Chapter 23

My finger reachesout, but I hesitate. Just do it, chicken. I take a deep breath and press the doorbell. The loud buzz makes me want to hightail it back downstairs. Footsteps come closer before a lock releases and the door opens to the most gorgeous…woman? I back up a few steps and glance at the door number—3E. No, no, this can't be happening. What if Fiore meant 3B and accidentally typed 3E? Smoking-hot Daniella eyes me curiously, trying to figure out where she knows me from.

"Sí?"

"Daniella, chi è?" Lorenzo's voice floats down the hall while I stand frozen, unsure of what to do.

Daniella…God, I'm such an idiot. I mentally slap myself on the forehead. Of course, he's seeing her. Now I know exactly how Frances felt when she arrived at Marcello's apartment and found him with another woman in Under the Tuscan Sun. Sucker punched. Luckily, Daniella's clothes are all on, and he's not necking with her in the window, but still…devastating. I should never have come here.

Daniella's brows furrow. "Posso aiutarLa?"

"Uh, no, no, I don't need help. Wrong um…appartamento." I back away from the door and pivot to run to the elevator when Lorenzo's voice halts me.

"Summer? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, hi! Ciao." Slowly I turn around and lamely wave my hand. "I, um…I thought you might want to grab a cappuccino, but I can see you're busy, so perhaps another time. Arrivederci!"

"Wait." Lorenzo reaches out and grabs my wrist before I can dart away. I gaze at the elevator longingly. He says something in Italian to Daniella over his shoulder. She looks at me curiously before closing the door, leaving us standing in the hallway.

"You came into town at ten o'clock at night for a cappuccino?"

"I've heard Luigi's makes the best." My smile falters. I focus on his hand clasped around my wrist. "You're right, I should have called first. I was worried when you didn't say goodbye at dinner. You seemed upset, so I thought you might want to talk about it, because that's what friends do, right? They check on each other, but clearly, you have Daniella here, so…"

"Inside," he grunts, tugging on my wrist before he opens the door.

"I don't want to interrupt—"

"It's a little too late for that, don't you think?"

He pulls me into his apartment, and my lips part in awe as I take in the beautiful interior—glossy dark hardwoods with navy walls and accents of white. The colorful paintings from downstairs are hanging on the walls.

"Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back." He gestures down the hall before he walks into his kitchen and busies himself. Instrumental music that sounds a lot like U2 plays from hidden speakers. Curiosity propels me into his family room. There's a large flat-screen TV across from a brown leather sectional. Above the couch is a massive painting similar to the one I bought earlier. I stand for a moment, absorbed by the dabs of color, the strokes blending into each other. The family room opens to a formal dining room, a den, and a hallway leading to the bedrooms, which is where I'm assuming Daniella is hanging out, waiting for me to leave. Mamma Mia, I need to go.

Lorenzo meets me in the hallway with two cappuccinos.

"It's not Luigi's." He shrugs.

"I should get going."

"But you just got here. You said you wanted a cappuccino, sí?"

"Oh, uh…right…sure." Crap, I didn't think this through. Now I'll be up all night. I take the cappuccino and he leads me over to the couch and sits down. I take the chair opposite him.

"Won't Daniella want a coffee?"

Lorenzo takes a sip and looks over at me. "She left."

"She left? I didn't see her scoot past us in the hall." I take a small sip of the bitter coffee, my eyes darting nervously around the room.

Lorenzo gives me a tight smile, setting his drink down on the coffee table. "She left through the back entrance."

I follow his lead and place my drink down, my nerves humming. I'm now alone with him in his apartment. "I'm sorry if I ruined your date."

His jaw clenches. He leans back into the couch, stretching his arm along the back, turning his complete focus on me. "What are you doing here, Summer?"

Gah, I don't know, Lorenzo. What the hell am I doing here?"I told you. I wanted to check on you after your argument with Angelo."

"That was hours ago. Why are you just coming by now?" He drums his fingers.

"I…I was doing a little redecorating at home first." I pick up my coffee and take a large gulp, the bitterness making my nose wrinkle.

Lorenzo's cool gaze slides over me, chilling my skin. "So, let me get this straight. You are concerned about the fight I had with Angelo and my hurt feelings, but you finish dinner with him and then go home for a couple of hours to…redecorate?"

"Okay, I sound like a shitty friend, I realize that, but I swear that's how it happened."

He arches an eyebrow, his smoky eyes pinning me to the spot. His jaw clenches again.

"Are you angry?"

"Angry? No." His nostrils flare. "I'm incazzato."

"Why are you…incazzato?" My coffee cup trembles as I set it back down. "And what exactly does that mean?"

"Beyond pissed," he grumbles.

"Oh."

"Why are you having dinner with Angelo, anyway? I told you he's bad news and you should stay away from him. Do you like him?"

"I—"

"And you're going away with him next weekend?"

"No…yes. I—"

"And you come over here after redecorating with Angelo, pretending to be my friend? Yes, I'm incazzato!"

"Wait! Hold on just a minute. I did not redecorate with Angelo. He took me home and dropped me off."

Lorenzo snorts, which makes my temper spark.

"Nothing happened with Angelo, not even a friendly kiss on the cheek. Oh, he tried, but I'm not interested in him."

"Could have fooled me. People don't agree to go on romantic seaside trips together if they aren't interested."

"I never said yes! He bulldozed right over me. What was I supposed to do?"

"He bulldozed right over you…" He gets up from the couch and paces.

"Why are you so angry? Are you jealous?"

"Sí! I'm fucking geloso, Summer!" He throws his hands in the air, and I'm stunned. "It makes my skin crawl that you're going away with him next weekend."

"How do you think I feel when I show up here and gorgeous, long-legged Daniella opens the door?" I stand up, exasperated.

Lorenzo looks at me, anger marring his beautiful face. He shakes his head. "We were working. We're just friends."

I choke out a laugh. "Ah, I see. You like to do that, don't you? Just friends." I air-quote obnoxiously and step into his space. "You can't be jealous of Angelo, just like I have no right to be jealous of Daniella, because you and I are just friends!"

"I don't want you going away with Angelo next weekend!" he explodes.

"Oh, well, that's nice, as if I need your permission. Let me write that down on my calendar. Weekend away with Angelo. Oh wait, I can't, because Lorenzo said no." Jerk. I turn to leave.

"Non voglio che tu vada con lui, ma con me!"

"I don't know what you're saying," I cry out, waving my arms in frustration. This entire conversation is not going the way I planned. He runs his hands through his hair and takes a deep breath as we glare at each other.

"I don't want you going away with him because I want it to be me. Don't you get it? You're all I think about, all I see. All I want is you."

I stand there with my mouth open. He walks toward me and cups my face in his hands.

"I lied," he says quietly. "I lied when I said I only wanted to be friends. I was protecting my heart."

"Protecting your heart from what?"

"From you."

His lips crush against mine in a sizzling kiss that has mine parting for more. I moan as his tongue dances with mine. He tastes of something sweet mixed with the bitter coffee, and I can't get enough. My fingers curl up into his silky hair, tugging him closer. He lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist. He groans and squeezes my ass. I fit perfectly against the rock-hard bulge in his jeans. All the pent-up tension heating up between us for the past month roars to life like a raging wildfire.

"Tesoro, I can't hold back anymore," he whispers against my lips.

"Then don't," I murmur, seeking his mouth again.

The reasons he thought we shouldn't be together disintegrate, like ash in the air. His kisses slowly pull me apart as he walks me down the hallway while I hastily unbutton his shirt. I rip it off and a little moan escapes from my lips as I dance my fingers over silky-smooth muscle. It's even better than in my fantasies.

We enter his bedroom, and he sets me down on his bed. I kneel in front of him, worshiping his body with my fingertips, and flick my tongue against his nipple. His sharp inhale makes me smile, my fingers trailing down the hard ridges of his abdominal muscles as I work his belt buckle. He runs his hands up my thighs, then higher, lifting my sundress over my head. Tossing the dress to the side, his lips seek mine while his fingers trail down my navel to my panties, dipping into me. He pumps his finger in and out of me, just like I daydreamed. He groans into my mouth as my hands wrap around his hard length. I squeeze and pump, luxuriating in the feel of him.

"Tesoro, you're going to make me come, and I don't want to yet. I want to taste you first."

I gasp as the pad of his thumb swirls over the tight bundle of nerves, his teeth grazing over my neck. He trails kisses down to my breast.

"Bellissima," he growls. His eyes swirl to smoke as he takes my nipple into his mouth. He groans as I arch into him, the swirling of his tongue over my sensitive bud making me ache in the most delicious way. It's all I can do not to slide to the floor. I'm so wet and throbbing with need, it's ridiculous.

"Lorenzo, I need you," I pant. He answers by sliding my panties down before taking off his pants and boxer briefs. He stands gloriously naked in front of me like a Roman god, muscles rippling while my eyes glaze over with lust as I scoot back on his bed. He climbs over me, his smile taking my breath away.

"Tesoro, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on."

"Oh God, say it in Italian," I whimper as he places my leg over his shoulder.

"Sei la piu bella donna che abbia mai visto in vita mia."

"Oh God, yes. Permission granted to speak Italian all night long."

He chuckles before his tongue flicks against my wet heat. I arch off the bed. Jesus, it's been a long time. His tongue delves into me like a spear, and I moan as he licks me like I'm the best fucking hazelnut chocolate gelato he's ever tasted. I drive my fingers into his hair and tug him closer to me. He groans, his tongue working me into a state of liquid pleasure as I move against him. The symphony building inside me comes to a crescendo. I arch into him, screaming his name, my body bursting into a thousand points of light.

He lifts his head as I come down off my high, giving me a devilish grin. "Dolce come una pesca, Summer. You taste so good. Creamy and sweet like a juicy peach. I've dreamed about what it would be like to taste you, and it's better than I imagined."

Sweet Jesus, I could come again just from his words.

He leans over and opens his nightstand drawer, taking a condom out. Liquid heat hums in my veins in anticipation. He sits back and rolls the condom on. I lick my lips, taking in his perfection. He's flawlessly built, in that department. It's as if Michaelangelo himself carved him out of marble.

"Are you sure about this, tesoro?" Ren murmurs, his hooded eyes perusing my flushed skin.

"Yes, I'm sure. Are you?"

"Considering I've wanted to do this the moment I laid eyes on you, sì, sono sicuro." He smiles slowly, entering me, stretching my walls. I'm slick with need as he pulls out a little and pumps back in, careful not to hurt me.

I grab his perfectly sculpted ass and pull him hard into me. The surprise in his eyes makes me laugh. "More, faster."

His grin is so wide my heart does a little dip. "Ancora, più veloce."

"Ancora, più veloce," I repeat.

He pulls back and pumps harder back into me and grabs my thigh, going deeper. "Quanto mi piaci…you feel so good. So fucking good."

"Quanto mi piaci," I pant as he picks up his pace. He sits back and places my leg on his shoulder, going deeper. It feels incredible. I cry out when his thumb finds the tight bundle of nerves. He draws little circles, making me climb higher. I want this moment to last, but I can't hold on.

"Oh God, I'm going to come, Ren," I whimper as he slams into me harder. I splinter apart, arching off the bed. He pushes in and out of me, fast and erratic, his eyes flickering down to where we're joined as the aftershocks of my orgasm leave me languid. He closes his eyes, sweat glistening on his skin as he chases down his orgasm. I could watch this man forever. He growls unintelligible Italian as he comes undone. Gently lowering my leg, he supports himself over me and kisses my lips.

"Tesoro…that was…"

"Incredibile."

"Sì, incredibile." His lips curve. He kisses my nose before he stands up and disposes of the condom. He lies back down beside me and my mind whirls with what this means. He pulls me to him and brushes a strand of hair off my cheek.

"You will not get much sleep tonight, tesoro." He nuzzles my neck.

"You want me to stay the night?"

"Sí, of course I do." He kisses right under my jaw. "I haven't had my fill of you yet. I've wanted you since I saw you talking to yourself on your bathroom floor."

"Not one of my finer moments."

He runs a finger over my lips. "You had me at mozzarella."

"What are you talking about?" I giggle, tracing his jawline.

"When I called you randagia, and you thought I was calling you a type of cheese. It was cute."

"You have issues." I grin.

"I warned you to stay away from Italian men." He props himself up on an elbow and gazes down at me with a tender expression.

"Ah, so you did. No regrets." I run my fingers through his hair. It's a strange feeling, because I've daydreamed of doing it more times than I can count.

"Will you tell me why you were so upset today? I want to help."

I quickly sober, turning in his arms, and stare at the ceiling. The last thing I want to do is bring my issues with Barbara into bed with us. "Not tonight, Ren. Tonight, it's just you and me."

He trails kisses along my collarbone, his fingers grazing over my nipple. "Okay, for now, but I want you to know you can trust me."

"Okay." I luxuriate in the feel of his skin against mine. I never thought we'd ever get here. "What are we going to do about work?"

"What about it?" He smiles, shifting for better access. "Questo non cambia nulla."

"But.…I think we need to keep this casual, right? I'm leaving at the end of summer…"

"Sí, informale." He nuzzles my neck and then places a kiss on my shoulder. "This changes nothing, tesoro, don't worry."

I give him a weak smile, closing my eyes. He's wrong though. This changes everything.