Norah didn’t know what to say about that. “I can’t thank you enough for being here for me.”
Zulika hugged her again. “You are my family, Norah. It’s you and me against the world. You, me, and this fur ball.” She scratched Ziggy’s ears. “Monday, you start your new job with that gorgeous man.”
“God, that seems like a million years ago. Was it really only a few hours?” Norah’s thoughts were in a muddle, she was so tired.
Eventually they fell asleep on Zul’s bed, Ziggy between them, and slept until mid-afternoon.
Lucian did not want his father finding out about his arrest, so he called the one person he knew had enough money to bail him out. Tara arrived, steaming angry, in heavy disguise at the station and posted bail. Lucian tried to kiss her and she stopped him.
“Not here,” she growled and stalked off, leaving him to trail behind. In her car, speeding out of the city to a motel they often used, she railed against his calling her. “Giacomo could have found out,” she hissed at him. “Or the paparazzi. What if they had taken you to the same station as they do all the celebs? The press pays the police to tip them off. If someone recognized me …”
She ranted all the way to the motel. In the room, he realized she hadn’t even asked him what he had done to be arrested. He waited until she had finished admonishing him.
“Baby, I’m sorry. It’s a big mess anyway.”
“What did you do?”
“What they have accused me of,” he corrected, “is assault and rape. What happened is very different.”
She folded her arms. “So what happened? Who did you allegedly rape?”
Lucian sighed. “Norah. We had sex. I got a little rough and she cried foul.”
Tara stared at him. “You told me you two didn’t have sex anymore.”
“We rarely do. I was drunk and missing you …”
“So it’s my fault, is it?”
“I didn’t say that. Anyway, we fucked and then she bit me, so I slapped her. Lightly. Playfully.”
Tara curled her nose up. “She likes it rough?”
No. Lucian swallowed hard. “Yes,” he lied. Tara sat down beside him, and after a moment, brushed her lips against his.
“Fine, you’re forgiven. When is your court date?”
Lucian kissed her again. “I don’t know yet. Can we talk about something different? Or rather, now that we’re here, do something different?”
Tara smiled. “Lie back.” Lucian obeyed and she stripped his trousers and underwear from him, taking his cock into her mouth and sucking hard and long until he was rigid and trembling. She pulled her own panties down and straddled him, lowering herself onto his cock and moving her hips along with his. Lucian lost himself in the sensations and slowly his anger, fear, and sadness became numb.
Monday morning and Norah was beginning to feel like herself again. Well, not really, but at least she had her new job to look forward to. She covered the nasty bruise on her cheek with heavy foundation, which she hated, but made do otherwise with a light coating of mascara on her already thick eyelashes. She slipped into a yellow and orange sundress, which glowed against her dark caramel skin, and some flat pumps. She wanted to be comfortable, but she wanted to look good too—for a good first impression, she grinned to herself. Not for any other reason.
“You look gorgeous.” Zulika was approving and Norah flushed.
“Thank you, Zul. God, I’m nervous. Is it natural to be this nervous?”
“Well, when you’re going to work for Adonis himself,” Zulika grinned at her friend, whose blush deepened even further. “Try not to fuck him on the first day. God, Norah …I’m sorry. I didn’t think,” she said when she saw her friend’s stricken face, then quickly got up to hug her.
“It’s okay.” Norah’s voice was muffled. “We can’t dance around it forever. I need to move past it.”
Norah was pushing the rape to the back of her mind as she got into her car, but a second later she jumped out of her skin as Lucian knocked on the driver’s window.
“Go away,” she yelled, locking the doors and windows.
“I just want to talk,” Lucian called, holding his hands up. “Look, just open the window an inch so we can hear each other. That’s all I ask.”
“No. Anything you have to say to me, you can say to my lawyer.” She started the car and he backed off.
“Norah …I’m sorry. That’s all I wanted to say. I’m sorry.”
Norah watched him turn and walk away from her, getting into his car and driving off. She drew in a deep breath and started the car. The Conti-Tech buildings were out in Mountain View. She would have to drive past her old home.
Tears pricked her eyes then, but she pushed them away. “You don’t get to win this, Lucian. You don’t get to ruin my big day.”
She pulled the car away from the curb and drove towards her new life.
Seb came to get her at reception an hour later, grinning and nudging her with his shoulder in a conspiratorial way. Norah was already half-in-love with him and chuckled. “You look more excited than I do,” she said. “I’m really not that interesting.”
“I beg to differ,” Seb said, “I need a new pal around here.” He lowered his voice. “All the guys are so straight and so nerdy it’s painful. And I told Jack the other day, he’s getting old now, so I need a new playmate.”
Norah felt her spirits soar only for them to plummet again when Seb continued, “Jack’s just having an argument with the dragon at the moment. Sorry, I mean his girlfriend. Hopefully, he’s dumping her—we can but hope.”
Right on cue, the door opened and a beautiful but icy blonde stalked out. Norah recognized her, but couldn’t place her. The blonde met her gaze and they sized each other up. The blonde’s eyes narrowed and she stalked out. Seb cheerfully gave the finger to her retreating back.
“Seb,” Giacomo was at the door of his office, trying to hide a grin. Seb shrugged good-naturedly.
“Sorry, I have Finger Tourette’s. Anyway…here she is!” Seb indicated Norah flamboyantly and Norah burst out laughing. God, how did these two ever get any work done?
Giacomo shook Norah’s hand. “Come on in before you’re scared off by this lunatic. Sebastiano, can I trust you to field calls for a little while?”
“Take as long as you need,” Seb said, a wicked gleam in his eyes. Norah couldn’t help but grin at the man. He was fun and she loved that he had already singled her out to be his friend.
And as for the man in front of her …lord, she would have to try hard not to be distracted by his sensual presence. He was wearing a light blue shirt tucked into dark gray trousers that fit him perfectly. Giacomo smiled at her. “Ready to start work?”
She grinned back at him. Really, his smile was like sunshine. “You bet.”
By the end of her first week, Norah was flying. It had been intense, exhausting, and high-speed, but she had loved every exhilarating moment of working with Giacomo. He had very fixed thoughts about what he wanted for the campaigns, but he never dismissed her own ideas, listening to them carefully so that in the end, the first draft of the very first advertisement was a fifty-fifty collaboration between them.
More than that, she found him to be great company. He was relaxed, flirtatious without being creepy, and comfortable with himself in a way that Norah envied. But, then again, she supposed that when you looked like Giacomo did, you would be comfortable. It did border on arrogance some of the time, especially when dealing with people she could tell he didn’t like, but, never, ever with his employees, or with her.
He came unexpectedly to the Anthology one afternoon when she was working upstairs and she felt shocked at how happy seeing his face made her. Don’t fall for your client, girl. But she had to admit that she didn’t think she could stop herself.
Norah introduced Giacomo—she just couldn’t get on board with calling him Jack; it was too generic for a man like him—to Zulika, who liked him immediately, and to Ziggy who greeted him like an old fr
iend. Norah almost groaned – looks, class, fun, and likes dogs? Yes, please …
When he invited Norah to come for drinks after a meeting with two of his friends, this time she agreed, and now, as they took a cab into the city, Norah felt nervous—excited nervous, to be sure. Giacomo’s arm was across the back of the seat behind her as they rode in the back of the cab. He was chatting easily, but she couldn’t help but feel the tension that had been building between them. Giacomo held her gaze as he talked to her, but she barely heard a thing. He seemed to sense the turmoil in her. He stopped talking and let the back of his finger drift down her cheek.
Norah felt her skin vibrating with longing and his warm fingers brushed her collarbone. She closed her eyes, reveling in the feeling of his touch. She felt him move closer, then his lips brushed hers softly. She didn’t dare open her eyes. She didn’t want to break the spell or have to deal with the fact that she knew this was wrong. He had a girlfriend. He was her client.
His lips were firmer against hers now and she gave a soft moan of desire. His fingers knotted in her long hair and his tongue massaged hers gently. Her hands had a mind of their own, sliding along the length of his hard-muscled thighs.
Norah opened her eyes. Giacomo was gazing at her, his green eyes dark with desire, drinking in every detail of her face. His lips moved against hers so naturally, their breath mingling. Finally, they drew apart and Giacomo smiled ruefully. “I have wanted to do that since we met.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Me too …but, Giacomo, we can’t. We work together. You have a girlfriend.”
Giacomo nodded sadly. “I know ...and I assume you have a partner at home?”
God, the shock of the reminder sent a pain through her stomach. Lucian. She shook her head. “No. Not anymore.”
Giacomo stroked her hair. “Bella …we should talk. Not here, obviously,” he half-smiled. “But soon. Soon …I will not have the other …commitment, and believe me, not just because of the way I am feeling about you. It had been over long before I was aware of your existence. The work thing …I understand your reticence, but we can work around that. For now, just know …you are all I think about.”
She could hardly breathe. This gorgeous, beautiful, unattainable man wanted her. She knew the truth of it in his gaze, his words, and the tenderness of his touch.
She was still glowing when they reached the bar and she was caught up in the introductions. Orlando and Carmel Price, both strikingly beautiful African-Americans, tall, and with the friendliest smiles, were waiting for her. They introduced themselves to her and teased Giacomo, who clearly adored them.
They ordered drinks and sat in a corner booth. Carmel, a human rights lawyer, chatted to Norah amiably about her work, Norah’s work, and Ferma, their daughter. Norah liked the other woman immensely. Orlando was a riot; funny and erudite, his gentle teasing of Norah made her feel at home with them. Giacomo was relaxed, and at one point, Norah noticed him raising his eyebrows at Carmel, who nodded back approvingly. Norah tried not to blush at the obvious sign of approval she was receiving.
The evening went on longer than anyone expected and it was only at ten o’clock that Orlando looked ruefully at his watch. “Sorry to say, we have to get back for the sitter. She’s probably sitting in the corner, sobbing and rocking back and forth because Ferma’s been on a tear.”
Norah nearly snorted her drink out of her nose at the image. “I must meet Ferma. She sounds like my kind of anarchist.”
Carmel and Giacomo laughed and Orlando nodded. “She is that. Norah, it has been an absolute delight to meet you and I hope it’s just the first of many such evenings.”
“Hear, hear,” said Carmel as they all stood. She hugged Norah and whispered in her ear. “I shouldn’t say this, but Jack’s crazy about you.”
Norah felt tears prick her eyes. “I like him too,” she said, slightly embarrassed, but Carmel grinned at her and squeezed her hand.
“You’ll be good for him, sweetie. I can tell.”
Orlando gave Norah a bear hug too. “If everyone is free one night next week, can I suggest dinner at our place?”
They agreed on a night, then Carmel and Orlando left them alone. Giacomo held out his hand to her. “Shall we catch a little night air before getting a cab?”
They walked down to the waterfront. Giacomo took her hand and held it, winding his fingers through hers. Norah felt like a giddy teenager and when Giacomo stopped and took her in his arms, she didn’t resist. His kiss was intoxicating, soft at first, then as their lips moved together, firmer and rougher until they were both panting. He groaned and broke away. “God, Norah, I’m sorry …I know this is wrong and, that I should settle things with Tara first, but …” He looked at her with such tenderness that she wanted to cry. “I want you, Norah …so badly. In my arms, my bed …my life. Do you feel it too?”
Norah nodded. “I do.” Her voice barely above a whisper, the breath caught in her throat as he came to her again. Leaning his forehead against hers, he met her gaze.
“Come home with me, mio caro …” The deep timbre of his voice, the accent …god …
Norah found herself nodding. “Yes, Giacomo …yes …”
Norah couldn’t remember the cab ride to Giacomo’s place. She couldn’t remember him leading her into his mansion in Pacific Heights. She couldn’t remember him sweeping her off her feet and taking her up the huge staircase to his bedroom. She could remember every moment of what happened next.
Giacomo stripped her slowly, kissing every part of her exposed skin. His hand drifted down under her dress to caress her sex through her panties and she moaned at the touch of him. She cupped the hot, huge length of him through his pants and could feel his desire for her. He murmured her name as her dress fell to the floor and he buried his face in her belly, kissing the soft curve of it, making her shiver in delight. He stood and tugged off his own shirt and pants, and Norah sank to her knees and slid her hands into his underwear, freeing his diamond-hard cock and taking it into her mouth. God, the feel of him. She closed her eyes and licked the salty pre-cum from the sensitive tip. There was no way she could take all of him into her mouth, so she stroked the length of him, tracing a pattern with her tongue on the tip and making him groan her name. She could feel him nearing his peak, then he was pulling her up, ripping her panties from her, laying her on the bed, and plunging his cock deep inside her sodden, wet cunt. Norah wrapped her legs around his hips and arched her back as the sheer pleasure of being fucked by him took her over completely. Giacomo’s mouth was on her breasts, taking each nipple into his mouth as his cock plowed deep and long into her.
“God, Giacomo, Giacomo …” Norah couldn’t help but scream his name as his pace increased, his thrusts almost violent, and when he came, she felt the force of his cum shooting deep into her belly. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, lost in his intense gaze. They stayed connected as they kissed and panted for breath, then Giacomo slowly moved out of her and lay by her side, gazing down at her.
“Norah, you make me the happiest man,” he said, emotion making his voice break. He smoothed his hand down her body. “Beautiful, just beautiful …”
Norah didn’t know how anything else in the world was beautiful besides this man, but her heart warmed at the compliment. She reached down to stroke his cock, as it was already hardening again.
“Giacomo,” she nuzzled her nose against his. “You don’t know what this means to me, this night …”
She felt him stroke a finger along her collarbone and knew what he was seeing. A bruise, from Lucian’s attack on her.
“What did he do to you, mio caro?” His eyes were dark with danger now. He had obviously guessed she’d been attacked.
“Something unforgivable.”
Giacomo nodded, his eyes serious. “I want to kill him for it.”
Norah kissed him. “He isn’t worth it, Giacomo. He’s nothing. What he did to me …I won’t let him ruin my life …or my sex life. What he did wasn’t sex—it was violen
ce. Pure violence.”
Giacomo traced the shape of her lip with his finger. “Still, I am surprised you …”
Norah smiled, a little pang of something inside her. “I know. Me too. If it hadn’t been with you, I don’t think I could have. Not so soon. But I have to admit …I’ve been thinking about this since I met you.”
Giacomo grinned, cocky. “Glad to be of service.”
Norah laughed, but then her smile faded. “What I don’t like is …now, I have done what I said I’d never do—sleep with another woman’s man.”
Giacomo kissed her fingers. “Principessa, I am your man. But I do see your point. Believe it or not, I have never been a cheater until now. I have cultivated the image of someone who plays hard and fast with a woman’s heart, but I am really not like that.”
“Then why do you let people think that?” She was genuinely curious now. He gave her a strange smile.
“Safety net,” he said simply and she smiled, her hand stroking his face.
“I understand.”
“Somehow I thought you might. I will talk to Tara tomorrow. She’s out of town tonight.”
“Does she live here?”
Giacomo shook her head. “No, she has her own place. One here and one in New York.”
Suddenly Norah didn’t want to talk about Tara anymore. She’d already cheated with Giacomo once and now that they had talked …she pushed him onto his back and straddled him.
He grinned up at her, looking ten years younger, boyish, free, and happy as he stroked her breasts and her belly while she impaled herself on his rock-hard cock. “Bella, the feel of your skin is like silk to me …”
They made love slowly this time, drinking each other in, then afterward Giacomo took her in the shower, thrusting into her from behind as he held her against the cool tile. Norah felt every inhibition slip away as he fucked her expertly.
She wouldn’t stay the night though. “When things are settled with Tara, then I will,” she told him, and although he was disappointed, he accepted it. “At least let me drive you home.”
His Beautiful Revenge: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance Page 4
