Chapter 35
Lying naked on her stomach on top of the sheets, Marissa listened to Bruno in the bathroom. Closing her eyes, she relived the moments before he left her alone.
He entered the room, and she watched him between the strands of hair that veiled her eyes. He approached the bed and smoothed a hand from her ankle up to her thigh. Before he touched her bottom, she was already raising her hips in anticipation.
“So damn insatiable,” he growled, licking her ass.
“You’re the insatiable one,” she shot back.
He let out a masculine laugh, husky and deep. “Tienes razón. You’re right.”
He dragged her by the ankles to the edge of the bed, and her feet hit the floor. He entered her with one smooth thrust, and she cried out, nails curling into the soft linens. There was no need for foreplay. She was already wet and ready for him.
Like always.
Marissa’s body hummed with desire because she wanted more. She always wanted more of him, and he knew exactly what she needed and when. They were so in tune to each other.
Slowly, she stretched and felt the weight of the diamond and ruby necklace he had given her for her thirty-second birthday last night. Overwhelmed by his generosity, she fingered the jewelry. He had paid for a celebration dinner for her and her friends on Friday, but she had spent last night with him.
He sang “Happy Birthday” as he brought out a cake he’d made himself, and after she blew out the single candle, he presented her with the jewelry box. A Cartier piece. She had almost fallen out of her chair when she saw the extravagant gift.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, as he slipped the necklace around her neck.
“You deserve beautiful things.” He planted a soft kiss on her shoulder.
She hadn’t taken off the necklace since then. She wore it under her dress when they flew to New Orleans for an amazing dinner, where he reserved an entire boat for a cruise down the Mississippi River. She slept with the necklace around her neck and kept it on when they made love in the middle of the afternoon.
This was the happiest she could ever remember being in her life—all because of Bruno. To think, she almost missed out because she was afraid of making more mistakes and just… afraid.
Marissa glanced at the clock. She had a little time before she had to meet Chet at the apartment when he dropped off Theo. Maybe she and Bruno could get in a quickie.
Rolling off the bed, she padded naked and barefoot into the bathroom. The huge shower made of slate gray tile was the size of her apartment’s entire bathroom, with all kinds of knobs that she hadn’t figured out how to use.
Bruno was standing under the rain shower head, eyes closed, water pouring onto his tanned, muscular body. When she opened the door, his eyes popped open, and his gray eyes locked on her from beneath wet lashes. A tingle of awareness shimmied through her body. Her bare nipples instantly hardened as she stepped into the shower.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” he returned, letting his gaze slide down her naked body.
Feeling bold, Marissa walked to him with an extra swing in her hips, and the corners of his mouth lifted in an appreciative smile.
Water splashed her skin as she pushed him backward and onto the shower bench. Gazing up at her, Bruno cupped her ass and pulled her between his knees. He kissed her stomach and licked a teasing line right above her trimmed pubic hairs. Clutching the wet strands of his hair, Marissa tilted back his head and pressed her lips to his in a deep kiss.
Her fingers traced the contours of his face and roamed over the hard slope of his shoulders, as she savored the taste of his mouth and the softness of his lips. She was burning up from the inside out, as if her blood had been infused with kerosene, and he was a torch.
Their tongues clashed and their breaths mingled as they became lost in desire while warm water rained down onto the tile and splattered against their feet.
“Sit.” The sensual roughness of his voice sent shivers of anticipation through her. Then tight, gripping fingers tugged her onto his lap.
In that moment, nothing else mattered but being in his arms and the fiery passion that consumed them both. Their noses brushed, then his lips claimed her throat and her head fell back with abandon, her eyes shuttering closed.
Bruno teased her sensitive neck and gently sucked the soft swell of her breast. But when his mouth fastened on the right nipple, she moaned. Loud. Slick and wet, his ruthless tongue swirled around the hard tip, each stroke making her core throb with an erratic beat of longing.
Bruno lifted her leg over his arm, and Marissa shifted up until the tip of his erection kissed her core. She sank onto him, her loud cry of bliss echoing in the enclosed space. Bruno’s eyes narrowed as they latched on to the juncture of their joined bodies. He let her ride, guiding with his hand and barely moving his hips, his breathing labored, and his plump bottom lip crushed between his teeth.
The ripple of pleasure between her thighs was sudden and strong. She gasped at the intensity, her body spasming, her cries growing louder and more jagged with each passing second. With one smooth movement, Bruno stood, her leg still hooked over one arm while his other hand held her tight to his body.
Her back met cold, wet tile, and her open thighs yielded to the force of his pounding thrusts. Overwhelmed and trembling in his arms, Marissa tightened her free leg around his hips and her arms around his strong neck.
They moved together in unison, their open-mouthed kisses messy and sweet and utterly delectable. She craved this man like no other, and each and every time he delivered in the most delicious ways. She was giddy and drunk on ecstasy. Giddy and drunk on love.
Yes, she loved him. God, how she loved him. She trembled under the force of her admission, tears stinging her eyes.
A loud, guttural groan was torn from Bruno’s chest as he came. He crushed her against the wall, his body shaking and his head falling to her damp shoulder as a climactic storm raged through him. Moments later, he lowered her to the floor, and they exchanged their rough, hungry kisses for the sweet, tender embrace of their lips.
Marissa pressed her face to his throat and clung to him. She didn’t let go.
She needed time to process her thoughts. She was in love with Bruno.
She wanted to hold on to him forever.
* * *
“When are you coming back?” Marissa asked as Bruno walked her to the car.
She knew the answer, but a small part of her wished he’d give a different answer this time.
“A week from Tuesday, but I’ll try to come back sooner if I can.” He placed her weekend bag on the back seat of the Camry and shut the door.
When he pulled her into his arms, Marissa rested her cheek against his chest. He’d be gone for more than a week, and she wished she could go with him. But he had to run his businesses. He was doing a lot of traveling, which he’d planned months ago, visiting several of his restaurants, including one in Mexico. He’d spend a few days there and visit family as well. His last stop was in Pittsburgh, where he would meet with the food manufacturer working on the new line of grocery items.
Bruno had held his ground, and the company had given in regarding his requests. They had a big signing ceremony and promotional events planned now all the details had been worked out.
“You’ll be missed,” Marissa said quietly, her heart filled with an unbearable ache.
He had swooped in with the force of a wrecking ball and destroyed her inhibitions, and now being away from him felt like the worst kind of punishment.
“And I’ll miss you.” Bruno kissed her forehead and then her lips. “I’ll call you while I’m gone.”
“You better.”
He laughed and kissed her mouth again. She melted against him but knew she had to leave. She didn’t want Chet to drop off Theo and she wasn’t at home. One time he’d been in such a foul mood when she was late, you’d think he’d had to wait hours instead of only a few minutes.
Reluctantly, Marissa pulled away. “Bye. Be safe.”
She climbed into her vehicle and drove slowly down the long driveway. In the rearview mirror, she saw Bruno staring after her, his thumb looped in the hoop of his jeans.
Her heart ached, and she blinked back tears. Dammit. She was so far gone she couldn’t stand that they wouldn’t be in the same city. They spent most of the week apart, but at least she knew he was in Atlanta, and they could meet up for an hour or two to satisfy her Bruno fix.
With him out of town and out of the country, she’d be going through serious Bruno withdrawal.