by Tacie Graves
“It would be easier to believe if I didn’t have to ignore what I saw with my own eyes.” Tears thickened her voice. As she was looking at him, she was seeing something else--the comfortable closeness between Marco and his ex, her beautiful face, the rightness of the two of them together--and emptiness filled her heart. He deserved so much more than she could give… someone who understood his world, and fit with his family.
Not her.
“I don’t care what your eyes saw.” Marco grabbed her with both hands, forcing her back to the present. Mina felt her breath hitch in her throat . “I want to know what your heart thinks.” He leaned closer, his face barely an inch from hers. “What your heart knows.” He kissed her and she felt the familiar lightning flash between them, her heart slamming in her chest as she gave herself to the feelings he unleashed in her. His lips demanded a response and she gave it to him.
“Amore.” His voice was low, the single word cutting through her resistance like it was made of gossamer. Love… he’d never called her Love before. She froze, the promise in that word more than she could contemplate. More than she’d ever dreamed.
Sex with him was incredible--books could be written about how good--but his love? That would be cataclysmic.
Desperately she tried to remind herself of all the reasons why this wasn’t a good idea, why she should be running away from him, not towards him, but her body refused to move.
“Mina mia.” Her bones were melting under her skin. If she didn’t get away she’d liquefy in his hands.
He caressed her skin, holding on but not restraining her. She could pull away if she really wanted to, but what she really wanted was more. She felt her heart against her breastbone, her pulse racing as she shivered in his hands.
She couldn’t meet his eyes or he’d know how close to the edge she was. He’d made it clear that the next move was hers, and while he’d never force her to accept his touch, he wouldn’t hesitate to force her to make a decision. One push and she’d fall, and there’d be no going back. Ever.
“I need something.” The voice didn’t sound like her own, it was thick and rough, but she knew it was hers.
Marco paused, his hands stilling on her back, and his eyes glittered down at her. “Anything.”
Mina imagined a cliff and she knew she was speeding toward it. She slowly, intentionally looked at the face above her and threw herself over the edge.
“You told me that what I saw in that room,” she paused. The words were awkward extensions of her thoughts, but she had to make him understand. “You said it wasn’t real.”
Marco shook his head with such force that it was a full-body denial. “It wasn’t. None of it was real.” He slid roughly up her arms and cupped her face, lifting her chin in his hands. “I swear to you. I want no one but you.”
She wet her lips and watched Marco’s eyes follow the path left by her tongue. “Prove it.”
Black eyes snapped to hers, his body suddenly still. “Prove what? That I want you?” He pulled her closer and she felt the heavy hardness of his erection as it pressed against her. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Mina’s feminine ego basked in the attention, thrilled at how open he was about her effect on him, but that wasn’t what she was aiming for. She rolled her hips against him, feeling another flash of satisfaction as he closed his eyes, and she watched control himself by sheer force of will.
“That’s part of it,” she admitted, “but not nearly enough.” She took his hand and led him further into the house. Silent steps carried them along the same path that she remembered from the last time she was here… through the foyer, through the hall, towards the stairs, and finally… into his office.
It looked the same, but there were papers scattered on the floor, and the chair that sat behind the desk was pulled out where he must have pushed it when he chased after her. It was more proof of his story, that he followed her, wanted her, cared for her… loved her… but every time she thought of this room she thought of her pain and she refused to build a shrine to it. She would knock it down and replace it.
She dropped his hand and crossed the space towards the desk. She dragged a finger across its polished surface, a twist of her lips the only sign of how she felt. “Every time I thought of you in here with her it started with the kiss I saw, but it turned into more.” She looked at him across the expanse of mahogany. “I imagined you in here with her, leaning over her, kissing her,” she forced herself to say it, “fucking her.”
She walked around the desk and took a stand. “We’d spent so many hours behind that desk making plans for the exhibit. I cherished the time we spent in here and it was ruined--by her.” Anger made the words easier. “She took something from me, and I want it back.”
Marco watched her carefully, a glimmer of understanding beginning to shine.
“If I am going to be in this house, in your life, I don’t want that to be what I think of--what you think of--when we step into this room.” She looked him in the eye, the challenge clear. “I want you to erase it. Erase it and make me forget it ever happened.”
Mina could have lit a match with the heat that flared between them. The wariness that Marco had been watching her with was tinged with disbelief. He took one step, and then another, until he had her pressed back against the edge of the desk. His eyes were dilated, the pupils huge and black, and she had to fight from losing herself in them.
“You want me to make you forget?” His words were mild, but they shook her to her soles. She gave an awkward nod, “Yes. Prove she didn’t mean anything. Make me believe it.” She swallowed hard. “I need to believe it.”
Marco’s breath was hot on her cheek making her shiver, and her head lolled back, suddenly too heavy for her neck to support. The opportunity was too much to ignore and she jumped as he lowered his mouth to the fluttering pulse at the base of her throat. His tongue pressed against it, teeth grazing against the tendon protecting it, and she let out a hissing breath.
“Oh yes,” the whispered words washed across her, his desire an almost physical force, “I will make you believe.”
Mina shuddered in his arms, and relaxed into his embrace, trusting him in a way she’d never trusted anyone.
“Do you want it to be slow and gentle? Shall I worship your body--stretch you out and burn the truth into you one kiss, one lick, one consuming inch at a time?” His hands closed over her breasts, his thumbs rubbing over her nipples, and she moaned deep in her throat. “Or should I take you hard and fast, pounding the doubt from you, imbedding myself into your every pore?”
There was gravel in his voice and Mina felt his erection hard against her thigh. The sensation of him pressed tight against her front and the unforgiving surface of the desk against her back was an incredible juxtaposition--one force hard and hot, and the other hard and cold, both pushing every nerve ending to its limit.
“Which should it be?” He pushed her t-shirt up over her stomach, the muscles there rippling as his fingers glided over them, and flicked open the front clasp of her bra. The cold air of the room made her already hard nipples tighten even further. He cupped her breast in his hand and watched her face as he replaced his fingers with his mouth. One suck, then another, the sensation bordered on pain as he pulled her further into the hot cavern of his mouth, until she was balancing on the razor’s edge, and then he released her. “Gentle hasn’t convinced you yet,” there was no bitterness in it when he said it, but she knew it was true. “So hard it is.”
Before the words could register he’d pulled her upright, stripping her shirt and bra in one movement, his vaunted control a thing of the past.
His hands were everywhere, squeezing, pinching, stroking, and Mina felt her emotions building up along with the sensations. Her pants joined the rest of her clothes on the floor and Marco moved between her legs, his body spreading her legs as he stared down at her.
His eyes were black as coal and burned as they traveled over her, possessiveness in every line of his face.
/> “You have no idea,” he whispered, his voice raw with need, “Now idea how I’ve dreamed of having you spread out like this, so I can take every piece of you.” He peppered her body with kisses, his fingers burning trails across her breasts. “I didn’t want to frighten you--wanted you to want me as much as I wanted you, but there’s no time for that now.”
He slid one hand down, past her belly, over her hips, until he could slip it between her legs. Mina felt it settle there and let out a gasp of pleasure as Marco pressed it against her. It was so close to what she wanted, but not enough--not nearly enough. She wanted his mouth on her, his fingers inside her, and she squirmed against him with a wordless plea for more.
“Nothing else matters--Mamma, Giovanni, the collection… they can all burn in Hell for all I care--the only thing that matters is that you are here and mine!”
He slipped a finger between her swollen labia, and dragged the wetness he found there higher until he could paint her clit with it. With a rough laugh he moved down and rested his head against her inner thigh, his breath hot on her aching flesh. Mina panted, arching up against him, the cold wood of the desk searing against her feverish skin.
“Please,” she begged, pushing against him as he held her open. Another rumble of satisfaction came from him and when Mina finally thought she’d scream from frustration, he closed his mouth on her and plunged his wandering finger deep inside.
The sensation was overwhelming, and her body bowed, arching up off the desk as a tidal wave of sensation and emotion burst over her. Marco never stopped, his elegant fingers plundering her depths, his tongue latched onto her, sucking and licking as she bucked against him. His eyes never closed, and she knew he was watching her responses, drinking in her abandon as he drank her essence. His whole attention was fixed on her--all that mattered was her. She felt her muscles clenching in waves, leaving her aching with the need to have him fill her emptiness.
“Need you.” Her voice was ragged, her breathing so heavy that her mouth was completely dried out. She forced herself to swallow, and tried again. “I need you. Please.”
Marco didn’t answer, his eyes still focused on her body, watching as her pussy spasmed around his fingers. He worked them in and out, occasionally reaching out and swiping against her over-stimulated clit with his tongue.
“You wanted to know,” he said. “You wanted to understand how I felt.” He pulled away, his lips glistening with her wetness. “We’ve only scratched the surface.”
His eyes were wild and she let out a shriek as he pulled her forward, sliding her to the edge of the desk, papers and things flying everywhere. Mina reached out and grabbed for him, trying to get her balance, but he moved too fast and she found herself flipped and bent over the edge of the desk.
“What are you doing?” He’d never pushed her like this; never seemed so out of control.
“What am I doing?” She heard the clink of his belt buckle as he unfastened his pants, and she felt the head of his cock as it pressed between her pussy lips. Her muscles were still spasming from her orgasm and she could feel them pulling at him, sucking him deeper, and she moaned at the sensation. “I am making you forget.”
He thrust deeply, sheathing himself completely and Mina let out a keening cry. Marco filled her, stretching her fully, setting off shockwave after shockwave as he pumped through the echoes of her climax. He held himself there, touching places so deep inside her that she felt like they were one person, until she felt the undeniable fire begin to burn again.
“Do you know how many times I thought of this over the past three days?” Marco’s voice sounded like it came from far away, but it was just because all her attention was focused on where he was buried in her pussy. “Every minute that passed, every dead end I ran into…” he pulled his cock out and rocked his hips, dipping the head back in, teasing her with its width, “I thought about you leaving, about never waking up with you beside me, never hearing you say you love me.”
He slammed into her hard, forcing her against the desk, the unforgiving edge digging into the tops of her thighs. Her breasts were pressed tight against the cold surface, but she barely noticed. Marco reached around her hip, pulling her back and moving her feet wider apart so he could reach the little knob of her clit. He plucked at it and tugged on it, flicking his finger back and forth against it until she was rocking back against him, rolling her hips in a silent invitation as her muscles clamped down on him like a vise.
“I fell asleep on the flight to Miami.” He sounded breathless, and Mina sobbed with the sensations that were coursing through her. “I dreamed of you, dreamed of wrapping my arms around you, your body heavy with our child, my ring on your finger. I swore when I woke and I realized it was only a dream, that I would make that dream come true.” His movements were becoming erratic and she clung to the sides of the desk to get enough leverage that she could push back against him, chasing the glorious climax that was just out of her reach. Marco rolled her clit between his fingers and pinched it, making her scream as the world shattered around her, her muscles flexing and undulating around him. He couldn’t hold back then, and began to thrust into her, fucking her as hard as her pussy would allow, hammering into her until the heat of her body and the waves of her orgasm became too much for him to bear.
He came, his back bowing, his body shuddering. A hoarse cry tore from his throat and Mina felt the tips of his fingers dig into her hips as he gripped them, pulling her tight against him. He stood there, suspended in motion, and then collapsed, his body lying heavily across her, his heart pounding against her back, his breath ragged in her ears
He rested there against her back, kissing her shoulders and the back of her neck as their orgasms began to fade, until he slipped from her body. He lifted his weight off her and stood, gently helping Mina to stand on wobbly legs, a look of concern on his face.
“I hope I did not hurt you.” Marco’s eyes took in all the marks on her skin, his lips tight as he saw the bruises he’d left where he’d grabbed her roughly. Mina shook her head, her head still spinning. “I’m fine. Really.”
She looked around at the chaos in the office--everything that had been on the desk was on the floor, the chair had been upended, her clothes were thrown haphazardly across the room. Her clothes! She hadn’t even registered she was standing there naked!
She tried to push past Marco to get dressed, but he swept her up into his arms.
“You’re trembling.” He said, holding her tightly against him. His hands were gentle, but when she tried to get him to put her down, unrelenting. “Shhhhhh,” he said, dropping a kiss on her brow, “you’re exhausted.”
“I’m also naked,” she said, raising an eyebrow at him. Marco gave her a dazzling smile. “You say that like it is a bad thing.”
Mina couldn’t help smiling back at him. Held in the cradle of his arms, the agony of the past three days seemed like a half-forgotten nightmare. A yawn cracked her jaw and she blushed and buried her face in Marco’s chest.
“Maybe I am a little tired.” They were moving before the words were out of her mouth, her drooping eyes barely registering the doors as they passed, and the stairs that were climbed.
The downy comforter was soft and she snuggled into it, the scent of Marco on the pillow faint but noticeable. She was back in his bedroom--their bedroom--and she reached out for him, pulling him into her arms as she drifted off to sleep for the first time in days.
This time she wasn’t letting him go.
Chapter Six
If life were more romantic she’d have woken up to streaming light and chirping birds. As it was, she really had to pee.
Mina shifted in the bed, her body sore but her heart finally whole again, and soaked in the feeling of Marco’s arms, heavy and tight, wrapped around her. He was holding her possessively, with one arms around her waist and one hand tucked between her thighs, his need to claim her even obvious in his sleep, and she smiled. She could get used to that.
After she peed.
/>
She wriggled out of his grip, trying not to disturb him too much, but she wasn’t surprised when she looked up and saw dark eyes watching her. She leaned in and dropped a kiss on his cheek and smiled again.
“Hello handsome.” Her bravery tanks were full to overflowing, and she nuzzled the soft area beneath Marco’s ear. “If I promise to come back will you let me up? Nature is calling.”
He released her slowly, sleep and want fighting against her request, but after deciding she really wasn’t a flight risk, he pulled his hands away and she was free.
“If you’re not back in five minutes I’m coming after you.” The words were teasing, but Mina knew the truth in them.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Another quick kiss and she was up, padding naked across the carpet to the connected bath.
It took only a minute to satisfy her body’s needs, but by that time she was wide awake. The catharsis she’d felt earlier had not only erased her doubts about how Marco felt, but had somehow repaired the damage of two days in emotional hell. She felt light, and happy.
And naked.
She walked back into the bedroom. All her things were still there, the clothes Marco had bought to dress her in, but she knew she’d never wear them again. She was a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, and Marco wanted her anyway. That was good enough.
She looked back over her shoulder and grabbed a robe off the closet hook.
“I’m going to run down to the office and get my clothes.”
An eyebrow lifted but he didn’t question her decision. “I hope I didn’t ruin them. I was in something of a hurry earlier.”
Bright spots flared on Mina’s face as she remembered his hurry and she thought a ripped shirt would be well worth the price.
“I should still get them.” She laughed a little ruefully. “I’d hate for someone to come in and see the wreck we left down there.”
“Fuck the wreck.” Marco’s voice was thick and sleepy and he shifted under the covers to get comfortable again. “Just come back quickly. The bed is cold without you.”
