“I wanted to show you the stars.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Wait.”
“No more waiting, sweetheart.” My heart slowed down to a painful beat when she stepped back.
“There’s something you should know.” She smoothed out the fabric of her dress, taking a deep breath. “Last week, Bridget…your wife.”
My chest tightened, and I backed away from her. “What about her?”
“She asked me for a favor. She…” Valentina peered upward, as if she couldn’t find the words, and my heart spun wildly. “She asked me to convince you to sign the divorce papers before the end of the month.”
I sat on the low wall and swallowed the lump in my throat. The stir in my chest turned into small blades, cutting me deep. “That’s why you’re here.”
“Yes,” she said. My gaze snapped to her. “I mean, no. Yeah, I considered it for a moment, but only because she threatened to kick me out of my home, void the contract.” She rubbed the creases across her forehead.
I fisted my hands, released them, and buried my face in them. “Just go. We’re done here.”
“Cole. Please.” Her voice quavered as she planted herself in front of me. “I would never betray you. I panicked. She can be so scary. I couldn’t say no. But I swear I never would’ve tried to trick you into doing something you don’t want.” She tunneled her fingers through my hair and pressed her lips to my temple.
I swallowed, not daring to move. If I did…
“I need this.”
The scent of her perfume diffused the slow burn in my stomach. I groaned, and my hands skimmed over her hips and waist. I leaned back and pulled her between my legs. Her breath on my face reminded me of our first kiss, the same day I signed the divorce papers, the same day Dom asked me to hold off just a bit longer. Truth was, I would’ve done anything she asked.
“Why are you here?” I buried my face in her neck, and her swelling breasts touched the line of my jaw. I closed my eyes and focused on the beat of her heart.
“Because I want you. Even if it’s just for one night.”
I exhaled. “Why tell me about Bridget’s plans, then?” I gripped her waist and met her gaze. I needed to believe her words, believe she’d never do anything to hurt me.
“I didn’t want anything hanging over our heads tonight.” She sighed. “You’ve done so much for us. You deserve the truth. You deserve to be happy.”
Her blush sent a sudden surge of desire from my erection down to my toes. Bridget’s sorry attempt to turn Valentina against me hadn’t worked. Valentina was here for me. She wanted me.
“Say it.”
She relaxed against me. “I want to be with you.”
Goose bumps danced across her skin when I held her closer and blew out air. I nibbled along the edge of the low neckline of her dress, aching for more of her, but the fabric wouldn’t budge. I reached behind her and took my time pulling down the zipper, my eyes never leaving hers. If she wanted out, she had to say it now. Head tilted down, she licked her lips. I ran a hand over her exposed back, all that smooth skin, until I reached the top of the gown and released it from her shoulders. She sighed again. A generous breast dropped into my hand. I squeezed and tugged before I captured the peak with my mouth. She rewarded me with a sexy moan as she dropped her head back to give me better access. Desire pulsed hard through me. If anticipation could kill…
“It’s been a long while for me,” she whispered, out of breath.
“I know. We’ll take it slow.” It’s been a while for me too. I couldn’t remember the last time I had sex while sober. Or the last time I needed someone this bad. I kissed her lips softly until she melted into me. Cupping both mounds again, I pinched her nipples.
She sucked in a breath and pressed her legs together. I filed the small details away. I’d have to do more of that later.
Red grooves covered her chest where the dress had cinched her all night. I rubbed my thumbs over her skin to soothe it. Mesmerized, I watched as her breasts heaved in my hands. God, these beauties were more gorgeous than I’d imagined. I tongued a reddish-pink tip. She gripped my hair and let the silky fabric pool at her feet to reveal a toned torso, round hips, and those long legs.
Her skin glowed under the stars. She’s here for me. I repeated the words over and over in my head as I slid a hand down to her waist, over her lacy underwear, until my fingers rested between her thighs. Oh, she was ready for me.
Back at the fund-raiser, I’d almost come undone when my hand found her hairless sex and outer lips. I wanted to see it, taste it. I hooked my thumbs over her panties and let them fall to the floor. Her eyes flew open as if the spell had been broken. I was losing her. Why was she always running away from me?
“You’re safe with me,” I whispered in her ear, applying pressure over her sensitive spot.
“I know.” She pressed against my hand.
At least she trusted me when it came to this. She was back, but not completely subdued like before. An active participant now, she pulled down on my tuxedo shirt. She fumbled with the top stud for a second. When it didn’t come off, she moved down to my pants and unzipped them. It was my turn to be hypnotized. A naked woman undressing me with this much urgency, the same urgency I felt, was beyond erotic.
A groan escape my lips. I captured her mouth and kissed her hard before I helped her with the tuxedo cufflinks and studs, letting them fall on top of her underwear. With a triumphant smile, she pulled at my dress shirt, and it slipped off my shoulders. Her eyes never left mine. She pulled the undershirt over my head. A breeze brushed between us, though it did nothing to lessen the heat burning through me.
“I can’t believe I’m here with you.” She stepped into my embrace again, her soft skin finally touching mine.
“You have no idea how long I’ve fantasized about this moment. Having you living so close has been more than torment for me.” I put my fingers in her hair. I’d thought about undoing her up-do all night. What a shame to put all that hair away. I placed my thigh between her legs and pushed gently against her.
“Cole,” she moaned, eyes closed. I didn’t think she realized she was doing it.
My hands hesitated over her backside, kneading each butt cheek. I wanted to touch and kiss every inch of her. One night wasn’t enough, but one step at a time. I stood and got to work on the pins in her hair. With my arms over her head, she had full access to me. She sighed, and then her hands and soft lips were on me, leaving a trail of hot kisses.
Good God, woman.
I gripped my cock. I stepped back to watch her hair spill over her shoulders. The sight of her was more than I could bear. I picked her up by the waist and carried her into my bedroom.
“Why did you make me wait so long?” I muttered when she fell on the mattress, her legs slightly apart, waiting for me.
The view from up here was incredible—her hair sprawled about her, breasts rising and falling, the plunge of her waist and those muscular thighs. I almost climax just watching, but I wanted to savor this moment. She was here. After all this time, Valentina was in my bed.
I reached in the bedside drawer and pulled out a silver pack. Her gaze roamed from my face down to my chest. That smoldering look of hers made all kinds of promises as she watched me unroll the condom over my erection. My cock jerked in excitement, an aching need I couldn’t control anymore. I grasped it tighter before I smoothed out the latex and kneeled between her legs. Running my hand up her thigh, I planted an open mouth kiss at the apex of her sex. She arched her back when my tongue pushed through the folds and found her button. I sucked on it, tasting all of her, slow and steady.
The inside of her thigh rubbed against the side of my face, and that was all I could handle. I worked my way up to her navel, took a handful of her breast, and thumbed her nipple while I sucked hard on the other one. I met her gaze and braced my arms on either side of her.
“Are you having second thoughts?” she asked, gasping for air, just as I was.
&
nbsp; “I need you so much…it scares me.” My erection pressed against her entrance.
She pulled me down for a kiss. Our lips touched, and I entered her with the full force of the desire I felt.
Her moan reverberated inside me. I responded in the only way I could at this point and thrust deeper into her. She tightened around me as her hips came up to meet me, sure of what she needed. Jesus. She had me at the very edge, but I slowed down for her. She was close, but not quite where I was. Holding her waist, I moved one knee under her and pumped hard. Again. And again.
“Derek,” she called for me.
“I’m right here, sweetheart,” I whispered against her neck as liquid heat surged through me. She tightened around me, and we found our release together with an intensity I’d never felt.
Chapter Sixteen
In the Light of Day
Valentina
“Champagne?” he asked.
“Hmm.” I couldn’t find my voice.
My legs didn’t respond either. I flipped on my belly, and my hand landed next to me on the floor. I was on some sort of high. The earthy scent around us, the soft chenille fabric of the sofa that caressed my skin, and even the pale color of the cool travertine tiles were amplified…more vivid, more alive.
My gaze darted around the room as I tried to orient myself. The edge of the California-king bed sat on the far end of the room. How did we end up here? All I remembered was Cole inside me, his hands and lips all over me. My pulse raced again. I brought my legs together and giggled against the cushions.
Cool and fizzy liquid trickled down my back. A moment later, Cole’s mouth was on me, drinking the wine that pooled there.
“If that’s meant to get me up, it’s having the opposite effect.” I stretched slowly, and he continued his kissing.
“You taste amazing.”
“I can’t feel my legs.” I sat and faced the fireplace. To my left, the Catalina Mountains were a distant shadow under the bright stars. This night couldn’t be more perfect.
My hair fell over my shoulder, curly and messy. I raked my hands through it to smooth it out. After a few tries, I gave up. Fixing the curl once it settled in was impossible.
“You look beautiful.” Cole knelt by my feet, setting a glass of champagne on the coffee table. He placed a macaron on my bare leg. His eyes were a bright blue as they lingered there. His hand moved up my thigh, and I held my breath. “That was one hell of a night.”
God, I didn’t think he could look any hotter, but he did. A serene energy emanated from him. He was comfortable in his own skin, even though he was as naked as I was. My fingers grazed the side of his face and curved around his lips, red and swollen from kissing. I wanted to ask him if it was always like this for him. Because I could honestly say I’d never had sex like that. Not ever.
He kissed the palm of my hand when I reached his lips. “Do you have any idea of what you do to me? Being with you is like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”
He exhaled. His warmth breath caressed my skin, and my breasts came to life, nipples hard under his gaze. I took the macaron off my thigh and popped it in my mouth. Mainly because I was hungry, but also to ease the nervous energy building at the pit of my stomach. I’d never had a man stare at my nude body like this—or any other way, for that matter.
“This was a pleasant surprise.” His hot fingers slid across my sex.
Just like that, I was turned on again, all thoughts of being naked forgotten. I leaned toward him, forcing deep breaths, as warm flurries dropped from my chest down to that hard spot between my thighs.
“But you didn’t know I was going to be at the party.”
“Oh.” I looked down, realizing he was talking about my Brazilian. “I do it for me. I like how it feels.” My cheeks turned hot.
“I like it too.” His thumb made a wide circle across my outer lips. I shivered and pressed my forehead against his. I wanted him inside me again, filling me.
“Are you cold?” He traced the goose bumps on my shoulder. “It’s like seventy-five degrees out.”
The doors to the terrace were wide open, letting the cool night air in. Outside, the sky had turned a dark shade of pink, mixed in with puffy gray clouds. I guessed we had less than an hour before sunrise.
“Desert girl here,” I said. “This is freezing for me.”
“Okay. I would offer to light a fire. But we’re in the middle of the summer. I refuse.” He stood, the amusement written all over his face. He ushered me to the bed, pulled back the covers, and gestured for me to get in. I had at least sixty minutes. Our night wasn’t officially over yet, so I got in.
My eyes followed him around the room as he fetched the plate of treats from the coffee table in the sitting area. His bedroom was bigger than the cottage, complete with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace, built to welcome in the desert and the abundant sunlight. He set everything on his bedside table and climbed in with me, using three fluffy pillows to prop himself up. I had four others on my side of the bed.
Leaning over him, I set my glass down. When I tried to move away, he held me in place. Being in his arms was better than I ever imagined. His body heat increased to somewhere between hot and scorching, and I melted into him. A hint of his cologne from last night still lingered on his skin, mixed in with sweat and sex.
“Where are you from?” I propped myself up on my elbow, while his hand gently drew a wide circle on my lower back. It was distracting, but I did my best to focus. I wanted to know everything about him.
“Atlanta.” He flashed me a sexy smile.
I hadn’t noticed before how a little wrinkle appeared on his right eye whenever he turned on the charm. “Deep South, huh?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled.
“Brothers, sisters?”
“Four brothers.”
“Four? Wow, that’s a lot of kids. Are you the oldest?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
I shrugged. “You walk around like you carry the weight of the world. Firstborns always have this thing. Like they need to fix everything. Everything is their fault.”
He laughed, his deep, smooth-as-honey laugh. “For someone who grew up an only child, you certainly know a lot about siblings.”
“I have a lot of cousins. Fifty to be exact.”
“Yikes. That’s a lot of kids.”
I nodded. “My mom is the oldest of eight.”
“That happens these days?” he asked.
“That’s not that far from five.”
“Good point.”
“What about school? Where did you go?” Time was slipping away from us, and I had a long list of questions.
“You know, this is stuff that’s usually covered on a first date. If you hadn’t been so stubborn, I would’ve taken you somewhere nice for dinner and answered all your questions.”
“I wasn’t being stubborn, just realistic. You’re not really the dating type.”
“I’m not.” He shrugged. My chest hurt to hear him say it. I lowered my gaze. With a soft smile, he placed a finger under my chin and tipped my head up. “NC State. I did my masters at Georgia Tech.”
I didn’t know anything about the schools on the East Coast. “NC State, huh?”
He nodded. “Go, Pack.” He made a hand gesture that looked like a dorky gangster sign. Derek Cole being cute sent a flutter across my chest.
“I would’ve guessed one of the Ivy League schools. Princeton or something.” My fingers trailed his six-pack, or was that a twelve-pack? Jeez. I bit my lip, kneading his muscles, letting my hand go under the covers. His thighs were hard, like tree trunks, and super long. My arm was completely stretched, and I still hadn’t reached his knee.
“My dad wanted me to go to Princeton. That’s where he went. But NC State offered me a spot on their baseball team. And I really wanted to play ball. So I went with them.” His chest expanded as he forced even breaths.
He closed his eyes, wetting his lips. I grinned when I realized my hand was inche
s from his erection. “Were you good at baseball?” I slid my hand up from his leg to his navel and rubbed the hair there.
“I was all right.” He placed his free hand behind his head to let me play my silly little game, while his other hand moved farther down my back. A slow electric wave spun from the pad of his thumb until it reached my core.
I traced the planes on his shoulder. Last night, I hadn’t had time to really look at him. But now I could see clusters of freckles on the curve of his arm. His skin looked stark white under my fingers.
He cocked his head. “We look good together.”
“So somewhere between baseball practice and homework, you decided to start your own company?”
He parted his lips, dark eyes on me, an invitation to do with him as I pleased. I wrapped my fingers around his shaft and slid them down to feel the length of him.
“Yes,” he whispered in a raspy voice. He closed his eyes, and I did it again, hand up and down, holding him tight. “Jesus, Valentina.”
He felt hard, really hard. It turned me on, and I realized I didn’t have his self-restraint to play this game. I threw my leg over his and rubbed against him.
“You were doing so well.” His throaty laugh was infuriating. I hit him on the chest and tried to get away, but he held me in place next to him, his heart pounding against my cheek.
“What happened to you?” The question came out of nowhere.
“What do you mean?” He reached for his glass, took a long sip of champagne, and put it back. Getting real personal information out of him wasn’t going to be easy.
“Why did you stop going to work?” And why are you getting a divorce and how soon is that going to be final? No, wait. I didn’t need to know that. The agreement was for just one night.
“The board kicked me out after they saw pictures of the cottage. I didn’t fight it. I thought it’d be best for the company if I took time off. Let Bridget run things until the divorce was final.”
“But she’s been dragging it out? I heard you stopped going to the office almost seven months ago.”
He nodded, pursing his lips. This was a sore subject for him. I shouldn’t’ve gone there. I glanced down at my hands, cheeks flushed.
Love Over Lattes Page 13
