Nick dragged Tara’s panties down her legs. “Step out.” She did, and he tossed the blue lace aside. He pressed his thumb back to her clit. This wasn’t the best angle, but with her lips parted in a silent moan, he didn’t care.
She bucked against him, voice growing louder with each thrust. “I want your fingers inside me again.”
He complied, thrusting inside her. She lifted her skirt and stroked her clit as he finger fucked her. Her expression was incredible. The flush on her cheeks her abandon when she came, clenching around and soaking his hand.
She was moaning, but it was the screams he’d promised to elicit. He teased her back entrance with his free hand. She gasped in surprise, but didn’t pull away. The extra touch pushed the right buttons. She threw her head back, and a delicious scream of pleasure tore from her throat.
Nick eased away as her frantic grinding slowed. She sank to her knees, focusing her gaze on his.
“Your turn.” Her voice was breathy with a hint of rawness. She kissed down his chest, then grabbed his zipper between her teeth to tug it down.
Fucking hell, that was hot.
She gripped his shaft, her fingers still slick from playing with herself, and freed him. God, that felt incredible. It got better when she dragged her tongue over the head of his cock. She took him in her mouth, and he bucked at the wet warmth.
Nathan had stopped jerking off. Did he finish? Nick didn’t have the focus to look for hints of climax. He brushed Tara’s hair from her face with his clean hand. Watching her suck and lick was as good as feeling it. Especially with her exposed ass up in the air.
Nathan slid from his seat and crawled up behind her. He fisted his cock, then slid inside her.
That was volcanic. Getting sucked off by an incredible woman while another man fucked her from behind.
Nick teetered on the edge of orgasm. Tara’s groans reverberated against his skin. She slowed in her sucking, and another delightful cry said she was coming again. So was Nathan, from the sound of his grunts, and the way he pounded against her.
Nick enjoyed every second of the show.
Tara resumed licking him with vigor, stroking fast and hard, playing with his balls.
He knotted his fingers in her hair, trying to tug her away. “I’m close.”
“Good.” The word was muffled. She didn’t let up.
He couldn’t hold back anymore. Climax tore through him, and he squirted in her mouth.
He was surprised when she swallowed, then licked him clean. He was double stunned when she rose and crushed her mouth to his.
It didn’t matter. He’d taste himself on her lips for a kiss like this. For memories like these.
He was vaguely aware of everyone shedding the rest of their clothes and the three of them stumbling into the bedroom, to collapse in a pile of people on the bed.
Nick let silence settle in, and it took a few minutes for everyone’s breathing to return to normal.
“You never answered my question earlier,” he said softly.
Tara gave a light laugh. “You asked a lot of questions.”
“At least she didn’t make up answers.” Nathan stretched out on the mattress.
Nick couldn’t help but enjoy the view. He’d never been drawn to the naked male form before. Not outside of the few minutes of porn it took to get off.
Tara rested her head on Nathan’s chest. “I like making up answers.” She tugged Nick closer.
He rolled onto his side, pressing into her. “I’m not complaining about anything you’ve done so far.”
“Says the guy who just got his dick sucked by the most beautiful woman in the world,” Nathan teased.
Nick grinned. “I wasn’t complaining before that, but it didn’t hurt.”
“That’s because I didn’t use my teeth.” Tara winked.
This was ridiculous and almost hard to follow. Nick didn’t mind. “Touché.”
“What question didn’t I answer?” There was a lazy drawl to Tara’s voice, as though she wasn’t working as hard to hide her native language. Consonants rolled off her tongue seductively.
This was one hell of a way to do a one-night stand. “Where do I absolutely need to visit while I’m in Italy?”
Nathan lifted his head enough to meet Nick’s gaze. “Besides our bedroom?”
“It really doesn’t get better than this.” As Tara spoke, she drew casual lines over Nick’s thigh with her nails.
“Not that I mind the exclusive, invitation only destination, but I thought I’d see more of the country, too.” Though, right now Nick wouldn’t complain about spending all his free time up here. That was reckless. Right now, he didn’t care.
“What cities do you want to see?” Tara asked. “Tell me what’s on your list, and I’ll drill down from there.”
“Vatican City. Venice. I’d love to ride in a gondola.” Though, Nick’s knowledge of the country was limited to what he’d seen on TV and in movies. “And any place I’m too American to know I need to ask about.”
“You have to check out the classic architecture, in any city.” Awe and reverence filled Nathan’s voice. “Unlike back home, where nothing is older than a couple hundred of years, and that’s rare, there’s so much history here.”
Nick was sold. “Give me directions, and I’ll go.
Tara looked at Nathan. “He doesn’t understand.”
“Getting directions?” Nick wasn’t sure what she meant.
“Directions spoil the fun,” Nathan said. “You go to explore. If I tell you where to go, you’re not exploring.”
Nick still didn’t understand. “You’re suggesting I wander Venice with no destination in mind?”
Nathan nodded.
“Assume I only have a day or two.” Nick struggled with the right way to phrase his request. “How do I know I won’t miss the amazing sights?”
“It’s all amazing,” Nathan said.
Tara laughed and shook her head. “It’s really not. There are bad parts of town, like anywhere. I’ll give you a hotel name, if you promise to explore from there.”
That still sounded a little vague, but Nick had an easier time wrapping his head around a starting point. “All right.”
“He said begrudgingly.” Tara laughed.
“Hey. I’m trusting you with my spontaneity.” Nick didn’t give himself that kind of leeway. “After tonight, I’m looking forward to more of the same.” He paused and turned the words over in his head. Did that come out wrong?
Not if it meant a round two. Heat raced over him, focused on those spots where Tara absentmindedly teased his skin.
Tara shifted her weight and pressed her hip against his semi-hard shaft. “You don’t have to wait for another night, if you’re looking for more of that.”
“Are you trying to start something?” Nathan’s warning fell flat, carried on his low growl.
Tara twisted her face in thought. “I’m trying to continue something. What can I say? All this talk about ancient architecture turns me on.”
“Fucking in ancient architecture also turns her on,” Nathan offered.
That was the tour Nick wanted. “Where do I need to touch, fondle, or pinch, to get on that?”
Tara traced a finger up his chest, then pressed her palm flat and pushed him onto his back. She straddled his legs. “This building was erected during the Renaissance.”
“Erected.” Nathan snickered.
Nick rolled his eyes, but he was grinning.
“Let’s see what else we can erect.” Tara rocked against his cock. She was as slick as he was hard.
Nick gripped her hips. “Pretty sure we’re already past that point.”
Tara raised herself, and he fisted his shaft. When she dropped onto him, impaling herself, he groaned at the tight, wet grip.
A glance to the side said Nathan was watching again. Stroking himself, eyes wide and hungry.
Nick wasn’t in the mood to tease and play this time. He pounded hard inside Tara. It hadn’t been lon
g since he got off, so he expected this to be more about pleasuring her.
But rocking inside her, watching her pale body as she rode him, gliding his hands up her chest to cup her breasts, orgasm rushed up quickly.
He built to a frantic pace, then dropped his thumb to her clit. He used her expression and the tasty sounds she made to gauge how close she was.
When she came, she gripped him hard, milking him and pushing him over the edge.
Nick came inside her, grinding and grunting long after he was spent. He was caught up in the moment. In Tara.
Fuck, this was addictive.
NATHAN LOVED THE RAIN. The smell of damp ground. The patter on the roof.
Being tangled up with Tara, and Nick on her other side, while the storm encased the city, was officially one of his favorite ways to wake up.
A cold drop landed on Nathan’s forehead, and he cringed. He wiped it the water away. Why was his face wet?
He turned toward the ceiling to see a large damp spot above the bed. “Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?” Sleep lined Nick’s voice.
Tara mumbled, then her eyes flew open. “Why is my head wet?”
“Roof’s leaking.” Nathan nodded up.
“Fuck.” She sat straight up. “We just had that replaced.”
“I know.” Nathan was already out of bed and yanking on a pair of shorts. He needed something for the drip. A bowl. Anything until they could plan next steps.
A twinge echoed in his thoughts that he wouldn’t get to enjoy the others getting up. Dressing. He padded into the kitchen, and slipped on a puddle in the middle of the tile. He caught himself before he fell. “God damn it,” he shouted. “There are two more in here.”
He grabbed a stack of mixing bowls from the cabinet. He laid them out as he did a circuit of the apartment, but there weren’t enough. Buckets. Did they have any? They had a few small plastic tubs downstairs that they used to keep ink bottles in.
Tara was in the kitchen, mopping up the floor.
“How can I help?” Nick asked.
Nathan gestured. “Towels are in the closet by the bathroom. Old ones are on the top shelves. Lay them down wherever we need them.” He sprinted down to the main floor as soon as he was done talking, grabbed what he could find, and ran back upstairs.
The whole thing only took a few minutes, but it was more effective at waking him up than coffee.
“I’m going to put on different clothes,” Tara said.
Nathan focused on her for the first time since waking up. She’d yanked on Nick’s shirt, and only done up a few buttons. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
“It was what I grabbed.” She sounded uncharacteristically shy. Nathan dragged his gaze from the way the damp button-down clung to all her curves.
“You wear it better than I do.” Nick was in his slacks, his chest and feet bare.
Nathan looked her over again, enjoying the flush of pink that crept up her chest to her cheeks. “He’s right. You do. Go get dressed.”
There was an exaggerated sway to her hips as she strolled into the bedroom.
“Great way to wake up.” Nick’s sarcasm was light.
Nathan looked over in time to see him pull his attention from doorway Tara just walked through.
Nick reached for a retort. The jealousy from last night was gone. He’d had fun, and would freely admit it was hot watching Tara and Nick together.
“No.” Tara’s shout jarred him
He was sprinting toward the noise before he finished registering her dismay.
“It’s ruined.” She nodded at her desk. The sketch she’d done the other day was a smear of pastels and disintegrated paper. The amount of water on antique roll-top had probably destroyed the furniture as well.
Fury spilled through Nathan. “I’m going to kill those fucking contractors.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TARA HOVERED ON THE edge between screaming again and bursting into tears. Why not do both? The artwork could be replaced—she’d already drawn it twice. The desk had been in the family for nearly two-hundred years. Her great, great, great grandfather built it. And it was sitting with two legs in half an inch of water, and more rain soaking into hinges and spots where the stain had faded over time.
Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and kissed the back of her head. “I’m sorry, Bella.”
“Let me dry it off as much as possible. I think most of the damage will be superficial.” Nick was already mopping the top down with one of the towels he’d grabbed. “We need to get the water out of here, too.”
Thank Christ for Nick’s cool head. This wasn’t the time to freak out. When she called the contractor to find out why the fuck her roof was leaking, would be a better time for letting loose. “Thank you. Both of you. I’m going to take a quick shower.”
“Stand under the drip in the living room, and you’re set,” Nathan teased.
She forced a chuckle. “I’m going for the hot water. I’ll save some for you.” She kissed him on the cheek, nodded at Nick, then grabbed some clothes, and walked into the bathroom.
So much for basking in the morning-after glow of incredible sex. She wasn’t even in the mood to draw out her shower by getting off to replays of the better moments.
Clean and dressed, but no less furious, she rejoined the guys. Nick had pulled on his undershirt. Nathan only wore a pair of sweatshorts.
She would have loved to spend the morning in bed with them.
“I can temporarily patch this,” Nick said. “If one of you points me toward a hardware store.”
“Were you a roofer in a former life?” Nathan’s teasing was strained.
“No. But my father was a contractor. I worked for him every summer once I was old enough. We don’t have any houses this old in Salt Lake, but we did do some restoration work on older buildings. With the right supplies, I can make sure the leaks are stopped, without doing more damage, until you can get a professional in here.”
“Are you serious?” Tara hadn’t expected any good news this morning. “That would be incredible. Don’t you have places to be?”
“Here. You’re my schedule, and everyone back home is still asleep, so they won’t be looking for me for a few hours. I just need to change into more appropriate work clothes.” Nick gestured down.
She looked at Nathan. “We’re in the black on live streaming, so we can miss a day of competition shooting,” Tara said. The damage meant they’d have to reschedule their afternoon appointments. Fortunately, it was only two people. She was trying hard to find some good news in this situation.
Nathan nodded. “I can head back to Nick’s hotel with him, then show him the hardware store, while you make phone calls.”
“Will do.” Her reaching out to people made more sense, especially for yelling at the roofer. She didn’t want there to be any language barrier or misunderstanding when she threatened to sue him from here to eternity, and told him he’d never do restoration work in this town again.
Nathan left to get ready, and Tara turned to Nick. “I really appreciate this.”
“It’s not a big deal. Rather, it’s going to take some work, and you two have to help, but I don’t mind.”
“How am I going to repay you?” It was a sincere question, but also a leading one. Money wasn’t an issue. But the nagging realist inside expected him to ask for her to put in another good word with Antonio, or play it up for one more round of sex. Which she was up for, but not in exchange for work.
“You don’t owe me anything.” His sincerity caught her off-guard.
She beat back her inner voice with a giant take that stick. “I’ll probably thank you several more times before the day is over.” She stepped in and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“I won’t complain about that.”
Nathan joined them again, and he and Nick took off.
Tara composed herself, forcing ice and venom through her veins, then dialed the roofer.
Stefano answered—he’d been her contact and the primary installer last time—and she summoned her coolest, sweetest voice.
“This is Tara Bianchi. You installed a roof for me, and it’s leaking now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I can have someone out there in two weeks to give you a new estimate.” Stefano’s tone was sharp and his words hurried.
She clenched her jaw. “That’s not going to work for me. The work is under warranty, and it’s leaking right now, not in two weeks.”
“We don’t offer warranties on renovations that are historically accurate.”
Total bullshit. She wouldn’t have hired them if that were the case. “I have paperwork that says otherwise.”
“No, miss, you don’t. If you’ll check your receipt and contract again, you’ll see that we don’t offer that.”
She didn’t know if the condescension in his voice was because she was female, or asking for an immediate response. She didn’t care for it either way. “I know my business, and I understand contracts. Have you ever worked with the Bianchi’s before, Stefano? And would you like to work with us again in the future?” She hated using her family’s name as leverage.
The long pause that greeted her carried a decent amount of satisfaction.
“You can sue my pants off, and take everything I own.” The edge in his voice was sharp and heavy now. “It won’t change the fact that I don’t have anyone available for two weeks.”
She let her growl slip out. “I understand. I’ll be certain to tell our family friends what my experience has been like, working with you.”
She disconnected before he had a chance to respond. Let him stew on that for a while. He was supposed to be one of the best renovators in Milan. One word to her mother, and his reputation would be ruined.
That should fill Tara with immense satisfaction. But it didn’t fix her leaking roof, and she didn’t know who else to call.
NICK HAD GONE UP ON the roof of Tara and Nathan’s building long enough to confirm they had stone tiles, and to get an idea of how much area there was to cover.
While he was changing, he dictated a list of supplies to his phone.
Beauty Claimed Page 8
