Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Dani squealed when Toni snaked an arm around her and picked her up off her feet, spiriting them both into the dark closet full of food and wine. He kissed away her questions, pressed her against the shelving, found the waist of her sweatpants and slid two fingers inside of her panties.

"I remember how you wrapped your legs around me in the pantry at the wedding," he murmured against her ear. "How you spread them wide for me on my bed. How slick you were when I was inside of you."

He groaned when he found her wet and ready for him. He made gentle, torturous circles over her swollen flesh, then slipped his fingers inside her. He closed his eyes against the warmth, and the urge to flip her around and drive himself endlessly into her sweet body.

"I want to see you come again, Dani."

She gasped and clawed at his shoulders, her hips rocking into his hand in answer.

A muffled sound intruded into his sensual haze. He paused, his ear cocked toward the door. Their breaths mingled and their eyes searched each other's shadowed expressions. Seconds went by with no further suspicion. Then Dani's hand came up, closed around his wrist and set a dizzying rhythm of her own. "Don't stop," she whispered.

Their mouths met in a hard, feverish kiss. And Toni found himself further set on his goal to facilitate her pleasure.

"Toni? Are you in here?" Toni froze. His mother's voice boomed in the room next door.

While he was aware of the sensitive situation, his feelings were feverishly impenetrable. He'd felt the first tremors of the unequivocal passion that was ready to roll through Dani's body, and he wasn't interested in stopping. Toni felt rather than heard Dani's soft gasp of alarm and, checking that the door was closed, tightened his arm around her. His fingers quickened their pace and he bent his head next to her ear and breathed, "Come for me."

Dani closed her eyes as her body shook with internal thunder. She was white-hot and panting, her fingers digging into his back and her body opening further for him. He covered her mouth to taste her pleasure, taking her breath into his body along with her muffled cries.

Seconds later another call. "Toni, are you in there?"

"Oh my God," Dani whispered in the dark, the warmth of her body shifting away from him. No, he wasn't having it. After a deep steadying inhale, he answered in a calm, controlled voice, "I'll be right there, Mamma."

Dani was shaking, racked still by her orgasm, and rigid with the possibility of being caught.

Toni adjusted his pants, then gave her a measured look before he kissed her. "Don't move. This isn't over."

Toni slipped through the pantry door and found his mother in her robe drinking a glass of water.

"Are you cooking?" She frowned, automatically reaching for the soap and sponge.

"Sophia couldn't sleep so I made her a little something. I'll clean up. You should go back to bed." Toni grabbed the sponge from her hand and walked her to the foot of the stairs.

"Va bene, but don't be too loud or you'll wake Danica." Grace pulled herself onto the first step, then turned and put her palm against his cheek. "You need a strong woman, figlio."

"You may be right, Mamma." Toni took his mother's hand from his face and kissed her fingers. There was no question of whom she was talking about, but he wasn't in the mood for a pep talk. The subject of their silent understanding was waiting for his return, and he was eager to be received.

His mother's ascent of the stairs felt like an eternity and when he heard her bedroom door shut then lock, he flew across the room and slipped inside the pantry door. He closed the door behind him and tuned on the single overhead light. His heart dropped when he saw no sign of her, but he calmed when she peeked her head up from a crouched position behind the freezer.

Dani came out from her concealed space then, her clothes righted and zipped, her eyes wide with doubt.

"She's gone," he said, his feet moving toward her on autopilot.

"Oh my God. That was close. We shouldn't—" Toni took her face and kissed her, silencing her before she could voice her change of heart. He slid his tongue against her and brought all his skill into play, hoping her change of heart would melt away just as his intention to not get involved with a woman cracked every time he saw her.

Toni lifted his lips just above hers, pleased when she held her face tipped toward him. Her eyes blinked open and he palmed her cheek. "It's time for bed."

Her gaze dipped and she pulled back with a quick nod. They quietly made their way into the kitchen and down the hall toward the stairs. Toni stopped at the basement door and reached for Dani's arm as she continued to walk by toward the stairs.

"I meant my bed," he said low, gently pulling her toward him.

A breath went by as her gaze took in the descending wooden staircase. "I thought you meant separate beds."

He held her gaze. "I didn't."

"We had an agreement, remember? All work and no play. Maybe we should stop."

"We haven't started working yet. And I can't let you go tonight. If you won't come down here, then I'll come up there. But I'm making love to you."

"What if I said no?"

"Are you saying no?"

Her lips parted, but nothing came out.

He closed the basement door and moved toward the stairs.

"No, they'll hear," Dani said before he cleared the first step. She opened the door and disappeared into his bedroom. Excitement flared through his senses.

Dani was standing in the open doorway that led to the garden when he descended the stairs. She was bathed in the glow of a single floor lamp, gazing into the night. He turned off the light and the moonlit garden was suddenly visible. His spacious room with its king-size bed and tan leather couch was streaked with the moon's rays, and the sound of crickets were carried by a cool breeze.

"Etheral isn't it?" he said, touching his lips to the back of her neck. She nodded and turned, stepping into his arms. He could no longer hold back and brought his mouth down in an aggressive kiss. She leaned into him and wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. She matched his kiss and he tasted the delicious, savory flavor of her, the sweet lick of her fiery response, and the sultry erotic slide of her tongue. Lust jolted through him and she moaned into his mouth.

"Tomorrow we play by my rules."

"Tonight we play by mine." Without lifting his mouth from hers, he yanked her zipper down and shoved off her sweatshirt. Then he shoved his hands under her tank top and willed her arms up as he stripped the cotton fabric from over her head. His ears rang with her soft moan as he kissed and sucked her exposed neck, her shoulder and the creamy swells of her breasts. His palms played and teased, and he lifted the tip of her breast to his mouth. Her hands locked in his hair as her nipple hardened with the lap of his tongue.

She breathed his name when he transferred his mouth to her other breast. Her hands clutched his biceps to steady herself and her eyes were closed against the sensations. He couldn't remember when he had ever wanted anything or anyone as badly as he wanted her.

He eased her pants down over smooth legs and silken curves, feeling her tremble under the caress of his palm. His fingers skimmed the elastic of her panties, the last barrier to where he so badly wanted to be, and he whisked them down and off. She stood before him naked; a Botticelli come to life. Finally, she was here. His.

"You're beautiful." More words were threatening to tumble from his mouth. Words of want and desire. Words of longing and obsession. Words of love. He clamped his mouth shut.

Cupping her face in his hands, he found her mouth again and drank her in, deepening the connection until his body was screaming. He felt her hands tugging on his waistband and he pulled his mouth away to help her. His T-shirt and pants were off in a heartbeat. He hauled her closer and she wound around him, her skin sliding against his, pressing against his rigid erection.

He walked her back to the bed and lowered her onto the soft duvet, covered her body with his, his arms sliding under her shoulders to protect her from his full weight. Her thighs cradled him and he was poised at her apex, feeling her soft nudges, beckoning him to fill her. She whimpered and he took the sound into his mouth, silencing her with a kiss.

"We have to be quiet." She nodded, her eyes dazed, her nails digging into his back.

"Okay," she murmured against his mouth. "Please, don't stop. I need you to—"

"I know, angel. I know." He slid his hand down between their bodies and found her silky-soft and dripping. He muffled his own groan in her neck. Then he eased his hand away and reached for the front pocket of his leather dopp kit which lay open on top of the nightstand.

Condom in place, her legs wrapped tighter around him and he entered her in slow, rhythmic thrusts, testing and filling her until he could no longer hold back. He covered her mouth with his and drove himself deep. He swallowed the desperate cry that bubbled from her throat. He stilled, overwhelmed by the feel of her. Warm and tight; honey and wine. Waves of acute pleasure engulfed him.

"Toni?" He came up from the sensory overload at her whisper. Her hand was on his face, tracing his lips and jaw. Her hips urged him on and he pulled back and surged into her again, driving the breath from both of their bodies. He rocked deeper inside of her and her eyes fluttered closed until he softly ordered, "Guardami." "Look at me." His hand slid under her bottom, and he lifted her to meet his full, hard length.

"Oh..." she gasped, and then she slammed a hand over her mouth and stilled. They looked at each other wide-eyed and both peeled into a silent chuckle.

"I feel like I'm fifteen," Toni said, nudging her hand away from her mouth with his lips for a kiss. "But sex was never this good then."

He rotated his hips slightly to touch all of her lushness and drove home again, watching her back arch and loving the way her hands fisted in his hair. The words began to fall from his lips then. Staccato sayings in Italian, he wasn't sure she understood, but that he felt deeply. How good she felt. How much he loved being inside her. How he dreamed of her for almost a year. That she was his and he'd kill anyone who hurt her. That he loved her. He stopped himself then, thinking that maybe he was getting carried away.

Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, her breathing was ragged, ending on whispered sobs. Her body trembled and undulated, searching for release. With eyes locked and mouths locked, and bodies in perfect accord, Toni kept up his driving rhythm. Dani's hands traveled from his shoulders and torso to the base of his spine, and he felt her nails dig into his sides. She was close. He lifted her lower body again to meet his long strokes, sending her closer to the edge.

In a rush of breath, she shook under him and he felt her body clench around his shaft. He gave up control and lost himself in her body. They kissed all the way through it, both bowled over by the power of their sex and by the fierce symmetry of their orgasms. He gave and she took. She gave, and he was lost.

Toni emerged from his blinding climax knowing two things: she was still the best sex of his life. And he was never going to be able to keep his hands off her like he had promised.

The clock read 7 a.m., but sleep was elusive. After silently leaving Toni's bed, Dani found her scattered clothes and tiptoed upstairs to the kitchen. She made herself an espresso, wondering why she felt the need to pack her bags and run.

Because this was how it had started with Andre. And Martin. And her boyfriend from culinary school. And they all ended with someone getting hurt, namely her.

She pulled in a deep breath and told herself this time was different. Her time with Toni was limited and there was no time for feelings. They had four more days to get ready and a laundry list of things to prepare.

They'd had a lapse in judgment. But it didn't have to affect their working relationship. Just stay focused, she told herself, and don't let your feelings get out of control.

Feelings? She slumped against the counter and sipped her Italian roast, staring out the window over the green hills and into the purple horizon. Do I have feelings for him? she asked the sliver of sun peeking from behind the mountains.

Her gaze landed on the lush garden and meticulous rows of wine grapes. She couldn't run, but maybe a walk would do her good. She zipped up her hoodie and slipped her feet into a pair of wellies in the mudroom, then with coffee in hand stomped past the greenhouse and through the garden into the vineyard.

She couldn't help but finger the dew-covered leaves and grapes as she slowly strolled through the labyrinth. Wine had always been a complement to her dishes, but seeing the little grape that would eventually become the beverage of the gods was awe inspiring.

"Hey, little grape. You're going to make someone very happy one day."

She fingered the dew, the droplet somehow reminding her of Toni and how wonderful he was with his fingers. And his body. And his lips. He'd whispered Italian in her ear, making her go a little crazy for him. She didn't recognize all of it, too engrossed in how good he felt, but she thought she'd heard Sono innamorato di te. "I'm in love with you."

An inner voice told her to stop being ridiculous. If he did say that, it was in the moment. Andre would tell her that during sex all the time. It meant nothing, clearly. And Toni didn't love her. She was only there for a little while. They were just acting on impulse, and now that it was out of their systems, they could begin working together like adults. Adults who didn't have any more sex.

"Angel, it's freezing. What are you doing?"

She jerked, splashing lukewarm coffee on her hand. Toni approached in wellies and his pajamas. His bed hair stuck out at all angles, making him look sexier than anyone should so early in the morning. The events of their night rushed back to her. The feel of him, the weight of him, the length of him inside her. Heat rushed across her skin.

She bit her lip. Just one look at him. That's all it took. Her heart sped up as he got closer, then it jumped when he smiled. No, she couldn't have this reaction. Not if they were going to work together.

And not if she was going to leave Italy unscathed.

"Hey" was all she could muster. He reached for her, but she pretended to be checking herself for more spilled coffee and moved away, trying to get away from him and the electrically charged space that now swirled around them. Suddenly she wanted to touch him. And him to touch her. Just one kiss, she mused keeping her distance from him before mentally slapping herself.

From the corner of her eye, she saw him stop and put his hands on his hips.

"I don't like waking up alone."

"I was craving coffee."

He stared at her. "Trying to avoid me?"

His deep voice was thickened by sleep and sex.

"Of course not. I just needed a walk." She sipped her coffee, which had gone almost cold, and tried to find her voice.

"You're having regrets."

"No." It was true. She didn't regret it. But she was afraid he would.

"Then come back to bed." His voice was patient and his fingers grazed her elbow as if testing the waters. Then she was there in his arms and his lips were on hers. She held her coffee cup out to the side while he ate at her mouth and wrapped his arms around her waist. He didn't let go of her mouth as his palms smoothed over her bottom.

Had they been in his room, she might have given in, instead she gathered all the inner strength and wiggled from his arms.

She turned her back to him and caught her breath. Then she turned. His dark brows were scrunched and his chest rose and fell rapidly.

"What was that?"

"Your daughter and mother are around."

"They're in bed, where we should be."

"Toni, last night was great, but I think we should acknowledge last night for what it was."

"You mean this morning." His brows went up. "And what was it?"

"The last time. We have other priorities to focus on and sex would get in the way. We're expected to work together, not sleep together."

She was handing him an out on a silver platter. Later he would realize that he wasn't that interested in her. That she wasn't his type.

"We can do both."

"I can't."

"Try."

She chuckled at his insistence. "I don't want your mother to get the wrong impression."

"And what impression is that? That we like each other? That we made love several different ways hours ago? That would be the right impression."

"I don't want her to think that we are together or dating or whatever Italians do."

"They get married."

"Well, we're definitely not doing that."

His gaze didn't waver, and then he smiled a slow smile and held out his hand. "Come back inside."

"I won't be your lover and your chef, Andre." Dani's hand went to her mouth.

"Andre? I am not Andre." Toni closed the distance between them and cupped her cheek. "I'm not Andre."

"I know. I don't know why that came out like that."

"What are you afraid of?"

"Of being a cliché."

Toni cocked his head at the strange answer.

"How can I help you not become a cliché?"

"By pretending that last night didn't happen."

Toni's lips became a thin line.

"Fine. We can act like nothing happened." He pulled her face toward his and gave her a searing kiss. Then he looked into her eyes. "But we both know it did."

He dropped his hands and walked back to the house, leaving her feeling bereft and unsteady.