Momentum

by Cassandra Carr

  He’d stepped to the minibar, but turned around. “Would you prefer bubbles or no bubbles?”

  “Bubbles? Huh?”

  Marco couldn’t stop the smile creeping up on his face. “In your water.”

  “Oh! No bubbles, please.” She made a face and he squatted down with his back to her to reach into the minibar’s fridge and also to cover his now fully formed grin. He felt a rush of warmth in his chest, but before he could analyze what it might be, it was gone. He stood and grabbed a glass from the small setup at the counter and brought both it and her bottled water over to her before returning with a tiny bottle of red wine.

  Natalie jerked her head toward it. “Why do they bother?”

  “Bother?” Marco looked down at the bottle in his hand. “Bother with what?”

  “It’s so small.”

  “Oh, that,” he replied, chuckling. “Yes, it is funny to see how small everything is in a minibar.”

  “I guess that’s why it’s called mini, huh?”

  “Yes, I suppose so.” He opened the wine and poured the whole of it into his glass before tapping the glass gently to hers. “To our first night together.” With a wink that made Natalie blush again, he took a sip of his wine and she took a much larger gulp of her water.

  “Do you have to do that?”

  “Do what?” Playing dumb with Natalie was more fun than he’d had in ages.

  “Turn on the Italian charm.”

  “I am not turning it on, cara. It’s how I naturally am.”

  She chuckled, shaking her head, and the urge to kiss her nearly flattened him. “I bet.”

  Marco cleared his throat and willed his dick to behave. “Would you like me to make you a bath?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t. I mean, I’ll just do it myself. You’ve already done too much. Way too much.”

  “I enjoy doing nice things for you.”

  “Yeah, well…” Her sentence trailed off and Marco decided to leave it for the moment.

  “All right then. Do you mind if I watch a little television?”

  “Of course not. It’s your hotel room.”

  “It is both of ours.”

  “Um, okay.” She shot up and disappeared into the bedroom and he heard a little sound of distress.

  “Are you all right, cara?”

  “Fine.” Now he heard her low voice littered with an impressive number of swear words and his eyebrows shot up. Then he remembered she’d grown up on a ranch. No doubt the men around her did not respect a woman like he’d been taught to. His madre would have his head if she ever heard him using such language around a woman.

  She came out of the bedroom with a bundle of clothes and toiletries under her arm, including one of the fluffy hotel bathrobes, and he had to fight a smile. He would’ve given blood to be a fly on the wall as she turned on the taps and started humming to herself as she presumably undressed and got in the tub.

  With his thoughts squarely in the bathroom, he ran the heel of his hand absentmindedly over his raging erection and then considered whether or not he’d have enough time to take care of things himself before her bath was over. But there was only one bathroom in the place and he didn’t want to be caught lying in bed with his hand on his dick, so instead he ruthlessly tamped down his arousal and tried to concentrate on the movie he was watching. Hopefully his hard-on would go away and he wouldn’t have to spend the entire night with a stiff, aching cock.

  When it became obvious he wouldn’t be able to keep his attention on the movie, he gave up and went into the bedroom. Marco left his boxers on and pulled on a t-shirt in deference to any sense of modesty that Natalie felt and climbed into one of the beds, pulling the comforter to his waist. He flicked on the television in there and watched the news, making note of the weather since he and his brother had a long drive ahead of them tomorrow to reach the next event.

  After what seemed like an eternity of a looping reel in his head of her naked, wet body in the bathtub, Natalie entered the bedroom area. She’d piled her hair up on top of her head and was wearing a ratty pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Marco was pretty sure she was braless since he could easily see the outline of her plump tits and he hoped he wouldn’t tent the sheet folded over his lap.

  “Did you have a nice bath?”

  Natalie smiled and Marco’s chest seized for a few seconds until the effect dimmed and he once again felt like himself.

  “It was heavenly, thank you.”

  “I’m glad you were able to enjoy it. Very often I don’t take advantage of the nice things in these hotel suites.”

  Natalie looked around her. “If that’s the case, why don’t you guys stay in a cheaper place? With an entire season of travel places such as this must ratchet up your costs significantly.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Marco replied, shrugging. “It’s not my money anyway.”

  “But don’t you feel bad you’re wasting it?”

  “Not when I’m able to offer a Jacuzzi to a beautiful woman.” He grinned and Natalie’s face flamed. For a few seconds he allowed himself to fantasize that’s what she looked like when she came and he had to suppress the groan trying its damnedest to work its way free.

  Natalie wagged a finger at him. “I thought you said you were going to behave.”

  “Who’s not behaving?”

  “You’re something else. But I really do need to get to bed. I don’t have anyone to share the driving with tomorrow.”

  “Yes, you need your rest, cara.”

  With a little awkward wave Natalie climbed into bed and Marco instantly regretted it wasn’t his.

  Someday soon, I hope.

  * * * * *

  Natalie jerked awake when sunlight hit her face, warming it. She blinked and looked around.

  Where the hell am—

  Her thought was interrupted when it all came flooding back—meeting Marco, having dinner, him coming back to her motel room and then bringing her here.

  Oh God. Why did I let him into my room?

  A wave of embarrassment made her feel hot all over and she pressed her eyes closed, hoping it was a dream. But when she opened them again, she was still in Marco’s hotel room. She cocked her head and thought she heard him singing in the shower. The next thought that tumbled into her sleep-induced haze was run. If Natalie played her cards right she could be up, dressed and out the door within a few minutes.

  But Marco had been so sweet, letting her stay here and keeping to his promise not to seduce her—for the most part—that she didn’t want to make him think she was ungrateful by leaving. She should at least stay to thank him. After that, she would get out of his way so he’d feel free to leave whenever he wanted to. Scrambling out of bed, she reached for the first clothes she could fish out of her suitcase and pulled them on, sending wary glances toward the bathroom door to make sure Marco wouldn’t arrive on the scene while she was still dressing. It seemed as if it wouldn’t be right to lock the door of the bedroom in the hotel room he’d paid for.

  Marco exited the bathroom in a rush of steam and she couldn’t help the smirk that was fighting to take over her face. He spotted her and smiled. He’d pulled a towel around his hips, and it looked to be hanging on for dear life. Natalie had never wanted to yank a towel away from someone so badly before.

  Her eyes were drawn to his chest and abs. Neither was overly cut, but there was enough definition to show that the man worked out. There was no way you could be a successful bull rider if you didn’t. Not yet willing to meet his eyes, instead she made the trip back down his body, past the sizable bulge that no thin cotton towel could conceal, down his legs sprinkled with a generous amount of black hair, all the way to his bare feet. Why were bare feet on a man suddenly so sexy?

  “Good morning, cara.” Natalie jumped and met his gaze finally. He did his own tour of her body, frowning the slightest bit. What was his problem? It was doubtful he didn’t like what he saw based on his actions the night before.

  Before she could ask there was a
knock. Marco turned back toward it and she was treated to a great view of his ass as he walked into the foyer area to answer the door. Dragging her gaze away from those perfectly rounded glutes, she took in the musculature of his back, which shifted as he opened the door and had a brief conversation with whoever was outside. Belatedly she realized she shouldn’t be standing somewhere visible in case he didn’t want people to know she was there, and scooted back into the bedroom.

  A moment later the door closed. She didn’t hear any voices, so she peeked out and then sniffed the air when she saw him wheeling what she presumed was a room service cart to the area by the coffee table in the living room. He spotted her and held up one arm, beckoning her closer with a crook of a finger. Why did that make her want to do his bidding? She was losing her mind if she thought feet and hands were sexy on a guy.

  “Come and eat.”

  As she came out of the bedroom, she assessed the cart. In a lame attempt to quell her raging hormones, she joked, “Is the entire NBT going to be here?”

  He laughed and actually looked a little sheepish. “I wasn’t sure what you would prefer.”

  “Why didn’t you just wake me and ask?”

  “You looked too peaceful to wake, all curled up and happy.”

  “So instead you ordered what must be hundreds of dollars in food?”

  Marco shrugged. “Eat whatever you want and leave the rest.” He began to walk into the bedroom, but stopped next to her. Her nostrils were now assailed by the combination of the delicious smells from breakfast and a hint of whatever soap Marco used. For some reason, that was a potent combination. She licked her suddenly dry lips and his gaze tracked the movement. Natalie shivered as the room around her seemed to pulse with sexual tension. It was definitely time to backtrack before she did something she’d regret.

  Pivoting, she stepped behind a wing chair, clutching the top of it in both hands to steady herself. Marco’s eyes narrowed as she took another step, putting even more distance between the two of them. He looked as if he might chase her, but then he shook his head and disappeared into the bedroom. Natalie let out a breath.

  That had been close. Too close. When he’d been standing right beside her and she’d known he wasn’t wearing a stitch underneath the small bath towel her sex had heated and now she clamped her thighs together to assuage the tingling. She couldn’t deny that at that moment she’d wanted Marco to kiss her, to take ownership of her mouth. In her own head her arms had already been halfway around his neck before she’d come to her senses and stepped away.

  She needed to get away from the man, but couldn’t in good conscience leave all the food sitting there uneaten, so she sat and began to lift the shiny silver plate covers, revealing pancakes, eggs, oatmeal, a whole tray of muffins and pastries, and Eggs Benedict. Her mouth watered. It all looked so good, but she absolutely adored Eggs Benedict. She was about to reach for it when she stopped. What if Marco had ordered that for himself? Natalie was still weighing what to do when Marco returned to the living room, dressed in a bright-blue button-down that set off his olive skin and a pair of black jeans.

  “You are not eating. Is the food not to your liking?”

  “Oh, no,” she hastened to reassure him. “But I didn’t want to eat something you were looking forward to.”

  imitation of sex that ratcheted up her need even higher.

  Natalie swayed as his mouth left hers and latched on to her frantic pulse point. When he bit down gently she couldn’t stop the groan that worked free from deep inside Marco grinned. “I don’t eat breakfast, cara. Coffee is fine for me, so eat whatever looks good.”

  Her mouth fell open and she was sure she looked like a total idiot, but she couldn’t help it. “You don’t even eat breakfast and you ordered all this food?”

  Marco looked at the food on the tray. “You have a long drive. I wanted you to have something you would like to start out the day. Why is that bad?”

  “Because.” She gestured toward the food. “You’re wasting food and you’re wasting money.”

  He gave another negligent shrug. “Mio padre won’t even notice.” How could he have such a cavalier attitude about money, especially when it wasn’t even his money?

  “That doesn’t mean you should waste his money.”

  Marco approached her and touched her arm. “Cara, what is the matter?”

  Natalie felt the hot blush travel from her chest into her face. “I just…” She stopped and started again. “You don’t know how lucky you are to have parents who are still around to love you and take care of you.”

  Marco snorted. “Lucky? I am lucky to have a padre who practically has a second job nagging me about my duty to my family as the oldest son?”

  “At least you have a father, and one who’s loaded at that.”

  “I don’t care about his money.”

  “It’s paying for you to be over here, isn’t it?” Natalie knew she had no right to pry, but Marco’s attitude toward his family made her see red and she couldn’t stop herself. “So what is this bull riding thing to you? One big, long joyride?” Picking up the Eggs Benedict, she took a large bite and swiped her hand over the corner of her mouth before locating a napkin and repeating the motion.

  “It is what it is,” he answered, and turned away to pour a cup of coffee. Holding up the pot, he asked, “Do you want some?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “There’s orange juice and tea on the tray if you’d prefer one of those.”

  “Of course there is,” she murmured and then took another bite of her breakfast. Eyeing the various plates, she wondered what she could fit into her belly in an expeditious manner so she could leave as soon as possible. His back was to her again and it was obvious he wanted her gone. Marco walked into the bedroom without another word, taking his coffee with him, and Natalie grabbed her purse, glad she’d decided to use one so large. She had an empty plastic grocery bag inside and she dumped the pancakes and eggs into it and then tied it closed.

  After grabbing a couple of the cloth napkins, she wrapped the remainder of her Eggs Benedict in one and the pastries into another. She felt guilty stealing the napkins, but she just couldn’t let all this good food go to waste, especially not when she was watching every dime.

  She shoved everything into her purse and then grabbed the suitcase she’d wheeled next to the door to the bedroom and was almost out the door when a hand shot out, blocking her exit. Natalie started, unable to believe she hadn’t even noticed him behind her in her haste to flee.

  Marco leaned into her, and she shuddered. “Where are you going?” His Italian accent wrapped around her as if it were the finest silk, and she had to take a couple of breaths before she could answer. All that did was bring that pure masculine smell to her nostrils again. Closing her eyes, she prayed for fortitude.

  “I-I wanted to get out of your way,” she stammered.

  “So you thought you would just leave without even saying goodbye?” With his other hand, he turned her to face him, pushing into her personal space even more until her breasts brushed his chest. “That’s not very nice.” He lowered his head and ran the very tip of his tongue along her jaw to her ear, where he whispered, “You will make me think you don’t like me, when it is obvious from your eyes and actions that you do.”

  “I-I don’t like you.” He chuckled and she cursed the needy tone of her voice. “I mean, I appreciate you buying me dinner last night and letting me stay here, but that’s it.”

  “Are you sure about that? Because you are trembling, cara.”

  “I—”

  “I know. You aren’t interested in me that way. But I don’t believe you. Let’s have a test. If you don’t like me you won’t respond to my kiss.” He swooped in, covering her lips with his, and she gasped. Marco took the opportunity to press his tongue into her mouth. She’d never been a big fan of coffee but his taste was positively intoxicating and she knew she’d lost the battle as she moaned and leaned into him.

  M
arco moved even closer, pressing her against the door and letting her feel his unmistakable arousal. After another bone-melting kiss he pulled away and she found herself demanding, “Don’t stop.”

  His eyes flared and his accent thickened as he said, “I never want to stop kissing you, tesora. Ah, my treasure.” Plunging his hands into her hair, he tilted her head and came at her again. Natalie’s breasts tightened and she had to force herself to breathe as his tongue moved in and out of her mouth in an her. His hands moved down to cup her ass and lift her pelvis to fit it to his groin. “Tell me you want me,” he got out around clenched teeth as he stared at her, blatant awareness flashing in his eyes.

  She couldn’t lie. Not after the way she’d returned his kiss, just as he’d said she would, damn him. “I want you.”

  He growled and then pulled back to look at what was obviously an expensive watch. “Merda!”

  She didn’t know what that meant, but could take a pretty good guess. “What?”

  “We need to check out and get on the road. I don’t want to leave you.”

  Reality came crashing down and Natalie gently pushed him away. “Yes, we both need to go.” Clearing her throat, she said, “Thank you for letting me stay here last night. It was much better than where I was.” Turning, she yanked the door open, but he slapped his hand against it once more. “Marco—”

  “Come see me after the event ends tonight.”

  “I—”

  “Cara…” Despite the endearment there was a definite air of foreboding in his tone.

  “Please, Marco, let me go.”

  She watched as he instantly withdrew his hand and straightened, backing away from her.

  “I would never hurt you or make you do something that you’re uncomfortable with.”

  “I know.” She slipped out the door before she did something utterly foolish, like dive for his pants.

  Once in her car she rested her head on her steering wheel. What the hell was she going to do now?

  Chapter Three

  Marco watched as Natalie left. He couldn’t understand what happened. One moment she had been all soft and pliant, panting for more of his kisses, and the next she’d left him in the dust. He hadn’t felt this out of sorts since that time last season a bull named Crush had done his best to live up to his name. Rubbing absentmindedly at the area just below his ribs where the beast’s hoof had landed, Marco turned and was making the short journey back to the bedroom to pack when he stopped dead.