18.
S TAN
“I’m going to go talk to Cecily while we’re here,” Avi said before she took off across the grass.
“And I’m going to see if Dilly’s home,” Sho said as she walked in the other direction. “Call me when you’re ready.”
“That was easier than I thought it would be,” I heard Rin mutter as he unlocked the door to his apartment.
“Were you trying to get rid of them?”
“I was hoping to, so I could get at least a few kisses before the night was over.”
“I have a better idea.”
“What’s that?” Rin asked as he tossed his keys onto a small table next to the door. He swept his arm out and said, “Welcome to my humble abode.”
I laughed before I said, “There’s nothing humble about this place.”
“It’s just an apartment.”
“How many bedrooms does it have? And bathrooms?”
“Three beds, two baths.”
“Do you have your own washer and dryer?”
“Yes.”
“And a garage?”
“Yeah.”
“You even have a front yard.”
“Yeah, but the back yard is pretty small.”
“At home, this would cost at least fifteen grand a month.” Rin just stared at me, so I explained, “That’s in Manhattan. If you’re in one of the boroughs, it would be about half that, depending on the neighborhood.”
“You’re joking.”
“Not at all.”
“Welcome to my spectacularly affordable castle of an apartment,” Rin said as he swept his arm across the room again.
I looked around, adding another piece to the puzzle that was Rin Martin.
His home was much like I imagined it would be with dark wood and leather.
There was colorful art around the room, probably all of his own creation.
What surprised me the most were the many bookshelves packed full of books of all sizes.
I walked closer and saw an entire section of books on Norse history and mythology.
Next to it was a shelf with a broad selection of cookbooks with recipes from all different regions and countries.
Beyond that were biographies, instruction manuals, books about different wars and cultures, and too many paperback fiction novels to count.
“I like to read.”
“I see that,” I said as I let my fingers trail over the spines on the shelf in front of me. “What’s your favorite genre?”
“I really don’t have one. My book choice usually depends on my mood.”
“I’m a romance girl myself.”
“My mother was a writer.”
“She was?” When Rin nodded but didn’t offer anymore, I decided not to ask.
Obviously, she wasn’t worth elaborating about in his eyes.
I wasn’t going to wax poetic about my mother, and I didn’t expect him to either.
But just to give him an opening in case he did want to talk about her, I asked, “Do you have any of her books?”
“Not a single one.”
“Okay, then,” I said cheerfully as I walked across the living room and sat down at the bar. “Do you use this kitchen to cook actual food, or are you one of those bachelors that appears at a family member’s house when it’s dinner time?”
Rin walked into the kitchen as he said, “I can cook, grill, bake - the works. I’m a multi-faceted man, Miss Romano.”
“It seems so,” I agreed as I watched him open a drawer and pull out two forks.
He slid one my way before he turned and opened the refrigerator.
When he turned back around, he had two bottles of water and, of all things, a cake.
I knew he’d purchased it because of the packaging, but I ribbed him by saying, “You do bake! And it even looks professional.”
Rin snorted at my sarcasm as he popped the clear top off and then moved it to the middle of the counter.
Without a word, he put a huge bite into his mouth.
His eyes closed as he moaned, and it was so sexy that I wanted him to make the same expression and noise because of something I did rather than something he’d eaten.
Before he got another bite, he nudged my fork toward me. “You’re obviously very special, Stan, because I don’t share my cake with anyone. It’s my one vice.”
“Your only one?”
“Other than buying books, yeah. This is it. I work out only so I can eat as much cake as I want.”
I burst out laughing and asked, “Is it that important to you?”
“Yes. Very much so.”
“Does it taste better straight out of the container?”
“Yes. Besides, why dirty a dish and then have to clean it and put it away? When I eat it like this, I just have to clean my fork.”
I hummed after I put the bite in my mouth. “This is really good.”
“I love it when they have red velvet. They usually don’t, because those sell out pretty fast.”
“It’s your favorite?”
“Yes, but I’m not picky. I’ll eat whatever they’ve got on hand.”
As I got another bite, I said, “I’ll have to make sure to get a cake to keep in my refrigerator when I go to the store.”
“Am I going to be spending that much time at your house?”
I smiled before I said, “I’d like for you to be.”
“Should I pack a bag for tonight?”
“Yes, please.”
“Can I bring my emotional support cake?”
I laughed before I answered, “As long as you don’t mind sharing more of it with me.”
“Let me feed Grim, and then I’ll get my things.”
“Where is he? I almost forgot you have a cat.”
“Shh!” Rin said as he looked around as if waiting for the boogeyman to jump out. “Don't say that too loudly, or he’ll take offense, and I'll end up paying for it in the long run.”
“Oh, really?” I asked with a chuckle.
“This is actually his apartment. I’m his personal servant, and he lets me live here out of the goodness of his heart.”
“Where is he?” I asked.
“Probably plotting world domination somewhere,” Rin said as he walked over to the pantry and grabbed a can of cat food and a can of tuna. As he started opening one of the cans, he said, “He’ll be here any second now.”
Before he had the second can open, a huge black cat hopped up onto the chair beside mine, which scared the shit out of me and made me yelp. The cat stared at me judgmentally, and I was almost positive he rolled his eyes before he looked at Rin.
Once Rin had the contents of both cans poured out onto a plate, he slid it across the counter in front of the chair where the cat was sitting. I was shocked when it stood up on its back legs, settled its front paws on the counter, and started eating.
“He doesn’t like it if I don’t put his food on a real plate and refuses to eat if I put the plate on the floor.”
“Whose fault is that?”
“Not mine. I just work here.”
◆◆◆
Avi and Sho said their goodbyes before they went their separate ways to their suites, and I took Rin’s hand to lead him upstairs to mine as the alarm beeped behind us.
Rin hesitated, and I saw that he was watching the door.
“Ciro is securing the house from his phone,” I explained. “We can all do that, but he’s extra vigilant, so we just let him take care of it for his own peace of mind.”
“Wow. He really takes his job seriously,” Rin said as we got to the top of the stairs.
“They all do, but the women are more social than Ciro. I think it’s because he’s worked for my father for a long time and has endured more of the drama our family has lived through, whereas the women are vigilant in a different way from their own experiences.”
As we walked into my suite, Rin asked, “Has there ever been a time in your life where you could just roam free like everyone else?”
“Never.”
“Not even when you were a kid?”
“No, and over the last few years, security has become much more strict.”
“Why?”
“Because my father took over as the head of the family, and that brings even more scrutiny from everyone, especially people who would like to take away his power.”
“I can’t imagine living like that, but I guess I’m going to have to get used to it,” Rin said as he put his bag down on the floor beside the sofa.
“You’re willing to?”
“Obviously,” Rin said as he pulled me into his arms. “I don’t let just anyone meet my family.”
I smiled up at him as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Technically, I met some of your family before I met you.”
“I’m talking about my fathers.”
“That was an accident, so I’m not sure it counts.”
“So, taking them to have dinner at the hospital doesn’t count either?”
“I have to admit, that was unexpected,” I said with a laugh.
“The look on your face when Dad suggested we take them Thai food was hilarious.”
“Every member of your family has thrown me for a loop at least once.”
“Have I?” Rin asked.
“You’re still doing it. I think that’s part of your magic.”
Rin’s mouth was just a breath away from mine when he whispered, “I think you’re the magic, Constance.”
Rin kissed me, but it was much softer than I wanted, so I quickly deepened the kiss as I molded my body to his.
After our time together a few nights ago, my body had been on edge, waiting for more - not just sex, but more of everything.
Spending all day with him had just intensified my need, and tender kisses and touches weren’t going to cut it.
Those could wait.
I let my hands roam between us and lifted his shirt. He let go of me long enough to pull it off over his head, and I took that opportunity to unbuckle his belt and start undoing his pants.
“We’ve got all night, sweetheart,” Rin said before he laughed at my eagerness.
“That’s right, so we can do soft and sweet sometime later. Maybe in the morning.”
“What do you want right now?”
“You, naked and inside me.”
“If I wasn’t sure before that you’re the perfect woman for me, that decided it,” Rin mumbled as he started undressing me.
His movements were just as urgent as mine had been.
I yanked my shirt off and tossed it aside as he pushed my leggings down over my hips, taking my underwear with them in the process.
I was just about to unhook my bra when Rin dropped down in front of me and tapped the back of my leg so I would lift it out of my pants. I was ready to lift the other one, but before I could figure out what he was doing, it was over his shoulder and his tongue was pressing against my clit.
“Oh!” I gasped as I scrambled to find something to hold onto. The antique table I’d chosen to use as a side table next to my door was right behind me, so I leaned against it, holding onto the edge with both hands so I didn’t lose my balance.
Rin reached up to grab my legs where they met my ass before he lifted me up and set me on the table.
Now stable again, I could focus on what he was doing with his tongue .
. . until he added his hands to the mix and pushed a finger deep into my pussy.
At that point, I came undone and got lost in the magic he was working on my body.
When he slowly started fucking me with his finger and then added another to the mix, I moaned and ordered him to go harder and deeper, knowing that was all I needed to reach my first orgasm of the night.
Ever the gentleman, Rin followed my request while he sucked my clit between his lips and hummed.
I went off like a rocket, but he just kept the same pace as he drew my orgasm out until it was almost painful.
I let go of the table and pulled on his hair until he lifted his head and grinned, his fingers still working their magic until I all but begged him to stop.
When he reached behind him and pulled out his wallet, I told him, “I’ve got an IUD.”
Rin tilted his head before he asked, “Do you trust me?”
I sputtered out a laugh before I answered, “Obviously.”
“Fuck, yes!” Rin muttered as he pulled his fingers out and wrapped his arm around my knee, lifting it over his elbow as he stood.
In one fluid movement, he grabbed my other leg and thrust his cock deep.
So deep that he bumped my clit with his pubic bone.
I gasped, and he ground himself against me while he gave me time to adjust to his intrusion.
When he finally started moving, I put my arms around his neck and held on, pulling him closer so I could lick and bite whatever skin my mouth found.
Rin made sure to grind against my clit with each thrust, and the sound of the table thumping against the wall in rhythm with our bodies slapping together was almost obscene.
I slipped one hand between us, knowing exactly what it would take for me to come again.
Rin looked down and groaned at the sight of me touching myself.
The sound was enough to bring me even closer to orgasm.
Suddenly, Rin changed the angle of his hips and touched something deep inside me that until now had been elusive, and I saw stars.
As I screamed his name, my body clutched at his, which sent him over the edge too. His hips stuttered and then slammed into me, going deeper than he had before. He rested his head on my shoulder, breathing hard for a few seconds before he whispered, “Are you good?”
“Good? I’m fantastic, but your pillow talk needs work.”
Rin’s body shook with laughter before he lifted his head up to look at me and said, “I like this table.”
“It’s an antique.”
“It’s my favorite piece of furniture.”
“There’s one almost exactly like it in the hallway.”
“Wanna test it out?” Rin asked as he lifted me off the table.
I laughed as my legs wrapped around his waist and suggested, “Let’s take a shower together instead.”
“If you insist.”
“Guess what.”
Rin was already walking toward my bedroom when he asked, “What?”
In a whisper, I answered, “There’s a bench in my shower that I think will be even more fun than the table.”
“Just when I think you couldn’t be more perfect for me, you go and prove me wrong.”