Chapter 5 #2
"No." Her voice was unnecessarily sharp, causing him to stare at her. "No." She eased out a breath. "I wouldn't want to take advantage."
"You'd be the first." His expression hardened for a minute before smoothing out. He opened the door to a Porsche this time with butter soft leather seats and ushered her in. A sigh escaped her as the seat conformed to her shape and warmed her body.
"Sorry about that, bad experience." He murmured as he got in. "Comfortable?"
"Extremely. How many vehicles do you own?"
"A few. How was your week?" He glanced over at her as he shifted into drive and felt his heart doing a slow dive.
"Hectic. You?"
"The same. I had to go out of town, Texas. We have a ranch there. I should take you one of these days."
"Ranch as in horses and cattle?"
"Hmm." He stopped at the light and turned to look at her. "You look even more beautiful than the first time I saw you. I didn't think that was possible. Why the hell are you still single?"
She laughed at the offhanded compliment.
"I could ask the same of you."
"Perhaps we were just waiting on each other."
"Rodney..."
"Too soon?" He drove through the light.
"Yes."
He nodded.
"I'll try and take it slow," he promised. "We're here." He swept into the long winding parking lot that led to a cottage type structure on a slight incline.
"It's beautiful." She breathed. "Surrounded by all this dense foliage and overlooking the water. It's spectacular."
"Luke wanted something special and he nailed it." Unhooking his belt, he came around to open her door. As soon as she stepped out, he trapped her between the vehicle and his long, lean body.
"I need something."
Cupping the back of her neck, he drew her in.
"Just a taste." His lips found hers and settled in. With a ragged sigh, she closed her fingers around the edges of his jacket and yielded. His lips moved over hers slowly.
The breeze coming off the sea swirled around them, but they did not feel the cold air. Warmth enveloped them like cozy blankets. He took her deeper, not meaning to. His tongue entered her mouth and staggered him.
He felt the punch of desire clear to his toes. The groan was heartfelt. Sliding one hand to her waist, he brought her flush against him, letting her feel his rigid desire. It amazed him that he could feel so involved, so caught up.
The sound of laughter floating towards them had him easing away slightly. He was shaking, he realized in wonder.
"I want you." He whispered against her mouth. "More than I want to draw my next breath."
"Rodney." She swallowed the large lump in her throat and further words failed her. She felt like weeping.
"All right." He ran his hands up and down her arms as he did his best to control his monstrous desire. "All right. Let's go and feed you." Taking her hand, he led the way.
Luke himself greeted them at the door and wound his way upstairs to where the private room met the balcony.
"You wanted isolation my friend." He was a tall, tanned Italian with smooth olive skin and beautiful almond shaped dark brown eyes, which were now dancing merrily. "I can absolutely see why." Taking her hand, he bent over it and kissed it lavishly.
"I'm a fan." She tried not to look dazzled but could not help it. This was a man she had viewed countless times on her screen.
"And now, I'm one. Bella. Sei Bellissima.
Come." Keeping her hand in his, he led them to a table covered with a white tablecloth and a vase of wild irises in the center.
"We will start you off with our house wine.
" He kissed his fingers. "You'll approve my friend.
" He sent Rodney a devilish smile. "It's straight from your vineyard in Tuscany. "
"Then it should be good." He came around to pull out her chair.
"You own a vineyard." Melanie was still trying to recover from the devastating kiss in the parking lot and the astounding restaurant and its owner.
"Yes." He swept his eyes over hers, lingering on her lips which were still slightly swollen from his ardor. Desire stirred inside him, like molten lava. "We should take a trip there sometime. But first I want to take you to Paris. Ever been?"
"Just..." She took a breath. "Once." This time, she could speak the truth. "On a school trip."
"I want to show you the city at night." He waited until their wine was brought to them before taking her hands in his.
"I want to make love to you in the little alcove on the property where the grapes are dappled by the moon.
I want to make love to you tonight." Letting go of her hand, he cupped the back of her neck.
"I know this is too soon, but I want you.
.." His voice thickened. "Let me have you. "
"I can't think."
"Then don't." His mouth swooped down to hers and she felt herself drowning. Her head drifted back as sensations hit her like a ton of bricks. She felt everything inside her softening, melting like wax.
The need to have her was so strong that he had to rein in the desire that was threatening to break free. He wanted to drag her clothes off and feast on her skin. He wanted to take and take until he was consumed by her.
The fire inside him was so strong, so bright, it felt as if he was being burned from the inside out.
Tearing his lips from hers, he stumbled back, eyes almost black, face taut with passion.
"Good Christ!" He groaned out, dragging his hands over his face. "This is..." He stumbled to his feet and walked over to brace his hands on the rail and had to take several deep breaths to get himself under control.
He came back to the table when the waiter appeared with the first course.
"Minestrone soup. A special of the house." He nodded to the waiter who withdrew discreetly. "You'll enjoy it." His tone was scrupulously polite and threw her into confusion. One minute the man was practically making love to her and now, he was behaving like a stranger.
"Is something wrong?"
"Yes." He bit out. "I'm captivated by a woman I barely know. How old are you?"
"What?"
"Your age."
"Twenty-eight."
"Good. That's good." He dipped his spoon in and set it back down.
"I'm screwing things up. It's just that I've never felt this way before and it's scaring the crap out of me.
" He forced a smile. "Let's just enjoy dinner, shall we?
Tell me about the shelter." He held up a hand.
"I know you cannot go into details because of the confidentiality matters but give me an idea of what you have to deal with.
" He smiled slightly. "I might want to make a contribution. "
Guilt threatened to spoil the feeling of euphoria.
"Uhm, this is really good."
"Hmm." He took her hand, laced his fingers through hers. "You have the most delectable mouth I've ever seen or tasted."
"I bet you've had your fair share of tasting and seeing." She tugged at her hand, but he held on.
"True." His amber eyes glowed with mischief. "Which gives me the authority on the matter. Why are you not involved with anyone?"
She stopped trying to pull away and ate some of the delicious soup.
"Lousy track record."
"What happened?"
She ate more soup and wondered how much was safe to reveal.
"Two relationships in total showed me that I have zero luck in picking the right person."
His eyes narrowed as he stared at her.
"Two as in the last year?"
Ducking her head, she concentrated on the soup.
"As in the entire adult life."
"You've only been with two guys. Really?"
"Yes. Just stop belaboring the topic. I'm sure you've been with hundreds of women and that's none of my concern."
"Hundreds is an exaggeration." He drank soup one handed and cocked an intriguing brow at her. "You're beautiful and smart and enthralling. How is it possible that you've only been with two guys?"
"I would like to drop the subject." She told him stiffly.
Sensing her discomfort, he held up his hand and waved the spoon.
"Consider it dropped." Lifting their joined hands, he kissed the back of hers slowly. "I was in a relationship that lasted a year." Releasing her hand, he concentrated on his soup. "I was contemplating making it permanent."
"What happened?"
He shrugged, his mouth tightening.
"I demand honesty above everything else and found out she was lying to me."
A sliver of fear and guilt sliced through her.
"What did she lie about?"
"Her intentions. She wanted to use me to get ahead with her career. Funny thing was that I would have helped her without her asking. She tried to apologize and explain why she did it, but it was too late. I don't give second chances."
The shiver became a tremor that had her putting away her spoon.
"Isn't that pretty harsh? Everyone deserves a second chance."
"I agree, but not when it comes to something as important as a relationship. Trust means everything and if it's broken, there's no going forward."
"Did you love her?"
He shrugged again.
"I thought I did. How's the soup?" His switch from one mood to the next threw her off.
"It's...ah...it's good."
"Wait until you taste the manicotti. It's to die for."
"I can just imagine. Where's she now?"
"Who?"
"Your ex."
"Somewhere around. We don't speak to each other anymore."
"You cut her off."
"Yes."
Before she could say anything, the very efficient waiter came to clear away the bowls, and another one placed the steaming plates of manicotti in front of them. Forcing herself to behave normally, she smiled her thanks and accepted the glass of pale gold wine handed to her.
She was going to have to find a way to get out of this.