One More Chance (D'Amato Brothers)

by Vera Roberts

  “And it’s kinda funny when you think about it. I remember this one guy you dated; this supposed “baller.” He always made excuses for why he had to cancel dates, why your weekend trips were always short, why he had to do this and he had to do that. He was so busy trying to build his brand, he couldn’t afford to call you back?

  “Our family could’ve been like those other numerous lottery winners. We could’ve blown through the money and be back where we started. Luckily, God felt otherwise for us. The money my mother gave me, I tripled due to my hard work and Joey’s business acumen. Eli designed the flyers and business cards. K and Nicky spread the word amongst their friends about their little brother doing hair cuts. I had a brand before I even opened my first shop.

  “And guess what? I’m at a three-star Michelin-rated restaurant, spending an ungodly amount of money on food and services with a woman I still love, even though I shouldn’t,” he revealed a slow and sexy smile, “and I have all of the time in the world for her but she playin’.”

  Krista locked eyes with Tony. She saw hope, light, and if she wasn’t mistaken, a bit of love within them. She only hoped what she read was right. “So what now?”

  “I’m going to pay for our meal, take you home, and call it a night.”

  The pang of disappointment hit Krista hard in the gut. There was no room for reconciliation and she finally realized that ship had finally sailed. “That’s it?”

  “I’ll probably slip on my jammies and watch a marathon of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt,” Tony shrugged, “that’s about it.”

  “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt?” Krista was surprised. Then again, she shouldn’t have been. Tony was a huge TV show binger. Although he had his limits – absolutely, positively no Fox News – he watched just about everything. “I didn’t think you would like that type of show.”

  “What? Are you kidding me? I’ve been in love with Ellie Kemper since The Office!” Tony shook his head. “She don’t even know, man.”

  “Well,” Krista softly cleared her throat, “I would like to join you if that’s okay.” She hoped she didn’t sound too desperate.

  Tony revealed a slow smile. “Oh?” His eyes glanced at her up and down. “Do you have overnight clothing?”

  “Well,” Krista tried to brush off the rush of emotions from Tony. She felt like she was made of glass and he could see every emotion that appeared in front of him.

  Worry.

  Anticipation.

  Regret.

  Hope.

  She swallowed her emotions again and managed to continue. “I would need to stop by my home and pick up some overnight clothing and stuff for my hair and…”

  Tony grabbed Krista’s hand and softly kissed it. “I got you, boo.”

  Five

  She almost forgotten how nice his home was.

  Tony inherited the family home from his mother and poured a lot of money into renovating it. If Krista didn’t know better, she thought it was just a brand-new home. Instead, it underwent a massive renovation from top to bottom.

  Hardwood floors led guests to carpeted rooms. His home boasted of five bedrooms, six bathrooms, two kitchens, a basketball court, swimming pool, and cul-de-sac parking. A spiraling staircase inside led to the upstairs quarters and enormous balcony that overlooked the parking.

  A crystal chandelier greeted guests in the foyer and led to an oversized family room with a monstrous TV. Next to the family room was an indoor swimming pool with clear walls.

  The front yard that was once full of weeds now boasted of plush, green grass with a garden of roses straight from Madre’s. The backyard was a miniature playground just for the numerous children shared between the brothers and a gaming room inside just for the brothers.

  Tony’s bedroom had a fireplace, a study nook, two separate bathrooms and closets. A four-poster bed was centered in the room and overlooked the New York skyline.

  Tony had no reason to ever leave his family home and with the amount of money he’d spent, it was clear he wasn’t. “Your home is gorgeous, Tony.”

  “Thank you,” he held Krista’s bag as they walked inside the home. “I’ll lead you to your room,” he closed the door behind them and led her upstairs to where three bedrooms and three bathrooms were. He opened up a room and turned on the light. “This is your room tonight.”

  Krista stepped inside the guest room. It was one of the few that had a queen sized bed in them. Tony purposely had twin beds in a few of the other guest rooms so no one got comfortable staying at his home for too long.

  The room was simple but not basic. It had a flatscreen TV, blu-ray player, and had a door that led to the balcony. A large floor-to-ceiling mirror covered an entire wall, while family pictures outlined the other two. Tony purposely called it the princess room because it had a four-poster canopy inside it.

  “You know what I always wanted as a little girl and never received?” She revealed over too-hot pepperoni pizza.

  Tony came over to Krista’s apartment for movie night, a weekly tradition they’d started as friends and continued as a couple. “What’s that, bellissima?” He asked.

  “A four-poster bed with a canopy!” Krista’s eyes lit up. “I always wished I had one just like the Disney movies.”

  “Beauty and the Beast?” Tony asked and Krista nodded.

  “My favorite movie!” Krista beamed. “I’m going to save up enough money to make sure I have one.”

  “You know I can just buy one for you,” he replied.

  “Thank you but I can afford this on my own, Tony.” She said. “This is something I want for myself and I’m determined to get it.”

  “Okay,” he shrugged. He loved how much of a go-getter his crush was. “But if you need help, just ask.”

  Being in that particular room wasn’t lost on Krista. Tony deliberately put her in there and she briefly wondered if there were any other surprises that night.

  “And look who’s here!” Tony brought in Pam and Gina to Krista. They immediately jumped on her and began kissing her, causing Krista to laugh.

  “And how are my babies?” Krista talked in a baby voice. “How is Daddy treating my girls, huh?”

  Tony ignored the swelling of his heart as he watched Krista interact with the puppies again. No, he wasn’t going to get caught up again. Not after what she did to him. Not after what she did to his family.

  He was going to ignore the painful heart tugs and go about his business.

  ~~~~~

  “I cannot believe you made me sit through a season of that,” Krista got up and stretched as Tony headed to the kitchen.

  “What? You didn’t think it was funny?” He put away the large bowls that once held chips and popcorn.

  “It was but it wasn’t my cup of tea,” Krista admitted, “but I’m not knocking that you like it.”

  “Hey, if it makes me laugh, I like it.” Tony shrugged. “Hell, I’d laugh at an old man falling down a flight of stairs if it’s done right.”

  “You’re awful,” Krista chuckled.

  “I’m honest.” He corrected. “I say the things no one wants to. It’s my virtue and my vice.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that,” she walked over to the kitchen and briefly watched him. His attire of a white tank top and grey sweatpants did not to tame the uncontrollable lust within her. His body was chiseled, but not too much; a result from a personal trainer and keeping up with the fitness of his brothers.

  She watched him clean a glass as he stared outside his window. She wondered if he was thinking about them, about her, or what she suspected – he was studying the stars. “Remember when you made me watch Cosmos with you, even though I hated science?” She joked.

  “Hey, Neil deGrasse Tyson is that dude, yo!” Tony nodded. “He can break it down to the simplest of terms and everyone will get it. One day, I’ll introduce you to Carl Sagan.”

  “And there you go again with your science and atoms and the universe…” Krista shook her head. Tony loved playing t
he goofball role but those who knew him, knew how intelligent he was. He graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a degree in Business and minor in Communication. He often watched National Geographic just because.

  Behind the Timbs, was a man who was a bonafide nerd.

  He was happy with the role he played with his brothers and friends. If he wanted a lecture, there was Nick. If he wanted business tips, there was Joey. If he wanted romance advice, there was Eli. If he wanted relationship advice, there was Kieran.

  Tony, whether he realized it, was a combination of all the brothers.

  “Why not study the stars? It’s amazing what you can see out there,” he glanced out his kitchen window, “we’re so small in a world that that’s just so huge. But we never realize it because it’s just too big for our scope. You always hear people talk about how there are a billion or so people on Earth but we can’t fathom that because it’s just too big.”

  “Tony D. the Science G.” Krista joked.

  “There you go!” He laughed.

  Krista watched Tony clean up his kitchen and felt her body respond with every movement he made. Strands of dark hair fell over his light brown eyes. His beard had a light scruff to it, as if he didn’t know if he wanted to grow it out or keep it trimmed.

  His arms had tattoos on them but not enough to be considered sleeves. He once joked to her, ‘I’ve been tatted by the best tattoo artists in the world so when I get naked, I’m still wearing designer.’

  They were just friends – if that – and there was a solid reason why Krista was in a guest room, despite what feelings it may have aroused inside her. “I’ve always liked your honesty, even if it annoyed me at times.”

  “I never disrespected you, though.” His baritone voice boomed through the kitchen. He locked eyes with her again as he cleaned another glass. “You were too precious to me.”

  His words were simple, yet heavy. Even when you knew everything about me?” She questioned. “My past isn’t pretty.”

  “Shit, mine ain’t squeaky clean, neither but it’s not about the past but about the present and future,” he casually replied. “Why get hung up on the past when there’s so much beauty and wonder out there.”

  Krista felt a sweeping emotion throughout her body. It felt like every cell was out of alignment within her body and the only organ that functioned was her heart.

  It was typical Tony. Just when she thought she knew him and everything about him, he’d always surprised her. She’d gotten so used to his cornball humor and his ‘aw, shucks’ attitude, she forgot there was a sensual and romantic man inside him.

  The last two years were hard on her. Krista didn’t realize how much she’d depended on Tony for emotional support when he cut her off. Occasionally he paid her bills and groceries, but he’d always been her anchor, her guide.

  He would call her at six in the morning just so he was the first voice she heard that day. He would personally take her home and walk her to her apartment, doing a quick scan throughout to make sure it was safe.

  Then she betrayed him.

  She shouldn’t have gotten involved in whatever was going on between her best friend and his brother. Whatever was their business, was just that. But she did get involved and led the charge.

  Now what?

  They went out to dinner, she was spending the night in his home (albeit a guest room), and there was still no resolution between them. Krista could feel the small, but bubbling tension from Tony; as if he was waiting for her to make a stupid remark so he had a reason to kick her out.

  With a heavy heart and nerves haywired, Krista took a deep breath and spoke. “I’m sorry, Tony. I’m sorry for everything.”

  Six

  “Watching you workout is exhausting to me,” Krista shook her head.

  Tony lifted himself for another pull-up and lightly swung his body from the bar. “It takes a lot of work to be this pretty.”

  “Whatever!” She stuck out her tongue and crossed her legs. She was knee-deep into her Instagram stalking and only looked up when Tony let out an expletive. He’d just finished one set and took a small break before he started another. “Everything okay, honey?”

  “I need some resistance and I’m not getting it,” he lightly complained. He looked around his home gym to find something that would give him the right amount of resistance he craved. His eyes stopped when he found what he was looking for. “You. Come here.”

  Krista briefly looked around and pointed to her chest. Surely, he wasn’t asking her to… “What?”

  “You have the just right amount of resistance I need,” he replied, “I need your help.”

  “Um…” Krista quickly swallowed the bagel bite she slathered with cream cheese and gulped some orange juice. She made her way over to her boyfriend, who glistened with sweat. “…okay, now what?”

  “Get naked,” he suggested and Krista shot him a look. “Yo, if I wanted to fuck you, I would just say it. You’re going to be slippin’ and slidin’ all over the place with just your sweats on. Take them off.”

  Krista eyed Tony hard and tried tor read what his eyes told her. He was serious, not sexual at all. She hoped it was his slick way of trying to get into her pants but it wasn’t. Slightly disappointed and quite aroused, Krista removed her clothing and stood in front of her boyfriend. “Okay, now what?”

  Goddamn it. Tony felt his cock pulsate against the fabric of his sweats and he swallowed hard. Krista’s body was magnificent. Her teardrop breasts stood at attention with nipples so hard they could cut glass. Her taunt stomach led to thick thighs he had the pleasure of experiencing the night before.

  A small patch of hair covered the vee of her sex. It was in the shape of the letter T; a result of a wax job Tony did a few days before. “You know you own this so we might as well make it official,” she said as she suggested it.

  “Tony!”

  Krista’s soft voice brought him out of his fantasizing and he blinked away the memory. He just had her that morning and he was ready to have her again. “Okay, let’s go.” He jumped up and grabbed the bar. “Now climb on me. Grab the bar and wrap your legs around me.” Krista did as she instructed. “Are you good?” He asked and she nodded. “Let’s go.”

  The couple did pull-ups together, kissing after each one. After the tenth one, they took a break. “I wasn’t planning to work out today,” Krista took a swig of water, “had I known, I would’ve brought out proper workout gear instead of my yoga pants and sweats.”

  “You didn’t mind the workout I gave you this morning?” Tony glanced over.

  “That’s different!” Krista blushed. “I was…I was horizontal for the most part.”

  “Well, we can trade places if you want.” He softly suggested. “I don’t mind watching you ride me as you control how much of my dick you can take.”

  “And stop it…” Krista gritted her teeth as he laughed. “Let me shower first. I smell like the funk of forty thousand years.”

  Tony went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. He held her lithe waist and smoothed his hands up and down her mid-section. He reached up and grabbed her breasts, softly pinching the nipples through her shirt. “I can give you a Thriller right now if that’s what you want.”

  Krista felt his hardened cock pressed against her cheeks. “Not fair. You smell like you just worked out. I smell like boonk and Henny.”

  “You smell wonderful,” he peeled off her sweat pants and removed her shirt. He immediately cupped her breasts again and placed a series of soft kisses on her collarbone and neck. He’d kissed her so softly, Krista wasn’t sure if he actually did it.

  Tony gently played with her straightened hair while his fingers were growing impatient. Krista had the body he’d often worshipped, ever since he was a little boy. Now she was finally his. “I want you, Kristabella.”

  Krista shivered. His tongue worked its way from her collarbone to her earlobe, making it hard to resist him. Krista felt the soft contracting of her sex, the
yearning desire growing within her body, and her breath become increasingly sporadic. Tony had turned her into a bonafide sex fiend. “Just a little bit…” she whimpered.

  “Uh-huh,” he stepped back and removed his pants. He walked over to a weightlifting bench and laid down on it. His hardened and thick cock softly bounced in the air, almost beckoning her to come over.

  Krista walked over and straddled Tony, taking all of him at once. “Fuck…” she hissed. Her pussy sucked him in like a vise and fluttered around his cock.

  Tony steadied her waist and looked up at her. Her eyes were closed, head tilted back, and ecstasy glowed from her lips. She looked like a goddess to him at that moment.

  “Take me,” he moaned, slapping her ass. “All of me.”

  Krista held Tony down as she rode him, taking more of him until he was completely buried inside her. He was big, massive, and yet she was able to take him. Her pussy quivered around the length of his cock with each movement as it grew faster and wanton.

  She lost control when the orgasm slowly approached her. Fireworks erupted inside her body as the orgasm seized her body, causing Krista to shake and collapsed on top of him.

  “That’s my girl,” he wrapped his arms around her and thrust hard into her until he reached his climax, pulling out to shoot all over her ass.

  They laid there in silence, covered in sweat and come, only hearing each other breathe and the small humming of the air conditioner. No words needed to be spoken. Instead, they felt everything from each other in just that moment.

  ~~~~~

  Krista watched Tony workout in his gym and contemplated if she should enter it. Headphones were snugly plugged into his ears and his eyes had a fiery determination to them.

  She’d seen that look before; Tony was pissed.