Words of Lust (8 page)

The comment fell flat. Nick looked furious, and she glared around the table and wondered about the woman Vincenzo mentioned. It was a mortifying moment. She glanced at Nick. Was he dating the other woman too? It had never occurred to her, with all his protestations about future dates, he might be expecting her to be just one of his many lovers. Of course it hadn’t even occurred to her to mention that she was single. She had just assumed. Perhaps it had been foolish of her. Her cheeks flushed hotly and she couldn’t let the moment pass. She had to defend herself.

“Exactly how many other competitors are there in your playbook, Nick?”

Her question fell into the noise of the table like an atom bomb. Everyone stopped talking and stared from one to another. Her stomach twisted. She’d been right. He was dating someone else. Or more than one someone else. She was nothing more to him than another woman to satisfy his appetite.

Then he squeezed her hand.

“Thanks for upsetting Serafina, Vin. Really classy to bring up an old girlfriend when I’m here with someone else. And she’s not dating any other guys, either.”

“Don’t tell me you guys are what, like exclusive?” Vincenzo looked shocked.

“Yes, we are, so shut it, why don’t you?”

Exclusive? While the news should have relieved her, instead his pronouncement tweaked her. It would have been nice to have been consulted before he blithely announced it to his entire family on their second date, for heaven’s sake!

After a moment of awkward silence, conversation slowly revived and everyone steered clear of any further comments on their love life.

Finally, when everyone began to drift away from the table, he pulled her aside.

“You look seriously pissed. I’m really sorry about Vin. Speaking without thinking is a talent of his.”

“You don’t get it, do you? Of course it is very annoying that he’d bring up your prior girlfriends, in front of me, and your family, but you shouldn’t have just barreled in there making statements without even asking me.”

“Asking you what?”

“Asking me if I’m dating anyone else!” She tried to keep her voice down but she was fuming.

“But you’re not.” He looked dark and intimidating as he stared down at her.

“No, of course I’m not. I wouldn’t have accepted a date with you if I was.”

“Well, I’m not either. So what’s the big deal?”

“Because this is our business and you should have asked me before you said anything. You make this big pronouncement in front of your family and I don’t have any idea whether we’ll even have another date.”

For a long moment he didn’t say another word. His temper was clearly rising, but he just looked at her. Shivers ran across her skin not from fear, but from the potent intensity of his expression.

“Professor. We will be having another date. Many other dates.”

“I suggest you ask me rather than tell me.”

“Really? Okay. How’s this? Do you think you’ll be up for another date? And another, and another after that? So I can take you out, show you off and do all those nasty things to you I promised?”

Her anger faded slightly beneath his withering stare and carnal promise. But she couldn’t let him outmaneuver her.

“I’ll get back to you.” And she turned and walked away, cowardly joining Cara and Gia and Cara’s kids.

For the next little while she managed to avoid Nick and when he finally caught her eye, he held up his wine in salute and grinned. Despite her simmering annoyance, she couldn’t help but be relieved. Still, she avoided him for the rest of the afternoon and slowly relaxed and enjoyed herself.

She even had a lovely chat with Mrs. Stellato when she helped clear the table before four kinds of dessert were brought out.

“I’m sorry my boys gave you such a hard time in there. They know better than that.”

“Please don’t worry at all. I handle guys like them in my classes constantly. It’s the first thing guys do when confronted with the books we read. They laugh and make fun. It’s usually someone like Gia who gets in their faces and tells them off, then they skulk into the corner and try to keep up so they can impress the girls. Usually the books seduce them along the way.”

“I guess I just don’t understand what kind of books they are. Gia mentioned them the other day, but I’ve never heard of any of them. I might like some of them, maybe. I do like those spicy romance novels.”

She gave Mrs. Stellato a big smile. “I do too, Mrs. Stellato.”

And just like that her culinary insufficiency was forgotten.

After dessert they said their goodbyes to the multitude of Stellatos and walked to the truck parked at the curb.

“So that wasn’t too bad, was it?” He tossed another wave at the boisterous crowd who were hustling back inside to watch a baseball game.

His mother had hugged her and insisted she come again, and Cara had followed suit. The intense family emotion had her feeling off-kilter and she was relieved to be escaping from it all. Clearly none of the Stellatos did anything in a small way and the afternoon was off the Richter chart overwhelming for her.

She smiled at his words and shook her head. He must have sensed something.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, really. It’s just...”

“Overwhelming?” he prompted when she paused.

“That’s exactly it.”

He hugged her gently. “Poor baby. It’s my fault. I should have broken them to you gently. Let you build up a tolerance instead of shoving you in the deep end of the Stellato gene pool.”

“I’m not a child. Your family just takes a bit of getting used to.” She wanted off the subject of her fragility and pulled out of his grip before changing the subject. “I liked Cara a lot. And your mother and father are lovely. They made me feel very welcome.” She walked toward the truck, wanting to just escape.

“I notice you’re not singing the praises of Berto and Vincenzo.”

“It was very embarrassing.”

He caught up to her. “They can be assholes. Take my word for it, today they were tame.”

“Who’s Denise?”

He slapped a palm against his forehead and groaned.

“Can’t we drop this? I told you I’m not dating her or anyone else.”

“I’m curious. Old flame?”

“Not hardly. She’s just a girl from the neighborhood I dated off and on a while back. Vincenzo dated her after me too. She’s the one Mom threatened she’d invite if I didn’t find someone to date and bring home.”

“Ouch! Does poor Denise know she’s your mother’s secret weapon?”

“I don’t think she’d care. She’s a barracuda.”

“I guess that’s a testament to your desirability as a boyfriend, though.”

“I’m not interested in Denise. I think you know who I’ve got my eye on.” He looked at her and the glance spoke volumes. “Just in case you’re wondering, I’m not a guy who plays games. I know you were pissed off, but trust me when I say there will be dates. And you will have a good time.”

“Whether I want to or not?”

“Even if I have to tie you up and toss you over my shoulder.”

“Caveman.”

“If the club fits.”

She rolled her eyes but when he helped her into the truck, his hands tightened on her waist and he held on to her for a long moment.

“Remember. I don’t play games.”

* * *

Sunday evening traffic heading back into the city was congested, so it was nearly forty-five minutes before he pulled up in front of his loft. It would have been far more efficient to drop her off first, but her pulse sped up and she didn’t want him to take her home.

“I thought you might want to come up and see my place.” His look was intent. “We’ll do it another time if you need to get home.”

She looked out over the West Side where the sun had set, leaving an amber corona over the skyline. The atmosphere in the car had begun to morph as they reached the city and she could feel the heat of his hunger permeating the truck like a live thing. Her own was simmering and the time alone in the car with him had stoked it. She had work to do. She should thank him for the lovely dinner and go home.

“I’d love to.” She looked at him steadily. When the sly smile crept over his face, it thrilled her. Her heart beat a little faster. He was an experienced lover. One women threw themselves at. Yet he wanted her. The kernel of affection that had surreptitiously appeared in her heart began to swell and grow. She smiled back.

“After all, you didn’t have much of the spumoni,” she whispered.

“What?”

She shrugged. “I thought you might be hungry for more dessert.” Was that husky siren’s voice really coming out of her mouth?

He grinned that grin. “Great minds sure do think alike, Professor.”

Then he escorted her inside, where she was momentarily distracted from desire by the incredible space. It was spare but enhanced by dramatic artwork, and every piece of furniture, along with striking earth-toned color schemes, made it impressive.

“Wow.”

But he didn’t have interior design on his mind.

“There’s the kitchen, this is the living room, here’s my bedroom.” With an impatient wave of his arm, he ushered her toward a partially screened raised platform upon which sat the biggest bed she’d ever seen.

Outside the glow of sunset had faded to a purple twilight and the space was flooded with a rich, erotic color.

He stood before her, unsmiling, his lust for her clear on his face.

“I want to undress you.” His voice was thick and husky, testifying to his arousal.

“Yes.”

He reached out and touched the buttons on her dress. His bronzed hands looked titillating against the soft fabric. She’d worn her most feminine outfit, hoping to make a good impression on the Stellatos. The tiny pink buttons slid easily from their moorings and his look was worshipful as he spread the lacy bodice, exposing the delicate pink satin Victoria’s Secret bra that had been her guilty birthday pleasure.

“Man, that’s beautiful.” He traced the edges of the cups with a single finger, setting her skin on fire.

Pushing the shoulders of the dress free, he undid a few more buttons down to the waist until the dress slid over her hips with a whisper of fabric, pooling on the floor at her feet.

She would have felt exposed if not for the expression on his face.

“God, the things I’m going to do to you.” He caressed her waist, then her hips, finally sliding his hands reverently over her ass. Then he reached behind her and unfastened the bra. He pulled the straps down and tossed it aside and she gloated silently at his increasing impatience. When he eased her panties down, he took advantage of his position to lean forward and plant a kiss just above the curls between her thighs. She gasped at the newness of these delicious intimacies. Being naked in front of him for the first time sent an electric thrill coursing through her body.

He looked up, his palms framing her thighs. She sighed. “I love the way your hands feel on me.”

“That’s good, because I plan on having my hands on you every chance I get.”

He used two fingers to spread the lips of her pussy and, leaning in, laved his tongue through her wetness, his movements slow and seductive. He swiped back and forth until she shuddered with reaction and he smiled wickedly. “Berto and Vincenzo only teased us because they’re jealous of me.”

“Jealous? Why?”

He leaned in again and rubbed his nose against her, inhaling with a deep sigh.

“Because this is mine.” The way he uttered the words, with a possessive, self-satisfied growl, aroused her almost beyond endurance. She needed so much more of him and she wanted it now. Everything he’d promised her. Everything she’d fantasized but never experienced.

She was sure he could hear the thudding of her heart. He stood, hastily removing his clothes until he was proudly naked and more incredible than she could have imagined. She reached out to touch his erection but he held her hand away.

“Your turn to play later. I can’t wait for you.” He swung her up against him, wrapping her legs around him so his cock nestled against her weeping flesh. The contact made her moan, and his eyes darkened at the sound.

He walked to the bed, laying her down before reaching into the drawer of the black lacquer night stand. He pulled a foil wrapped condom out and quickly rolled it on.

He nodded. “I’m tested regularly. I’m okay.”

“Me too.” Breathless at the sight of him, she was afraid she would have to resort to begging if he didn’t take her right that minute.

“Then we’re golden.” He prowled onto the bed and slowly lowered himself over her. When their bodies touched from chest to thighs, she couldn’t help but sigh with the beauty of the sensation. The hardness of his muscled frame as he crushed her into the mattress should have been uncomfortable. It wasn’t. It was consuming. The feel of his weight, his heat, combined to make her crazy

“You feel so good.” She spoke tentatively, hesitant about expressing herself during sex. Then she recalled his words of reassurance and felt her nervousness evaporate.

“Do I? You’re the one who feels damned good.” He pushed upward, his condom-clad cock rubbing against her again and again. She couldn’t help catching her breath.

“Tell me what you like, where you want me to touch you, what you want to do.”

“Everything. Everywhere. All over.”

“We’ll have to work on specifics, but good to know you’re insatiable. I like that in a woman.” He kissed her hard and quick and she sensed him holding back.

“I’ll go slower next time, I promise, but right now, I’ve been waiting to get inside you for days.”

“Then stop talking and do something.” She wrapped her arms around him and thrust her hips upward, undulating roughly.

“I love a bold woman.”

“Oh, I’m shy. But you’re driving me mad.”

He grinned, then kissed her again. Deep and thorough, with the possessive power that intoxicated her, and she responded in kind. She wanted to eat him, take all of him she could, get him inside of her and feel his pulsing strength and heat.

He let his full weight settle down on her and it was a glorious feeling of being pinned, trapped. She could feel him touching her everywhere.

He took hold of her breasts and squeezed them. The kneading sensation, the rough play of his fingers across her nipples made her sizzle. He wasn’t gentle and she was glad. She relished the tiny bit of pain as he pinched her ruched nipples and stretched them until her back bowed. Then he moved a hand downward, sliding his fingers through her pubic hair and the soaking moisture until he found her entrance and probed. Deep and hard, until she twisted beneath him. It was all so good; too good. She wanted everything at once. She couldn’t stand to wait. Every touch made her crazy. Then he removed his hand and spread her thighs.