“Don’t mind my Maeve,” Patrick said, putting his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “She cries when she’s happy.”
Patrick stepped up to Annalissa and she had to lean way back to look into his cheerful face. “Good to have you here, darling. Maeve and I’ve heard a lot about you and are tickled to finally meet the woman that tamed one of my boys.”
Jennifer giggled before accusing her in-laws of saying the exact same thing when she met them last year. The young boy ran over to fist-bump Vinny.
“This is my brother, Ross,” Jennifer introduced. “He and Vinny are great friends.”
“Hey buddy,” Vinny greeted. “I’d like you to meet Annalissa.”
Gabe walked through the back carrying a tray of beers on tap. “Let’s celebrate,” he called out.
Maeve and Patrick had their servers bring out platters of fish and chips and the rowdy group settled in to eat. Patrick regaled the women with tales of Vinny and Gabe growing up on the river and the shenanigans they used to get into. Maeve beamed at the gathering and Annalissa felt her eyes on her several times.
Finally, she leaned over to Vinny and whispered, “I think your mom wants to say something, but she just stares instead.”
“She wants you to play your harp.”
Her eyes widened as she bemoaned, “But I didn’t bring Easnadh.”
Vinny winked as he moved from his chair. “I’ll be right back.” A few minutes later he returned with her harp case in his hand. “I stowed it in the back. I just knew Ma would want to hear you play an Irish tune.”
Maeve clapped her hand in delight. “Oh, my dear. Please do. Ever since Vincent told us you played the Celtic harp, I just knew you were the one for him.”
The group moved to the sitting area in front of the fireplace as Vinny got a chair for Annalissa to sit in. For several minutes she played one Irish ditty after another, interspersed with several ballads.
Once more Vinny sat entranced watching her play, her fingers gliding over the strings eliciting the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Her eyes were closed as she rocked back and forth, one with the music. Suddenly another sound emerged. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized she was singing. Singing! The haunting tones from the harp were now joined by the sweetest voice he had ever heard as the words to the Irish lullaby floated over the pub.
As her fingers stilled, Annalissa opened her eyes realizing that she had been singing in public—something she never did. And the gathering was silent. Perfectly silent. Oh Jesus, what have I done?
Maeve burst into tears as she sprang from the sofa, rushing over to envelope her in her embrace. “Oh, my. I’ve not heard that since my mother would sing it to me and I sang it to my boys.”
Annalissa glanced over Maeve’s shoulder to see Patrick wiping his eyes, a broad smile on his face. As the older woman released her, she dared to look Vinny’s way. He moved over to her, pulling her from her chair and encircling her in his arms. Looking down into her green eyes, he whispered, “Never thought I’d hear anything as beautiful as you playing the harp. But hearing you sing at the same time? Fuckin’ amazing.”
“I didn’t mean to sing,” she confessed. “It just sort of happened.”
“Happened for a reason, babe.”
Soon it was time to say goodbye, this time she was comfortable with his parents’ show of affection. They were so much like her mother that she had to fight the tears of remembrance.
As they pulled away from the pub, Vinny turned to her and asked, “You okay, baby?”
She returned his smile as she answered, “Everything’s perfect.”
*
The warm water was no longer frightening to Annalissa as she treaded through the shallow side, slowing making her way into the slightly deeper water. Keeping her head above the water line, she moved her arms while kicking her legs to propel herself toward the stunning man smiling at her as he floated along. He dipped his head under the water, rising up before her like a Viking god. Chiseled abs, with the Celtic patterned tattoo around his thick bicep, water dripping from his hair down his square jaw with a hint of stubble.
Good Lord, she thought as her motions faltered. He quickly reached forward, a smirk on his face.
“Babe, keep your mind on the lesson or you’ll drown.”
Clinging to his hard body, she replied, “How can I be expected to keep my mind off of you when you look like that?”
Laughing, he pressed his erection against her core. “You’re not the only one struggling here. Just the sight of your sexy body sliding through the water is keeping me hard.”
“Maybe someone else should teach me to swim,” she suggested, licking the water off of his neck. “Maybe Jobe is available.”
“Fuck, no,” he growled, squeezing her ass. “He may be one of my best friends and true to the core, but no one’ll ever be this close to you when you’re half naked.” His aching dick was making the lesson difficult, so he moved her out to arms’ length as he floated her to the shallow side.
“Back to business,” he ordered, giving her a quick kiss on the nose, admiring her little pouty mouth. “We need to get your head under the water and add the breathing into the strokes.”
Determined not to show fear, she stood and followed his motions of holding her breath and lowering herself under the water. Up and down she went, practicing taking a deep breath before plunging, blowing bubbles under water and then rising again.
Having conquered her fear of being under the water, he then stood behind her moving her arms as she turned her head. Her attempts to put arms, legs, and breathing together were awkward and resulted in swallowing water.
Sputtering and coughing, she lifted her head in frustration. “I’m never going to get this! There’s too much going on for me to remember how to do it all.”
Once she had caught her breath, he pulled her close allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist again as she locked her hands behind his thick neck.
“Babe, you’re doing great.” Seeing her start to interrupt, he continued. “How long did it take you to learn to play the harp?”
Knowing where he was going, she grinned ruefully. “Okay, okay. I know, I have to practice. But it’s not like I’m ever going swimming by myself. And I have no intentions of ever trying to cross a river again.”
“You never know, babe. After all, when we have kids and they’re playing around the docks at my parents’ place, you’ll want them to know how to swim and be able to swim with them if you need to.”
She stilled, bringing her head from his shoulder to face him. Her eyes searched his, looking between them. He looked…serious.
“Our…children?” she asked, her heart beating a staccato rhythm in her chest.
“Don’t know where you think this is going, but I see it going all the way,” he said holding her gaze, feeling her body tremble against his.
“I…but you’ve only known me a couple of weeks,” she whispered, afraid of him changing his mind and terrified of him being serious.
“Lived hard, baby. Seen things I wish I hadn’t seen. Done things I wish I hadn’t done. But when something comes along that’s right and you know it’s right? You don’t sit around just twiddling your thumbs.”
A nervous giggle erupted from her lips as she said, “I hardly think we’ve been sitting around twiddling our thumbs, Vinny.”
He watched as water droplets made their way down her silky cheeks, dropping onto the tops of her breasts peeking out of the water. Then he lifted his gaze back to hers. “First time I saw you on stage performing, I had no idea you were the woman I was supposed to escort. But I stood there in the wings and knew I’d give anything to know someone who could bring such beauty out of an instrument.
“Then, when you walked into the dressing room and I knew that I was going to be able to spend some time with you, I felt like the luckiest man alive. And babe,” he said, making sure to hold her gaze, “There hasn’t been one moment in this crazy couple of weeks that have
made me doubt my feelings for you.”
The sound of water lapping against the edges of the pool was the only noise heard as she clung to his body, her thoughts swirling.
“What are you thinkin’, princess?” he asked, his confidence leaving him as her expression was unreadable.
“I’m stunned,” she replied truthfully.
“Stunned good or stunned bad?”
Smiling gradually, she said, “Stunned good.”
He let out the breath he did not realize he was holding. “Can we work with that?” he asked.
She nodded before saying, “I still can’t believe that you’re in my life. You, who could have any woman, want me.”
With his arms still enveloping her, he began to slowly twirl them around in the water. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” Deciding not to push her, he maneuvered her toward the side, his mind already on the ring he wanted to purchase.
Lifting her up on the side of the pool, he hoisted himself out as well. She leaned her head way back to take in all of him. His wet hair appeared as dark as the scruff on his strong jaw. Wide shoulders and muscular chest tapering down to his trim waist. His tree-trunk legs spread in a wide stance. And his hand…held out to take hers.
He was doing his own perusal, looking down at the woman sitting in front of him. She thought the faded one-piece swimsuit looked childish, but there was nothing about her that did not scream all woman. Her long, dark hair fell in wet waves down her back. Her face, devoid of all makeup, resembled a china doll with her porcelain skin. And the body encased in the swimsuit, toned with perfect curves. Nothing lush and overblown…just perfect. Damn—his cock was twitching again. Reaching his hand out, he noticed she hesitated in taking it because her eyes were roaming over his body. Smirking, he waited until her gaze lifted to his and grinned at her embarrassment.
“Come on. Let’s get you warm, dry…and in bed.”
It was her turn to smirk as he assisted her up. “In that order?” she asked coyly.
With a quick slap to her ass, he swooped her up in his arms laughing. Arriving in their apartment, he lowered her feet to the plush rug in his bathroom. Turning on the shower to let the water warm, he moved to stand in front of her again.
Sliding his hands up her arms until he came to her straps, he peeled them over her shoulders until the top of her swimsuit barely hung on her breasts. She placed her hands on his chest, feeling the steely strength underneath her fingertips. Glancing down she noted the tent in his swim trunks and as her gaze wandered back to his face, she noticed his smirk.
“Oh yeah, babe. You do that to me.”
Giggling, she purred as he exposed her breasts and lifted her up in his massive arms, latching his mouth over one nipple. Sucking deeply, he teased and taunted her flesh until the need for movement caused her to ride his abdomen against her core.
He set her down to quickly divest her of the swimsuit, peeling it off to expose all of her beauty to his eyes. With a jerk down, he kicked his swim trunks to the side as well.
Hoisting her up again, he stepped into the shower allowing the spray of warm water to hit his back, and pressed her against the tiled wall. Moving between breasts, he feasted until she cried out with need. He was almost ready to enter when she stilled him.
“A condom, sweetie,” she reminded. His look let her know that he hated having to stop. She hastened to say, “I ran to my doctor the other day, but I have to be on the pill for a bit to make sure…”
“Gotcha, baby. I appreciate it.” Stop being a prick, he told himself. If she’s willing to do this for me, then I can keep him covered until it’s clear.
Stepping out to sheath himself, he re-entered the shower and immediately assumed the same position—her in his massive arms balancing on the tip of his straining erection. His gaze met hers and she nodded her approval. With one swift push, he plunged to the hilt in her warm, sweet body.
For a few seconds, he remained still; the feel of her silky wetness squeezing him tightly was pure nirvana.
Wiggling, she complained, “Vinny, please. Do something!”
Chuckling, he began to move her up and down on his shaft, eliciting moans from her lips as he captured them with his. Thrusting his tongue in rhythm to the movement of his cock, he felt his orgasm approaching quickly.
One hand under her ass for support and the other pressed against the tile, he moved her up and down, the friction nearly taking him over the edge. He held himself back wanting her to come first.
She felt the pressure building, trying to reach the finish line of a race, knowing that crossing the end would bring euphoria. She was barely aware of him pressing her back tighter against the shower wall until she felt his hand move between their bodies. One tweak of her clit was all it took and she shattered. The vibrations moved from her pussy outward until she was sure she felt them down to her toes.
Just then, she heard him roar and opened her eyes quickly to watch his face as he came. His head thrown back, thick neck muscles corded in strain, he powered through his orgasm as he pumped his last drop inside.
After a moment, when their breaths slowed, he allowed her to slide down so that she was standing next to him, the warm water covering her body. Leaning her head back, she looked up at the huge man whose arms were still around her.
He wants me. He wants to be with me. A smile curved the corners of her mouth as she leaned forward, placing her lips on his chest. Holding that kiss for a moment she could feel his heartbeat pounding. “I love you,” she whispered. His arms tightened around her body.
“I love you back,” came his answer, rumbling against her face.
A short time later, tucked in bed, he pulled her body next to his and enveloped her in his embrace once again. Forever, he thought. Mine forever. With that thought, he followed her into slumber.
Chapter 20
Vinny rolled over and looked down at the early morning sun peaking through the windows of his bedroom, casting a hazy glow over the woman sleeping in his bed. My bed. My woman in my bed. The caveman thought could not be squelched even if he had wanted to. After years of meaningless sex in stranger’s beds, to have a beautiful woman that he loved sleeping beside him made life worth living.
She rolled toward him, still asleep. Her face, gentled in repose, held his gaze as he thought of the music that flew from her fingers. And her voice. He smiled as he stroked her cheek. The ruffles of her nightgown dipped low enough for him to see the tops of her breasts and he feasted his eyes on the creamy mounds.
Then the thought of someone trying to hurt her came to mind, and the smile left his face. Replaced by anger. And determination.
Annalisa slowly woke, her eyes opening to the sight of the most handsome man she had ever seen staring down at her. His expression appeared tight with anger, then immediately softened as he focused on her eyes as well.
“Morning, babe,” he murmured, his voice hoarse with need as he slid one hand down her back and over the globes of her ass, pulling her into his swollen dick.
“Mmmmm,” she moaned, responding by grasping his erection and slipping her hand up and down over its silky hardness. “I thought we needed to be at Tony’s this morning.”
“They can wait,” he growled, the movements of her small hand driving his need to a fevered pitch. Rolling over her body after discovering that she was not wearing panties, he pushed the nightgown up and entered her quickly after sheathing himself.
Her hands pulled him closer as they roamed over his back and down to his ass. Within a few minutes, she was thrown over the edge of her orgasm as he powered through his at the same time. Laying sated, they smiled as their bodies cooled in the early morning sun.
He moved out of the bed, reaching down to pluck her off of the covers. “Shower, babe. I’ll fix breakfast while you get ready.”
She turned to pout, saying, “You’re not going to join me?”
He chuckled as he gave her lips a quick kiss. “I join you and we’ll be a lot later for the meeting. Then y
ou might have to explain to the group why we’re late.”
Grumbling, she headed toward the bathroom, his eyes following her longingly. His dick twitched again and he willed it down as he made his way into the kitchen. How can that nightgown be so fuckin’ sexy?
*
The group gathered around the large conference table at the center of Tony’s work area, Lily and BJ on laptops with their screens projected on the wallboards.
The frustration of the group was palatable. So far none of the people on the list of possible suspects had suspicious behavior, nor had Lily been able to uncover any unusual monetary transactions.
“It’s too fuckin’ clean,” Gabe groused. “Not everyone can be that clean.”
“I’ve been working with Jack, since he has DEA contacts. They’re working on an undercover operation in Los Angeles where they’ve found drug smuggling that even gets by airport security,” Tony announced.
“Intel has an organized gang, run by those that supply drugs to the rich and famous. Once hooked, extortion is also used to keep their buyers and runners busy. The organization is huge and with runs between LA and other national airports, such as Dulles, and it wouldn’t be too hard to find those that travel with large cases. They sell worldwide and one of their many schemes is that they target frequent fliers between D.C. and LA or New York. DEA is after the top guy, but they wonder if he knows how everything works in his own organization. So far, he’s been untouchable and he manages to stay clean. Now the many minions that work under him? That’s a different story.”
“DEA can’t get to the subordinates?” Vinny asked. “They can’t all be fuckin’ untouchable.”
“They’re working on it. So much money passes through the hands of all types of people in entertainment that’s off the books, it can be hard to find what’s legal and what’s not.”
“Moving drugs using unsuspecting airline passengers sounds really random…and detailed,” Jobe noted.
Lily spoke up and added, “But it wouldn’t be that difficult to figure out. All it takes is a comparison of frequent fliers, what luggage they check, how often and when they travel. That’s something that any person with enough IT knowledge could organize.”
Vinny: Alvarez Security Series Page 20
