Neighbors and More (High Rise Series) (14 page)

Accepting her invitation, Dante brought her hard against his
chest and invaded her mouth. He’d been waiting so long for her to come to him.
Would she change her mind and stop him after a few kisses as she had on the
previous days?

His hand splayed across her back, grinding her to him. His
chest burned, and his lungs filled with her perfume and the scent of her skin. Their
tongues entwined, tangled, and danced as his heart beat a happy staccato in his
chest.

She pulled away and inhaled.

Immediately on alert, he released her and peered into her
eyes, ready to revert to his role of protector and friend. Even if it killed
him. He knew her trust in men teetered on a thread and he didn’t want her to
compare him to Greg or Steve.

“What’s wrong? You didn’t like our kiss?” A pout scrunched
her mouth, deliciously red from his kisses.

“Oh I did. Believe me I did. I thought you—”

“Stop thinking, please. We’ve done nothing else all day. My
mind can’t accommodate another thought, but if you’re tired, or not interested,
I’ll understand. You’ve been a great support. Thank you.” With a big sigh, she
averted her gaze to the door.

“Now listen, I don’t want to push you or rush you. You’ve
had bad experiences so far. I’m not like...others.” He’d rather not mention
names and spoil the mood.

“Of course, you’re not.” She offered him a lovely smile.
“That’s why I want you. That’s why I’ve dreamed so often of you coming back, of
us together.”

No man could resist such a charming offer. “
Alexa mia
,
I’ve been waiting for this moment since the last time I saw you, before my
trip.” He touched her lips in a soft caress. Convinced she wouldn’t have a
change of heart, he scooped her up into his arms. “How about moving to your
comfortable bed?”

“You always have fantastic ideas.” She chuckled and laced
her fingers behind his neck. “I’d like nothing better than to share my bed with
you.”

His breath hitched at her cheery disposition. He was finally
recognizing the feisty girl he’d entertained the night before his trip, the one
who’d asked him to play on his guitar while she danced in his living room.
“Keep saying things like that, and we won’t have time to reach your bed.”

Her crystalline laughter bubbled and swirled in his head
like an Italian melody. Through the sheer material of her nightie, her breasts
pressed against his chest and stirred his blood to the boiling point. Their
lips met and his tongue swept into her mouth, claiming her. She responded with
her previous enthusiasm as he strode with his precious load through the living
room. In her luxurious bedroom, he set her on her feet on the plush white rug, against
the side of the bed, and switched on the light. The spaghetti straps and deep
v-cut of the mini-nightgown beckoned.

Holding her shoulders at arm’s length, he stared at her
smile of eagerness and allowed her to assimilate the turning point in their
relationship. She tilted her head, waiting, lips parted, eyes shimmering with a
new fire.

With impatient fingers, he traced the edge of her sun-colored
throat and collar bone, and skimmed the milky white of her generous breasts and
the valley in between, and grinned. “Nice tan, but it’s too hot here.” Easing
the straps down her arms, he smoothed his hands along the nightie and thong,
and let them glide over her hips and heap on the rug.

“You’re so beautiful,” he groaned when Alexa stepped out of her
clothes and proudly stood in front of him. She had the most magnificent breasts
he’d ever seen, full and pert. His hands closed over the heavy mounds, kneading
and caressing. His fingers fondled the rounded tips. “
Bella
…
Bellissima
.
Lovely, so pretty.” He lowered his head, and licked the tender flesh around each
hardened peak.

“Oh Dante…”
How did I survive this long without him?
Every nerve in Alexa’s body quivered in response. Impatient for a passionate
reunion and an overdue tumbling, she climbed onto the bed. Kneeling on the firm
mattress in front of him, she tugged at his shirt. “You’re overdressed.” With
nervous fingers, she undid the buttons, peeled the shirt off his torso and
arms. He helped her and threw it away, as she pulled at his belt and unbuckled
it.

“Now this.” She pointed at his zipper, unable to gather the
guts to lower it.

“Can’t you handle it?” He laughed. “Feeling too shy?”

“Huh... no.” A blush warmed her face as she reached for the
zipper and yanked it down. Sure enough it jammed. She scowled and jerked on it
with both hands. The damn thing wouldn’t shift one tooth, but the bulge under the
zipper grew bigger with the accidental rubbing of her fingers. Embarrassment
heated her face and throat. After floundering for another minute with the
stubborn slide fastener, she stared at it in dismay, and then flipped a glance
at Dante who visibly struggled to keep a straight face. “It’s stuck.”

“No problem, darling. You’ll get better with experience.”

“Oh.” The air lumped into her throat. She’d been married for
five years, but had never taken the initiative. Was it so obvious? Blood
suffused her cheeks.

He cupped her face between his hands and gave her a tender
kiss on the mouth. “Excuse me.” He moved her hands away, rattled the coil of
the zipper, and managed to loosen it over the toothed track.

A whoosh of relief exhaled from her, but she swallowed hard
when he lowered both pants and briefs in one motion, and stepped gloriously
naked in front of her.

Lordy
, w
hat a body
. Broad bronzed chest
rippling with muscles and narrowing at the waist, with a white area over his flat
abs marking the part usually covered by his bathing suit. Quickly glancing
below, she blinked at the sight of his strong member, licked her lip, and
smothered a gasp of appreciation.

Bending over his clothes, he retrieved his wallet from his
pocket, extracted a few foils, and set them on the night table.

She averted her eyes, not sure if she should be pleased or
unsettled. “Do you always carry these things with you?”

“Since I came back from Sicily, yes. I had to be prepared
for whenever you’d be ready to come into my arms.”

“I think I spoiled the moment with the zipper problem.”

“Never. Just one look at you is enough to restore it.” He pushed
her down on the mattress and followed, the mischievous glint in his eyes
replaced by an ardent look. She could feel the warm stir of his breath, smell
his strong, masculine scent.

His mouth settled on hers, not allowing her another word. His
tongue parted her lips, danced against her teeth, teased, and tangled with hers,
as he practically devoured her. She welcomed him and responded eagerly, all the
while wrapping her arms around his back. His hand closed over her breast and
resumed his previous caress. Throwing her head back, she drew in a breath that
turned into a moan when he sucked the hard tip.

“More. I want more,” she mumbled, hardly aware of her words
or the crazy thoughts careening in her mind. This was what lovemaking should be
like.

“Yes,
amore mio
.”

She was ready, more than ready, wanting a man for the first
time in her life, wanting this man. “Oh Dante,” she murmured, bracing both arms
around his waist. His shaft nudged against her stomach, his hand slid between
her legs. A shiver of anticipation trickled through her. His fingers played and
stroked, drifted over her love bud and lingered, tormenting and pleasuring.

He raised his head, and seared her with a gaze that
reflected her desire.

“Yes,” he murmured against her mouth.

She wriggled and moaned and buried her face in his shoulder.

“Look at me,
cara mia
. Let me see your face.”

She opened her eyes and swallowed. Unable to withstand the
mounting pressure, she squirmed, closed her legs, and whimpered when his
imprisoned fingers accentuated his caress. Excitement sizzled through her.

He smiled. “You’re so beautiful,
amore mio
.”

Needing to touch him, she rubbed her hands over his pecs and
through the thin fur covering his chest. She twisted, reached for his nipple,
and sucked. It hardened. Delighted with her power over him, she nibbled, her
frenzy accelerating with the dipping of his fingers in and out of her. Her
whimpers hummed in the silence. “Dante, enough. Now.”

“Right away.”

She felt him moving and heard the tearing of paper. His hand
tangled in her hair, tugging her head back. He covered her mouth and silenced
her moans with his kisses. His shaft replaced his fingers as he filled her. She
dug her nails in his back and butted against him.

His thrusts accelerated. She followed him, gyrating her hips,
tightening her muscles around him. Skin slapped against skin. Tremors shook
her.

He held her pressed against him and plunged. She lifted both
legs, encircled him, and dragged him even deeper.

Jolts of pleasure rippled through her and myriad stars sparkled
behind her closed eyes. Her body shaken by a last convulsion, she screamed his
name.

“
Amore mio
.” Dante shuddered and sagged above her.

“My love,” she whispered. Alexa slowly emerged from her
blissful ecstasy. Had he called her
Love?
Had she answered
in the
same way? She smiled against his cheek, unable to remember and not really
worrying.

Splaying her hands on his muscular back, she tightened her
hold. Whether they’d share more of the same or not, he’d given her an
unforgettable moment. Her eyes filled with happy tears.

Dante rolled off her and gathered her against his side,
peering into her eyes. “Why the tears, darling? You didn’t enjoy it?” An odd
anxiety underlined his tone. “Have I rushed you?”

Rushed her? Good God, had he forgotten she was the one who
jammed his zipper in her eagerness to undress him? She smiled and cradled his
cheeks in her hands. “Believe me, I enjoyed it. And I’ll remember it till the
day I die.”

“So you’re not disappointed?”

“Absolutely not. More like delighted.” She kissed him to
prove her point.

“Good. Are you tired?”

“Not at all.” She snuggled up closer to him.

He chuckled and tickled her chin. “If you want memories, how
about we built some more?” Joyful sparks glittered in his eyes.

More of the same?
Heat infused her cheeks. “Are you
serious?”

 “Dead serious. I mean very alive.” He burst out laughing,
and moved her on top of him. “See for yourself.” He cupped her butt, pressing
his hardening cock against the juncture of her thighs. “So what do you say?
Ready for more?”

“You bet. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”

“Shh.” He pressed his fingers to her mouth. “No depressing
thoughts. Tonight is for fun and love.”

“For fun and love,” she repeated as if he’d just made a
toast. She closed her eyes to savor the words and his kisses.

Chapter Ten

The alarm pulled Alexa from a frantic dream. “Dante.” She
cringed and bolted to a sitting position. Next to her, the bed was empty. Where
was Dante?

“Good morning,
bellissima
.” He came into the bedroom,
bent, and brushed her lips with a light kiss. “We need to get dressed. It’s
already 8:00 am.”

“You’ve already showered?” She skimmed his wet skin above
the towel wrapped around his hips.

He removed her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. “No
more of that, or we’ll never make it to the funeral.”

“Ah the funeral. No wonder I had nightmares.”

“When? You were sleeping like an angel in my arms.”

“Just now. I dreamed that a man with a mask was chasing after
me on the beach. He grabbed my shoulder.” A shudder raked her, and she rubbed
her arms to erase the imaginary touch. “His fingers were ice cold.”

“Darling, that’s a remnant of your lousy encounter in the
ocean. A bad memory.” Dante’s hands cradled her face, and he brushed her cheeks
with soft kisses. “No one will ever chase you again. I promise. You were
amazing yesterday. So strong and brave. Come. A hot shower will restore your
spirits.” He carried her out of the bed to the bathroom and turned on the faucets.
“In you go.” He pulled the glass door behind her. “I’ll wait for you to get
dressed.”

She shampooed her hair and let the water massage her back.
No nightmares could erase her wonderful night in West Palm Beach and then in her
bed. Dante was one of a kind lover. Mmm, what would detective Ladd say if she
and Dante ran away to Sicily and never came back? The hell with Steve and his
funeral. And Greg, Carter, Julia and Dianna.

“Hey Alexa, are you done?”

“Yes, unfortunately. Give me a minute.”

Clad in a black lacey bra and matching thong, she dried her
hair, applied her make-up, and dabbed perfume on her throat and wrists.

“Can I come in?” At the door of the bathroom, Dante clucked
his tongue as his eyes devoured her. “These little black things are gorgeous. And
you smell delicious.”

She slipped on a black knitted dress with short sleeves. “Am
I decent now? It’s my
funeral
dress. I wore it for my grandmother’s and
for Greg’s mother. Not my usual type of clothing.” She chuckled and turned
around for him to zipper her.

“You’re beautiful in any outfit.” He moved her hair and
pressed warm lips to her nape.

“Thank you, Dante. I have bagel and cheese. Is it good
enough for breakfast?”

 “I already made coffee.” In fact, the warm aroma of freshly
brewed coffee wafted toward them. This man was perfect. What would it take to
keep him?

While they drank their coffee, her cell phone rang.

“Greg?” Dante asked.

She nodded. “Good morning,” she said with a jovial voice
that must have stunned her ex-husband speechless.

“You’re not depressed anymore?” Greg sounded shocked.