Only One Night: A Fusion Universe Novel

by Dani Rene

  Everything about him is perfect. I know that nobody can be, but with Rome, I may just believe the unbelievable. His suave walk, the way he moves, how his fingertips trail down my spine, all those minor things seem to gather, making him irresistible.

  “And you enjoy watching women fall to their knees for you?” I ask as we head into the restaurant. “Making them do whatever you’d like with a few words from your silver-tongue.”

  “Not at all,” he responds easily, confidently, and cockily. “I’m just good at what I do. If they give in, it’s because they want to.” He nods at the maître d’ as we step inside, and immediately, the man is moving through the busy restaurant, leading us to a quiet booth in the back corner.

  “The waiter will be with you in a moment.” It’s not long we have to sit in silence before a pretty blonde waitress sidles up to the table to take our order. Her blush when Rome looks at her is evident. He’s a heartbreaker. When we’re alone again, his gaze falls to me.

  “Why do you want this building so much?” he asks, genuinely curious.

  “It’s a new start. Something I need.” His gaze narrows as if he can pull the truth from me, but I know he can’t. There’s no way I’m divulging any more information than is needed. When he nods, he sits back and watches the people passing by, the staff going about their business.

  “You know, Elisabet, life affords us many second chances. I’ve had mine. It’s what you do with it that counts. I trust once you’ve got the property, you’ll ensure that it is looked after.” He says all this without looking at me.

  “Of course,” I acknowledge him. The blonde brings our wine and dinner at that moment, and our conversation is lost for a time. Once our glasses are filled, Rome lifts his, gesturing for me to follow suit.

  Our eyes meet and hold before he says, “To us.” Two words that seem to echo in my mind, scattering themselves around in my chest, and I nod. We clink our glasses, but I don’t respond to his toast. I can’t. There can’t be an us. As much as Rome Donovan makes me want that, as much as I enjoy his company, the word us is off the table.

  Chapter 9

  Rome

  I watch Elisabet tuck into the salmon salad she’s ordered. She doesn’t concern herself with anyone else in the room, even me. Her soft moan that resonates in her throat has me aching to release the tension in my slacks. Her eyes flutter closed for a moment before opening and landing on me.

  “What?” she asks shyly. There’s something so alluring about how at times she’s feisty, but right now, there’s an innocence to her, and I wonder if she’s ever had a real man show her how beautiful she is.

  “Nothing. I like seeing you enjoy the meal,” I respond, digging into the rump steak that’s cooked perfectly. Medium rare.

  “It’s delicious. Thank you.” With a smile, she continues devouring her meal, leaving me to scoff down mine. The evening continues with light conversation. I don’t ask her any personal questions. This isn’t meant to be a date, but when the bill arrives, I realize I want nothing more than for it to be precisely that.

  “Would you like to come back to my place for a nightcap?” I ask as I guide her to the exit, my hand on the base of her spine, tingling to move lower. To touch her.

  “I thought this was a business dinner?” she asks as we reach the car. I don’t open the door immediately, but instead cage her in against the vehicle.

  “This can be anything you want, and somehow, I think you want nothing more than for this to be a date. And I’ve been aching to see how you enjoy me unraveling the tension in your body one finger at a time,” I inform her, my voice raw with desire. “And then my tongue and cock right after.” She places her hands on my chest, not pushing me away, merely resting them on my pecs.

  “As I said, this is business. I’m not looking for a relationship,” she responds. Her voice lowering as she leans up, and my mouth quirks, ready for a kiss, but she bypasses my mouth and brushes her lips over my stubbled cheek. “And let me tell you one thing, Mr. Donovan. I don’t intend to have your fingers, tongue, or your cock anywhere near me.” My cock twitches, needing to show her exactly how she’s affected me with just a slight movement.

  “Oh, darling, you’ll be begging me for so much more,” I counter, unlocking the door and helping her slip into the seat. Once I join her by seating myself on the driver’s side, she asks me something that causes me to chuckle.

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Because I’m a man who knows exactly what women want,” I respond as we make our way back to my apartment. She’s quiet for a few moments before sighing and sitting back. She’s feisty. It only makes me harder for her, to show her what pleasure I can bestow on her body. I’ve always loved women with a fiery demeanor, and Elisabet Rossi is all that and more.

  In no time, I’m pulling into the underground parking lot. All I can think of are her lips on mine, wrapped around my cock. It’s been too long since I’ve had a woman beneath me that wasn’t some paid for whore. Far too long.

  The elevator is waiting when we reach it, and I allow her to enter first. Pushing the button for the top floor where the penthouse is located, I watch the doors slide shut.

  “You live in the penthouse? You know, that’s the epitome of a playboy bachelor. Which means you’re a heartbreaker,” she says confidently.

  I turn my face to hers, stalking closer to her until her back hits the steel wall. I cage her in, needing to inhale her scent. Her perfume reminding me of jasmine and vanilla. Sweet, delicate, yet there’s that white-hot confidence that makes me harder than I’ve ever been.

  “Who said I was a heartbreaker?” My accent thick, heavy with desire and hunger for this woman. I know how to murmur in such a way that makes a woman tremble with need. Allowing my voice to caress her, to taunt and tempt her.

  “It’s written all over you, Rome Donovan.” Her eyes on mine, peeking up at me from under thick lashes. Her response causes me to chuckle, but I don’t reply. The doors slide open, and I move away from her. We both step into the hallway. My eyes are pinned on her. “What?” she asks.

  “I’d like to prove you wrong, Ms. Rossi.” I can’t believe I’m working so hard for a woman, but somehow, I know she’ll be worth it.

  “Oh? And how exactly are you going to do that?” she quips as she follows me into the kitchen. My apartment is massive, too big for one person, but I’ve always needed space. In my mind, small places make me claustrophobic.

  “I plan, Ms. Rossi,” I say, pouring her a large glass of merlot and handing it to her before continuing, “to seat you on my sofa, ensure you’re comfortable, before showing you how a woman should be treated.” Once my glass is filled, I offer her my hand, which she accepts, and I lead her into the vast space where the windows and patio door overlook the city. The sky is dark, shimmering with twinkling stars.

  Elisabet perches herself on the sofa, her gaze on me. I feel it right down to my core.

  “Sit back,” I tell her while I toe-off my shoes. My fingers work the buttons of my shirt, and once I pull it from the waistband of my slacks, I leave it hanging open. “I want that fire you exude, darling,” I tell her. Her mouth lifts for a moment, then she pushes off the sofa, placing her glass on the table, and steps over to me.

  “I told you, Rome—” I don’t wait for her to finish her admonishment. Instead, I cup her face in my hands and crash my lips down on hers. Her hands find purchase on my shoulders as she pulls me closer. My tongue sweeps along her lips, requesting access, which she quickly offers up. She may be a feisty little kitten, but when I delve into her warm, wet mouth, she whimpers, and I swallow her sounds. Hungry for every moan.

  My hands trail down her arms, gripping her hips as I tug her dress up until it’s bunched around her middle.

  “Rome,” she murmurs against my lips. “This is—”

  “This is exactly where we need to be. Let go, just for one night,” I implore her. I can do one-night stands. They’re easy. But this . . . this is something els
e entirely. I make quick work of her dress, leaving her standing in my living room dressed in a pair of black silk panties and a matching bra that holds her beautiful tits. Her legs are curvy, tanned, and I’m dying to have them wrapped around me. “You’re fucking exquisite, Elisabet,” I tell her hungrily. A starving man who’s about to feast.

  Chapter 10

  Elisabet

  Shyness overtakes my fiery nature. I feel the heat on my cheeks, which makes him smile. He offers his hand, which I accept. Then, with his wine glass in hand, he leads me out onto the patio. At first, I’m wary, but there’s no one for miles. We’re up high, and nobody can see us.

  “Sit,” he says, pointing at the table. I move toward it and settle myself on the top, watching him. “I’m going to have my dessert now. Are you going to obey me? Or do I have to tie you down?” he questions with a smirk.

  “Don’t be an asshole,” I retort, and his shoulders shake as he laughs.

  “Open your legs, darling, I want to see you.” I find myself unable to deny him. His chest peeks at me, the chiseled muscles tighten as he moves closer. I lean back, opening my legs, and I swear to god, his eyes seem to glow with desire. Just for tonight.

  He kneels before me. A parishioner worshiping at an altar. His fingers tug my panties to the side, opening me to his gaze.

  “Fuck,” he growls before lifting his glass, trickling the liquid over my bare sex. I can’t stop the mewl that falls from my lips. The wine does nothing to cool my heat. But when his mouth lands on my pussy, I moan so loudly I’m sure the whole city heard me.

  My hips buck against his face as his tongue dips into my core, licking at me like I’m his sustenance. He devours me. His hands grip my thighs, holding them wide while his mouth taunts me, teases me.

  My body is trembling when he slides a finger into me, and his lips suck my clit into his mouth, causing me to chant his name. Words leave me then, and all that echoes in my ears are moans, whimpers, and cries of pleasure.

  It’s been so long since a man has touched me that I feel myself crest in moments. His mouth doesn’t relent. A second finger stretches me as he continues to lick, suck, and bite down on my oversensitive clit, causing me to cry out as my release hits me hard.

  My thighs clamp closed around his head, and all I see from my view is his curly, dark hair and those teal eyes swimming with satisfaction. I’m still shaking when Rome rises, his lips glistening with my arousal.

  “You’re utterly delectable, darling,” he says. The corner of his mouth tips up. He lifts me off the table, allowing my legs to wrap around his waist. “But, I’m about to take you to my bedroom where I’m going to fuck you.” There’s no question in his tone, but I can’t say no. I’m too far gone, so I nod.

  When we enter the bedroom, my eyes dart around. “You’re very tidy,” I say, causing him to chuckle. “What?”

  “I don’t spend much time here.”

  “Only when you’re fucking random women?” My question comes out harsher than I expect. I can’t be jealous. This is one night.

  He doesn’t respond to my taunt. Instead, he sets me on the plush mattress and steps back to undress. It’s like watching the most intimate strip show. He moves slowly, with precision. With every inch of his skin coming into view, I find myself needy.

  “I’m sorry,” I say then, realizing that my snarky mouth perhaps might not be what he wants right now. It’s not what I want. All I can think of is him inside me. I scoot back on the bed, my knees hitting the edge of the mattress.

  “You will be, darling,” he informs me when he steps out of his slacks. Standing there in only his boxer briefs, I can’t stop my eyes drinking him in. The man is a god. He leans in, grips my ankles, lifting them to his mouth. His full lips tease their way up my calves in small kisses.

  My eyes flutter closed as my head drops back in pleasure.

  “Look at me. I want your eyes on me as I worship your beauty.” His mouth continues feathering soft kisses on my legs, higher and higher until he’s once again on his knees between my thighs. “Either you take your underwear off, or I can rip them off. Your choice.” I quickly shift on the bed, shuffling my panties down my legs. Once my bra hits the carpet, he growls.

  “You’re quite demanding, Mr. Donovan.”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet, darling,” he quips as he settles himself between my thighs. His erection presses against my mound, causing me to buck my hips. “Are you going to beg me now?” he questions.

  “No. I don’t beg,” I retort, but my words are breathy. Needy. He doesn’t know how close I am to pleading. His one hand reaches between us, finding my slick lips, taunting me with slow strokes. “Oh, God!” I cry out when he teases my bundle of nerves, which sends sparks through me.

  “That’s it, darling, fuck my fingers.” His words fuel the fire in my stomach, tightening everything south of my belly button as he dips two fingers inside. And like a wanton slut, I do as he says. I ride his fingers until I come hard, unraveling beneath him.

  “You don’t play this game fair, Mr. Donovan.”

  “Nothing about this is fair,” he says as he leans back on his heels, his cock out, thick and hard, and I watch him slide on a condom. Then he covers me with his body, his shaft nudging my entrance.

  I meet his eyes, and I finally obey him. I beg. “Please, fuck me, Rome,” I hiss as pleasure skitters down my spine when he drives into me. It’s hard, it’s fast, and it’s everything I need. His hips slam into mine. Our bodies fit like puzzle pieces. Like a wave crashing on the shore, so Rome hovers over me, and I drown in him.

  My legs wrap around his waist; my heels dig into his ass, pulling him in deeper. No words. Only moans and whimpers. Grunts and growls. And that’s how I finally let go of my past. But I know as we both find our release moments after each other, that I’ll never be free. Which is all the more reason for me to walk away from this. To leave as soon as humanly possible, because I’ll never be able to give him what he needs.

  “Be mine,” he finally whispers the words I’ve been dreading.

  I keep my eyes shut. I can’t look at him and tell him the truth. So, I give him the only answer I can. “Una notte.”

  The warmth of the sun has nothing on Rome’s body against mine. His chest cocooning my back when I open my eyes. His apartment is beautiful, but there’s nothing that tells me he wants this to be his home. Which begs the question . . . Does he ever see himself settling down? I don’t know why the question comes to me, but it does.

  This was meant to be one night. That’s all it can ever be. I’ve already broken every rule in my book. But I don’t regret last night. I don’t regret his touch, his kiss, or the way he made me come until I passed out.

  “I know you’re awake, darling,” Rome whispers in my ear. His voice heavy with sleep and lust. When he rolls his hips, his erection taunts me, pressing against the cheeks of my ass, causing me to whimper with need.

  Who am I? What has this man done to me?

  “You know, you’re quite the tame kitten when you’re turned on.” He chuckles into my hair, planting a kiss firmly on my head.

  “Be careful, Rome, this kitten has claws,” I warn. Turning over to face him, I cup his handsome face in my hand. “I have to go.” I lean up, ensuring my lips meet his in a searing kiss, but when I try to pull away, Rome grips me to him. Holding me close, his body molds to mine.

  “Stay,” he pleads. His eyes hold emotion, something that shouldn’t have happened. Shaking my head, I pull away once more, and this time he lets me go. Something I didn’t expect happens as I wrap the sheet around my naked body and leave him in bed. An ache in my chest causes my breath to hitch.

  “Thank you for the evening, and morning, but it’s time for me to face reality. When you have the papers for me to sign, call me,” I tell him before making my way into the bathroom and dressing in last night’s clothes. He doesn’t follow me, and I don’t expect him to. Once I’m out on the sidewalk calling a taxi, the reality of what I did, h
ow I feel about Rome, sinks in my stomach like a lead weight. Memories of what we did, how his tongue, fingers, and cock made me tremble uncontrollably, flit through my mind. Playing like a film, in high-fucking-definition.

  The cab slows when we reach my hotel, and as if I’m on autopilot, I pay, exit the vehicle, and head into the building. It’s only when the door shuts with finality that I realize I didn’t want to leave the warmth of Rome’s bed, or his arms. I wanted to be cocooned, but there’s no way we could ever be more than a one-night stand.

  Busying myself, I turn on the kettle and sigh as I watch the bubbles jump around the glass jug. It reminds me of how my stomach tumbled each time he smiled. How my body reacted every time his fingers would find my bare skin. And I slowly take all those emotions, the happiness, the excitement, and I bury it where I can no longer feel it. I can’t feel it.

  A loud click alerts me that the water is boiled, and I fill my mug. Watching the steam rise from the rim, I feel tears threaten, but as always, I blink them back. Well-practiced. I pad over to the sofa and settle on it with thoughts of my one perfect night.

  And my mind drifts to the man who gave it to me.

  Rome Donovan.

  Only, I can never have it again.

  Chapter 11

  Rome

  Two fucking days. She sent a lawyer here to finalize the paperwork. She’s ignored my calls, messages, and when I went to her hotel, she didn’t answer the door. One perfect woman strolls into my life, and for the first time, I want more.

  It was meant to be one night. Una notte. That’s what she asked for, and that’s what I promised her, and that’s what she gave me. But the secrets that danced in her eyes changed all that. I need more. I need to delve into the darkest parts of her mind and uncover what she keeps hidden.