Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
M ary walked out of his kitchen with a plate of cookies and set it down in front of him. Dessert, she announced with a smug expression.
Anginetti? I haven t had these since my nonna died.
Mine used to make them too. I m so thankful I got her recipe before she passed.
And yet you ve never been to Italy? His gaze fell on the Venetian glass vase on his kitchen island. It was so showy on its own he never bothered to fill it with flowers.
No. She looked away.
I ll take you. When the Richardson wedding is done. Where had that come from? He never took dates on his trips. He preferred to sample the local offerings. He had plenty of memories of curtains dancing in soft Tuscan breezes as moonlight glimmered on the olive skin of stunning women who laughed at his rudimentary Italian. It was like collecting souvenirs without having to find a place to put them when he returned home.
Why did the thought of taking Mary to Italy, of showing her his favorite places, make waking up alone in a beam of Italian sunlight on rumpled sheets seem lonely and pathetic?
Her incandescent smile fell. I couldn t leave my work that long. Or my brothers.
They re grown men. They should be taking care of you. Then, under his breath, he added, I know I would.
He had to shake this off. None of it—inviting Mary to Italy, being disappointed when she refused, that fluttery feeling in his chest—was like him.
He picked up a cookie and stuffed it into his mouth. Sweet almond burst on his tongue and rocketed him back thirty years to the warmth and security of his nonna s cramped kitchen.
You like it? Mary asked. I know you don t like anise, so I used?—
He gripped her wrist and pulled her down into his lap. He kissed her hard, pushing his tongue and the taste of almond into her mouth.
She sagged against him, tangling her fingers into his hair. He didn t let her go until they were both breathless. That was all this was. Sex hormones were fucking him up. He needed her body. He shifted into a familiar gear.
The cookies are delicious. But I have something else in mind for the next part of the evening. Smirking, he reached for the tiny shopping bag he d retrieved from the sideboard while she was in the kitchen. He offered it to her.
Somehow, I think I m going to wish I d skipped dessert when I put this on. She reached into the bag and pulled out the pale pink silk nightie so light he d had to check it was still nestled into its bed of tissue paper. Her lips parted as the silk flowed over her hands. I don t think I ve ever felt anything this soft before.
He swallowed. Put it on for me?
She stared at it for a moment. Okay. Have another cookie while I go change.
I think I want something else for dessert. We can have the rest of the anginetti for breakfast.
Goosebumps arose on her skin. Good.
Come on, he said. You can change in my bathroom.
Taking her hand, he led her down the hall to his bedroom. As they passed the giant platform bed, she tugged him to a stop. But she wasn t looking at the bed.
She tipped her chin at the pair of oversize cognac leather chairs in the sitting area next to the window and its view of the Strip. Nice chairs.
Thanks. Though I ve got something I think you ll like even more.
I ve seen what you ve got, she said. And I like it a lot.
Like it heard her praise, his dick stirred proudly in his pants. But he wanted to show off first. He flung open the doors to his bathroom and led her inside.
He only ever used the toilet, the shower, and one sink, but even to his jaded eyes, the bathroom was impressive. White marble gleamed against dark walnut cabinetry. The designer had added a few soft elements, like a basket of bath salts next to the clawfoot tub. Each week, his housekeeper dutifully dusted them off.
Whoa. This is nicer than the spa downstairs. Is the floor heated? She wiggled her bare toes on the tile.
It is. And I wouldn t call it nicer. The same designer created it.
She trailed her hand over the heated towel rack. Maybe I don t need the lingerie. We could just get naked in here.
I d like you to try it on. His throat constricted, and he had to swallow again. For me.
All right. She set the slip on the counter and turned her back to him. Unzip me?
He stepped up behind her and set his fingers on the zipper of her sundress. As he peeled it down, the sides gaped open, revealing a black bra against tan skin. A matching pair of panties peeked out from the bottom of the zipper. Starting at the back clasp of her bra, he traced a finger down her spine. It s like unwrapping a gift, he said, awed.
She turned, clutching the dress to her chest. That can t be the first time you ve helped someone with a zipper.
It s the first time I ve unzipped you. His feelings for her were unlike anything he d felt for any other woman.
A shy smile curled her lips. Give me a minute. I ll meet you out there.
He dropped a light kiss on her lips. All right.
For a moment, he wished his bedroom weren t so utilitarian. That there was some softness to it to make her feel at home. She d miss her tiny, squashy furniture and floral prints. There were exactly two decorative pillows on his bed, both made of a stiff, unyielding black canvas. He tossed them to the floor.
Actually…
He picked them up and stacked them next to the bed. They d make a good cushion against the bamboo floor when he flipped up the hem of her slip. His knees weren t as young as they used to be.
The door opened, and he turned. Mary leaned against the doorway. One hand smoothed over her hip, and the other fluttered self-consciously somewhere around her midsection. Thin shoulder straps held up the pale silk garment. The lace at the neckline framed her gorgeous tits, and the rest of it flowed smoothly down to the tops of her thighs. You got the size right.
Hell yeah, he had. Fortunately, the salesclerk had a similar build. She told me which one to get.
She pushed off the doorway and walked into the room. She glanced at the bed.
Sit on the edge. He prowled toward her, meeting her at the foot of the bed.
I don t think so. I want to thank you properly for the tablet and the spa treatments and dinner. And this fabulous nightie. She twirled, and the skirt flared out, giving him a tantalizing flash of skin.
He licked his lips. I was promised dessert.
You ll get —she curled her fingers into the waistband of his pants and tugged him closer— what I serve you. She unbuckled his belt, loosened the fasteners on his pants, and unzipped them. Instead of letting them drop to the floor, she followed them down until she kneeled at his feet. Step out.
Gazing into her beautiful face, tilted up toward him, her mouth so close to his dick, he obeyed. While she tossed his pants aside, he tugged off his socks. His heart thudded in his chest as he unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, then reached for his top button.
She rose and put her hand over his. I ve got it. Carefully, she unbuttoned the top button and placed a kiss at his throat. Then she moved to the next button. After loosening each button, she kissed his skin. His breastbone. His stomach. By the time she reached the lowest button, the one that covered his boxer briefs and his straining erection, he was holding his breath, lightheaded with anticipation.
She pushed his shirt off his shoulders and let it flutter to the floor.
She kneeled again and hooked her fingers into the waistband of his underwear. Slowly, she rolled the garment over him and off. He started breathing again when his dick sprang free.
He hissed when she licked the tip. Okay? she asked.
Fuck, yes. Feels amazing. There are pillows. For your knees.
I won t be here that long. I just wanted to get you a little… She closed her lips over his head, swirled her tongue around him, then popped off with a sucking sound. Wet.
He let loose a string of curse words. Anything to keep from going off right then. She d be upset if he spoiled her new lingerie.
Like she read the thought on his face, she said, You keep telling me I need to relax. But I think you need it even more than I do. Go sit in the chair.
What? I?—
Sit.
He didn t know what he d been about to say. Probably something to wrest back control of the situation. Being bossed around and not knowing what would happen next made sweat pop along his hairline.
But this was how he d get what he wanted, which was to sink into Mary s glorious pussy, so he sat. The soft leather creaked under his naked ass.
Condoms? she asked.
In the bedside table on the left.
He watched the silk shift across her ass as she walked to the table and slid open the drawer. Mind if I use your lube, too?
Oh, fuck. I don t mind.
She carried the tube and the condom to the side table next to him. She squeezed a dollop of liquid onto her finger and reached between her legs.
He grasped the skirt of her slip and raised it to watch her smooth the lube over her labia, then along her slit. Her breath caught when she touched her swollen clit, but then she moved her hand away to press a finger inside herself. He wanted to do it all for her, slick her up and get her ready for him, but all he could do was watch as she slid her fingers across her skin. When he tore his gaze away, he saw the lines of stress around her eyes had disappeared.
Now you. She gripped his dick with her slippery hand and pumped him. He loosed another string of curses.
You kiss your mother with that mouth? she asked, a saucy glint in her eye.
Bring your pussy here, and I ll kiss it with my dirty mouth.
Tempting, but I have other plans for your mouth. She picked up the condom and tried to tear it, but her fingers, slick with lube, slipped and didn t hold. Whoops. Could ve planned that better.
Teeth? His mouth went dry at the image.
Gross. No, you do it. She handed him the condom, and he found a dry corner to tear it open. He rolled it on.
She put her knee next to his leg and climbed onto his lap. I m doing all the work here, understand? You just let go.
Let go? Unlikely. But he nodded. He lifted her skirt again to watch as she positioned herself over him and, holding him at the base, slowly sank down. With the lube, he slipped easily inside her.
She paused when her ass landed on his thighs and rolled her hips experimentally.
Fuck, he whispered. Then he lifted his face to capture her lips in a ravenous kiss.
She rolled her hips again, squeezing his dick, and he saw stars. He pushed up his hips to nestle deeper inside.
Nope. Remember, I m in charge here. She lifted, then ground down again.
Yes, he hissed.
Thought so. You can touch my breasts, she said as if she were a queen, allowing him to kiss her ring.
He slid his hand up the satin-smooth garment to her breast. He lifted it to his mouth and sucked her nipple through the fabric, the silk so thin he could feel every contour against his tongue. He palmed her other breast, rubbing the silk against her nipple until Mary let out a happy sigh.
She started a slow rhythm, lifting and falling in his lap. She added a little squeeze at the bottom of her descent that made his eyes roll back. It wasn t as much compression as when he fisted himself, but being inside her wet warmth, her breasts pushed into his face, and her scent all around him was enough to shoot him to the edge. He gritted his teeth. He couldn t come in less than two minutes. Not before she d come.
With one hand, she gripped his shoulder, her short nails digging into his skin. With the other, she lifted his chin until he popped off her breast. She kissed him, a hungry invasion of her tongue, and for a minute, he forgot about holding off, about getting her to orgasm, about anything but the way she curled around him and made him feel like the center of her universe.
She kissed along his jaw to his ear and whispered, Let go.
Fuck it. He gripped her ass, lifted his hips, and thrust up into her once. Twice. Then, shouting something incoherent, he came. He didn t care that he d broken all his rules. All that mattered was the release that stiffened his muscles for long seconds until he collapsed, boneless, into the chair.
He gentled his hold on her ass. Sorry, he mumbled.
Sorry? she murmured in his ear, squeezing around his over-sensitized cock. That was so hot.
But you didn t come, he said. You only took care of me.
It s about time someone took care of you, Alex. And I can take care of myself. She leaned back and slipped her hand between them. She touched where they were still joined, and he shuddered. Then she moved her hand up to her clit and rubbed it.
Let me. Somehow, he d convince his muscles to move his arm.
You lie back. Enjoy the show. She put her other hand on the wet spot over her nipple and tweaked it while she continued to work her other hand. Her eyelids fluttered closed.
He watched her beautiful face, her lips parted as she panted. Then he dropped his gaze to her heaving chest and her fingertips plucking at her nipple. Finally, he gazed at her other hand, working fast, her knuckles occasionally brushing his lower belly. He trailed a finger up to her tailbone and caressed her soft skin. He could watch her like this forever. Touch her. Hell, he d loved curling around her and holding her while she slept. Why had he been such a foolish, proud kid? If he d only come clean years ago, how many years of this mind-blowing pleasure could they have shared?
She groaned, then twitched. He held her tighter as her hands stilled and her breathing stuttered to a stop, then began again. She collapsed against his chest, burying her face in his neck.
He ran his hand up her spine and rested it at her nape. Her palms settled against his pecs.
It unlocked something inside him, something light and beautiful like a hummingbird or a butterfly. The best feeling he d ever experienced. I want to stay like this with you forever.
But what he said was, I d better get rid of the condom. When she nodded and clambered off him, he caught sight of the Paradise through the window. Could he have his hotel empire and Mary, too? Possibly. Assuming all went well with the Richardson wedding. Which reminded him of what he d promised Mrs. Campo.
When I get back, let s talk about the Richardson wedding. I have an idea about entertainment I want to run past you.
Mary s mouth was open like she d been about to say something, but she closed it and nodded. They were partners and lovers. It was goddamn perfect.