She stared at the gold seal on the bottle.
He’d remembered her joke about wine?
That was...unexpected.
“And to complete the apology.” He placed a clear plastic container in front of her. Little chocolates sat nestled in paper cups. “I wasn’t sure what kind you meant, so I got a few.”
“Ian...” She stared at what might as well have been a pile of gold.
“What? You don’t like—what is this stuff?” He picked up the wine bottle and peered at the label. “Technically, it’s sherry.”
“That’s—no.” She laughed. “I’d have taken a candy bar and a bag of wine.”
“That’s not an apology.” He stepped around the corner to the end of the counter and leaned on the edge of the bar. “If there’s one thing havin’ a girl-twin is good for, it’s learnin’ how to apologize.”
“You had to do a lot of apologizing growing up, didn’t you?”
“So did she, don’t let Chloe’s pretty face fool you.” He wagged his finger at her.
It wasn’t a no-strings-attached gift. Taylor knew he wanted her to trust him, to tell him what she knew, but she still melted a bit. He was working her, just like any guy in his position would, but for some silly reason, it was different. Maybe because he was one of the good guys or the circumstances of how they’d met that she wasn’t shutting him down. It wasn’t like he was the first guy to try to win her over. But he wasn’t. He was apologizing.
The moment drew out, him staring at her staring at him.
He took another step closer and cupped her cheek, his thumb swiping back and forth. She leaned into him, grateful for even this support. He thought she was a good person, a victim even, and maybe she was in a way, but not how he assumed.
“What am I goin’ to do with ya?” Ian whispered.
“Feed me chocolate?” She opened her eyes and smiled up at him.
“How about some wine to get started? But first...”
Ian ducked his head, pressing his lips to hers. His mouth was warm, soft, inviting. She leaned into him, losing herself in the sweet touch of skin.
He backed off before she could deepen the contact, a mischievous grin on his face.
She didn’t doubt he’d planned something. The question was, did she want to play along?
Ian went about opening the bottle. If there was just the one bottle for the two of them, it shouldn’t be that bad. For now, she’d let him believe she was playing into his hands. It could very well be a fun experience anyway.
“Cat’s going to pitch a fit if you make a mess.” She propped her chin on her hand, simply enjoying watching him.
“Then how about we use one glass? Less to clean up.” He leaned toward her and winked. “Maybe she won’t notice.”
“I don’t think you know Cat that well.”
“Ladies first.” He pushed the half-full glass toward her.
A single glass wasn’t a danger. It was the second, third, and so on, where Taylor’s mouth got her in trouble. At the bar, she’d drank for liquid courage, to speak her mind. Doing was never her weakness. It was the talking. But when she got even the least bit tipsy, the problem became shutting herself up.
One glass would be fine.
Taylor sipped, letting the liquid roll around her mouth. Her tastes were rather basic when it came to alcohol.
“Did you grow up in New York?” Ian plucked one of the chocolates from the plastic dish.
“Yes.”
“Open up.” He fed her the morsel of milk chocolate, a smile on his lips.
What the hell was he up to?
That smile, the way he was watching her so closely, he had a plan. This was some sort of trap. To—what? Get her to talk?
The rich chocolate coated her mouth. She sipped the sherry, mindful to only drink a little. It really was good stuff.
If he could ask questions, so could she.
“Why’d you come to America?” she asked.
“Because Chloe married an asshole and I expected him to screw her over.”
“What’d he do?”
“My turn to ask the question.” He tapped her nose and slid onto the stool next to her, his legs caging her against the bar. “What about your family? Are they worried about you bein’ out here all alone?”
“Nope.” She leaned forward, wrapping her lips around his next-offered morsel and ate it before he could ask a follow up question.
The only family who’d ever cared about her, she could count on one hand and have most of her fingers left over. After her mother died, it was just Vito.
Thick caramel oozed from the chocolate, swirling around her mouth. It was damn good stuff. Especially, when all she might have hoped for was a dollar candy bar from a corner store.
“To answer your other question, he checked out as soon as Delilah was born. Chloe held on for a few years, but he wasn’t really there. They finally called it quits...five years ago? No sooner was the divorce final than he was marryin’ someone else and havin’ babies. These days, he’s too busy to take time out for his first family, and he resents the hell outta Chloe. Like it was her fault Delilah was born broken. Little thing has more heart than he’ll ever have, that’s for certain.”
Taylor had to take two larger swallows of the sherry to clean her mouth out and be able to talk.
“That’s terrible.”
“You ever thought about getting’ hitched?” Ian studied her.
Did he know?
He had to know if he was asking her that.
“Been there. Done that. Not sure I want to do it again.”
“What? Seriously?”
“Chocolate me, please?”
Ian picked through the container until he found a piece he wanted to present her. More milk chocolate that melted on her tongue. She went to sip the wine but...it was gone.
Taylor frowned at the bottom of the glass.
When had that happened?
“Here you go.” Ian poured a bit more into the glass.
“No more after this.”
“But we’ve got a whole bottle.”
“And I’ve got to be up early.”
“You’ll sleep like a baby.”
“Why isn’t there a Mrs. Kelly then, hm?”
“Haven’t found the right one yet, but I’m takin’ applications, if you know anyone whose interested.” His hand slid over her knee, warm through her jeans. “Why didn’t it work out for you?”
“With my ex?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, boy.” She took a big gulp to prepare herself for this answer. “We got together for the wrong reasons. I wanted away from my family, and he wanted into it. When things didn’t happen like he thought they should...the relationship soured.”
Taylor stared at the marble countertop, her foggy-headed mind playing back those final days. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he’d seen her as his ticket to an easy life. Too bad for him, that wasn’t how it worked.
“Do you regret it?” Ian asked.
“Nope. He gave me his last name.” She shrugged. That name was worth its weight in gold, as far as she was concerned. “I’m no longer the Lucchese Princess. At least not on paper anyway, and that’s was worth every minute of misery.”
Shit.
She wasn’t supposed to say that.
Taylor gulped the rest of her glass to stop herself from talking.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ian reached forward, swiping his thumb across her lower lip, taking with it the moisture clinging to her skin.
“Nothing. It’s stupid.”
Ian picked out another piece of chocolate. This time he bit it in half, offering her only part of the treat.
Her head was beginning to feel funny and the house was awfully warm. Right. Because George would have tweaked the thermostat, since he wasn’t at home.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. You want to go upstairs?”
“You think you can make it? Or should I carry you.”
&n
bsp; “You get the wine, I’ll take the chocolate.” She emptied the glass and snagged the container of chocolate.
She’d gone and broken the one glass rule like it hadn’t been made. The least she could do was keep her tipsy ramblings private. Not that she expected the one guy left in the house to be listening to them, but it paid to be careful.
10.
Taylor knew what was coming. Known it would happen, since she walked into him in the kitchen a week ago. She still wasn’t ready for it.
Ian followed her up the stairs, a hot wall of promise at her back. She hadn’t forgotten the disappointment on his face when she said she was sleeping in Stacey’s room last night.
He let them into his room with the key instead of her picking the lock this time.
The light flipped on and he closed the door behind her, crowding her back against the wall. With his face in shadow it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
“Were you tryin’ to get me alone?” His voice had gone rough again, but with a playful edge.
“Depends, were you trying to get me drunk?”
“Just makin’ my apologies proper, like the lady asked.” He lowered his head, his mouth hovering over hers.
“Bullshit,” she whispered.
“Honest truth.” Ian lifted the bottle, pressing it to her lips.
She tilted her chin up and he carefully poured a bit into her mouth, a little dribbling down her chin. He licked her lips, catching the missed wine with his mouth and drinking it from her skin.
Ian wrapped his arm around her waist, hauling her up against his chest. His tongue tangled with hers, his thigh pressing between her legs. All at once, the room became far too hot for comfort.
Taylor shoved at Ian’s chest.
“Sorry, I...” He stumbled back, his eyes wide.
She grabbed the hem of her T-shirt with her spare hand and pulled it up over her head.
There.
A little better, but not quite what she was looking for.
Taylor tossed the container of chocolates onto the bench at the end of the bed. With her hands now free, she tabbed her jeans open and kicked off her flats.
Ian tipped the bottle up, sipping directly from it.
When had she drank so much?
He’d barely touched her glass during their Q&A.
There was hardly any left.
“Are you just going to watch me?” She paused with her thumbs hooked into her panties and jeans.
“Maybe.” Ian took a step toward her, pressing the bottle to her lips.
She took another swig, but only a small one this time.
He ducked his head, licking the sherry off her lips and following it up with a kiss.
“I want to drink it off your skin, your tits, all over you.”
She shivered at his tone, gone all rough.
He nipped her lower lip then turned her, propelling her into the bathroom. At some point, all the bathrooms had been completely renovated with double vanities and yards of marble counterpace.
Ian set the bottle next to the sink and then both his hands were on her, his mouth devouring hers. Taylor’s bra slipped off, and he worked her jeans and underwear down around her thighs before lifting her onto the vanity. She gasped at the cold stone against her heated skin.
“I think I drank too much.” She gripped the edge, her skin flushed and warm, head buzzing just this side of too-tipsy.
“Then the rest is for me.” Ian cupped the back of her neck, swooping in to kiss her.
He laid her on the vanity, never breaking the connection.
This was wild and ill advised, but he made her feel...carefree. Normal. It wouldn’t last, but for now she wanted this. With him.
Ian focused on her breasts and slowly splashed a little of the liquid on her sternum. No sooner had the chilled liquid touched her skin than he leaned in, licking the droplets up.
“There’s my cup.” He popped the P.
She held her breath as liquid trickled into her belly button.
“That feels so strange.” She gasped and tried not to laugh.
Ian sealed his lips around the divot, his tongue delving into her navel to lick up every last drop. She sucked down a breath and tried to squirm away, but he held her prisoner.
He straightened, grinning at her.
“That’s the stuff.”
“You’re ridiculous.” And yet when he looked at her like that, she felt...desired. Special. Anything but normal.
“I’m just getin’ started.” He leaned back, his gaze traveling from her head to her toe. “I wonder what a wine-flavored pussy tastes like, hm?”
“What?” She squawked and pressed her thighs together.
Or tried to.
Ian’s hand wedged her legs apart
“Oh, come on now.” He caressed her folds with his fingers. “You purred so nicely last time.”
“That was different.”
“Let me try and then you tell me how different it is, hm?” He applied pressure to her mound.
The muscles in her lower stomach quaked, recalling just how well he’d touched her last time.
Ian ducked his head and kissed her knee the top of her thigh, glancing up her body between each one.
“You can always say no, but I won’t lie, I’d rather you said yes.”
His gaze promised pleasure. Everything about him made her feel good, even when she wasn’t sure it should.
She forced herself to relax and allowed her legs to drift apart.
Ian grinned at her and pressed another kiss to her hip.
“I feel like I should say something.” She chuckled, her nerves showing.
“If you’re still able to talk clearly, I’m not doin’ my job well enough.” Ian nudged her left leg off the counter, exposing her to his gaze.
He pressed a kiss to her mound then shifted again, so he was almost lying on the counter, his face between her legs.
Her head really was spinning now...
The cool liquid trickled over her mound, between her folds.
Ian—was that his tongue? It had to be his tongue. He licked the length of her slit, seeking out each drop.
“Mm, I do think I like this.” He sounded far too pleased with himself.
She stared at the mirror, the reflection of his wide shoulders, the tattoos etched into his skin. Again, he sloshed the sherry on her skin, her thighs and over her mound. This time, he didn’t seem so intent on the wine. His tongue delved past her labia, tasting deeper. She arched her back, her vision going blurry.
Taylor cupped her breasts, slowly finding the strength to let go of her inhibitions and embrace whatever this was with Ian.
“Almost all gone,” he muttered.
He pressed the opening of the bottle to her mound, lapping up the wine.
She lifted her hips, seeking more pressure, more contact.
The bottle slipped down a bit until it rested just over her clit. She could come from a little more—something.
Ian’s tongue thrust into her. She gasped and bucked her hips, rubbing her clit against the bottle.
Damn close.
Taylor closed her eyes and braced her feet on the vanity, lifting her hips, surrendering herself to whatever this was, whatever they had.
Ian nearly swallowed his tongue. The rim of the wine bottle was nestled against Taylor’s pussy, and in her lush state, she wasn’t exactly aware of what she was doing.
“Taylor? Taylor, babe, hold on.”
It was hot and all to play around like this, but he’d never intentionally set out to fuck a girl with a wine bottle.
“What?” Her face creased and her lower lip stuck out.
“That’s not me inside of ‘ya.” He eased the wine bottle back, thankful he’d drank the last drops already.
“What?” Her eyes snapped open and she locked gazes with him in the mirror, her cheeks going a bright crimson.
“It just slipped—oh fuck.” He winced and squeezed his eyes shut.
Open mo
uth, insert foot.
“Did you just stick the tip in?” She snickered and wrapped her hand around his wrist.
“I might have, when I wasn’t lookin’.” He pried one eye open, glad to see she wasn’t rightfully ticked.
Taylor tugged him up her body, lifting her head for a lingering kiss.
“I can’t say I’ve ever been fucked with a wine bottle before. Do you do that to all the girls?”
“Only the naughty ones.”
“Can you do that?” She tilted her head to the side.
“What? With a wine bottle?”
“Yeah?”
“I suppose. Do...you want me to?”
“I think that’s the tipsy talking, telling me it would be a good idea.”
“I’d much rather be the one in you.” He cupped her mound, sliding his fingers along her folds.
“Oh...” Her eyes rolled back up in her head. “Y-yes, please.”
Ian didn’t have to be told twice.
He bent, rummaging in the drawer where he’d stashed some of his stuff, and snagged a condom. He ripped it open before she changed her mind about the damn wine bottle.
Ian had far too many clothes on.
He slapped the condom on the counter and made quick work of his belt. The shirt buttons would take too long.
Taylor sat up, her eyes dilated, lips swollen, and cheeks rosy. She plucked the condom out of the wrapper and grasped him by the shirt.
“I don’t know why you make me so crazy,” she muttered, or at least that’s what he thought she was saying.
Ian braced his hands on the vanity counter and kissed her neck, up to the sensitive spot behind her ear. She groaned and tugged him closer until she could wrap her calves around him.
Taylor wrapped her hand around his cock and now it was his turn to groan.
She thought he drove her crazy? Did she have any idea what it felt like to have his thoughts nothing but a reel of her sighs, her moans, her smiles, that throaty chuckle constantly playing for him?
There was something about her that resonated with him, and he wasn’t sure it was simply great sex, though he was more than willing to make sure on that front.
Taylor rolled the latex on with a firm hand.
Very soon, he wanted a couple hours to spend figuring out just how sweetly she could moan, how long she could hold out, but that was not tonight.
Alpha Prince (Twisted Royals, #1) Page 9
