The Playboy's Fugitive Bride (38 page)

“Is he for real?” Aaron asked looking up at her.

“I don’t know.  He seems sincere.  Let’s just hope he means it.”

Aaron was quiet for a moment then he shot to his feet.  He held Nia’s hands.  “I’m sorry for the things I said earlier.  Forgive me?”

“Already did.”

“Do you love him?  I mean your husband?”

“Yes.”  She wasn’t going to lie to him.

“I don’t understand how you can, knowing what he did to our father, our family.”

“I understand how you feel, Aaron, but I’ve just spent a week with the man, and I have to confess that I have doubts.”

“About Dad’s claims?”

“No.  Not about that.  I feel like Massimo isn’t the same person he was six years ago.  He was young and inexperienced back then.  Maybe he thought he was doing the best thing for his company.”  She shrugged.  “I don’t know.  Maybe he’s changed.”

“He couldn’t have changed that much.  He was a hound back then, and he’s still a hound, Nia.  He changes women faster than I change my socks.  Didn’t he cheat on his fiancée not too long ago?”

Nia tugged her hands from his and tucked her hair behind her ears.  “Massimo wouldn’t cheat on me.”

“How can you be sure?  You yourself said that cheating was in his blood.”

“Because he promised,” she said with an emphatic shake of her head.

Aaron chuckled sarcastically.  “He also made promises to our father, and look where he is.”

Nia swallowed the feeling of inadequacy this conversation was causing in her.  “You think I haven’t considered that?” she asked staring up at her brother, meeting the concern in his eyes.  “Massimo promised me he wouldn’t cheat and I believe him.  Ever since I walked up to him in that cabin, he’s been nothing but caring, sweet, funny even,” she said.

“You’ve been in love with him for years.  You’ll think that about him.  Love is blind.”

“Maybe it is.  But Eddie changed, and he’s a notorious gangster.  I’ve changed, and before he died, Dad did say to forgive Massimo.”  She waved her hands at him.  “And you, you’ve changed.  I can’t believe you’ve morphed into this man.  This man with eloquent speech, and a sense of direction and purpose.  A man who earns thousands of dollars in a few honest weeks’ work.  What happened to you?”  She poked him in the chest.

He chuckled.  “Her name is Monica.”

“Josie’s little sister?”

“Well, she isn’t
that
little.  She’s my age.  I like her.  She’s really smart, and she’s interested in engineering, too.  She’s applying to colleges here in the Northeast.  We’re dating.”

“Wow.”  Nia walked to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of water.  She turned around and stepped on Aaron’s toes.  They both laughed.  Aaron had been shadowing her ever since he could crawl.  Every time she turned around, she was stepping on his toes.  It was just that his toes were really big now—much bigger than hers.  She handed him a bottle of water.  “I have to ask you this—”

“You want to know if we’re doing it,” he said.

“Are you?”

“No.  I’m not ready for that, and neither is Monica, but we’re serious about each other.”

She let out the breath she didn’t even know she was holding.  “You’re kind of young to be serious about any girl.”  She unscrewed her bottle and took a long sip.

“No younger than you were when you fell for that hound you’re married to.”  He raised his bottle to his lips.

Nia socked him in the gut, and then laughed as water spilled down his chin and splashed on to his colorful Caribbean print shirt.

He chuckled as he dabbed at the water.  “I guess I deserved that.”

“You did.”

“Does he make you happy?”

She nodded.  “Very.”

“So why haven’t you told him who you really are?”

“Everything happened so quickly and unexpectedly, and once we were married and I realized that I loved him, I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Is he here in New York with you?”

“No.  He’s in Asia on a business trip.  But as soon as he gets home, I’m telling him everything.”  She pulled out a chair from under the dining table and sat down.  “I don’t even think my marriage is legal.”

“Right.”  Aaron pulled out the chair next to her and sat down.  “Nia Sylk isn’t your real name, and Aaron Sylk isn’t mine.  “Boy, we’re sure in a lot of mess.”

Nia sighed.  “Since the change was legal, I don’t think it’s too much of a mess.  I talked to a lawyer yesterday, and he’s on it already.  The biggest problem for you is having yours changed for your school records, and for MIT.”

“Is it going to be an issue?”  His voice was ripe with worry about his future.

“Not too much.  It’s being handled.  I got you, little brother.”  She bumped his arm with her shoulder.  “Massimo is due back on Friday, and I plan to tell him everything then.  It wouldn’t be pleasant because he has to explain why he voided the contract between our fathers.  He has to take responsibility for Dad’s death.  He has to atone for that.  If we can get past that problem, and if he still wants me, I’ll ask him to marry me again.”  She wanted to wake up in his bed as Shaina Norwood-Andretti on Saturday morning, on his thirty-fourth birthday.  “I can’t wait for him to come home, so we can start fresh.”

“I guess home for you isn’t New York anymore.  It’s Granite Falls now.”  Aaron looked sad.

“New York was never our home.  We were just hiding out here.  But Granite Falls is your home, too, Aaron.  And I would love it if you’d come visit this coming weekend to meet Massimo and all the other friends I’ve already made.”

“Pff.  Thanks, but no thanks.”  He placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.  “I’m really happy for you, Nia.  I’m happy that you’re married to the man of your dreams.  But the man of your dreams is the man of my nightmares.  I’m not ready to meet him.  I don’t know if I’ll ever be.”

“I know.  I understand.”

“But if he ever hurts you, if he ever makes you cry…” He made fists with both hands.  “His Italian-American face will meet my African-American fists.”

Nia chuckled and snuggled against his chest.  Massimo had promised to fight her giants for her as well.  It felt so good to have two men who were willing and ready to fight for her and over her.  It felt so good to lay down the burdens of responsibility she’d been carrying for five long years. 
So good
.

“Come on,” she said, snatching her purse from the table.  “Let’s go explore New York in style.  Cruise around in a sleek limousine, check out some ritzy restaurants, order some raw oysters, ceviche, and caviar, even try some escargot—see what the rave is all about.”

“Hey, as long as Massimo Andretti is paying, I’m all in.”

Nia smiled.  Aaron had said Massimo’s name.  It was a good sign.

As the limousine cruised along 42
nd
Street toward Times Square, armies of butterflies fluttered around in Massimo’s belly and his heart was pounding so ferociously, he could hardly breathe.  He’d never experience butterflies in his belly or pounding of the heart, except when he was caught up in the throes of passion—a basic physical reaction to lust and sexual release.

These strange sensations happening inside him were brand new.  His body had never been this eager for meaningful, heartwarming feminine contact, his emotions never so positive, his spirits never so uplifted at the prospect of floating away into a cosmos of love energy with Nia.  His love for her had superseded a level, much higher and deeper than he’d ever imagined.

Nia possessed everything he’d ever wanted, would ever want in a woman.  She was the one who satisfied his deepest human need—the need to be loved.

His breath caught in his throat.  What if Nia didn’t feel the same way about him?  What if she didn’t love him?  He’d forced her to marry him because after spending three days with her, he’d realized that he couldn’t live without her.  He loved her, even if he hadn’t known, hadn’t admitted it to himself at the time they’d exchanged vows.  She, on the other hand, had married him because she felt she had no other choice.

It was that realization that had driven him to take Bryce up on his offer to return home early.  Well, that and the provocative video Nia had sent him during his second business meeting yesterday.  His phone had buzzed in his pocket, and when he’d seen the text from Nia, he’d turned it on.

Never before had Massimo taken a call from a woman while he was occupied with business.  But he’d taken this one and had almost exploded in his pants.  He’d immediately excused himself and hurried to the men’s room.  He’d locked himself inside a stall and watched the mouthwatering video of his wife slowly peeling off a baby blue camisole and panties, touching herself seductively and intimately while her body swayed to Barry White’s
Baby Blues
.  He’d been as hard as a rock by the time she edged her baby blue panties down her tempting body.

Completely naked, she gracefully crawled up on the bed and positioned herself on all fours—animal style—as Barry sang
Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
.  She pushed her delectable buttocks into the air, smiled seductively into the camera and began simulating the act of lovemaking, rocking, bucking, thrusting, and writhing while she caressed her breasts, her belly, and down between her thighs where he was certain her fingers had found their way inside her dripping heat.  When her pleasure peaked, she dropped her shoulders on the mattress and closed her eyes, her mouth opened in wondrous ecstasy to Barry’s
You’re The First, The Last, My Everything
.

Massimo hadn’t even realized that he’d freed himself from the constrictions of his trousers and that he’d been stroking himself, that his sighs and moans of pleasure had blended with Nia’s as her body spoke to him in the sensual language of love, until the warm evidence of his release poured into his hand.

There was no way Massimo could go back into the conference room after that.  He’d called Nia to thank her for the video, but he hadn’t told her that he was coming home early.  He wanted to surprise her, and what a surprise it would be he thought as his entire body seemed to quiver with the anticipation of seeing her again.

It was around two o’clock in the morning when he entered the hotel, but he was rested since he’d slept and showered during his eighteen-hour flight from Bangkok.  As he rode the elevator up to the penthouse suite, Massimo hoped Cameron—who Nia said was staying with her until tomorrow—was asleep on the other side of the suite.  As much as Massimo wanted to meet the young man, his wife’s was the only face he wanted to see, her voice the only voice he wanted to hear for the next few hours.  But he had to admit that his quiver of excitement was tainted with a rush of trepidation.

He had to tell Nia what he knew about her, even before he told her that he loved her—had loved her for the past six years.  He couldn’t keep that secret any longer.  He didn’t even think he’d be able to make love to her again until he got it off his chest.  The next time they rode the waves of desire together, he wanted to whisper, scream her name—
Shaina
! 

He wanted her to know that he was making love to her, the girl who’d enchanted him with her eyes six years ago.  He wanted to tell her that it was her beautiful brown eyes that had guided him back to life after his collision with death.  He hoped, he prayed that she felt the same way about him.

Massimo slid his key card through the slot and pushed the door open.  He stepped inside and glanced about the semi-darkened living area.  It was empty and quiet. 
Excellent
.  As he made his way toward the master bedroom, he noticed the multitude of shopping bags littered around.  He recognized the names of some of the most exclusive boutiques and department stores in New York.  He smiled at the thought that his wife felt at liberty to spend his money.  For the first time in his life, Massimo felt useful, needed.

His heart was thumping even louder as he opened the door and stepped inside the spacious room.  The drapes were drawn against the twinkling lights of New York City, but a glowing fire in the fireplace gave him just enough light to make out Nia’s sleeping form in the gigantic bed.  He dropped his bags near the door, toed off his shoes, and began stripping his clothes as he walked across the carpet.  By the time Massimo stopped beside the bed and gazed down at his wife’s angelic face, he was naked and aching.  They’d been apart for three days, yet it felt like three weeks or even months.

He pulled back the cover and tossed it to the foot of the bed.  She was naked.  His eyes swept down her beautiful, golden body, glowing in the firelight as images of her dancing in the video heightened his arousal.  He slid in beside her and spooned her against him.  A fierce hunger ripped through Massimo as her soft buttocks collided with his groin.  His erection responded by pulsing and growing in length and girth, as it nestled itself between the warm, moist comfort of her buttocks.  Massimo buried his face in her hair, in the sleepy hollow of her neck.  She was soft, and warm, and she smelled exquisite—fresh, yet musky from her own juices—a heady combination of subtle clean and earthy arousal.  He had to get her some toys.

He pulled her closer with one hand and brushed his nose and lips along her neck and back, tenderly, sensually—intoxicating himself with her essence while his other hand moved slowly up along her silky body.  He applied extra pressure to the taut flatness of her little belly, wondering if his first child was already planted inside her, bonding them together forever.

She moaned in her sleep, and pushed back into him, wriggling her buttocks against his cock so erotically, his stomach cramped from the thrill of it.  The heat from her body merged with his, sending a fiery ache deep inside of Massimo.  When his hands cupped her breasts, she began to undulate against him, cradling and caressing his shaft between her cheeks.  Massimo thrust lightly, creating an intimate exchange that was beyond delicious.  He kneaded her breasts and kissed and licked her earlobes, her neck, her shoulders and back until she began to groan and shiver.

Her breathing now shallow and rapid, sent electrical shocks pounding through Massimo, and needing a more intimate contact, he reached between them and fitted himself between her thighs.  He thrust back and forth, rubbing his length against the hot, moist swell of her sex.  He groaned when she squeezed her thighs on a sigh and shuddered, trapping him in her velvet prison.