Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances

by Nicole Morgan

  Maybe next Christmas, he thought, walking home that evening, whistling a Christmas carol under his breath, his breath frosting in the cold air. Maybe.

  Waking up the morning after Christmas was normally a dreary feeling, Amy thought, but not this year. Usually, there was a sensation of let-down, of the holidays coming to an end, the fun times winding down.

  Today, though, all she could think about was seeing Luca again. In just a few hours - and thinking of that, she needed to get up, go home and take a shower, get changed and head over to the photo shop to collect the last prints for delivery at the mall. The photo shop wasn’t even opening to the general public today, only to her, for this special collection. Which meant being late wasn’t an option.

  Slipping out of the house quietly so as not to wake her grandparents - Gramps deserved his lie-in after the workload he’d shouldered over the last few weeks - Amy winced as her car started up with a loud rattle. She promised herself she’d call her mechanic as soon as they re-opened, now that she had some money in the bank. Take out some ads in the local newspaper, as well, advertising herself as a family and pets photographer.

  The text from Luca arrived as she was checking the prints at the photo shop.

  You here yet?

  Amy had to resist the urge to bounce and squeak. Instead she tapped back;

  15 minutes.

  Paying her bill quickly, she stuffed the folder of prints into her bag and hurried back to the car. It was only a five-minute drive to the mall and the parking lot was, for once, reasonably quiet. She was able to park close to the mall entrance nearest the Santa grotto and take a couple of minutes to quickly check her makeup in the rear view mirror.

  Luca was standing right by the grotto as she walked in, speaking to one of the uniformed security patrollers. Approaching from the side, she admired him in profile. With his olive skin and dark hair, a strong jawline and faintly hawklike nose, he was handsome enough to make any woman look twice. His height and the way his shoulders filled out his dark suit only added to the appeal. A pair of attractively dressed women slowed in passing, both throwing enticing smiles his way.

  Suddenly, Amy felt horribly inadequate. What could Luca possibly see in a scruffy-jeans kind of girl like her, who battled continually with her weight and stabbed herself in the eye with her eyeliner on a regular basis? Her steps slowed, and someone walking behind her plowed right into her back.

  “Crap!” Somehow, she managed to keep from falling flat on her face, but the package of photos fell from her hand, popped open and suddenly prints were slithering all over the floor. “Oh my God, don’t step on them!”

  “Amy!” Luca was right there in an instant, the security guard with him, both of them holding their arms out to steer passers-by around the fallen prints so Amy could gather them up safely. “Are you all right?” he asked as she slid the last one back into her folder and rose to her feet, pushing her hair back off her face with a sigh of relief.

  “Yeah, just being a klutz as usual. Thanks for your help.” She smiled at the security guard who nodded to her.

  “You’re welcome, miss. Glad you’re not hurt.”

  “I’ve got this, Rob,” Luca said, and Rob tipped his head respectfully before heading towards a nearby store.

  Alone, or as close to it as they could get in the middle of a mall with people all around them, Amy was suddenly too shy to look at Luca. Setting the folder of photos and her laptop bag down on the table in front of the grotto, she busied herself preparing for the day.

  “Hey.” A finger touched under her chin very lightly before falling away. “You gone shy on me?”

  “Kind of embarrassed to be back at the scene of the crime, as it were,” Amy mumbled, glancing sideways at the Santa throne. There was a scalding blush rising up her throat, and she tried to will it down.

  Luca’s chuckle was low and toe-quellingly sexy. “It was the scene of something, that’s for sure. Only crime is you looking so pretty today but not looking me in the eye.”

  She bit her lip, telling herself to stop being such a chicken, and looked up. He was standing close, smiling down at her warmly.

  “Hey,” he murmured at their eyes met.

  “Hey yourself.” Emboldened by that look, she gave him her hand when he reached for it, let him pull her close. He leaned down towards her but paused a fraction away from their lips meeting, leaving it up to her to close the gap.

  His lips were warm, his mouth tasted of coffee and peppermint, and Amy could have lost herself in the kiss completely. Luca lifted his head, though, giving her a regretful look.

  “Have lunch with me?” he requested.

  “I’m scheduled to be here from ten until two,” Amy pointed out regretfully.

  “So it’ll be a late lunch. I’ll come and help you load your printer and gear in your car, then we can go to one of the restaurants.”

  “Well… sounds good. Will you be finished work by then?”

  “No, but one of my deputies starts at one and is on until closing, so I can take a long lunch hour. God knows I’ve worked through enough lunch breaks in the last month to have earned one!”

  He had such a sexy grin, Amy thought, crinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening, showing that he smiled a lot. He ducked back in for another kiss before walking away, casting glances back at her over his shoulder until he reached the escalator to head up to the upper level of the mall.

  “Hi!” A woman towing two adorable toddlers came hurrying up as Amy was still staring dreamily after Luca. “I was just about to head home and then remembered the whole reason I came in today was to collect my large print of Rafael and Clarita!”

  “Of course. Would you just give me a moment? I just managed to drop my whole folder of prints. They’re all numbered, but I’m in a bit of a muddle…”

  Fortunately, it didn’t take Amy long to find the correct prints and hand it over to the delighted mother, along with one of her business cards.

  “I’m accepting bookings for family and individual portrait shoots,” she said hopefully. “All the information’s there on my website.”

  “Oh, that’s awesome! Do you photograph events?”

  “Uh… I don’t normally do weddings, if that’s what you mean?” Amy said, puzzled.

  “No, no! It’s my little sister’s quinceañera next weekend and I’d love to get some professional photographs done, if you’d be interested? I’d pay an hourly rate plus whatever your per-print charge is, of course.”

  “Well I… I’ve never photographed a quinceañera, but I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t. And I’m not booked up next weekend. Could I get your details and give you a call tomorrow when I’m at home with my diary in front of me?”

  It wasn’t even Amy’s only booking that day. Several parents took her card and said they’d be in touch, and one immediately asked to book her in for a fifth birthday portrait sitting. One woman asked if she did adult glamour shots, to which Amy shrugged and said “Certainly, but you need to arrange your own hair and makeup.”

  The morning flew by, and at one o’clock she only had one uncollected print left in her folder, so she called the owner. The lady promised she’d be there before two to collect. Figuring she might as well take her printer to the car now, Amy carefully packed it up in its crate and set it on the folding handcart she’d used to haul the heavy thing around.

  “Help you with that, miss?” Rob, the security guard who’d been with Luca earlier stopped to enquire. “Mr Rossetti asked me to keep an eye out, in case you needed any help,” he admitted when she gave him a quizzical look.

  Feeling warm all over at this evidence of Luca’s regard, Amy nodded her thanks. “You know what, I’m not going to say no, because this thing’s bloody heavy. Would you be able to accompany me to my car and lift it in for me?”

  “No problem, miss.”

  Her last customer was waiting when she got back, apologising profusely for being late.

  “You’re not late at all. Everyo
ne else was just early, and you’re my very last customer. I even get to finish half an hour early!” Amy thanked the lady and shouldered her bag, taking one last look around to check she hadn’t forgotten anything.

  “Could you direct me to Luca’s - I mean, Mr Rossetti’s office?” she asked Rob.

  “Of course, miss. Just take that escalator to the upper level, go straight ahead when you get off. You’ll see the sign for the mall management offices on your left.”

  Chapter Seven

  Finding the security office easily enough by following Rob’s direction, Amy reached out to knock and squeaked in surprise as the door slid soundlessly open. A young guy sitting at the desk directly opposite the now-open door grinned at her surprised expression.

  “Hi there, can I help you?” he asked politely.

  “Uh. I’m looking for Luca Rossetti? We’re supposed to be meeting for lunch but I’m early.” Amy offered up her best winsome smile.

  “He’s just in his office. Come on through. What’s your name, please?”

  “Amy Gallagher,” she said, as the guy got up and gestured her to follow. He led her just around the corner and knocked on another door, opening it to put his head around after obviously getting a response Amy didn’t here.

  “Miss Gallagher to see you, boss.”

  “Send her right in,” Luca’s voice said immediately, and she was waved into the office, a sparsely furnished room where Luca was just standing from behind his desk, smiling broadly. “Thanks, Brian,” he said to the young man, who nodded and politely withdrew.

  “Hey,” Amy said shyly. “I finished early… everyone picked up their prints already.”

  “That’s great.” Luca took her hand to draw her fully into the room, pushing the door closed behind her. “You’ve been on my mind all morning,” he murmured, caging her up against the door with his arms on either side of her. “Couldn’t wait to see you again.”

  “Me too,” Amy admitted, feeling a little weak in the knees at the closeness of him, the warm male scent suddenly surrounding her. Putting her hands up instinctively, she pressed them against his chest lightly, feeling the heat of his body through the thin cotton of his shirt. Luca inhaled, hard.

  “Amy,” he said her name low and rough, and she tilted her head up, letting her eyelids drift down and her lips part.

  Luca didn’t wait for a verbal invitation this time, settling his mouth on hers and absolutely plundering it, his body pressing hers up against the door. Amy could feel his cock rock-hard between then, and she moaned and shuddered against him, utterly turned on by his obvious lust for her.

  A click made her look down and to her left, to see Luca’s hand pressing in on the door lock.

  “Yes,” Amy gasped, breathless, as Luca took her hand and pulled her towards his desk, his eyes dark and hungry. He shrugged out of his jacket and yanked his tie loose; she whipped her blouse off over her head and released her bra.

  “Oh God, you’re so sexy,” Luca groaned, practically devouring her with his gaze. Amy smirked as she unzipped her jeans and bent to yank off her boots.

  “Hurry up, Rossetti. You’re slow,” she teased as he fumbled with his shirt buttons.

  “I’m all thumbs,” he admitted. “My hands are shaking.”

  “Bet I can steady them.” Reaching to take his hands in hers, Amy brought them to her breasts with a cheeky grin up at him.

  “Oh, that’s much better,” Luca agreed huskily, his big hands cupping her breasts almost reverently, thumbs flicking over her nipples to tease them to stiff peaks. Stepping closer, his knee nudged her legs apart, pushing her back so her bottom rested on the edge of his desk.

  “I want you right here, right now, splayed out on my desk,” he admitted. “What do you say, Amy?”

  “Hell, yeah,” she moaned in response as strong fingers tweaked her nipples. She was down to only her panties, though Luca still had his trousers on, and she fumbled at his belt. “Now… please, Luca…”

  He fished a condom from his pocket before dragging his pants off, taking his socks and shoes with them. Long fingers dipped under the crotch of her panties, and Luca looked at her in surprise as he discovered she was already soaked.

  “I’ve been thinking about you all morning too,” Amy admitted. “Every waking minute since I left here on Christmas Eve, to be honest.”

  “You don’t know how glad I am to hear that you feel the same way.” He paused, and then said “It’s not just about the sex though, I swear.”

  “That statement might have more impact if you didn’t have your hand in my knickers.” Amy dimpled a grin up at him. “Can we talk about feelings and stuff over lunch and just fuck like bunnies right now?”

  “I really do like the way you think.” He stripped her pants off with one quick sweep, dropping them to her ankles where she stepped out of them, and then strong hands under her thighs lifted her easily to the desktop. It felt reassuringly sturdy, no creaking or shifting under her weight as Luca shucked the last of his clothes and stepped between her thighs.

  He’d set the condom on the desk next to her leg, so Amy picked it up to unwrap, reaching out to grasp his cock and roll it on. He was well-made, thick and long, silk over steel in her hands as she wrapped her fist around the base and teased him with a few gentle pumps.

  Luca said her name, low and guttural, and she looked up to meet his eyes. His face was flushed, lips parted as he stared at her, his eyes wide to take her all in.

  In silent invitation, Amy let go, leaned back and braced herself on her hands. Legs spread, she could only imagine how wanton she looked, but Luca obviously didn’t care. One arm curled around her lower back to support her, hold her in place as he pressed slowly inside her.

  Letting her head fall back, Amy closed her eyes and moaned, savouring the slight burn as delicate tissues stretched to welcome Luca’s gentle invasion of her body. He leaned over her, bringing them chest to chest, pressing hot kisses up her throat to nibble on her earlobe. She shuddered with pleasure and wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer until they were locked together, groins pressed hard against each other.

  “You feel so good,” Luca gasped in her ear. She could feel the muscles in his back and thighs flexing as he thrust slowly against her, the fine dusting of dark hair on his chest rasping her nipples in a deliciously sensual way.

  “You,” Amy couldn’t complete a coherent thought. “There.”

  “Yes,” Luca agreed hoarsely.

  Conscious of possibly being overheard by anyone passing outside the door, Amy bit down on her lower lip to stifle her screams of bliss as Luca thrust harder, his grip holding her in place. Her arms shook, her knees quivered, her skin tingled all over as the orgasm washed over her in a slow wave of bliss.

  “Oh, fuck,” Luca ground out as she clenched around him. “Fuck.”

  Amy was soft and warm in his arms, and her willingness, even eagerness, to go along with his sudden impulse to have sex right there and then was an incredible turn-on for Luca. The spasming clench of her hot walls around his cock was as irresistible as it was wonderful, and he let go, spurting hotly into the condom, groaning low in his chest with the sheer pleasure of it.

  They stayed locked together, clinging on through the afterglow, Luca pressing his face into Amy’s neck, breathing in the soft, warm scent of her body.

  Until finally she said “Is there any chance we could do this in a bed sometime?”

  With a rueful chuckle, Luca lifted his head to meet her gaze. “Shit, I’m sorry, Amy. You must think I’m an absolute animal.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t complaining.” She reached up to touch his face, tracing her fingers along his jawline, the end of her thumb resting on his lower lip. “Just saying. The progression from chair to desk to bed seems a natural one, though I’m perfectly willing to test out the viability of other pieces of furniture.”

  God, but she made him laugh. He shook with it, kissing her even as he eased carefully out of her. Reaching for the box of tissues
he kept on his bookshelf to hand to hysterical teenage shoplifters, he cleaned up, wadding the condom in a few to toss in the garbage can.

  Amy gathered up her clothes with a rather sheepish look on her face. “You must think I’m so slutty,” she mumbled when Luca caught at her hand and pulled her close for a full-body embrace before she could dress.

  “I think,” he murmured, tilting her face up for a kiss with a gentle tug on her hair, “that you’re the sexiest, most irresistible woman I’ve ever met, and the fact you’re willing to meet me halfway is my wildest fantasy coming true. I’ve pinched myself about a hundred times since Christmas Eve wondering if you were just some wonderful dream, if it ever really happened.”

  She let her clothes fall to the floor, melting into his arms, her own sliding around his waist to hold on tight. “I had such a crush on you since the moment we met,” she confessed, her voice soft. “I couldn’t quite believe it happened either.”

  The kiss was long, slow and sensual enough Luca felt his cock start to stir again before it ended. Pressing his brow against Amy’s, he admitted; “I fully intended to ask you out, maybe take you to dinner, go on at least a few dates before we got to this point. I’m not sorry we did this backwards, but I don’t want you to think I’m not seriously interested. Because I am.”

  “For the record, I’d have said yes when you asked, enjoyed having dinner with you, and probably plotted to get you into bed in less dates than you planned on,” Amy said with a mischievous grin, and he laughed.

  “You, miss, are trouble. Get your clothes on; I promised you lunch. And though I’m tempted to keep you here all afternoon, my deputy’s gonna arrive any minute to take over for the afternoon shift.”

  Amy gave an exaggerated sigh, but her eyes were laughing at him as she backed off and bent to put her underwear back on. Luca watched quite unashamedly until she unexpectedly threw one of his socks at him. He caught it in front of his chest, laughing.