Flirting with Fire

by Piper Rayne

  Pushing all thoughts away, my hands burrow into his hair, gripping tight as my orgasm crests then spirals out of control.

  I scream out, all the tension in my body falling away as I melt into the bed, melt into him. I open my eyes to the sound of foil ripping. Mauro’s removed his boxer briefs and has positioned himself between my legs.

  I don’t want to stare or anything, but this is the first chance I’ve had to look at his cock. I have to say—no complaints.

  Tentatively, his body lowers to mine, inching his way into my depths as he kisses me senseless until he’s fully inside me, filling me completely.

  “Mad, you feel so fucking good.” He rocks a little and I pull my knees up, my toes curling from the euphoria of his hard length rocking into me.

  “So do you.”

  Our bodies move as one as the pressure of our release threads through our veins, tugging at our nerve endings in a desperate attempt to erupt. His heated body on top of me, the light stubble on his face running along my jaw, the sinful moans falling from his lips the deeper and harder he claims me—all of it makes my head spin as I lose myself in pleasure with him once again.

  “Ohhhh, Mauro!” The thread that Mauro wound so tight inside of me snaps and my toes curl on top of his comforter.

  He stares down, watching while I lose myself. His breathing labors for a second and he props himself up on his elbows, his gaze locking with mine.

  “Trust me, Mad. I know we can make it. Just stick with me.”

  I reach up and grab his face between my hands, smashing our mouths together until he thrusts and then stills inside of me on a groan I catch with my lips.

  Both of us spent, Mauro falls on top of me and slides off, his fingers grazing down my glistening skin, kissing me slowly and sweetly.

  There’s no chance I haven’t already fallen hopelessly for this man. Not when the reality is even better than what I’d conjured up in my imagination all those years ago.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Mauro

  I’m still wrapping my brain around our first time together. Never have I felt that close to someone during the act. Like I wanted to crawl inside of her and make myself a home so I could stay there forever.

  My hands wouldn’t move fast enough, my mouth unable to get enough of exploring every inch of her skin. There’s so much more that I want to discover about what makes her cry out, what makes her whimper, even better, what makes her beg.

  “Cheesecake?” I ask, throwing on a pair of sweats as I return from the bathroom.

  “Perfect.” She moves to get up, holding the sheet tight against her body.

  Modest now, huh? An hour ago she was the one who stripped her dress off.

  “Here.” I grab a t-shirt out of my drawer and place it over her head.

  She looks down at it and smiles. “Where do you guys get these?” She holds the cotton away from her chest and reads it out loud. “Firemen do it with a big hose?” She quirks an eyebrow at me.

  “My mom bought it. I don’t think she understood what hose was referring to.”

  She laughs. “She doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who would let you walk around like that.”

  I put my hand out in front of me and help her up from the bed.

  Damn. I like how she looks in my shirt way too much.

  Cute as hell with the neck draping over and almost exposing her shoulder while the length of it reaches down to her knees.

  I could get used to this.

  I usher her forward down the hall, letting the faux candles stay lit because I’m way too lazy at the moment to turn off one hundred tea lights.

  “She gets them for us every Christmas. My brothers and I each get one for our career. Half the time we’re cracking up and she has no idea why we think they’re so funny.” I grab the cheesecake I left abandoned in the takeout bag on the end table before following her down the hallway.

  With two forks, I meet her at the counter. Forking off a bite, I place it in front of her lips.

  She opens her mouth and allows me to feed her. I didn’t realize this would be so damn hot that I’d have a chub again after only five minutes.

  “You know what this needs, right?” she asks after swallowing down her bite.

  “Tastes pretty good as it is. Not as good as you though.” I wink at her and like I knew she would, she blushes.

  She walks toward her purse. “Chocolate. Always chocolate.” Opening a smaller purse than I usually see her carrying around, she pulls out a bag of half eaten M&Ms.

  With dedication and precision, she presses them into the top of the cheesecake, pops one in her mouth and then opens her mouth for me to give her another bite.

  I do as requested because I’d be an idiot if I didn’t. A moan that would put me at full salute escapes her and her eyes close.

  Fuck me right now.

  “So good.” She grabs an M&M and holds it up in front of my mouth.

  I open and she places it gently on my tongue. Without any hesitation, she takes the fork from my hands and this time she feeds me. She’s right, it needed the chocolate.

  I’ve been eating cheesecake my entire life plain without knowing what I was missing.

  Reminds me of my life pre-Madison.

  “Should I ask why you carry around a half-eaten bag of M&Ms in your purse?” I pick her up by her hips and prop her up on the kitchen counter and then find my spot right between her legs, picking up the fork to continue feeding her.

  If this was my life, I’d die a happy man.

  “Well, I have a bit of a chocolate addiction so when I have a hankering for something sweet or I’m stressed out, I grab a handful.”

  “Why not eat the entire bag at one time?”

  She tilts her head and for the first time ever she looks at me like I’m stupid. Except this is Madison, so it somehow looks like a polite gesture coming from her. “Did you see my high school yearbook picture?”

  I set the cheesecake down on the counter, reaching my hands behind her, pulling her center toward my stomach. My fingers delve under my t-shirt to cup her ass.

  “What’s your point?”

  Again with the head tilt. I’m a smart enough man not to fight this issue with her, so I’ll let it go, but I’ll make it my mission to let her know I’ll take her however she comes.

  “How perfect that we have a candy made after us.” I nod at the package. “M&Ms. Mauro and Madison.”

  She giggles. “I think it would be Madison and Mauro.”

  “You do, do you?” My fingers skim up the t-shirt to tickle her ribs.

  She squirms and her arms are rigid at her sides, trying to free herself from my torturous hands, all the while her sweet and melodic laugh echoes through my apartment.

  Unable to stop myself, I allow my hands to run up the length of her torso, forgetting the tickling and cupping her breasts.

  “You play dirty,” she says in a breathy voice as she stops fighting me.

  “You complaining?” My mouth salivates I want to taste her again so bad.

  “Never.” Her arms loop around my shoulders and her thighs tighten around my stomach. “You can tease me whenever you like, as long as you finish what you start.”

  “Hmm…I like the sound of that.” I dip my mouth to her neck, licking up her jaw to her earlobe. “I’m going to run to my room, wait here until I get back.”

  “Why?” she asks when I dislodge from her hold.

  “Condom. We’re doing it right where you are.”

  A soft smile crosses her lips. “But there’s some right there.” She points to a box of condoms with a bow on them at the edge of the kitchen counter.

  How did I miss those?

  I pick up the box and sure enough, there’s a sticky note attached that says, ‘Be safe, Love Ma’s favorite.’

  I rip the box open and take out one of the foil wrappers. “Luca,” I sigh as I eliminate the distance between us.

  “They’re Luca’s?” she asks, stopping me from openi
ng the foil packet.

  “No, he bought them for us.”

  A horrified look crosses her face. “Maybe you guys are too close.”

  “No, no. It’s not like that. We were talking about who was my mom’s favorite and a comment was made about grandchildren.” The hell if I’m going to tell her that comment was made by me. “This is his way of trying to secure his spot as number one son.”

  “Oh.” She still looks surprised and a little worried that I’m going to rate her performance with my brother’s tomorrow.

  Ten plus if you’re wondering.

  “Hey.” I place my hand on her cheek. “We don’t talk about women like conquests or judging our partners or anything like that. It’s literally his joke.”

  She smiles and I lean forward biting lightly on her bottom lip with my teeth. Once I’m there I figure I need to seduce her all over again, so I keep the kiss going until the worrying that’s occupying her retreats and I’m all she’s thinking about.

  Her arms wind around my shoulders again and I slide her forward more, needing her as close to me as I can have her. Our tongues tangle and slide as one, eliciting moans from each of us.

  I grab the hem of the t-shirt pulling it off her. A shiver runs through her body, but her feet press on the waistband of my sweats and I take my hands off her ass for a moment to help. I slide the condom down my length and wrap my arms around her again.

  “Jesus, Mad, you’re everything and more. So much more than I dreamed of.” Holding her up, I swing us around so her back is pressed against the wall. Keeping her in place with my thigh, I position myself at her entrance and sink into her again with a groan.

  Her fingers dig into my shoulder blades and her teeth tug on my ear as I fill her up. Never will I get enough of her. Making love to her in my bed was something, but under the kitchen lights when I can watch myself moving in and out of her is making me lose control. Her tits bounce in my face and shatter my small reserve of self-control.

  Her blue eyes are laced with arousal and need for me and it’s my undoing. I slam into her over and over again, claiming her as mine.

  “Mauro.” My name slips from her lips like a plea to never stop and as much as I’d love that, I’m close to blowing my load right now.

  Rotating my hips, sweat trickles down my face dripping between our bodies and I thrust into her again and again, switching between watching her expressions and where we’re joined.

  “Mauro!” she screams, her fingernails digging into my flesh, her slick heat convulsing around my shaft.

  Her sweet cries and the sound of me sliding in and out of her body throws me over the edge I was teetering on. Inaudible words ring out between the two of us as I spill into the condom and she crashes in my arms, spent and exhausted.

  “You want to go to bed?” I ask after I’ve regained my ability to form a complete thought.

  She nods, holding on to me.

  Carrying her to my bedroom along the lit path, her breathing slow and steady against me, might be the highlight of my night. I lay her down on my bed, slide the covers out and tuck her in.

  “I’ll be right back.” I kiss her forehead and disappear into my bathroom to dispose of the condom.

  When I return to the room, she’s wide-eyed and watching me. Joining her under the covers, I waste no time in pulling her into my arms.

  After what we just shared, I know it’s time for me to explain to her my hesitation to get close to anyone. Even though I’ve let her in, and I’ll hurt no matter what happens to us, I need her to know. I just pray she doesn’t judge me for the decisions I’ve made.

  “You tire me out.” She kisses my chest, placing her hand over where she kissed like she’s sealing her affection into my skin. Little does she know, but she’s already branded me. Not in a way that anyone else can see, but in a way that only I can feel.

  I brush my knuckles down her arm. “Do you ever wonder why I’m scared of love?”

  She rests her chin on my chest, staring up at me. “I knew you had reservations, but I didn’t think you were scared.”

  I tuck a strand of her long hair behind her ear, memorizing the different shades of blue in her eyes. “I need you to know something about me before we move forward and I’m hoping that it doesn’t change anything.”

  She bolts up, pulling the sheet with her, effectively leaving me exposed and naked.

  “Calm down.” I loosen the grip of her hands on the sheets and they fall back in place, as does she. “It’s not like I murdered someone.”

  “Do you have a kid?” she asks.

  “Remember the whole conversation before I took you up against the wall?” I raise an eyebrow.

  She laughs. “Oh yeah. Okay just tell me. Is this something I should close my eyes for?”

  “No, baby, no.”

  The affectionate pet name falls from my lips unexpectedly and I’m as surprised as she looks. She doesn’t say anything, just smiles, and I take that to mean that it’s okay to use it from this point forward.

  Inhaling a deep breath, I decide to let it all out. Tell her the truth and wait for her judgment. “My buddy Hunter, the one who died in the fire...the one I was going to partner up with?”

  She nods.

  “After he passed, I was tasked with cleaning out his locker so that Cailin wouldn’t have to do it. She was already falling deeper and deeper into a depression as each day passed. The surprise of his death was too much for her to take. I mean there’s always the worry in the back of your mind, but you don’t let that fear stop you from living your life. Anyway…”

  She’s silent in my arms, her hands running up the side of my stomach. Back and forth like she’s assuring me that she’s here.

  “He had a cell phone in there. One I’d never seen him use before. I didn’t think much of it because it didn’t turn on right away, so I figured maybe it was an old one and he was going to trade it in or donate it to the battered women’s shelter. I took it home and charged it up to make sure it worked. Other than the phone there was just his personal stuff, some notes from Cailin, the card we put on his locker after Devin was born. I packed it all in a box and took it over to their house.”

  “So, I’m guessing the cell phone wasn’t what you thought, but I’m unsure what this has to do with you.” She slides up closer to look me in the eye.

  “Remember I mentioned that I had an ex-girlfriend named Jenna?”

  She nods.

  “We broke up six months ago.”

  She nods.

  “Hunter died six months ago.”

  “I know.” Her sweet, innocent eyes look on at me, not getting where I’m going with this.

  “Put those two things together and add the cell phone.”

  “You’re making me solve a case to figure out the answer. Wouldn’t that be Cris—” She abruptly stops talking. “Oh my God, Mauro.” She covers her mouth. “No way!”

  This time it’s me nodding. “Yeah. They’d been having an affair for months before he died. The text messages were excruciating to read. I’m thinking he’d gotten the phone well after their first night had started, but there were sexts and shit talking about me and Cailin on there.”

  She rests her body on top me, squeezing me in her arms. “I’m so sorry, that’s like the ultimate betrayal.”

  I love the fact she’s trying to make me feel better. “I’m good now, Mad, thanks though.”

  She falls back to her side. “I see why you’d have trouble trusting people.”

  “You’ve helped me get over that. There’s something about you…I know you’d never purposely hurt me. But that’s not why I told you all this.” Again, I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, delaying the inevitable. “Cailin doesn’t know.”

  “What?” Her head rears back, judgment clear in her tone.

  “I couldn’t hurt her and Devin that way. Destroy the man he was to them for what? It wouldn’t change anything—he was dead. There were no text messages about him wanting to desert his family
for Jenna. He’s gone and Cailin doesn’t need that baggage to deal with on top of everything else it will take for her to move on with her life.”

  “But…”

  “I’m not changing my mind. All I need to know is if that changes the way you see me.”

  She sits up, straddling me, her hands on my cheeks. “I understand. I do. Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  “The only person who knows besides you is my mom. When we were at the deli, that’s what we were arguing about. She thinks Cailin needs to know because she believes all women know when their husbands stray and it would confirm what she believes Cailin already knows deep down. But Cailin’s never mentioned any suspicions to me so I’m not going there. Other than you and my mom, I’ve told no one and I want to keep it that way.”

  She nods. “Okay.”

  “You’re really not going to argue with me?”

  She shakes her head. “No. It’s your decision, but what I need to know, is whether that experience makes you distrust not only the women you date but your other co-workers? I need to know that you’re safe on the job.” She runs a hand through my hair as she waits for me to answer.

  “I can’t say it doesn’t fuck with my head a little, but you’ll never do that to me, right?”

  She collapses on top of me, her hair a veil on either side of my head. “Never,” she says with conviction.

  I roll us over and spread her legs, ready for round three before we find sleep. She happily obliges and after tonight, I know I’ll never be prepared to give her up.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Madison

  With a few weeks of bliss between me and Mauro, fall has rolled into Chicago, bringing the changing colors of the leaves, cooler weather, and stores full of items in preparation for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

  The house is ready for the interiors to be installed and I’m practically giddy. This is my favorite part of any flip—when things start to look pretty.

  “This house needs some color,” Mauro comments, grabbing my ass on his way to the kitchen.