Chapter 24
Alessandro
With my brother and Sloane finally gone, I turn my attention to Lennon.
She’s staring down at the floor, worrying her full bottom lip with her teeth. I’d give anything to know what she’s thinking right now. Is she going to refuse to leave with me? I’m not above throwing her over my shoulder at this point.
Her chest rises with a deep breath, and I can’t stop myself from feasting on the swell of her breasts cradled by soft layers of emerald silk, the tiny gold cross nestled in her cleavage.
“I saw the photo. Of you and Giada after I left The Eclipse.” Her voice is vulnerable with an underlying thread of pain.
I stiffen, and not in a good way as my gaze meets hers. I hope she can see how sorry I am she had to see that. I could tell her it was a setup but what would be the point? The fact is Giada will be my wife.
I get how fucked up this is. How I should leave Lennon alone. If only I was a better man. A less selfish man. All I can do is wait for her decision.
She tilts her head and really looks at me. My hands are clasped in front of me, and I’m squeezing them to keep from reaching out and pulling her into me. Then the most beautiful thing happens.
She smiles softly, and it reaches her striking green eyes. “So where are we going for our date?”
Am I floating? I feel like I’m fucking floating. Like some boulder just got lifted off my lungs, and I’m light as a fucking feather. And then I forget why I’m not touching her and grab her hand. I pull her into my chest and cradle her head.
When she wraps her arms around me, I close my eyes and press my mouth against her hair. It’s silky soft and she smells like cherries and vanilla. Her body is molded to me perfectly and my dick notices, hardening against her stomach.
“Let’s get out of here, Angel.” Before someone snaps another picture and sends it to my cunt of a fiancé.
Reluctantly I let her go, but keep a tight grip on her hand as I lead her through the doors into the muggy night air. The physical contact with her is intoxicating.
The promise of a whole evening together stretched out before us stirs something unfamiliar in me. Something I haven’t felt in a long time.
Joy.
Big Tony is waiting for us at the curb. I help her into the back of the Range Rover, and then go around to slide in beside her.
He gives us a nod in the mirror, and I swear he’s holding back a smile. “Where to boss?”
I had an idea driving here and called ahead to arrange it. I want Lennon to remember the good times we had. “Club Paradiso.” I feel Lennon’s stare on the side of my face, but she doesn’t say anything.
“You got it.” Big Tony pulls away from the curb and out to the main road.
There’s only a sliver of moonlight poking through the clouds tonight, so it’s dark in the cab. The green lights of the dash display are dimmed. Big Tony has classical music piping through the speakers and the air-conditioning on high.
I turn and meet Lennon’s gaze. My breath catches in my throat.
Fuck, she’s stunning.
Before I can stop myself, I grab her hips and drag her onto my lap. I’m not wasting a second of my time with her.
A sexy little squeak falls from her lips as I tighten my arm around her waist. I hold her stare, daring her to resist, to lie to me and herself because her green eyes are sparkling with desire.
Her mouth is so close to mine, I can feel her warm breath on my lips.
I reach up and run my hand through her thick auburn waves, down her collar bone and circle her neck with my hand.
The contrast between her milky white skin and my rough, tatted hand is sexy as fuck. My cock is like concrete under her round ass. I’m not going to go too far right now because I don’t want Big Tony hearing my angel come, but I am going to enjoy the hell out of her mouth.
Her breathing has picked up and her eyes grow hooded as I slide my palm from the front of her throat to the back of her neck, then slip my fingers into her hair and grip it hard enough to keep her where I want her.
When I see her glazed eyes focus on my mouth, satisfaction roars through me.
I lean in and run my tongue over her bottom lip, leaving it glistening with my saliva.
A moan climbs up her throat and hits me in the groin like a lightning bolt.
I lift my hips, press my cock into her ass as I slip my tongue into her hot mouth. She tastes like champagne.
I’m instantly lost.
I suck on her tongue, her lips, then thrust my tongue back into her mouth, sliding it against hers, her taste and whimpers sending shocks of pure pleasure through my body. My other hand comes up and squeezes her breast through the silk material. I feel precum leak from my dick.
Slow down, Sandro.
I’m shaking from the effort as I move both of my hands to cradle her head and press my forehead into hers. “You’re going to be the death of me, Angel.”
“Ditto, mobster,” she breathes, trembling.
I kiss her forehead, then each eyelid then the tip of her nose. It’s an addiction. I press kisses all over her cheeks, the corners of her lips and move down her neck to her collarbone. She’s squirming now, and I’m in danger of coming in my pants like a fucking teenager.
I rest my head against the crook of her neck and just soak in this moment. This moment that she’s in my arms again. That her hard breaths against my neck mean she’s just as worked up as I am. That for just this night… she’s mine.
When we arrive, I shove a wad of cash into Big Tony’s palm and send him to talk to the hotel’s outside guards, ensuring we won’t be disturbed.
Club Paradiso is lit up and there’s a party going on at the pool. Country music mingles with the sound of the ocean. Lennon’s got her heels clutched in one hand as I lead her down the beach to one of the six private cabanas that belong to the hotel.
“Oh, is this for us?” Lennon’s hand flutters around her throat as she grins, taking everything in.
I love how she delights in the small stuff. “For you.” I lean in and kiss her flushed cheek.
The cabana has a thatched roof and two white cushioned lounge chairs.
Two bottles of champagne on ice sit in a tall bucket.
Oversized pillows have been added along with a large white, cashmere throw and two large picnic baskets.
They’ve also filled the cabana with baskets of white roses, electric candles nestled within.
I would’ve preferred to whisk Lennon off to a romantic island for the night, just the two of us, but there was no time. This’ll have to do.
I slide the two lounge chairs together.
Better.
Then I untie the white side curtains and let them fall to give us privacy. Checking the picnic baskets, I nod in satisfaction. They’ve outdone themselves with the food.
I glance around and spot Lennon at the water’s edge, letting the foamy waves wash over her bare feet. Her arms are wrapped around her middle.
I remove my tux jacket, toss it over the back of a chair, then my shoes and socks and roll up my sleeves.
I drink her in as I go to her, the sand cool under my feet.
Her curvy silhouette, her sexy as fuck tussled hair blowing in the wind.
I wrap my arms around her, beneath her own and she leans back into me.
Her musky vanilla scent mingling with the salty air is intoxicating.
Pressing a kiss behind her ear, I ask, “What are you thinking about?”
She sighs. “The last time I was here. My mom.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. Fuck. I didn’t even think about that. I was too busy wanting her to remember the good times we had here. I really am a selfish prick. “I’m sorry, Lennon. I didn’t think about how hard it would be for you to come back here.”
She trails her fingers over my hand and up my forearm in a soft caress. Her touch is sending tiny shocks through my body. It’s been a long time since someone touched me so tenderly. Ten years, in fact.
“It’s okay. I’ve run from the memories long enough. I want to be able to think about the good memories, not let the bad ones overshadow them… otherwise what’s the point?”
I rest my chin on the top of her head. “Tell me a good memory of your mom then.”
The soft lapping of waves and muffled music from the hotel behind us are the only sounds for a few minutes.
When she speaks, her voice is low and far away, almost getting lost in the breeze.
“My thirteenth birthday. She worked so much and was so serious all the time…sad even. But on my thirteenth birthday, she ordered a pizza, and we brought it and a radio down to the beach. We spent the day together swimming, laughing and dancing. And talking. It was the first time she really opened up to me about her crappy childhood. About her regrets. She told me I was the only thing she’d done right in life. That I was her pride and joy.”
“She was a great mom.” I’m glad my angel didn’t end up with a psychotic cunt like my mother.
“She was. She didn’t deserve to die like she did. I think it would be easier to take if the bastard who shot her had been caught. It wouldn’t bring her back, but at least there would be justice.”
Hmmm. Is this an opening for me to come clean? Would it help her to know the bastard was dead? Or would she be horrified by my brand of justice?
I couldn’t take that chance. The chance of her looking at me like a monster. Even if she’d be right. Not tonight when this would be our last night together.
It struck me too late that I’d crossed all decent boundaries with her… again. I don’t deserve her. I never have. But I just can’t make myself walk away from the chance to have her as mine one more time.
She turns in my arms and looks up at me. Her expression is soft, green eyes unguarded. The moonlight is catching the gold shards around her pupils, making them glow. She stares into my eyes for a long moment, like she can see straight into my soul.
I let her. I trust her. And damn that’s a foreign feeling.
Then she pushes up on her toes and gives me the sweetest, most heartbreaking kiss. It feels like goodbye.