back.”

He closed his eyes and sent up a quick prayer that he wouldn't embarrass himself completely, then willed his cock to settle the hell down. The moon? No sweat. Since he was already on his knees, he stole a quick kiss before maneuvering into position, all while not daring to look at what her fingers were doing. Or even glance in that area.

As ready as he was going to get, he squared himself into firing range, and after a quick tug on his balls, went for it. All the way in one stroke.

He didn't come, although a heart attack wasn't out of the question. Hearing her gasp made him insane, and God, he could feel her hand moving under him. There was no need to look down; he could imagine everything with perfect clarity, all while looking into her half-closed eyes, just the rim of blue iris visible around her pupils.

Pulling out slowly, until the tip of his cock was between her warm, wet lips, he pushed hard again, moving the bed, her body, the whole damn building. Her mouth had opened as if in a scream, but there was no sound outside of a kind of squeak, which somehow turned him on even more. How was that even possible?

“You're so...”

“What?” she asked. “I'm so what?”

“Amazing.”

“You've said that before.”

“Astonishing.”

“Yes,” she said. “Better.”

“You like that?” he said, pulling out inch by inch.

“I like it when you talk to me. When you say nice things. Or dirty things. Either is fine.”

His head dropped again, for longer this time. “You're going to kill me.”

“No. Don't die. Not until we come. Together. Synchronized orgasms.”

He laughed, groaned. “I don't think I can wait.”

“It won't be long. I'm already having to slow it down.”

“Slow it—?”

“My finger. The second time tends to come faster.”

He choked on a laugh, because there was no way he could form a word. But somehow he managed to thrust into her again. He had to freeze there, with his cock buried, on the brink, the knuckles of her right hand rubbing against his body in a circle that was gaining momentum.

“Again,” she said.

“So fucking hot,” he murmured, his voice a mere croak.

“For me, too,” she said. “Now you need to stop screwing around and just do it. Hard. Okay?”

He very nearly lost it right then, but the woman wanted it fast and hard, and he was not going to disappoint her. “Who are you?” he said, as he pulled back so fast he slipped out all the way. It didn't take but a second to get back on track. “And where is that prim and proper beauty in that black skirt?”

“It's still me. Free to ask for what I want,” she said, through several deep gasps. “All because of you.”

“Me?”

“You make me brave, Paladino. You make me wanton.”

Her words spurred him into a brutal pace, sweat beading on his hairline, his heart beating its way out of his chest. He'd never heard that word spoken before. “Wanton,” he repeated. It was like hearing he was a sex god.

After hoping with all his heart that he hadn't said that last bit out loud, he couldn't think anymore. Not while he was having his mind and body shredded into atoms. He couldn't see. Could barely breathe. Wanted it to last forever, knowing full well he wouldn't survive.

“Now,” she cried. “Nnn-n-n—”

He broke. He was in to the hilt and coming like he'd empty his whole being inside her. Feeling her squeeze the entire length of his shaft as she trembled underneath and around him.

It took a couple lifetimes for his own body to stop shaking. With all the strength of a newborn kitten, he somehow managed to fall beside her on the bed, their bodies still touching.

* * *

C
ATHERINE
STARED
UP
at the ceiling. She could see it perfectly well because they still hadn't turned off any lights. Another way being with Tony was unique.

So was asking him to talk dirty to her. And then telling him when to wrap things up.

She smiled a little at that. It was the opposite of what she did in bed. With a partner. She'd always liked the idea of asking for exactly what she wanted. Which should not have been a difficult thing to do.

Yet it had been, until Tony came along. “You know what's interesting?”

A burst of laughter came from Tony. “What would that be?” he said, and she could hear the grin in his voice.

“I would have thought that you, being from such a traditional Italian family, would have had more difficulty with me taking over the...game plan.”

After a bit of groping, he found her hand and squeezed it. “I guess we surprised each other. Because I wouldn't have thought that you'd be the type to be so bold.”

She turned her head and found him looking at her, the laugh lines by his eyes making him look younger somehow. Certainly more handsome. “I know. Why do you think that is?”

He held up a hand. “One sec.” He turned away from her for a moment, grabbed some tissues, then pulled up the comforter so they wouldn't get cold now that the high was wearing off.

She took advantage of the mini break and sipped some much needed water from a bottle that had been left on the nightstand. By the time they were both back in position she was relieved that the cozy intimacy was still intact. It got even better when he found her hand again.

“I think,” he said, “that we click in a way that's unusual.”

“Explain?”

“From an objective standpoint, you're completely out of my league.”

“I am not.”

“Yeah, you are. I'm not putting myself down. But you have to admit we come from different worlds.”

“Okay, I'll give you that. But you're certainly not from the wrong side of the tracks, and I'm not going to be handed the keys to an empire.”

“My point is there's so much I like about you. We have a lot in common. Your taste, your willingness to take on a challenge. The work you do. You could have gone a whole different way, but you're very independent for a person who's had the kind of life you've led. I'm the kind of guy who knew from the beginning what I was going to do, who I'd be.”

“Also admirable, but how does that make us unusual?”

“It's not a negative thing at all. I'm really glad we're getting to know each other, in all kinds of ways. But we both know your family would have a fit if we ever really got together, and, well...”

“I'm not Italian. Or Catholic.”

He nodded. “I'm not saying either of us allows our families to run our lives, but that doesn't change the fact that we're...improbable, and I believe it makes us brave.”

“How is that different from what I said?”

He shook his head. “I'm with you because I like you, and I think it's great that we feel comfortable enough to step outside our comfort zones. Not just in bed, either. You do realize I don't usually pitch in on jobs like I'm doing with you.”

“I didn't think so. And I'm not exactly the DIY type of person.”

“But the sex part is also sensational, so...”

She grinned. “Don't tell me you're ready...”

“I wish.” He slid deeper under the covers, running a hand down her pale skin. “But soon.”

She shimmied down until they were pressed against each other, her leg entwined with his. The feel of her made him wish he was a teenager again. Her hand was suddenly on his ass, giving him a little squeeze, and it wouldn't surprise him at all if he rose to the occasion sooner than he thought he could.