The Santini Collection 1-4 (39 page)

She laughed. “Of course. Now, go.”

Jules shook her head. “Okay.”

As Jules shut down her computer, she formulated a plan. Taking Rufus worked because he could be a buffer. He wasn’t enamored with men to begin with. In fact, the first few times Jesse came over, he peed on his shoes. So, he might ward off Vince at least for tonight. Jules knew he wanted more, wanted to at least take her to bed. If she had any doubts, that kiss last night had blown those to bits. She closed her eyes as she thought about the way it felt to have his mouth on hers again.

He had been a good kisser years ago, but now…he knocked her socks off. Okay not her socks, but she wasn’t that far from offering her body up in exchange for more kisses like that one.

Sadly, sex wasn’t something she had ever really enjoyed. She had only been with one man and from her point of view, Mike had been a very selfish lover. She had thought it would get better with time, but Mike…well, he didn’t get any better.

Sighing she looked down at Rufus. “I have a feeling that Vince wouldn’t be the same…but he might just be worse.”

She was very nearly in love with the man. She had been years ago but thought him out of her league. Now, though, he was determined to get her in his bed. She knew Santini men and their belief in home and family. It wasn’t in her to get serious about a man again and it would kill her when he walked away.

She pushed that thought to the back of her mind. As she walked Rufus out to her car, she convinced herself she was just going to talk to him about those flowers and nothing else.

And if anyone believed that, she had some oceanfront property in Arizona to sell to them.

* * * *

Vince kept it light as they talked about his shrubs. Jules was very knowledgeable but he expected nothing less. She had always been a go-getter in high school. But, it was kind of hard to be too serious with her. The distressed noise she made when she saw his shrubs and flowerbed was well, cute. He couldn’t think of another word. Okay, sexy. Good lord, the woman was sexy. Crap, she was asking him a question.

“
What?”

“
I asked how long have you ignored this?”

The accusatory tone in her voice surprised him.

“
I moved in this fall. There wasn’t much I could do.”

She snorted and crossed her arms. Damn, he just wanted to eat her up. Now that he had decided to go after her, he couldn’t think of anything else. He wanted to have her in his bed. And his shower. And damn, he would love to take her in every room of the house.

“
Santini if you aren’t going to pay attention to me, I’m leaving.”

“
Sorry. I was thinking about something else.”

She gave him a look that told him she wasn’t buying that. “There is always something you can be doing in the garden. All year.”

Vince smiled. He had her now. When Jules was passionate about something, there was no stopping her. She had been so involved in high school. Drama, choir, and student council had filled her time. Now, all he had to do was get her passionate about him and everything would work out fine.

“
That’s why I need your help. I’ve never owned a home before. Actually, I’ve only lived in apartments until now.”

“
Why would you do that?” she asked, frowning at him.

“
Special forces don’t spend a lot of time at home. It was usually safer to have an apartment than a house sitting there for weeks or months at a time without an occupant. But, when I got this assignment, I decided to take the plunge. Truth is, I’ll probably end up retiring here some day.”

“
Hmm.” He could see she was working things out in her head. Probably calculating how much money she was going to charge him. He didn’t care. If it meant she was going to be at his house on a regular basis that was fine by him. Sad to admit, but true.

“
Why don’t we have something to drink and you can tell me what I need to do?”

She gave him a skeptical look but she nodded. He held the door open for her, then shut it behind her. Rufus gave a huff, and laid his head back down. He’d wondered when she showed up at his house with her dog, but the animal just made himself at home.

“
I can’t believe he’s so calm,” Jules said.

“
What do you mean?”

“
He doesn’t like change and he really doesn’t like men.”

He glanced at her. “Is that why you brought him?”

Her face flushed. “Not really. He was mad I left him for so long yesterday, so I brought him to the shop with me. He was very agitated last night.”

Vince looked at the old dog that was already snoring then looked back at Jules. “He has the energy to get agitated?”

“
He does. I swear. He has a particular distaste for Jesse.”

He smiled. “I might have to buy that dog a steak.”

She rolled her eyes. “Where is this drink you promised?”

He nodded and headed to the kitchen. The sound of the wooden floor beneath is feet was one of Vince’s favorite sounds. He could have bought a newer house, but he wanted something old, something he could put his own stamp on.

“
Wow,” she said walking into the kitchen. He couldn’t help but feel a small sense of pride. He’d worked hard at getting the kitchen redone the last three months.

“
Thanks.”

“
You did this?”

“
Some of it. I had to hire contractors for most of the wiring and plumbing. If you think the garden is a mess, you should have seen this.”

“
It’s nice. Not too big, but I love the granite countertops. Oh and a gas stove. I have an electric. It sucks.”

“
So, want a beer.”

She shook her head. “No. I have to drive and I’m not much of a drinker. I’ll take some ice water though.”

As he went about getting her drink, she walked around the kitchen. He had started on the kitchen first because to him, it was the heart of the house. Plus, he loved to cook.

He handed her the glass of water then got one of his own. He watched her while she drank, unable to do anything else. She looked good in his kitchen, in his house. It was like it was made for her. She had a love of antiques and history. The house was built at the turn of the last century with a large wrap around porch. It was one of her real loves.

They were the same age, but he felt older, and he knew he looked older. Jules looked the same. That alabaster skin was as sooth as it was in high school. And he adored those freckles across the bridge of her nose.

“
Stop.”

He blinked. “What?”

“
Stop staring at me like that.”

“
Like what?”

“
Like you’re the big bad wolf and I’m your next meal.”

The minute she said it, the air between them grew heavy. He did want to eat her up. Damn, if she didn’t get that right. He set his drink down on the island and walked toward her.

“
Now, Vince…”

He didn’t give her time to finish. He grabbed her glass and set it down, then grabbed her.

“
This isn’t smart,” she said, but she was breathless as he pressed his body into hers.

“
Nope, but it feels good.”

She hesitated for a second, and for that small amount of time, he was sure she would say no. Then, her resistance faded and she slipped her arms over his shoulders.

“
You’re right, Vince. It does.”

His arousal soared, his head spun. He bent his head.

“
And it’s about to feel whole lot better.”

He bent his head, crushing his mouth against hers, determined to prove it.

Chapter Six

Vince lifted her off her feet and into his arms as he continued to kiss her. Her world spun as he walked down the hall.

“
Wait,” she said, though it sounded weak even to her. Maybe that was because she was weak.

He stopped at the entrance to his bedroom. “What? Are you going to tell me no now? You want me. I want you. Don’t play games. If you don’t want to do this, I can still walk away right now.”

Jules knew she should say no. She had never been one for casual affairs, and there was nothing casual about Vince Santini. She couldn’t remember wanting something this badly in her life. So, for once in her life, instead of doing what she knew she should, Jules did the opposite.

“
Yes. I want this as much as you do. Just know…”

How did you tell someone you weren’t any good in bed? It was something that had been a problem in her marriage. It was one of the things that Mike had thrown in her face when she caught him cheating. She was lacking in bed so he had to go elsewhere. It had hurt at the time, and she had believed him.

Since he’d been her only lover, she didn’t have any other opinions on the matter.

He kissed her then, slowly, sweetly. It wasn’t as carnal as his other kisses, but it moved her even more. When he pulled back her body was humming and her heart was melting.

“
Don’t worry about anything, Jules,” he said walking into the bedroom and laying her on the massive California king bed. “You let me worry about it and you just enjoy.”

She sighed as he covered her body with his. He kissed her, not on the mouth, but on her neck. It sent a wave of heat rushing over her flesh. He tugged on her earlobe. She shivered.

“
Ahh, you like that?”

She couldn’t speak because he was already slipping his hand under her t-shirt and cupping her breast. She’d always felt she was lacking in that department, as did Mike.

She banished that thought. She would not let bad memories cloud this one. Mike was a bastard and this…this was special. Instead, she did just as Vince told her to do and enjoyed.

He worked her shirt up and off her and easily undid her bra with one hand.

“
Wow,” she said impressed.

He smiled down at her and the air backed up in her lungs. He looked so young, so carefree, so like the boy she knew all those years ago.

“
Hey, I’ve gotta have some moves. I
am
a Santini.”

She started to chuckle, then gasped as he pulled her bra away and took a nipple into his mouth. Slowly, he teased her with his mouth, his hands…there wasn’t anywhere he didn’t touch her. Before she realized it, she was naked.

He worked his way down her body between her legs. She opened her mouth to say something—she didn’t remember what—but he set his mouth on her sex. The feel of his wicked mouth on her wiped out any and all thoughts. Her need grew as he slipped his tongue inside her. She went from hot to screaming in just a minute. Waves of ecstasy pummeled at her as he slid his hands beneath her ass and continued his assault on her.

Just as the first orgasm was fading another hit her, this time more intense. She screamed his name as she came this time, shuddering against his mouth. Little bursts of pleasure sparked through her as he slipped out of bed. By the time she opened her eyes he was already gloriously naked.

Good God. The man was all sinewy muscle and beautiful flesh. She sat up, resting her weight on her elbows.

“
I take that expression as a good sign,” he said.

She glanced up at him. Joking in bed wasn’t something she was used to, but apparently Vince was. He was grinning down at her and she smiled.

“
It is.”

He grabbed a condom out of the bedside table drawer. He ripped open the foil package and pulled out the condom. She watched, mesmerized by his large hands rolling it down his penis.

She licked her lips.

“
Lord, don’t do that, Jules. I’ll never last.”

She glanced up at him.