by Kate Kisset
She hugged him, and a wave of electric tingles scattered, rolling up, down, and through her body like a current. She knew they were making some kind of magic together. She could feel it. Could he?
They left the dance floor after Who You Love. Luca pushed their chairs away from the table and placed them side by side against the wall. He said it was so they could see the action better, but she knew he also wanted to be out of the light, away from prying eyes.
She burrowed into him. He wrapped his massive arm around her and pulled up her onto his lap. She didn’t want the night to end or her warm buzz to stop.
“You know, we didn’t just make out,” she said, nuzzling into Luca’s neck.
He chuckled. “I know, been holding back all night.”
“Not now”—she kissed just under his ear—“I mean when we were kids.”
“It wasn’t kid stuff to me.” He pulled her closer. “So now you remember everything, huh?”
“Just some things.” Danica moved from his lap to a chair, so she could face him. “I remember all the times Jess wanted you to go somewhere with us, and he’d be upset when you couldn’t join him because of baseball practice. Well, secretly, I always wanted you to be there too.”
Luca grinned. “I don’t know if I can handle it if you start sharing secrets…”
“I’d listen to you two talk about stats all the time.” She ran a hand over his thigh. “Batting averages, or seconds you’d have to shave off running from this base to next.”
“I still worry about stats. I need to make it from home to first in three point seven seconds. Four doesn’t cut it.” He smirked. “I struck out last practice, partially because of you being there, but I forgive you.” Luca raised his brows and looked down at her hand. “Just keep touching me like that, and you’ll make it up to me.”
His muscles felt so thick and hard under the fabric, she couldn’t resist touching him. “Do you regret it? All the fun you missed?” She rubbed above his knee, all the way up to the middle of his thigh and back down again. All the dancing, champagne, and reminiscing put her in a very comfortable mood.
“No. Not yet. In fact, I think I’m having too much fun now.” He clasped her hand mid-thigh. Frowning, she peered up. She’d intended to go higher this time.
“You have no idea what you do to me, Danica.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I love the way you touch me, but I’m going to explode right here if you don’t stop. I can’t even stand up right now…”
She raised her eyebrows so high, she felt her forehead wrinkle. Danica hadn’t meant to drive him crazy...yet...but knowing the affect she was having on him made her feel So. Very. Sexy…
“Hmm. You want to talk about something else, so you can walk again?” She winked.
“Oh, my God.” He stretched his neck and stared up at the ceiling, smiling. “When did you start winking? I’m dying of a hard-on in front of all the patrons, and you show me no mercy.” He sighed. “Let’s talk about your brief passion for interior design. Remember all those mock magazine articles you wrote?”
“I can’t believe you remember.” She covered her eyes. She’d forgotten all about that stunt.
“How could I forget? You forced me and Jess to paint your bedroom that psycho purple.”
“It was a spectacular color. I haven’t been able to find that particular shade again.” She grabbed his knee in her excitement, then snatched her hand back. “Sorry. Remember the adorable matching bedspread? I think my mom still has it.”
“God, no. The only thing good about that bedspread is what we did on top of it. Do you remember?”
Danica flashed on a memory of sunlight streaming through dark purple curtains and her looking over at him from her pillow.
“On second thought”—Luca shifted in the chair—“let’s not remember. I’m almost ready to stand up again.”
“Got it.” Danica dug back into the recesses of her brain. She hadn’t thought of the day Luca and Jess painted her room in ages. Danica leaned into him, melting. In so many ways, Luca knew her even better than Sarah. Better than anyone. She inched up to his beautiful mouth. “Are you ready to stand now?”
“That depends on what you’re about to do to me.”
“Look.” She held her hands up. “No hands,” she whispered against his lips, and kissed him. He moaned, running his hands up the length of her arm. Her body temperature rocketed. Luca reached around her neck, tangled his hands in her hair, and broke the kiss. “We need to get out of here.”
Gasping for a breath, she said, “Good idea.”
“Onward, then?” he asked, getting up from his chair and offering his hand while the other hooked his tuxedo jacket over his shoulder.
“Yes, but I don’t want this to end.” She grabbed her clutch and then took his hand.
“We are on the same page, Ms. Vargas.”
Safe by his side, with Luca’s arm protectively around her, they reached the hall leading out of the building, and he stopped.
“In here,” he said tucking into a niche-like room.
“A wine closet?” she asked, stepping into the dark cabernet smelling space. This night is getting better and better. Luca pressed into her and her back pressed against the cold stone wall.
Cradling her face in his hands, he tilted it up to his gorgeous mouth. “This doesn’t have to end.” He brushed his lips against hers. “Don’t make it end.” The words seemed to ache, and his hands trembled while holding her face. She knew that glazed look of desire so well.
But tonight, Luca’s eyes burned a hole in her heart before his mouth came down on hers for a kiss. Her heart clenched and stopped, like on a high dive, right before leaping. And she fell, slowly, floating into his soft kiss. She opened her mouth greedily, needing his tongue against hers, and buried her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. She could taste how much he wanted her.
“Luca! Luca! Is that you?” An elderly woman’s voice rang out in the distance.
Danica held her breath.
“Noooo,” Luca groaned, breaking away. “Crap,” he said, moving a strand of hair out of her eyes. He straightened his shirt before turning around, blocking Danica’s view.
“Oh, that is you, honey.” The woman’s voice got louder. Obviously oblivious to what she’d interrupted. “You promised a dance.”
“Mrs. Simpson, of course.” Luca left, and the heat in the small stone niche went with him.
Luca tucked a petite elderly woman’s hand into the crook of his arm. Matching her pace, he moved slowly, escorting her down the hall to the ballroom. Judging by the gray-haired lady’s uncertain steps, she had to be approaching ninety. A man Danica’s father’s age loped down the hall, practically running. He muttered something to Luca before taking the woman’s hand and ushering her down the hall in the opposite direction.
Luca turned to come back to her, and desire shot through her like an electric wire suddenly hitting water. She nervously smoothed the front of her dress and stepped out of the cubbyhole to meet him.
“Crisis averted.”
Damn, if he wasn’t the hottest, sexiest, most magmatic man she’d ever met.
“Mrs. Simpson is a major benefactor,” Luca explained, wrapping his arms around Danica’s waist and grinning down at her. “I ran into her at Zellers Hardware last week and apparently promised her a dance. Don’t remember. I’m sorry.”
“No worries. I get it,” she said snuggling into him. He seemed as happy as she was to back in each other’s arms.
“Now, where were we?” The warmth of his mouth touched her forehead.
“We were kissing.” She sighed into the crevice of his neck.
“And you don’t want the night to end.” He gripped her chin, tilting it up. “And I don’t want it to end, so let’s spend the night together.”
And just like that, Luca laid it all out on the table for her, the way he always had. But they’d never gone as far as he was sugg
esting tonight. They might have fooled around back in the day—a lot, actually—but hadn’t taken off all their clothes. He’d never been inside her.
It wasn’t like she’d consider it with anyone else, no matter how ritzy the first date. But Luca wasn’t like anyone else. And this wasn’t a second or third date, more of a continuation of a love story begun years ago. He made being together easy. Like she belonged with him—her family loved him—he made her feel safe. Who was she kidding? She was falling in love with Luca.
His expression didn’t change, his gaze seared into hers, waiting for her answer.
Embarrassed by the heat of a full-on body blush pulsing through her, and her heart pounding out of her chest, she looked away. “You’re awfully cocky,” she said to the floor.
Then she looked up, their eyes connected again, and she couldn’t help grinning. “It’s a good thing I’ve known you for so long.”
He beamed and threw his head back. “So that’s a yes?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“You stay right here.” He gave her small smile. “Don’t move. I’m just going to step away and make a call.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and she watched him walk down the hall with his cell connected to his ear. She second-guessed her decision, and prayed she made the right one. It didn’t seem like she had much choice when it came to Luca Santino. Since they’d reunited, she’d only said yes. Yes to a date. Yes to a kiss. Yes to a hug. Yes. Yes. Yes.
“All set,” he said bounding back. And lifted her off her feet in a bear hug. He felt like fresh air and solid steel arms. For a split second, she thought she’d pass out from light-headedness, happiness, and light. So many thoughts swirled through her while in his arms.
Luca held her so tightly, and let her down so slowly, her body rubbed against him all the way down until her feet touched the floor. Without letting go, he poured kisses on her forehead, cheeks, and planted one firmly on her nose. He clasped her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
Only hours ago, she’d walked through the same entrance, dignified and nervous. Now, with her hand in Luca’s, making their way past a cacophony of blurry, twinkling lights and faceless strangers, she didn’t care about the surroundings, her appearance, or anything...except him.
The driver had the car waiting for them at the bottom of the steps. The chauffeur stepped out of the vehicle, and Luca gestured for him to get back inside.
When he let go of her hand to open the door, she missed his touch. Suddenly nervous now they were actually leaving, she scooted across the back seat while trying not to think about what would happen next while. Luca moved her dress off the seat before climbing in next to her. He reached for her seat belt, locked it, did the same for himself, and leaned back.
The heavy car pulled out of the driveway, and she let out a long sigh. She didn’t mean for it to be so loud. With her stomach knotted with a mix of excitement and trepidation, she stole a look at Luca.
He smiled, clasped her hand and held it in both of his. She banished every what-if and shouldn’t-do-this thought from her mind the second they flew in.
“We’re going to Solana in Calistoga, it’s closer than my place.” He pointed out the dark window. “It’s right up the street.”
Danica kept her voice low, wanting to hide from the driver, “Did you have the room the whole time?”
He took a heartbeat to answer. “It’s not like I haven’t thought about it,” he confessed, squeezing her hand. “But no, I’d never presume with you, Ms. Vargas. I just made the call. I know a guy.”
“That should be your middle name.” She tickled his thumb with hers. “Luca, I know a guy, Santino.”
“I can’t wait to get out of these seat belts to kiss you properly. This is like torture foreplay.” He thumped his head against the headrest. “Ugh.”
They spent the rest of the short ride in silence. After they pulled into a quiet, circular driveway, the driver opened her door.
Luca got out of the car on her side and immediately draped his jacket over her shoulders. “You okay?”
She glanced up at his blue-black eyes. Her legs felt a little wobbly. “Yeah.” Danica looked back at the car. “I think so.”
Luca grasped her shoulders. “Look at me, Danica.”
Reluctantly, she met his eyes.
“It’s me, Danica. You have nothing to worry about, or be afraid of.”
Her stomach tightened. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I just wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t bring any clothes.”
“Please don’t worry—about anything,” he pleaded before wrapping her in a hug, and she snuggled against him. His reassuring arms, and the touch of his fingers caressing the back of her neck, alleviated her fears.
“Better?” Luca asked into her hair, rocking her.
“Much.”
She waited while he discussed something with the driver through the window. Then, with fingers intertwined, they entered the lobby of a quaint farmhouse building.
While they hurried past the closed sign on the lobby gift shop, she spotted toothpaste and toothbrushes in the window. Why didn’t she bring a larger purse, or at least something to freshen up with? The stale-mouthed walk of shame she’d invariably have to make tomorrow in the Napa sun in her wrinkled emerald evening gown glaring would be spectacularly uncomfortable.
And what if he doesn’t like what he sees? What if we suddenly become awkward together?
“We have the Capella suite for your stay this evening, Mr. Santino,” a receptionist said, coming out from behind the desk. “Let me show you the way.”
She held Luca’s hand, and they followed the man down a fragrant rose and lavender-studded path. The sound of the tinkling of water cascading into a fountain got louder, and they rounded a corner to their cottage. Luca wrapped an arm around her and squeezed.
The attendant unlocked the door and turned on the lights. Luca ushered her inside. “I think we can take it from here,” he said reaching into his pocket and passing several bills to the man.
“Thank you, sir.” The man nodded and left.
She caught a glimpse of the fireplace and, although she didn’t see candles, the room smelled like eucalyptus. Had it been over a year since her last boyfriend?
But he hadn’t been Luca.
Before she could think another thought, she was in his arms, backed against the door. He brought his hand to her face and grazed her cheek with his knuckles. “We’re still us, Danica,” he said, in that quiet voice she loved so much, her legs buckled. Did he know she’d melted so much throughout the evening, her panties were practically slipping off?
She cupped her hand over the one cradling her face. “I know,” she said straining up, aching for his mouth. Why had she ever let go and lost touch with this beautiful man?
When his searing lips came down on hers, her brain cells vanished, and that high-dive sensation took over. She fell, melting, into the soft, smooth sensation of his tongue running across her lower lip.
“Where have you been?” she asked breathlessly between kisses.
“Nowhere—without you.” He kissed her again, hard and urgent this time. His urgency intensified to a plea. He was asking her, begging her, and using his body, his arms, his kisses to say make “love with me.”
When his lips moved away from her mouth, her euphoria came to a screeching halt. Come back… Instead, Luca laid a path with open-mouthed kisses, sucking and nipping a trail curving around her cheek and down.
“Do you know”—he kissed the crevice under her chin—“just how delicious you taste?” He licked the hollow of her neck. “Your entire body is edible.”
This is heaven. Danica arched her back, and down the front of her neck he went. She relished every fiery spark he set off on her skin.
Unable to stand another second not kissing him, she whispered, “Come back to my mouth.” His kisses traveled south, farther down her chest.
“No.” His voice sounde
d like gravel. He cupped her breast, took her nipple in his mouth, and sucked at her through her dress. “Oh, my God,” she clamped her eyes shut. Every teenage fantasy was coming true.
A deep moan came from the back of his throat. “So. Beautiful. Danica.”
Is this really happening? After all these years, are we finally going to make love? He spread her legs using his thigh, then moving it against her. Jolts of pleasure shot through her system, eclipsing any more thoughts or questions. There was no man she trusted more, and she didn’t need to hold back. She pressed and rubbed against him, loving the delicious friction between her legs. Bristles of his two a.m. stubble scraped against her skin with every kiss, nip, and suck.
Wild tremors rolled under the surface through her core, and she held on to him, afraid she’d come too soon.
“I’m going to lose my mind,” she said, clutching his head, leading him back to her mouth.
“Exactly.” He nipped her bottom lip before latching on to her with another breath-stealing kiss.
She loved the way he kissed her. Loved the way he touched her...and wanted him to feel as insanely wonderful as she did. Bracing her back against the door, she fumbled with his shirt, clumsily undoing the buttons blocking her from touching him.
At last she could press her nipples, still damp from his kisses, against his chest, and feel his heart pump wildly through the thin fabric of her dress.
His arm curved around her waist, holding her steady, allowing her to trace her fingertips over his chest, drawing a line from his collarbone and down his deliciously tight abdomen. Fumbling with his belt buckle and deciding to undo it would take too much time, she slid her hand into the front of his pants. He jerked and let out a low groan.
“Jesus, you’re killing me,” he whispered against her mouth, and kissed her again. Without letting go of her mouth, he reached under her with both his massive hands, and lifted her up by her bottom, positioning her higher on his thigh against the door. “I’ve never wanted anyone so much.”
