by Pamela Yaye
“You can trust me with your heart. I won’t ever hurt you or mistreat you...”
His words gave her reassurance. And when he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her passionately on the lips, Jariah knew deep in her heart that Nicco Morretti was the man she’d been waiting for her whole life.
“Baby, you have no idea what you do to me,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I love you with all my heart, and I want a chance to prove that I’m the only man you need.”
Jariah parted her lips and blurted out the question on the tip of her tongue. “You want to get married?”
“Are you proposing?”
“No, silly,” she said, laughing. “I just want to know if marriage is on the table.”
“Absolutely.” Nicco dropped his gaze to her breasts and licked his lips. “I love the idea of you being my wife and coming home to you after a hard day’s work. You are, without a doubt, the sweetest piece of chocolate I have ever tasted, and I’m hungry for you right now.”
“But what if you change your mind about us? Or meet a gorgeous video girl when you’re in L.A. at the end of the month? Where would that leave me?”
“Jariah, nothing is ever going to come between us. You’re my heart, and I’ve found something in you that I’ve never found in anyone.” Nicco gripped her hips, and rubbed his groin against her. The muscles bulging in his arms weren’t the only thing rock hard. “And why would I want a skanky video girl when I have a little vixen like you waiting for me at home?”
“Why indeed?” Jariah quipped, batting her eyelashes.
Hungrily, he covered her mouth with his. His lips against hers was a heady feeling Jariah could never, ever tire from. “Nicco, stop,” she panted, pressing her hands flat against his chest to keep him at bay. “What if one of the groundskeepers walks in on us?”
“Haven’t you ever fantasized about having sex on the kitchen table?”
A soft moan escaped her lips. “Sex is like real estate, baby. It’s all about location, and I’m going to do you right here, right now.” His lips nipped at her earlobe, and his hands fondled her breasts. “And you don’t have to worry about anyone interrupting us. Gerald is under strict orders not to let anyone inside the house while you’re here.”
His mouth covered hers, and her protest died on her lips. Weakened by his kiss, she sank against his chest and buried her hands in his hair. Jariah was turned on by his urgent caress and his deep, guttural groans.
Nicco pushed a hand under her skirt and slid two fingers inside her panties. Gently, he parted the swollen, fleshly lips between her legs. Breathless, she quivered. A shudder ripped through her, and her knees threatened to give way. Instinctively, she arched her body toward him, and returned his deep, sensuous kiss.
His tongue aroused her, and each flick of his fingers electrified her. To give him deeper access, she parted her legs, spreading them wide.
Quickening his pace, he flicked his wrist harder, pumping it vigorously inside her. His furious speed left her teetering on the edge of delirium. Cursing in Italian, she grabbed fistfuls of his hair and rocked her hips powerfully against his hands.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and an ear-splitting scream fell from her lips. Jariah couldn’t get a handle on her emotions that were spiraling out of control, and felt the impulse to cry. His stroke was that intense.
Spasms stabbed her spine, racked her trembling, overheated body. Her legs buckled, and when he whipped off her blouse and closed his mouth around a nipple, Jariah threw her head back in ecstasy.
Their hands, and lips and bodies found sweet solace in each other, a passion she had never known. They staggered around the kitchen, stumbling into appliances and furniture as if they were in the dark. Nicco backed Jariah up against the kitchen table and turned her toward the window. She parted her legs, opened wide like a flower in bloom. He stroked and massaged her clit until delicious tremors rocked her body.
“Enough! I need you inside me now!”
“I love when you get mad. It’s so primitive and sexy.”
Tossing a coy grin over her shoulder, she swiveled her butt against his crotch.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” he warned. Nicco then slapped her lightly on the bottom, and when a moan fell from her lips, he did it again. They played and teased, kissed and laughed, and by the time he put on the condom he’d grabbed from his secret stash underneath the utensil drawer, and slid his erection inside of her, she’d had two explosive orgasms.
Nicco gave slow, calculated thrusts, as if it was her first time and he didn’t want to hurt her. Love filled her heart and tears came to her eyes. Nothing had ever felt so right. Being loved by Nicco was everything Jariah had ever dreamed of and more. Completely in sync, they moved together as one, their bodies swaying to the inaudible beat of their hearts.
He trailed kisses down her neck, lovingly caressing and stroking her hips. Nicco was breathing heavily, but he moved in a slow, measured pace like he had all the time in the world. His stroke was divine, exquisite, and filled every inch of her.
“Kiss me.” His words were an urgent command, and seeing the desire in his eyes made Jariah feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. Their lips touched, and their tongues lapped desperately against each other. Convulsing uncontrollably, she felt herself unraveling, and knew she was falling apart. Moaning and groaning at a deafening pitch, she feared if she screamed again the groundskeepers would run in.
“Don’t fight it, baby. Let go...let go.” Nicco plunged inside her deeper than ever before. Lust infected his body like a virus. He ran his hands down her shoulders, gliding them over her tight, perfectly round butt. What a view! Jariah had curves for days, and the most beautiful ass he’d ever seen. The sex was outstanding, without question the best he’d ever had, but that was not what he liked most about her. She was more than just a pretty face; she was honest and trustworthy. The more time they spent together the deeper he fell in love. He wanted a future with her and could picture her living with him in his Coral Gables mansion. He knew that one day soon she’d become Mrs. Nicco Morretti. But first, he had to tell her the truth about—
A door slammed, and footsteps pounded on the tile floor, which jarred Nicco from his thoughts. He heard laughter in the distance, and instantly recognized the voices of the intruders. Son of a bitch! His brothers were in his house, and if he didn’t move fast they were going to see the woman he loved buck naked.
“Oh, my, goodness, someone’s inside the foyer!” Jariah straightened, slipped her blouse back on and adjusted her skirt in record time. “This is so embarrassing. What if this gets back to the office?”
“It’s not my staff. It’s my brothers. I guess they caught an earlier flight.”
The color drained from her face and fear flashed in her big, brown eyes.
“Baby, relax,” he said, kissing her lips, “my brothers are going to love you.”
Jariah frantically combed her hair with her fingertips. “Do I look okay?”
“You look sensational, and if I had my way you’d still be spread wide-open on my—”
Behind him, someone cleared their throat.
Nicco turned and saw his brothers standing at the entrance of the kitchen, and he smothered a groan. He was annoyed by their untimely arrival, but didn’t show it. Casually dressed in T-shirts, khaki shorts and dark aviator sunglasses, they could easily pass for a couple of rich college students on summer vacation. “Hey, guys, it’s good to see you. How was your flight?”
Demetri and Rafael exchanged worried glances, but didn’t speak.
The silence in the air was suffocating.
“We’ve been calling and texting you for hours to update you about our flight schedule,” Demetri said, taking off his sunglasses. “Did you lose your phone again?”
“I switched it off last night and forgot t
o turn it back on,” he said, wearing a wry smile. “To be honest, I don’t even know where it is!”
Rafael grunted. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? It’s obvious you’ve been occupied.”
Nicco heard the bitter edge in his brother’s tone, but disregarded it. “This beautiful young woman is Jariah Brooks,” he said, taking her hand in his and giving it a light squeeze. “Baby, these are my brothers, Rafael and Demetri.”
“Jariah Brooks? You’re new executive assistant?” Rafael folded his arms across his chest. The whites of his eyes doubled their size. “What the hell is going on here?”
“It’s none of your business bro, stay out of it.”
“I—I—I should go,” Jaraiah stammered. “It’s almost one o’clock.”
Nicco could almost see the tension radiating off her body. To assure her that everything was fine, he shot her a playful wink. But it didn’t work. She bit her bottom lip and nervously shuffled her feet.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Jariah slipped on her high heels and collected her things from the breakfast bar. “I have to go pick up Ava. I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’ll drive you to Coconut Grove. It’s not far from here.”
“No, don’t, stay with your brothers. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re too stubborn for your own good,” he grumbled, opening the side drawer beside the fridge and grabbing a set of keys. “Take the Mercedes. It’s parked right out front.”
Shaking her head, she waved her hands frantically in the air. “No way! You just bought it a few weeks ago and the rims costs more than my car!”
“Don’t argue. Just take it. It’s yours until your car is fixed.”
Jariah hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.” Nicco pressed the keys into her palm. “I’ll walk you out.”
Ignoring the shell-shocked expressions on his brothers’ faces, he led Jariah out of the kitchen.
Outside, seconds later, he crouched down beside the driver’s-side door, and gave her a rundown of the controls.
“I hate to see you go,” Nicco said, stroking her long, silky brown legs. He could hear the desperation in his voice, but he wanted her to stay, and wasn’t too proud to beg. “Why don’t you pick up Ava and come back here? I’ll fire up the grill, put on some Taylor Swift and we’ll have a grand time.”
Jariah laughed. “Ava would love that! She’s obsessed with that girl!”
“I know, last Sunday when Richie and I were over for dinner, she sang us a bunch of Taylor’s songs.” Nicco smiled at the memory, wondering when the spunky six-year-old had captured his heart. “Every time I think of Ava using the remote as a microphone, I crack up.”
“Maybe we can barbecue another time, though,” Jariah said. “I’m taking Ava to the museum this afternoon, and I have to teach a self-defense class at five o’clock.”
“Then I’ll swing by later, and take you lovely ladies out for gelato.”
“Aren’t you going to hang out with your brothers tonight?”
“My fridge is stocked. They can survive without me for an hour or two.”
Her eyes brightened. “All right, I accept.”
“Great. I’ll pick you ladies up at seven o’clock.”
Nicco cupped her chin and hungrily devoured her mouth. Minutes passed as they feasted on each other’s lips. Jariah finally pulled away, but when Nicco saw the time on the dashboard clock, he stood and closed the driver’s-side door. “Drive safe, beautiful. I’ll see you later.”
“Definitely.” She put on her sunglasses and waved. “Thanks for everything, Nicco.”
Nicco stood in the driveway, watching Jariah cruise down the street in his new Mercedes.
“What the hell has gotten into you?”
“I should be asking you the same question.” Nicco turned around and stared down his older brother. “You were way out of line, and I don’t like the way you spoke to my girl.”
“Son of a bitch!” Rafael shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. “Didn’t you learn anything from the incident with Gracie?”
“Yeah, I did,” he shot back. “I learned that you think I’m the scum of the earth.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to. The minute Gracie cried sexual harassment you convinced dad to pay her off. You never once asked me if the allegations were true.”
“That’s because you have a track record of thinking with your dick instead of your head.”
Nicco flinched as if he’d been slapped. His brother’s words stung, cut him to the quick. “Not this time. Jariah isn’t just any girl.”
“What makes her so special?”
“Everything. She’s honest, smart as hell and she’s not afraid to call me out when I mess up. Hell, sometimes I think it’s her favorite pastime!”
Nicco chuckled, but noticed his brother remained stoic. But he didn’t care if Rafael believed him. He’d finally met his dream woman, and he wasn’t going to let anyone ever come between them.
“Who’s Ava?” Raphael asked.
“Jariah’s six-year-old daughter.”
“When did you start dating single moms?”
On the surface, Nicco remained calm, but inside he was doing a slow burn. Anger surged through his veins, and his hands balled into tight fits. He wanted to pummel Rafael’s face into the ground, but he cracked his knuckles instead.
“You have no business dating a woman with a kid.”
The veins in his neck twitched and throbbed uncontrollably.
“You’re an adrenaline junky who gets off on breaking the rules. It’s just a matter of time before you get bored and move on to greener pastures.”
Nicco shot his brother a disgusted look.
“Does she know about Gracie?”
“No, not yet. I’m waiting for the right time to tell her.”
“There’s never a right time to tell a woman you were accused of sexual harassment,” he said. “I’m going to keep my mouth shut for now, but you better hope dad doesn’t find out about your office affair.”
“Don’t worry, I plan to introduce Jariah to mom and dad as soon as they get to town.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Rafael whistled. “I can’t believe you’re actually serious about this girl. Hell, next you’ll be telling me you’re ready to tie the knot!”
A grin overwhelmed his mouth, one that caused him to feel like a kid again. “Think mom and dad will mind if I pop the question next Saturday at their anniversary bash?”
“Next Saturday!” Rafael shouted, his eyes bulging straight out of his head. “Slow your roll. You guys just met. You hardly know each other.”
“I want Jariah to know that I love her, and I’m ready to commit—”
“Then buy her a promise ring.”
“A promise ring isn’t going to cut it. She’s twenty-seven, not sixteen.”
“This is too much drama to deal with on an empty stomach,” Rafael grumbled, scowling. “I’m going inside. I need a shot of Patrón.”
Chapter 17
“Are you ready to make our grand entrance, Mrs. Nicco Morretti-to-be?”
A giggle tickled Jariah’s throat. She glanced up from her compact mirror, saw Nicco watching her and dropped it back inside her purse. “Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?” she asked, meeting his gaze head-on. “We haven’t known each other long.”
“When a man knows, he knows, and I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that you were the only woman for me.”
“Was that before or after I insulted you?”
Nicco chuckled. The sound of his thick, husky laugh made Jariah feel downright giddy. He knew just what to say to make her melt, and sitting alone with him in the close quarters of the
Rolls Royce limousine was wreaking havoc on her mind and body.
Staring down at her hands, Jariah admired her bright, multicolored nails. Ava had selected the design, and as she thought about the mother-daughter manicures they’d received that afternoon at Glamour Girlz, a smile warmed her heart. After they left the salon, they’d met Nicco for lunch. Every time Jariah thought about what Ava had told him during dessert she giggled.
“I like you,” she’d announced, shoveling chocolate ice-cream into her mouth. “You’re sweet and funny, and you always make my mommy laugh.”
“Thanks, Ava. I think you’re pretty cool, too.”
“You can live with us if you want.”
Nicco had cocked an eyebrow. “I can?”
“Yes, but only if you bring Richie. He’s my new BFF!”
Car horns honked, drawing Jariah’s gaze outside. The limousine was parked in front of Dolce Vita and dozens of couples, decked out in ball gowns, designer suits and top hats flocked inside the five-star restaurant. A red carpet scattered with rose petals flowed down the sidewalk, and waiters offered each new arrival a glass of champagne.
Peering out the tinted windows, Jariah spotted several Morretti Incorporated employees walking up the street arm-in-arm. The female interns looked young and stylish in their colorful dresses. The sound of their girlish laughter carried on the evening breeze.
“I’m so nervous, I’m shaking,” Jariah confessed, fiddling with the three-stone diamond pendant at her neck. Nicco had given it to her hours earlier, and it was still hard to believe he’d spent thousands of dollars on her at the Cartier boutique. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry Jariah had ever seen, and she was deeply touched by the sweet, unexpected gift. “What if my coworkers turn against me for being your date?” she asked, giving voice to her fears. “What if Mrs. Reddick causes a scene during cocktail hour? Or fires me on the spot?”
