The Italian's Bedroom Deal (15 page)

His fingers found her center and she almost leaped off the bed in horror. “Max?” she asked, her eyes opening and searching for his face.

“Relax. I promise I won’t do anything you won’t enjoy,” he said and his face was strained.

He released her hands and moved lower, his mouth kissing her thighs while his finger moved inside her, finding the wetness. He had to close his eyes to regain some of his control. She’d been amazingly eager, desperate for his touch up to this point. No woman had ever had the ability to turn him on like this slender, shy beauty underneath him. Now, finding her so ready and his body aching for her, it took all his remaining willpower not to lift himself up and bury himself in her wetness.

Instead, he moved lower, his mouth kissing the inside of her upper thigh. He felt her still and almost smiled to himself. A moment later, her anxiety over his direction was justified as his mouth closed over her most intimate part. His finger slid inside and moved in time with his tongue making her cry out. He was almost disappointed when her climax came over her, loving the way she tasted but he was so hard and ready, he was relieved that he could now feel what he’d been anticipating for so long.

As her body came down from her first orgasm, he rose over her, lifting her legs and positioning himself between her soft thighs.

“Clarissa, look at me,” he said and watched as her eyes fluttered open. Her smile of satisfaction almost sent him over the edge. His bride was undoubtedly the sexiest female he’d ever known in his life. He watched her eyes as he slowly entered her, his hardness filling her up inch by inch. Her mouth opened in awe and he would have agreed with her, if he could think any more. He was gritting his teeth to go slowly, careful to not hurt her but knowing that he probably would. He moved until he felt her barrier, then he bent low, taking her mouth with his and pushed inward, taking her gasp of pain into his mouth before embedding himself in her heat, groaning when he realized how perfect she felt. He stilled waiting for her to start breathing again. When he saw the movement in her eyes, watched the smile form on her face, he knew that everything was going to be okay.

Her smile brightened and Clarissa looked up, noticing the sweat on his forehead. It took her a moment but she finally realized that he was waiting for her, needing her to reassure him that she was okay. She lifted her hands and laid them on his shoulders. “I’m okay,” she whispered but it was a lie. She wasn’t okay. She was happier than she’d ever been in her life. She couldn’t remember a moment when she had ever felt so complete, so perfect.

When he moved, her eyes widened as the desire she’d thought had been satisfied returned. He moved again and her mouth opened as she almost cried out. Then he moved again and she arched into him, her legs wrapping around his waist, pulling him back and she couldn’t think any longer. The happiness was gone to be replaced with that barely bearable pleasure, that need for fulfillment that had overwhelmed her moments before.

Lifting herself, she pulled him down with her arms and that was all the permission he needed. He moved slowly at first, then faster, the tension building, the pleasure increasing until she couldn’t take it anymore. Clarissa actually screamed when the climax took over her body, her arms tightening around his shoulders and she had no idea that he too had found his own release at almost the same time.

It took a long time before she caught her breath and was able to open her eyes. When she finally did, she looked around to find Max smiling down at her, a grin of triumph, gloating on his face.

“What?” she asked, rolling slightly so their bodies were touching once again.

He pulled her closer, his hands sliding down her waist, skimming her bottom and making her squirm slightly until his large hand settled on her upper thigh. “I was just going to point out that I told you so,” he said and laughed when she punched him on the shoulder.

“Yes, you brute. You told me it would be nice but I’d like to also point out that I had no doubt it would be wonderful. I’m the one that was asking you to do this for ages.”

Chapter 13

Clarissa smiled dreamily as she packed up and sealed one more box in her small cottage. She was almost finished, having moved all of her clothes already and now it was just her personal items that she wanted to take with her to Max’s house.

They’d been married for one month now and she couldn’t believe how deliriously happy she was. Max was an amazing lover. She didn’t need to have experience with other men to know that he was generous and creative and never failed to make her scream out with both frustration and pleasure each time he took her into his arms. The frustration was because he aroused her to a point where she couldn’t take anymore, didn’t think she would be able to stand one more caress or flick of his tongue before dying or spontaneously combusting into flames. And she loved it.

She was finally learning to give back a little to him and that was equally wonderful. She felt strong, powerful and sexy when he laid back and let her touch him, kiss him and caress him but he only allowed it to a point. When she reached that point, she found herself scooped up into his arms and he took back the control.

Clarissa didn’t mind though. She smiled as she thought of the different ways she’d been able to get him to that point. Yes, he was stronger than she was, but in the end, she was still able to bring him to the same point he brought her each night.

Her phone rang and she answered it absently, not expecting any calls but since it was a slow day, she didn’t mind the interruption. “Clarissa, can you come up to the main house for a moment? I know you’re probably busy but I have something I need to discuss with you.”

Clarissa was surprised by the phone call. Her father wanted to talk to her about something? How odd. “Of course. I’m on my way,” she said quickly.

Looking at her appearance in the mirror, she decided that her sundress looked fine. She fluffed her hair quickly then wondered why she was primping for her father. She’d never cared what he thought of her appearance. Well, not for the past several years, she corrected.

Walking up to the main house, she couldn’t help but let her mind sift through all the possibilities even though she’d know the answer to his request in only a few minutes. The sun was hot but she didn’t even notice as she walked up the pathway between the hedges and early summer flowers.

“Dad?” she called out once she entered the cool, air conditioned house. Closing the massive door behind her, the sound echoed and she looked around curiously. No one came out. No servants, not even Jimbo the dog.

“What’s going on?” she whispered and walked further into the house. She peered into the library, then across the foyer to her father’s study. No one in sight.

Down the hallway, she started walking toward the kitchens but her father stopped her in the middle. “This way, dear,” he said and led her into the conservatory. It was one of her favorite rooms in his house so she was instantly wary. Why would he want her in here? It must be an awful subject if he wanted her to relax. But then, how would he know that this was her favorite room? He’d never bothered to even ask her how she wanted her room decorated when she was growing up. She’d leave for boarding school with one color scheme and would return at the end of the semester to another color scheme and all new furniture.

“Surprise!” five cheery female faces called out, jumping from different areas of the flowers.

Clarissa jumped about a foot, her hand instantly going to cover her mouth which was gaping in surprise. “What’s going on?” she asked weakly. “Jennifer?” she asked, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her. “Nancy?” Looking to her right, she saw three other friends from college. “Oh my goodness!” she whispered as she took in all the smiling faces in front of her. Then with delight, “what are you guys doing here?” she demanded as all five women descended on her, hugging her and asking questions all at the same time.

Clarissa looked back and saw her father smiling gently as he slipped out of the room. Her heart melted just a little bit, thinking that he’d done all of this for her. Turning back to her friends, she looked at them as they waited for her to answer their hundreds of questions.

“Come over here and tell us everything,” Nancy demanded, always having been the leader of the group. She led everyone over to a small sitting area where tea and small cakes were already laid out. Over on the side table, there was a lovely buffet of different salads, sandwiches, pastries and a beautiful little cake as well a wide range of drinks, all looking incredibly lovely.

“What are you doing here?” Clarissa asked, still unable to absorb the surprise of all her friends being in the same room after several years. Looking at Jennifer, her eyes widened as she took in her friends very pregnant belly. “When are you due? What gender is it? What are the names you’re thinking about? Goodness! I can’t believe you’ve been married for two years already!”

Jennifer smiled and patted her round belly. “I’m almost twenty five weeks along and Joe and I are having a baby boy.”

“Congratulations! That’s wonderful.” She looked at the rest of her friends and shook her head. “What’s been going on with all of you? I’ve fallen out of touch in the last couple of months.”

They talked for the rest of the afternoon, catching up on the news. They all wanted to hear how she’d met one of Europe’s most elusive and handsome bachelors. Clarissa didn’t tell them the whole story but a watered down version of how they’d met at a dinner party about four months ago.

“Lucky you, Clarissa. I can’t believe what a hunk you’ve managed to catch.”

Clarissa smiled, still unable to believe it herself at times. “What’s your husband like?” she asked, taking a bite of a sandwich.

“Boring,” she grimaced. “I thought he was nice at first. And my mother convinced me that I’d learn to love him.’

The news that her friend didn’t love her husband should have stunned her. They’d all discussed their views on marriage during high school but she hadn’t believed any of them would fall into the society marriage trap. “But you don’t?” Clarissa asked quietly. “Why would you marry a man you didn’t love?”

All five women laughed. “We grew up, I guess.”

“Mike is handsome,” Lilly stepped in. Here eyes were sad as she thought of the man she’d married three years ago. “If he would just stop with all of his affairs, we might have a baby some time as well.”

Lucy’s eyes turned angry. “Why would you accept that? My husband cheated on me once and I left him immediately.”

That drew five pairs of surprised glances in her direction. “I thought you were still married,” Jennifer questioned. “When did you get a divorce?”

Lucy shrugged and smoothed the linen napkin over her lap more carefully. “We’re still married. I took him back but he doesn’t know that I’m only gathering more data. The man has a mistress in London and in Paris, and they aren’t the same woman. Once I get enough, my lawyers will take it from there. I’m determined to get a good settlement out of this if it kills me,” she replied.

“I’d rather Mike have a mistress,” Jennifer said, patting her belly again.

“Why on earth would you want that?” Lilly asked, horrified.

“It keeps him away from me,” she said, waving her hand in the air as if she were pushing her husband toward the other women.

Clarissa leaned back in her chair, stunned. All six of them had discussed the issue of society marriages in high school and college and at that time, none were willing to release their romantic ideals for a position in society which had the price tag of being married to a man they didn’t love. Now it seemed that they’d all given up on that ideal. Was it a mirage? Was she being silly?

No! She had to believe in Max. He’d done nothing to destroy her trust so she had to maintain her position that Max was a good, descent man. And she couldn’t ever imagine a time when she wouldn’t want Max to touch her. Good grief, just imagining him now, she could feel her body start to respond and he wasn’t even in the room. Looking around at the other women, listening to them chat amongst themselves, she felt sorry for them. Where had they gone wrong? What had happened that they were willing to just accept the status quo? Something they’d all agreed they would never give in to.

Clarissa opened the wedding presents, smiling and laughing along with the others but as the party progressed, she looked in their eyes, trying to garner answers to the questions that were plaguing her. The conversation increased her hesitancy and she wished she could go back to the secure feelings she’d felt earlier in the day. Ignorance was bliss, she knew.

Later that evening, she was waiting when Max strolled through the door. “Good evening,” he said, bending down to kiss her gently. Then he pulled her up into his arms, accepting that the kiss wasn’t enough.

Clarissa laughed but pushed against his shoulders. “We don’t have time for that,” she said, playfully avoiding his mouth as he reached for her lips again. Undeterred, he simply kissed her neck.

“Max…” she started to say, wanting to ask him about the questions that were flying through her mind. But did she dare? She didn’t want to insult him with her insecurities. Max didn’t need anything from their relationship…did he?

He lifted his head and looked down at her, obviously hearing the anxiety in her tone. “What’s wrong?” he asked, seeing the unasked questions in her eyes.

He seemed so honest and there was no denying the desire he felt for her. He could barely keep his hands off her in public and he didn’t even try in private. So what was she worried about?