Sexy Scoundrel: A Cocky Hero Club Novel

by Greywood, Raisa

  “Okay.” He stood, tugging his pants up over his hipbones. “I need to get to work so I can pay back Giorgio.”

  “Hey, Antonio,” I called after him as he walked toward the front door. “You might want to put on boots and a shirt first, and maybe eat something.”

  “Yeah, and a shower. I stink.” Turning back, he went into his bedroom and shut the door.

  “You lied to him,” Giorgio accused, his mouth scant inches from my ear.

  “Yep, and if you say a single goddamned word, I will cut you.” Turning so I could meet his eyes, I added, “I told you not to pull your bullshit, so don’t come whining now.”

  His eyes darkened as he curved that perfect mouth into a grin. I tried not to inhale his heated scent, but it overwhelmed me and I couldn’t help but breathe him in.

  “On the contrary, Ms. Pérez. I think you’re magnificent.”

  He cupped my cheek and kissed me hard enough to steal my wits.

  Giorgio

  Carlina whimpered softly and pushed her hands into my hair, her short nails digging into my scalp as I kissed her. She tasted like heaven and I wanted more. Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, I plundered her mouth, forgetting everything else in my need to keep my lips glued to hers. She nipped me, then swept her tongue across my lower lip to ease the sting.

  I tilted her head back and deepened our kiss. She made me forget everything, including my business, my brother, and most of my personal staff watching Carlina Pérez kiss me senseless.

  No one had ever kissed me with such intensity and it was even sweeter because she wanted nothing from me. Torrid heat surrounded us as she nibbled at my jaw and I hissed when she found the sensitive spot under my ear.

  I heard a cough behind me and ignored it in favor of licking the sweet hollow of Carlina’s graceful throat.

  “I think we’ll need a garden hose to break them apart,” someone said.

  “More like a comealong and a winch.”

  An air horn sounded, making Carlina screech and jerk away. Baring my teeth, I spun to face Clyde, his craggy face wrinkled in a grin.

  “Fuck, you need a warning label,” Carlina hissed. “I’m going to take a pill or six and have a nap.”

  “Want company?” I whispered, not expecting her to agree. It came out without thought and I counted myself lucky she didn’t slap me.

  She stared at me, her hands on the wheels of her chair. Lips twitching into a reluctant smile, she shook her head and let Julie wheel her into the guest room.

  The door shut behind her and I snatched the air horn away from Clyde. “I was busy,” I growled. “What the hell do you want?”

  “You might want to have someone deliver clothing for your guest,” he said, still smirking. “I doubt she’ll be happy wearing a t-shirt and sweats for the next month.”

  Two weeks later, we’d settled into a routine. Carlina and Antonio would go to her farm in the morning while I was at work. We shared the most amazing meals cooked by Antonio under her direction.

  Having Carlina live with us was surprisingly easy. I’m not sure why I’d expected a demanding houseguest, but her presence made my house into a home. I didn’t allow myself to think about her not being around, but I was living on borrowed time. The renovations on her house were almost done and she’d leave when her ribs healed up.

  Antonio laughed all the time now. The television hadn’t been turned on in days, except for Friday night movies with popcorn. He was healthy, happy, and delighted with having his honorary sister in the bedroom across the hall from his.

  My brother’s improved attitude took the sting out of never getting a minute alone with her to ask her out. I still wondered if she’d be interested in my proclivities. Sometimes, I thought she’d be a wonderful submissive. She seemed to have forgiven me for disrupting her life, and had a sweet, charming temperament I enjoyed. Of course, then I remembered her threatening to strangle me with a seatbelt.

  That wasn’t such a bad thing, though. I wasn’t interested in a lifestyle submissive, and didn’t care about protocol. While I didn’t judge others for adhering to it, I didn’t micromanage my employees and I certainly wasn’t going to do it for a partner, particularly one as self-sufficient and independent as Carlina.

  After a fantastic supper of grilled steaks and lobster, followed by one of Carlina’s signature desserts, we settled down to watch a movie.

  I was dressed in sweats and t-shirt, and my feet were bare. I hadn’t even had to leave the house for one of the best surf and turf meals I’d ever eaten. If I wasn’t careful, I was going to get used to having her around. I lounged on the couch next to her with a huge bowl of popcorn and handed her a beer. “What are we watching tonight?”

  “Men in Black,” Antonio replied. “Carli says it’s funny.”

  “I haven’t seen it.”

  “Next Friday, we’re going to watch The Princess Bride,” she said, taking a drink from her beer.

  “That’s a kissing movie,” Antonio said. “I don’t want to watch a kissing movie.”

  “There’s only a little kissing,” I replied. “It has pirates, and sword fights, and heroic deeds, and—”

  Carlina’s beautiful brown eyes sparkled. “Rodents of unusual size, shrieking eels, six-fingered men, and miracles. We even have our own Brute Squad with Hunter and Jeremy.”

  Antonio scowled at us, his brows drawing together. “Well, that’s okay, I guess. Can we start the movie now?”

  “Sure.” I smiled and wrapped an arm around Carlina’s shoulders as Antonio tapped the remote to start the film. “There’s a shortage—”

  “Shh! Do you want to explain that line right now?”

  “We could try true love’s kiss after he’s in bed.”

  Carlina flushed and bit her lip. I’d been dying for another chance to kiss her, but with all the people roaming through my house, I hadn’t gotten a chance.

  “Shut up and watch the movie before I beat you with the remote.”

  I pulled her close, settling her under my arm, then kissed the top of her head. Her citrusy perfume reminded me I needed to buy more lemon drops.

  When the movie ended, Antonio yawned and kissed her cheek.

  “Night, Carli. I love you.”

  She smiled softly and said, “Love you back. Sleep well.”

  Getting to her feet, she turned off the television. “The contractor says my house will be finished next week, so I’ll be out of your way soon.”

  “It might be a little longer,” I replied, trying to think of a way to stall for more time. I wasn’t ready to let her go.

  “Why? Everything looked good this morning.”

  “They’re having trouble sourcing the tile for the master bath.”

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t have to be Italian marble recycled from Roman ruins. It just needs to not break when I drop something.”

  “I’ll see what we can come up with,” I promised, hoping she didn’t see me cross my fingers behind my back.

  “Thanks.” She looked away, still chewing on that plump lower lip, then slipped the ring I’d given her off her finger. “I need to give this back. I should have done it days ago.”

  “No.”

  Carlina blinked at my vehement reply and I gritted my teeth. I had no idea how to tell her the thought of her taking that ring off made me furious. Worse, I didn’t understand why it made me so angry. “I want you to keep it.”

  She took a step back, reminding me of a startled doe.

  “We’re not really engaged, you know. Antonio will be confused.”

  “Do you think he knows what the ring means?” I asked.

  “Probably, although he hasn’t asked about it. The important thing is that I do and so does everyone else.”

  I moved closer and stroked her silky black curls. “I don’t see a problem with that. Are you still embarrassed to be associated with me?”

  “No.” She backed out of my reach. “Maybe, yes. I don’t know.”

  Lowering my
hand, I pulled away. Carlina Pérez wasn’t going to give me a fucking inch. “Wear the ring. It’s yours.”

  She opened her mouth like she was about to argue, then nodded and walked into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

  Damn. I’d really wanted a goodnight kiss. I was a little jealous of Antonio for getting one. I’d never once offered a woman a ring. They got necklaces, watches, or bracelets. Rings meant something, and the single time I offered one to a woman, she didn’t want to keep it. Worse, I couldn’t stop myself from imagining her with a platinum collar around her slender throat.

  Grunting sourly, I stomped into my bedroom and dropped my clothes in a heap on the floor.

  As had become my usual nightly routine, I got into the shower and imagined her with me. My water bill had almost doubled since she moved in, and it wasn’t because she used too much. It was me taking two, sometimes three showers a day in a futile effort to tame the raging erection I got whenever I saw her and pictured myself spanking her generous ass.

  It never worked, and I always woke up cranky.

  The next morning, I leaned against the doorframe leading into the kitchen and watched her teach Antonio how to flip pancakes.

  Every time I saw her in that little camisole and shorts she wore to bed, my inner cave man wanted to grab hold of that thick curly hair and drag her into my lair. The hem of her shorts kissed the lower curve of that magnificent ass, making me itch to see if it would bounce when I spanked it.

  The first pancake landed back in the skillet like it was supposed to. Unfortunately, the next one went straight into the open mouth of an enterprising lion who’d taken to lying in wait for scraps to fall. I’d been told he couldn’t see well, but he could catch falling food just fine.

  Carlina laughed and poured more batter into the skillet, then nudged Leonard out of the way with her bare foot.

  After months of daily brushing, Leonard’s coat was sleek and shiny, and he’d put on some weight. We’d even gotten him his own couch so the rest of us would have somewhere to sit. Despite his age and lingering health issues, he looked good.

  It was almost like living with a very large dog—who roared when someone rang the doorbell. Leonard did a better job scaring off photographers than Jeremy and Hunter.

  Antonio shouted with delight when he finally mastered the skill, tossing his pancake high into the air and catching it. He spotted me and said, “Look what Carli taught me to do, TB.”

  Maybe everything wasn’t entirely perfect in the Acardi household. She called me that insulting nickname one time in Antonio’s presence and it stuck like superglue.

  He plated the pancake and drizzled a bit of homemade blackberry syrup over it, then set it on the table before rushing back to stir the scrambled eggs. “I still can’t figure out what TB means. It’s not Terrible Brother,” he said, turning the eggs into a bowl. “Antonio is a good brother.”

  “You’ll have to keep guessing,” Carlina replied, winking at me as she seated herself. She filled a mug from the carafe on the table and took a sip.

  “I know! It’s Toad Breath! His breath is awful when he wakes up.”

  Coffee sprayed everywhere and Carlina coughed hard enough to choke. She gasped and winced, putting a hand to her ribs. “You got it, Antonio. It’s Toad Breath. If you’ll excuse me, I need to visit the powder room.”

  She raced to the en suite in her room and I heard her uncontrollable giggles as the door slammed behind her.

  “You should go check on her,” Antonio said, staring down at the food he’d made. “I hope she isn’t sick over my food.”

  “I will in just a second.” Cutting a bite from the pancake he’d set in front of me, I lifted the fork to my lips and ate it. My eyes rolled back and I moaned at the rich taste of the best sourdough pancake I’d ever eaten. I took another bite and before I knew it my plate was empty. I swiped a finger through the leftover syrup and sucked it clean.

  “She’s not sick over your food. This is the best breakfast I’ve ever had.”

  “Thanks, TB!” Antonio grinned at me and poured syrup over his pancake. “I made the syrup, too.”

  “Are you good to clean up?” I asked. “I’m going to check on Carlina.”

  “I’m okay. I’ll make a plate for her.”

  I nodded and stood, then carried my empty plate to the sink and rinsed it. My houseguest and I were going to have words about that damned nickname.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Carlina

  My ribs hurt so bad, but I couldn’t stop laughing. Toad Breath! Mercy. The look on Giorgio’s face was priceless. It made up for every bit of aggravation he’d put me through since the day we’d met.

  I’d about swallowed my tongue when he sauntered into the kitchen. Instead of a suit, he’d come to breakfast in a pair of low riding sleep pants, revealing that lickable six-pack and a pronounced belt of Adonis. Crisp black curls covered his chest, forming a thin treasure trail that disappeared under his waistband.

  I had a hard time readjusting my first impression of Giorgio Acardi. He was awesome with both Antonio and Leonard. I honestly thought he’d refuse to allow the elderly lion in his house, but Giorgio took his furry guest in stride and even helped with the never-ending task of grooming him.

  Worse, at least for my ability to keep my distance from him, he’d stopped wearing the man bun. Instead, he kept it loose or tied into a low pony tail when he went to work. Now that I knew he wasn’t nearly the asshole I thought he was, I was almost positive we were going to end up in bed together. And that was not a good thing.

  I was already over him taking control of the renovation of my house. It might have taken me months to do it on my own, even if I hired a contractor, and I didn’t think I’d have done nearly as well. It wasn’t quite finished yet, but I loved my new kitchen and I had no words for the master suite. It was just that beautiful.

  Instead of the cramped attic room that had once been a dormitory of sorts for the eight children my grandparents had, my new suite had a soaring cathedral ceiling with fans and skylights. French doors led out to a private deck with a sitting area, wet bar, and wine storage that I’d probably never be able to afford to fill. And the bathroom. Lord, the man knew how to put together a bathroom. There was an honest-to-God clawfoot soaking tub with jets and an elegantly tiled shower stall big enough for a soccer team.

  The lower deck had a built-in grill better than any commercial kitchen, a refrigerator and cabinetry, along with the hot tub I always wanted.

  Unfortunately, they’d blocked off the front half of the house, giving me bullshit excuses about safety concerns. Giorgio was up to something in there, but I wasn’t sure I cared anymore. After seeing the kitchen and master suite, I was willing to let him have free rein with the rest and deal with the bills later. At least he hadn’t knocked out any more walls.

  I’d even forgiven him for the crap with the paparazzi. It wasn’t entirely his fault, but that didn’t mean I wanted to end up on cheap magazine covers again.

  Someone knocked on the door and I splashed water on my face to get rid of the redness from laughing so hard, then dried off.

  “Come in,” I said, thankful I’d gotten the worst of the laughter under control.

  The door swung open, revealing Giorgio, and I couldn’t help myself. I snorted and the giggles started all over again. I wrapped my arms around my ribs and sat on the bed, trying desperately to stop.

  “I thought you’d be through by now,” he said, sitting next to me, his lips twisting into a wry grin.

  “Sorry, I…” I let out a groan. Laughing that hard hurt like a bitch. “Toad Breath. Just… I can’t.”

  He leaned back, resting his weight on his palms. “You do realize, of course, that my brother will ask how you know I have toad breath.”

  My laughter died in my throat. “I—”

  Lifting a hand, he stroked my neck and twisted a curl around his finger. “So, I believe I’ll have to prove that I do not, in fact, have toad breath.
”

  He straightened and cupped the back of my neck, pulling me into a scorching kiss. He tasted like blackberries, sweet and delicious. Ignoring my aching ribs, I moved closer, desperate to touch him.

  Giorgio sat on the bed and settled me on his lap, helping me straddle his hips while he kept kissing me. My thin camisole did nothing to protect me from rubbing against his hard chest. It only made things worse when the thin silk rasped over my nipples.

  Giorgio palmed my ass, pressing my hips against him until the large bulge of his erection rubbed against my core. He nipped my lip, sending electric sparks of need shooting down my spine to my clit. Shuddering, I rocked against him, and he tugged my hair to the side.

  His hot breath wafted over my skin when he brushed his lips against my neck. “I’m trying to decide if I want to spank you or fuck you until neither of us can walk.”

  I rubbed against him, loving the feel of his cock against my aching pussy. Even though I knew better, I couldn’t resist the urge to let him do exactly what he suggested. “Why not both? We could—”

  “Hey, Carli!” Antonio yelled from outside my bedroom door. “I’m taking Leonard for a walk. We can go to work when you’re ready.”

  Thank you, Antonio.

  I squirmed on Giorgio’s lap, my ribs aching from the deep breaths I tried to take. Instead of letting me go, he tightened his arms around me. “We can’t do this. Your brother… This is a shitty idea.”

  “We’ll be out in a few, Antonio,” he said. “I’m helping Carlina with something.”

  “Okay, TB!”

  Antonio’s footsteps faded and I let out a sigh of relief when the front door slammed. “You can let me go now.”

  Giorgio’s dark eyes pierced me and he tightened his grip on my ass, pressing me against him. “You’re not going anywhere. I’m going to show you why this is a very good idea.”