by Anise Storm
Mario thought he had the last word. Snorting, Lania would show him in a few minutes exactly how wrong he was. Standing up, she fixed her dress and hair, using the mirror on the wall to make sure her appearance was fine before she exited the office. It didn’t take long to find him in the middle of a conversation with two men her father knew. She walked near him but before completely passing by him, she discreetly slipped the damp, black silk into his pocket.
“Thanks, stud,” she whispered and then scurried off toward the front door. Arriving late proved to have at least one unintended benefit, which was that she didn’t have to ask others to move their vehicles. Removing her heels, she ran barefoot down the driveway until she reached her Porsche. Hopping into the Cayman, she blew a kiss to the towering figure standing on the front porch. She started the car and then backed out onto the street. “Beg,” she said aloud. “I don’t think so.” Moving the gear from reverse to drive, she shot forward, finally making her grand escape.
Chapter 5
MARIO WATCHED MELANIA’S CAR lights disappear from his view, but he didn’t immediately return to the party. He had only agreed to show up because the Barones promised that their only daughter would be there. Now that she’d left, Mario didn’t see too much reason to go back inside. Moving to the top of the stone staircase, he sat down on the step and rested his elbows on his knees. The woman had always been an Italian hellcat and in the three years since he’d last seen her, things hadn’t changed that much.
What Lania didn’t know was that a lot had changed with him, primarily the fact that he’d mostly given up his carefree ways. Mario had finally gotten tired of living the bachelor lifestyle. He was twenty-six and the magic age of thirty was quickly creeping up on him. He’d always imagined being settled by that time in a house similar to the one where he was currently residing, with a wife or at least in a committed relationship.
Being Italian, he’d also envisioned having a house full of children. Whenever those thoughts struck him, he could only imagine having them with one woman—Melania Barone. “Fuck,” he cursed. She still hated him just as much now as she always had, but then again, their encounter in the study might have only increased her negativity. He’d made the mistake of trying to pick up where they’d left things off in Tuscany.
Something had changed for him the night that he finally got her into his arms. Melania had always been so unattainable, almost forbidden in a way. His family and hers had been close their entire lives, so he obviously looked at the precocious dark-haired child as a sibling. When they became teenagers, he’d harbored fantasies of kissing her. Only in Italy when the time was right did he make his move. From that night, something had changed for him.
She was no longer a kid sister but a flesh and blood woman, one who could set his blood boiling faster than anyone he’d ever met in his entire life. And he smirked, knowing that he invoked reactions in her that not many others did, either. Initially, the intensity of what he felt for her scared him. He wasn’t too ashamed to admit that. After he left her in the pool that last night of culinary school, he was scared shitless about what had happened between them. At the time, he realized he’d made a mistake. That was another reason why he kept his distance from her.
It was easy enough not to think about Lania when he was continents away from her. Between opening up restaurants in both Singapore and London, he had something else to focus on other than a mistake he’d made a few years earlier. In fact, he’d wiped all thoughts of her from his mind until it came time to expand what was becoming a successful line of De Palmas. With the worldwide success he encountered, Mario wanted to come back home to the States. He seriously considered New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles, but in the end the lure of home was too strong.
“What are you doing out here, Son?” his father, Salvatore, asked as he stepped out onto the front porch.
Mario looked up at him and shrugged. “I came outside to make sure Melania got out of the driveway okay. It’s a nice night, so I figured I would sit out here for a while.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He did see her leave.
“Did you two kiss and make up from your quarrel in Italy?” he questioned.
Mario looked up at his father. Did Salvatore know what had gone down between Mario and Melania back then? “We didn’t have a fight, Dad.”
“Ah, I must have misunderstood then. I could’ve sworn that when Melania returned she was upset with you,” he explained, and Mario really hoped his father didn’t know why.
He chuckled before answering. “She’s always upset with me over something. It’s nothing new.”
His father laughed this time. “You’re probably right. I’m just glad the two of you had a chance to kiss and make up.”
“Yeah, something like that,” he mumbled under his breath. He and Melania had kissed and it was better than he remembered it being the first time they did. She was pure heat, especially when she finally stopped fighting him and melted in his arms. He could’ve, and in hindsight, should’ve taken her right there in her father’s study. He should’ve cleared off the desk, laid her atop of it, and seduced the anger right out of her.
But he couldn’t do that. Their next time needed to be special. It couldn’t be some alcohol-induced regret. While Mario had been filled with many over the years, especially when it came to Melania Barone, that night in the pool in Italy had been his biggest one. It was his biggest risk, but when he looked back at all the women he’d been with over the years, she was the biggest reward as well.
“Well, with the two of you both living and working in South Beach, I’m sure you’ll see plenty of each other,” his father finally said and then clapped him on the back. “I’m going back inside, Son.”
“Okay, Dad,” he said with a nod. When his father went back into the house, he sighed.
Mario had yet to even mention opening a De Palmas down the street from her own restaurant. He grinned as he anticipated what her reaction would be once she found out. Melania would be fit to be tied, and for good reason, even though he’d never try to destroy her business. He wasn’t sure that she would see things the same way, though.
To be honest, he was almost looking forward to clashing with the dark-haired Italian beauty. Reaching into the pocket of his suit jacket, Mario removed the pair of panties she stuck inside. He took another glance at the door to make sure no one else was lurking around and then brought them to his nose. There was so much that he didn’t get a chance to do with her the first time the two of them had sex. One of those things was spreading her legs apart and burying his head between them. He dreamed about how perfect Melania’s pussy would be, wet and swollen, as her molten essence dripped onto his tongue. The small taste he’d gotten on his fingers earlier was not nearly enough. Next time he got her naked, he would make sure he got his fill. A small voice inside told him that no matter how large of a sample he had of her, it would never be enough.
Mario inhaled deeply, memorizing her scent before placing the panties back into his pocket. Melania had wanted him to know that even though he made her wet she didn’t need him to get off. Surely he would be able to surpass anything she did to herself with her fingers. In fact, he took this as a challenge. One night soon, she’d be in his bed, and he’d be sure to fuck every frustration she had out.
Standing back up, he was about to leave when the front door opened. “Hey, Gorgio,” he said to Melania’s father. The man had been very instrumental in making sure his daughter was there tonight, and he hated to tell him that it was for nothing.
Well, maybe not for nothing. He did get a very physical reminder of what he came back to Miami for. Holding back his satisfied grin, he turned around to see what the other man was looking at, or most likely, for. “Are you looking for Melania?”
“Yes,” he answered. “Did she leave already?”
“I’m afraid so.” Mario could see the disappointment on Gorgio’s face, so he added, “I’m going back to Miami tonight. Would you like me to give her a message from y
ou?”
Mario almost hoped that he did because he’d love nothing more than paying the stubborn female a visit. He could already see her answering the door in some flimsy silk robe that she threw on once she heard the doorbell. Beneath it, she would be naked, and if he was lucky, maybe even wet.
His cock swelled at the image his mind conjured up, and he could already see how the entire night would play out. Naturally, she’d tell him she wanted him to leave, but he wouldn’t believe her. Mario would step inside and after she ran her mouth, he’d take her right there on the floor in her foyer. It would be explosive just like every other encounter between them had been so far.
It wouldn’t take long before he was on the floor with nothing between him and the cold stone except for their scattered clothing. She’d be on top, riding his cock as her beautiful breasts bounced with each stroke. Mario would take them in his hands, pinching and squeezing them until he felt her body’s answering response as her pussy strangled his cock. He’d need to come but wouldn’t until he heard her screaming his name first.
Afterward, Mario would pick Melania up and carry her to bed where he would finally get to spread her wide as he buried his tongue inside of her pussy, feasting on every inch of her until she flooded his face with her essence. His dick grew even harder. After he brought her to another orgasm, he’d bury himself inside of her, this time taking her hard and fast, making sure he fucked her so thoroughly there’d be no question as to who her pussy belonged to.
“I guess not, Mario,” Gorgio said, interrupting the sensual scene playing out in Mario’s head.
It was time for him to leave. His dick was hard as iron, and he’d mingled with more people than he cared to already. Even though he was the guest of honor, Mario was sure that the predominantly older crowd would rather talk amongst themselves than to him.
“Okay. I think I’m going to follow Melania’s lead for once and head back down to Miami too,” he told the man as he shook his hand. “I want to thank you again for throwing a homecoming party for me. It wasn’t necessary but very much appreciated. Most of all, I thank you for ensuring that your beautiful daughter could grace our evening with her presence. I think tonight is the beginning of a wonderful friendship between me and Melania.”
The old man grinned. “You’re very welcome. You know that Carlotta and I have always viewed you as an extension of our family. Maybe one day soon, it will be true in other ways.”
Mario caught the underlying meaning behind the last statement but didn’t respond to it. Gorgio wasn’t the only one hoping that something would develop between him and his daughter. Everyone else was on the same page, and now he only needed to convince Melania that they were meant to be together. It wouldn’t be an easy task, but that was a challenge he was more than up to taking on. He knew one thing about it, though, between her fiery passion and his primal urge to claim her, it would never be boring.
He reached into his other pocket and retrieved his keys. His silver Maserati was parked close to the street, and as he gauged the distance between it and the white Alfa Romeo, Mario was sure that he could back around it so he wouldn’t have to disturb anyone else to move their vehicles.
“My family is very fond of yours as well, Gorgio. Good night.”
“Drive safely,” he finally said before reentering the house.
Mario headed down the drive, whistling as he walked. He’d make a decision on whether to pay her a visit tonight or let her seethe for a while longer before he did. Whatever he decided, there was one thing that was guaranteed. She would beg for him to fuck if for no other reason than he wanted to set the parameters on who controlled what between them. He chuckled as he pictured her crawling to him with a murderous look in her eyes. What a beautiful sight she would be.
Chapter 6
DUE TO THREE DIFFERENT accidents on I-95 South, it took forever for Lania to get home, which only angered her more. The entire trip, which took twice as long as usual, she spent it cursing Mario De Palma, his ancestors and their offspring as well. She could hardly believe that she actually thought he’d changed. She didn’t even know it was possible to act any more obnoxious, but he certainly proved that theory wrong.
Getting out of the car, she stormed into the building, ignoring Alfred’s greeting altogether as she walked to the elevator bank and smacked the call button. Lania couldn’t wait to get upstairs to her condo so she could wash his touch off her. And damn, what touches they were. The door opened, and she hurried inside, leaning back against the wall. She pressed the button for her floor and prayed that no one else entered the elevator. Luck was finally on her side.
Once back in her condo, she walked over to her phone to check the answering machine. There were three messages, and she knew who two of them were from. Letting them play, she started to strip out of her dress.
“Message one,” the machine said before a beep sounded and her mother’s voice came through the speaker. “I’m checking to make sure you got home okay. Mario left right after you did, and I hope the two of you didn’t have a fight. Call me back when you get this. I love you.”
A fight? No, he absolutely humiliated and then degraded her, but she wouldn’t call it an argument. Lania already knew what Carlotta Barone would say because it was something she got used to hearing over the years. “Boys will be boys.”
She snorted at that. Mario De Palma was still just as much of a child now as he’d been at thirteen when his favorite pastime seemed to be putting snakes and spiders on her. He was an absolute cretin then and was still one to this day. The only difference now was that he was the one doing the biting instead of a reptile or insect.
“Message two,” the machine said as it moved on to the next one. This time it was her father just as she suspected. “I wanted to tell you good night since you didn’t even say goodbye before you left. Mario was worried about you and—” Lania rolled her eyes at that and hit delete without even listening to the rest of it.
She had forgotten all about the third message until she reached the hallway and a sexy as sin voice made her freeze in her track. “Melania, this is Mario. I got your number from your parents,” he began, and she shook her head. Of course they would give it to him. She had half a mind to have it changed first thing Monday morning. Walking back into the living room, she listened to the rest of his message. “I heard over the scanner that a light-colored Porsche was involved in an accident on the highway, and I hope it wasn’t your car. Anyway, just call your parents and let them know you’re okay because I might have scared them when I called to see if they’d heard from you yet.”
She groaned out in frustration, knowing they would indeed be worried. The timestamp of his call was about ten minutes ago, so she would be receiving another call soon. She thought about trying to teach the meddlesome couple a lesson by letting them worry, but even she wasn’t that cruel, no matter how much they irritated her.
Pulling out her phone, she sent her parents a text to let them know she was home and planned to go to bed. It wasn’t the complete truth but would be enough to appease them, she hoped. If not, they would have to deal. She was in no mood to hear them sing the praises of a man who assaulted Lania while holding her against her will in her father’s study.
She wanted to believe that scenario to be true, but she knew it wasn’t. Taking her dress off, she threw it across the room in frustration. What actually happened was that she had wanted him just as he claimed she did. Even now, she could remember the feel of his fingers stroking her pussy. She shuddered to think of what would’ve happened had he not stopped. Would she have begged him to finish her as he wanted her to do?
“The day I beg any man, especially him, for anything is…” She lost her train of thought when she looked at the return message from her mother, imploring her to call Mario and set his mind at ease. Now, he was someone she would gladly let suffer as he assumed the worst. In fact, that was exactly what she planned to do.
Walking into her bedroom, she plugged up her pho
ne so it could charge and then powered it off. As long as she didn’t hear or see any messages then she wouldn’t be tempted to do something unforgiveable like actually respond to him. Lania could just go to bed. Lord knew she was tired from the drive to her parents and the much longer one on her way back home. The problem was that she had too much pent-up energy to expel or else she’d never fall asleep. The thought of going downstairs to the fitness center crossed her mind, but she dismissed that idea immediately. She was tired and didn’t want to feel like death twice by the time she ran a few miles on an elliptical.
She could walk along the private stretch of beach, but then again, that would take more energy than she was willing to use. Finally, she decided to lounge in the hot tub on the rooftop patio. At this time of night, no one sane would be out there, so it was perfect. With any luck, she was the only crazy one who lived there. Lania grabbed a polka dotted bikini from her swimsuit drawer. It didn’t take long to put it on and grab a towel.
She grabbed her keys, opened the door, and jumped. “Damn it, Liv. You scared me to death.”
Her friend, still dressed in her Basilico uniform, laughed, and Lania pulled her inside of the condo. “You could have knocked,” she admonished before sticking her tongue out at the woman.
“I was about to”—she giggled—“but you opened the door before I could. I must say you look jumpier than—”
Not giving Olivia a chance to finish, she pulled her into the condo, and shut the door. “Is everything okay at Basilico?”
“Yes,” Olivia instantly answered. “I was just checking to see if you made it back. I was sort of hoping you hadn’t, if you catch my drift.”
