Chapter Four

Chapter Four

One of the things I miss the most while I'm deployed is lazy Sunday mornings. –Gee

K ianna woke to the smell of something sweet and savory cooking. Keeping her eyes closed, she drew in a deep breath. If her dream smelled that good, she didn't want to wake up. She wanted to sleep in, then mosey her way down to Anna's for something decadent for breakfast. Something with cream and sugar she could lick off her fingers.

She frowned realizing that she hadn't been dreaming it. She was awake. Opening her eyes slowly. The memory of the night before washed over her, through her. She smiled and reached for Gianni only to find his side of the bed empty.

She sat up, the sheet falling to her waist. She gasped when she realized she was still naked. Pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts, she sighed. It had been a really long time since she'd slept naked. It had been since she and Charley had first married. She was a lot younger and definitely not as curvy at that point of her life. She vaguely remembered getting up to throw on a nightshirt at some point, but Gianni had told her it was a waste of time to get dressed.

She pulled her legs up and rested her head on her knees. Damn the man had her head spinning. She couldn't get all tangled up in the idea that they were going to be involved for a long time. He was Air Force and would be moving on soon. Plus, he was younger. He wasn't interested in settling down. But, she couldn't resist the fantasy of having the man in her bed every night.

"Daydreaming, professor?" he said breaking into her thoughts.

She lifted her head and found him leaning against the doorjamb. Was there ever a more beautiful man who'd been in her bed? She didn't think so. Luck was rarely on her side, but it seemed for right now, she had her share and she wasn't going to waste it. "No, not really. Just thinking how much fun last night was."

It wasn't a big lie. It was part of what she had been thinking about.

"Fun?"

She nodded.

He gave her a brilliant smile and she felt her heart lodge in her throat. No one, man or woman, should be that pretty in the morning.

"I would call it one of the best nights of my life," he said.

Then he walked into the room and leaned over her. He brushed his lips over hers. "Good morning, Kianna."

"Good morning, Gianni."

He shuddered. "Damn, I love the way you say my name. That southern accent of yours makes me so fucking hot."

She slipped her arms around his neck to pull him into bed. "Then come back to bed."

He shook his head and untangled himself. "No, I will resist you because I have made you breakfast. Get dressed and I'll set the table."

She frowned.

"Oh, don't look that way. I promise you will be rewarded."

He gave her another intense kiss then left her alone. She sighed. It wasn't as if they hadn't had enough time together in bed. She lost count the number of times they made love. She grabbed her kimono and slipped it on as she stood and made her way to the bathroom. It had been a long time since a man slept over. She hadn't had many lovers. Timing and well…she was selective. Respect was as important to her as passion. Gianni had that in spades.

She rinsed off her face realizing she knew more about him than she did men she dated for months. Their emails had started out as simple back and forth's. But in those few weeks he was gone, they had grown closer and she had learned so much about the man.

As she brushed her teeth, she thought about why she was so attracted. Well, except for zero percent body fat and that gorgeous face. He was so pretty—but it was more than that. She could tell he was kind, he loved his mama and the rest of his family, and he liked curvy woman.

There definitely was a God she thought with a chuckle.

"You better hurry up in there, Kianna or I'm going to eat this all myself."

Happy with him, with spending the day with him, she decided to heed his warning. She definitely would need some food to keep up with him.

Gianni was setting the plates on the table when his phone rang with Leo's ring tone. "Shouldn't you be busy with that cute wife of yours?"

Leo chuckled. "Right now, Maryanne isn't in the mood for anything in the mornings."

"Ah," he said immediately understanding the situation. Maryanne was in her second trimester and the morning sickness had been pretty bad.

"So, what are you calling me for?" he asked.

"Just checking on you. No vision problems?"

He rolled his eyes at the question. "Leo, I'm a PJ and I have medic training just like you do."

"I know you have the training." Gianni heard Maryanne's voice in the background. "My wife just pointed out that Santini men are notorious for ignoring an illness."

"Yeah, well, I'm fine. Better than fine." It was then he realized he was smiling. He had the same goofy smile on his face all morning.

There was a beat of silence. "Damn. I owe Vince money."

"What do you mean you owe Vince money?"

"He said you wouldn't last twenty four hours. You're not even in your apartment are you?"

If there was a way to lie and make both his brothers lose money on the bet, it would be worth it, but Gianni didn't see a way. "No, I'm not."

Something caught the corner of his eye and he turned to look at Kianna. Right then, the air backed up in his lungs as every thought seemed to dissolve. She was fresh faced but her eyes were still sleepy. Her hair was still a springy mess, as usual. The emerald green kimono made her skin glow.

How did he get so fucking lucky?

"I hate that he's going to win," Leo said, breaking into Gianni's thoughts.

There was more from Maryanne. "I know you told me not to take the bet, but I thought Gianni had more resistance."

Without thinking, speaking from his heart, Gianni asked, "How long would it have taken if it had been you and Maryanne?"

"Ah, so that's the way of it."

"I think. But, see, I made a wonderful breakfast for my lovely lady, so I am going to go eat and enjoy the morning with her."

"Damn, you made that custard French toast didn't you? Oh, shit. Gotta go," he said not waiting for Gianni to sign off.

"That was one of your brothers?"

"Yeah, Leo. Maryanne still has morning sickness."

He was staring at her again but he couldn't seem to help it. She mesmerized him. It had taken all of his control not to wake her up earlier. They had been up most of the night making love, so he felt a little guilty. Okay, not a whole lot—but he wasn't an animal. Maybe.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "You keep staring at me."

"I like you."

"Really? I could never tell."

He chuckled and walked to her. He had to kiss her again, had to reassure himself it wasn't all a dream. He cupped her face and did just that.

He pulled back before he lost control. "So, I hope you like custard French toast."

"I don't know if I've ever had it."

"Well, you are in for a treat."

He led her to a dining chair and waited for her to sit.

"Coffee?" he asked.

"I can get that."

He waved her back in her seat. "No, you sit, relax. You cooked last night."

He grabbed a mug, filled it then grabbed the cream and sugar. It was odd that he knew more about her than he'd known about most of his girlfriends in the past. When someone is your lifeline, the one person you can be honest with during a deployment, you get to know that person really well.

He shook away any deep thoughts today. It had been a long two months and he planned on making up time. He grabbed the plate of French toast and brought it to the table.

"Prepare to be wowed."

She laughed. "You would have to do a lot to top last night."

He smiled. Sunday morning, French toast and a sexy woman to share both with.

Life just couldn't get much better.