by Victoria Zak
“Bellissima,” he purred, leaning up to take one between his lips. The heavy night air stilled in his lungs as he rolled the tip of his tongue over the sensitive bud, flicking and tasting, teasing and suckling before he kissed his way across her flesh to the other breast.
Pure pleasure saturated his body when she gripped the sides of his face, threading her fingers through his hair. An appreciative hum strummed over his vocal chords as he opened his mouth and took all he could, everything she offered and demanded.
“Dario, please,” she begged, one hand working blindly at the waistband of his trousers, the other held his head captive against her breast. “I need more.”
“Me, too, gattina.” He slipped a hand from her breast, tunneling it beneath her panties. She tensed, sucking in a breath. “Fuck.” He groaned as his fingers slipped through her hot, silky arousal.
His head swam with conflicting desires, the need to taste her as strong as his body’s demand to bury himself inside her. Claim her. Make himself so much a part of her neither of them would ever be the same.
He fisted his hand around the impeding lace and ripped it at the seams, the sight deepening his indecisiveness. Should he lift her over his face and bury his tongue in her wet heat? Or should he just take what he wanted the most, sink his cock deep inside her.
Like the fiery lover he knew she would be, she made the choice for him, grappling with his pants and boxer briefs until his erection sprang free.
“Toccami,” he urged when she hesitated. “Touch me.”
Breathless, she trailed her fingertips over his hard length, the light caress drawing his hips from the cushion. “Bueno,” he gritted through his teeth, the pleasure of her touch too much and not near enough.
His chest burned from the breath he held and he pushed up and drew her into his arms, unwilling to wait another moment. “Fuck me,” he demanded against her lips before devouring her in another drugging kiss. He shoved his hand into his front pocket to retrieve a condom, rolling it on as she rose to her knees.
He watched as she guided herself over him, torn between the need to see her take him inside her, and the vision of her hovering above him like an erotic angel. As she lowered herself, the feel of her tight sheath sliding over his cock, ripped a moan from the pit of his being.
“Ahh,” she breathed with a shudder, her mouth falling open as she braced herself against his chest, a fiery blush blooming on her cheeks. “Wait.”
“Am I hurting you?” he asked, brushing her hair from her eyes so he could see the truth in them.
“No,” she choked out, closing her eyes as she shifted. “It’s just been a long time since...”
Relief and more satisfaction than he would have imagined, coursed through his veins. He relaxed against the chaise, loosening his grip. “Take your time, tesoro.” Grinning like the king her confession made him feel, he traced his fingertip up her arm, over her shoulder, and down to the generous swell of her breast, pressing his palm against her flesh to feel her rapid heartbeat. “We have all night.”
Cat’s breath rushed from her lungs as she adjusted to Dario’s size. Swept up in the torrent of emotions she’d long denied herself, she’d forgotten the small amount of pain that came with so much pleasure, but it had been worth it. She might feel differently tomorrow, but right now, in this moment, she felt nothing but bliss.
“That’s it, kitten. Let yourself go.”
Dario’s strong hands kneaded her bare flesh, pulling her deeper into the maelstrom of passion that raged around them. Soaking in the desire in his voice, she closed her eyes and did as he requested, feeling undeniably alive as she let go of everything and just…felt him. Her skin tingled with awareness, her body floating on a weightless high. She’d never felt this way before.
Dario’s answering moans lifted her higher, and she stretched above him. His fingers tightened on her hips, grounding her, guiding her, his own pleasure evident in his eyes as he watched her and she watched him. The hard ridges of his muscles flexed with her movements, his chest filling with air in sync with her own breaths. Feeling brave and free, she pushed up onto her knees, tightening her inner muscles as she sank back down.
“Cazzo!” Dario cursed and bolted up, his arms folding around her, locking her to him as he pushed up beneath her. “You test my stamina, Cat. You make me lose control.”
She pulled back to look at him. “Let it go,” she repeated his words against his lips.
“Mmm!” He gripped the back of her head, fisting his fingers in her hair, and kissed her hard and deep, releasing the full force of his seductive power.
Their bodies moved as one. Every breath she took was a sweet concoction of sex and passion and…him. She clung to his shoulders as he quickened their pace, holding on as he thrust inside her relentlessly, over and over until the first sign of her climax fluttered around him.
“Yes,” Dario panted, clutching her tighter. “I’ve got you, tesoro mio. Fall apart in my arms. Let me have you. All of you.”
He did have her. In that moment, he possessed her completely.
“Dario!” Just as he demanded, she crumbled in his arms, her orgasm ripping through her body with visceral force.
A string of Italian words rumbled from Dario’s lips as his rhythm faltered. One final thrust and he held himself deep inside her, his head falling back on a shout as he came.
Their bodies trembling, she clung to him as they sat naked in the silent darkness, the only sound, their labored breaths. She followed him down as he lay back on the chaise, resting her head on his chest, listening to the sound of his slowing heartbeat. He trailed his fingers down her back, then back up again, repeating the hypnotic pattern until her eyelids drifted closed.
Ti amo, tesoro mio.
Dario’s whispered words floated to her on a dream, a dream she wished she could live forever.
10
The distant sound of children’s laughter pulled Dario from his dreams. Normally, the oddity would have alarmed him, but his lips curled into a grin before he even opened his eyes. Memories of the previous night mingled with the feel of Cat’s warm body snuggled against him, her unique scent wafting in the pre-dawn air, tempting his other senses awake.
Nose-to-nose, he studied her face, taking note of the tiny freckles he’d not noticed before, and the small lines at the corners of her lips. He would dream of those lips for the rest of his life. Not only of the pleasure they’d given him in the dark of night, but the way they framed her smile when she laughed, or glistened in the sun after she moistened them with her tongue.
He suppressed a groan as another erotic memory of her mouth on him added to his already aroused state. Careful not to wake her, he rolled from her side. Perched on the edge of the chaise, he scrubbed his hands over his face and then reached for his slacks, pulling them on before he retrieved his phone from his pocket and walked to the railing at the edge of the rooftop.
Expecting a long list of emails from his assistant, he opened his text messages instead, his heart pumping faster when he saw Antonio’s name at the top of the list. He read the invitation to meet with Antonio before his return to Milan that afternoon, but his excitement was tempered by the sight of Cat sleeping on the chaise, her legs tangled in the quilt she’d procured sometime during the night.
How had so much changed in so little time? She’d completely bewitched him. He hadn’t given a thought to his deal with Antonio in the last three days, or any of his other ventures for that matter. It would take him a week to sort through all the unopened emails and calls he’d ignored in his pursuit of her. Nothing and no one had ever managed to distract him so completely.
He turned back to the railing, looking down at the handful of children playing in the street below. A yellow van pulled to a stop at the end of the block. The kids filed aboard, and he wondered if Emilio was among them. He closed his eyes, absorbing the first warm rays of sun as they fell across his face.
What was he doing? Cat had a son, a family who loved an
d depended on her, the very things he’d spent his life avoiding. He’d built a fulfilling existence without all of the entrapments of love and commitment that he’d seen break his father after his mother’s death. If he did the things he was considering and continued down this path with her…
She stirred behind him and he turned to look at her. Still asleep, she burrowed deeper beneath the blanket before settling on her side with her back to him, her long hair spilling over the edge of the cushion. Could he leave? Walk away from her and never look back? It would be the right thing to do for them both, before he crossed a line and could never go back.
When she released a heavy sigh, he stilled, his heart galloping. No matter what he decided, he couldn’t do it here. He needed time to think, away from the distraction and chaos her trusting, morning eyes would bring. Before she woke to find him still there, he gathered his shirt and shoes and tiptoed from the rooftop, glancing over his shoulder one final time at the treasure who’d stolen his heart. His treasure.
When Dario’s footsteps faded and the door to the rooftop clicked closed, Cat swiped the tears from her eyes and rolled to face the rising sun. He’s gone.
He’d left her. She knew he would, and that she’d feel exactly as she did, adrift and hollow, but the lack of regret surprised her. She might regret never saying goodbye, but she’d always look back on their short time together completely guilt-free. She’d had an affair of a lifetime with the most beautiful man. And somewhere in the world, years from now, there would be a handsome Italian who would share her intimate memories, even if they’d not been enough to keep him.
Kenderly was right. She’d deserved her own fantasy, but just as Antonio often warned their guests, fantasies don’t always lead to happy endings. They’re just fantasies, outward manifestations of hidden inner desires. Somewhere deep down, she’d wanted to be swept away on a warm October wind, kept weightless for a time in the arms of a mysterious island guest. Now the fantasy was over, and for the first time in a long time, she could see through the thick haze of her responsibilities to the things that mattered most. Her son and family needed her. Not just the money she provided through her job at Indulgences, but her.
Wrapped in her grandmother’s quilt, Cat gathered her clothes and made her way inside to the shower. Half an hour later, clean and dressed, all remnants of her fantasy gone, she called Kenderly and explained Emilio’s prank and her unscheduled leave. She skirted Kenderly’s questions about Dario as much as she could, then thanked her for understanding her request to have an extra day with her family. She couldn’t go back today, not until Dario had left the island.
The house was still quiet when she walked into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. As her family stirred to life upstairs, she grabbed a stack of plates and walked to the dining table, stopping short when she spotted the blue tie hanging over the back of one of the chairs. The chair Dario had sat in the evening before, sharing dinner with her family.
She set the stack of plates on the table and walked over to the chair, reaching out to trace the stylish pattern on the fine silk. He’d been wearing that tie the first day they met, when she’d spilled his glass of wine on his sleeve. Everything faded except the memory of that day as she took the tie and lifted it to her lips.
“Catalina?”
The sound of her mother’s voice drifted to her. She raised her head, blinking away the tears she thought she was strong enough to deny. “He’s gone, Mama.”
11
Dario stood at the head of the conference table inside Indulgences’ expansive library. Eyeing the empty chairs, he chose one in the center. The purpose of this meeting had changed, and with it, his need to maintain the upper hand. Finding common ground with Antonio was now more important than ever. A more centralized seating arrangement would better portray their equal footing.
He sat down and retrieved the contract from his briefcase, the scent of Cat’s perfume heavy on its pages. Despondent, he searched the leather messenger bag and withdrew the wrap she’d dropped the night of the masquerade ball. Wrapping the fabric around his fist, he walked to the window overlooking the beach, inhaling her exotic scent. Memories of their time on the island and the night with her family, distorted the luxurious view in front of him.
After asking Antonio to postpone their meeting for a day, he’d walked the beach from the resort, all the way to the northernmost end where the thick jungle marked the land he’d spent months trying to purchase. By the time he’d reached it, he’d felt none of the excitement he’d held the day he arrived on the island.
Instead, all he could think about was Cat, the way she looked in her gown at the ball, the way she laughed at her own clumsiness, and the way she talked about the ancient people who once inhabited the island. He would even swear he’d heard the whispering spirits she spoke of on the day he took her sailing.
On the way back, he thought about her family, how much they loved her, and the look in her eyes when she spoke about her son. Admittedly, he’d never met a woman like her. He’d only meant it as an endearment at the time, but she was a genuine treasure, rare and worth more than even he would ever be able to afford. He still didn’t know if what he was doing was the right thing, but after an entire night alone, he was sure this was the only path forward. Once he started down it, there would be no going back.
“Good afternoon.” Dario turned at the sound of Antonio’s greeting. “Sorry to have kept you waiting,” he offered. “We were unexpectedly delayed at the airport. Saying goodbye can be difficult at times.”
Dario shook Antonio’s hand with a nod, careful to steel his reaction to the sudden ache in his chest. “A sentiment I’ve recently been acquainted with, unfortunately.”
“Isn’t that Cat’s?” Antonio asked, pointing to her wrap in his other hand.
Dario studied it, giving him a regretful look while stuffing it back into his bag and then taking his seat. “I was going to ask you to give it back to her.”
“Was?” Antonio asked as he pulled out the chair across from him and sank down into it.
Dario didn’t answer, considering the man in front of him. Antonio had been the thorn in his side for months, consistently denying him and his partners even a single second of his time, refusing to hear them out about their interest in developing the island. Now he was sitting across from him, his original intent the farthest thing from his mind.
“How do you do it?” Dario asked him, leaning back in the comfortable leather seat.
The corner of Antonio’s lips curled up into a knowing grin as he mirrored Dario’s relaxed pose. “To what are you referring?” he asked.
“This whole fantasy island effect,” he said, motioning to the view outside. “Is it some secret concoction you put in the drinks? A chemical in the water?” He reached inside his briefcase and retrieved Cat’s wrap. “A pheromone perfume you give the guests as they arrive? What?”
Antonio’s grin spread.
Dario couldn’t contain his incredulous sigh. “Whatever it is, I’ll admit it’s a hell of a lot more valuable than any piece of land.”
Antonio threw his head back and laughed.
Dario bristled at his unexpected reaction. “I’m glad I amuse you.”
“Oh, Mr. Dicola.” Antonio sobered, but his smile remained. “I assure you, we aren’t spiking our guest’s drinks or spritzing them with hormones.” He rose from his seat and paced to the small cabinet bar in the corner, pouring them both a drink and sitting one in front of Dario before he took the seat beside him. “The magic you speak of belongs to the island, and you are one hundred percent correct about its value.”
Dario nodded, taking a sip of his drink to relieve the dryness in his throat. “If what you say is true, it’s a priceless commodity.”
Antonio peered at him over the rim of his glass as he took a sip, releasing a sigh of approval before he continued. “Now you understand why I will never sell a single grain of sand to you or any other investor.”
Dario no
dded, still unsure what to believe.
Antonio considered him a moment, making him feel as if the man could somehow see right through him. “Tell me,” he finally said, “what plagues you more? The idea that everything that has happened in the last week, all of the choices you’ve made were somehow not yours? That you were guided by some mysterious unseen force into a fantasy you never asked for? Or the possibility that all you’ve experienced here was already inside you, a secret fantasy you’d buried so deep you’d forgotten your own desires?”
Dario thought about his question, only to be led to another. Did it truly matter? What was done was done. There was no going back.
“I assure you again, Mr. Dicola. We don’t create fantasies here. We only facilitate them.” Antonio reached for the contract on the table and flipped through the pages. “This is not the original document your assistant sent me the day you arrived,” he remarked before laying it back down.
Dario cleared his throat, more sure than ever he’d made the right decision. “It’s a new project. Something...different, special, and I’m hoping you will consider making it a joint venture.”
The library door opened and Kenderly walked inside. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you’d be done by now.”
“Dario?”
Cat’s voice brought Dario to his feet. She pushed through the door, and the look of sheer torture on her face propelled him around the table.
“You knew he was in here,” Cat said to Kenderly with narrowed eyes.
“Don’t.” Dario took her hand before she could leave. “Don’t be angry with them. I asked her to let me know the second you arrived from the mainland.”
“I’ll go over your proposal with my brother, Miguel,” Antonio said. “I’ll let you know something by week’s end.” Contract in hand, Antonio gave Cat a kiss on her cheek and offered Kenderly his arm. “Let’s leave them to talk, shall we?”
