Chapter 22
Catarina wanted to appear cool and confident.
Sophisticated. A “woman of the world.” But the truth was humiliating: whenever Salvatore came close, she was reduced to a blubbering fool.
One brush of his hand, one glance from those dark eyes, and all she could think about were the things she’d read in books—the kisses, the touches, the passion she’d only imagined.
So when he sat down beside her, the outer edge of his hard, muscular thigh pressing against hers, her composure shattered. Her heart raced, her blood pressure spiked, and every steamy scene she’d ever devoured in a romance novel came rushing back with a vengeance.
“Drawing?” she repeated dumbly, then cringed at the raised eyebrow he shot her.
Heat flooded her face. She looked down at the sketchpad in her lap. “Oh! Right.” Her cheeks turned a mortifying shade of pink, and she silently cursed herself for acting like a schoolgirl with a crush.
She lifted the pad and tilted it toward him. “I remembered where I’d seen the woman who was supposed to infiltrate your organization. It was at a strip club.”
His eyes hardened, his voice dropping with horror. “Your father took you to a club?”
She shrugged, the gesture tight, resigned.
“I was his tool. I was meant to accompany him and soften the edges of his brutality. I was supposed to be the pristine, innocent daughter that balanced his reputation.” She sighed, lowering the pad.
“He’d dress me up and dragged me to dinner parties, demanded that I smile and curtsy and act like a perfect lady.
That’s why he sent me to finishing school instead of letting me go to college.
” Her mouth twisted into a bitter smile.
“I was his proof. Evidence that he wasn’t as vile as everyone knew he was. ”
“And you hated it,” Sal said, reading the fury simmering in her eyes.
“I don’t want to be pristine, Sal,” she whispered fiercely. She set the sketchpad on the table and turned toward him, her body taut with defiance. “Is that what I am to you? Some spotless little doll?”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Are you keeping me pure and innocent? Is that why you won’t touch me?” Her voice sharpened. “Do you need me to be the image people associate with you instead of—whatever you do behind the scenes?”
“Hell no,” he growled.
Before she could react, his hands were on her, lifting her effortlessly onto his lap.
One large palm slid under her dress, and Catarina gasped at the boldness of it—and how much she loved it.
Her fingers clutched at his shoulders as he tipped her slightly backward, keeping her off balance, forcing her to cling to him.
“If you think for one damn second that I don’t want to make love to you—over and over again—you’re out of your mind,” he rasped, his breath hot against her cheek.
Her body trembled at his words, tingling with anticipation. “Then why was our first, real kiss only this morning?” she demanded, though her voice came out softer, huskier than she intended.
“Because you weren’t ready,” he said, his gaze dropping to her lips. His hand slid higher along her bare thigh, pausing deliberately, making her squirm. “Are you telling me you’re ready now?”
Catarina swallowed hard, her pulse roaring in her ears. She wiggled nervously against him, every nerve in her body waiting for him to move his hand higher. When he didn’t, when he only stared at her with that raw hunger, she nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m ready.”
“Hold on,” was all the warning he gave.
The next moment, she was in his arms, swept up as though she weighed nothing. His long strides carried them through the house, up the stairs, and into the primary suite. He kicked the door shut behind them without breaking stride, then carried her straight to the bed.
“You’re not even out of breath,” she whispered in awe, reluctantly loosening her arms from his neck.
“Not yet,” he said darkly, pulling her closer until she felt the undeniable evidence of his arousal.
Her eyes widened, impressed and startled all at once. “Sal,” she breathed, half a laugh escaping her. “You’re definitely more well-endowed than Matteo.”
That was the last coherent thing she managed to say before his mouth covered hers.
The kiss stole the air from her lungs. It wasn’t gentle, wasn’t tentative—it was raw heat and command.
She melted into it, into him, whimpering when his tongue tangled with hers.
Her hands found his chest, tracing the solid muscle beneath his shirt, then slid higher until her fingers buried themselves in his thick, surprisingly soft hair.
And still, it wasn’t enough. She wanted more—more of his mouth, more of his touch, more of everything Salvatore Romano had been holding back.
“Would you take off your shirt?” she whispered.
A moment later, there was a ripping sound, then his hands took her wrists, placing her palms on the hot skin of his chest. “Wow!” she whispered, watching her fingers slide over hard muscle and a light dusting of dark hair.
He was impressively sculpted and she wanted to memorize every ridge and chiseled angle.
But then his lips and tongue teased her neck, then her ear lobe.
Catarina gasped, shocked and wanting more.
“Please!” she sighed, lifting her legs so that he was more perfectly cradled against her.
But it wasn’t enough. Sal wasn’t the nice, polite lovemaker. His big, strong hands reached for her hips and tilted her back, pulling her in so that he was completely, shockingly, pressed against her core.
Before she could say how much she liked this new position, she heard another ripping sound. This time, it was her floral dress. For a shocked moment, Catarina couldn’t speak. But then his hands moved the torn shreds of her floral silk dress away, cupping her breasts.
“You’re so damn beautiful!” he groaned, his thumbs sliding against the lace covered tips, sending waves of desire through her body, every need puddling low in her belly.
She gripped his arms, her fingers unable to circle around them.
Then he angled his body again and she fell backwards.
When she opened her eyes, Catarina realized that was exactly what he wanted.
The shimmer of need, of lust and demand in his eyes as he watched his fingers move over her lace covered breasts was hot!
But it wasn’t enough. She angled her back, releasing the catch.
Immediately, the lace was tossed away and then…
hissing! His fingers closed over both breasts as his mouth lowered, that mouth sucking in her nipple.
Catarina’s body arched, her legs coming up to wrap around his waist. All politeness was gone now. This was raw. This was need and there was no time for niceties. She needed him inside her with an almost primal desperation.
When his mouth moved to her other breast, Catarina growled.
Such an unladylike expression of her need, but her fingers dove into his hair, keeping his head right there, silently demanding that he continue.
When he nibbled on her nipple, she nearly climaxed right then and there!
Groaning, she shifted, not sure how to take all of this need.
“Sal!” she whispered, wishing that her voice was stronger, but unable to accomplish anything more.
As an answer, he yanked her panties down, exposing her body completely to his hungry gaze. His hands moved to her knees as his eyes took in all of her, not letting her shield herself.
Definitely not a polite lover, she thought, even as her body shimmered with need, wiggling under the intensity of that examination.
“You’re mine, Cata,” he growled, his mouth moving lower, kissing her stomach.
He was still standing beside the bed, but he lowered his head, his fingers sliding down over her stomach, teasing her skin before touching her intimately.
Those light fingers teased that nub, stroking her folds before coming back for another stroke.
Over and over, he teased her like that, never enough to give her what she needed, but tormenting her with those light, unsatisfying touches.
When she couldn’t take it anymore, Catarina grabbed his wrists, her eyes hot and almost angry now. “Enough!” she snapped at him.
But the bastard only grinned. With a twist, he’d released her hold on his wrist and captured both of hers in his big, strong hands, holding them away from his goal while his mouth moved into place. “Never enough,” he came right back.
She’d thought his fingers were teasing? Dear heaven! That mouth, his tongue and…was he really using his teeth? None of the books had warned her about that! None of the books had warned her of the feelings that were hitting her now!
Catarina arched, wiggled, whimpered and cried out. She tried to release her hands, maybe to hit him? Maybe to hold his head in place so that she could find a release! But he wasn’t letting her do either.
“Please!” she sobbed, desperate now for the torture to stop.
But he only laughed, then continued to ramp her up, right to the point where her body was going to explode, but then he’d pull back. Driving her crazy!
She might have screamed at one point, but Catarina wasn’t sure about anything now. Her world had narrowed to a point where the only thing real was his tongue and that nub and how he was making her crazy by not letting her climax!
Finally, she yanked at his hair, pulling his mouth away. Furious now, she glared at him. “No more!” she hissed.
Sal merely smiled, but it wasn’t an expression of agreement. It was evil triumph. He stepped back, stripped off the rest of his clothes, then climbed next to her. Lifting her up, he grabbed her hands, pulling them over her head as he positioned himself right at her opening.
“Say my name,” he commanded.
Catarina was ready to yell, beg, plead or do just about anything to get him inside of her. So if all he wanted was for her to say his name, she complied. “Sal,” she said, her voice cracking at the one syllable.
Then he slid into her heat, taking her gasp of pleasure into his mouth as he filled her up.
It was perfect! It was too much. It was magical!
She arched, shifted her body to take more of him, then whimpered when he pulled away.
Thankfully, he thrust right back into her, rubbing that nub along the way.
Over and over, he thrust into her, his body shifting as she lifted her hips, meeting his every movement. It wasn’t a powerplay, but Catarina was determined not to let him stop this time.
In the back of her mind, she recognized his heavy breathing, but all she could think about was her own pleasure.
Pulling her hands free, she grabbed onto his hair again, loving the soft texture which was so different from the rest of him.
And that touch seemed to ignite him. His thrusts weren’t slow anymore.
He grabbed her body, holding her still and moved faster, harder.
It was perfect! Exactly what she needed and Catarina screamed, her body shuddering as she climaxed, her body exploding with a pleasure unlike anything she’d ever known before.
A moment later, she felt his body shudder, his body experiencing what she hoped was the same intensity.
And then he fell on top of her. Catarina wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him tight as her brain slowly started to work again. This…this was the bliss she’d always hoped for.