Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic) (25 page)

The corner of the living room now housed a wet bar since the bar and the wine refrigerator in the kitchen had been removed to make space for the new appliances. Bella had mentioned that it would be nice to have one since their apartment now seemed to be a hangout for all of their friends.

Jason had gotten one the very next day.

Bella had been touched that he had gone out of his way to give her everything she asked for and more. He was an amazingly loving man.

Bella finely chopped onions and threw them into a sizzling combination of garlic and olive oil to sauté. Turning the light on in the oven, she checked her pans of lasagna to see if they were done. She had added layers of spinach and Italian sausage in between the four cheese and tomato sauces. It was one of her most famous recipes. She knew just the right coloring she wanted on the crust of the dish and turned down the heat to keep them warm.

One of her favorite CDs played over the speakers, and Bella hummed along to the melody as she slid the thin, breaded veal cutlets into the large skillet to brown in the oil. The hauntingly beautiful voice trilled out an aria with a voice so pure it sounded like an angel was singing overhead. Bella added a splash of wine to the mix, punctuating a few more splashes in time to the music. When they were done, she placed them on a platter and repeated the process. Almost finished with the meal, Bella was satisfied at the sizzling sounds of the meat cooking,

She turned to see that the smells had lured Jason, Tony, Sal, Tara, and Slade out of the office to hover on the other side of the counter, hunger gleaming on their faces. Smiling, she watched them head straight for the tray of antipasto she had left for them. Bella was pleased that they had all remembered to stay out of her kitchen while she was cooking, but what did surprise her was the expression on Slade’s face.

Slade had halted halfway to the counter behind the others as if he had run into an invisible wall. He closed his eyes and rubbed a hand over his chest like his heart ached. Bella was about to speak out in concern until his eyes snapped open and froze her with their intensity as they stared off unfocused into the distance. Those pale eyes burned like blue flames. Bella loved this man like a friend, but, wow, she couldn’t help her own feminine reaction to such a blatantly passionate gaze. Wow, she thought again, if that gaze was ever directed at a woman Bella could see that woman didn’t stand a chance against him.

“Beautiful.”

“Huh?” Sal asked around a mouthful of food, not paying attention.

“Who is this?” Slade asked again, his voice rough with emotion.

“Do you like it?” Bella asked, pleased beyond measure at his reaction to the music soaring over the speakers.

“I guess you could consider this classical crossover,” Tara explained, misunderstanding Slade’s question. “She sings opera and covers of other songs that appeal to her, all with a classical twist. She does have an awesome voice.” Turning to Bella, Tara asked, “Have you talked to her recently?”

“I just got an e-mail from her a few days ago.”

“You know her?” Slade asked nonchalantly as he now sidled up to Tara’s side. He asked it so casually that no one else noticed, but Bella had witnessed his initial reaction, so he didn’t fool her. Ah, Bella thought, holding back a smile. This could be very interesting.

“Yep. This is Angel.”

Sal’s head came up in surprise. “Jesus, this is little Angel? Gio’s Angel? Wow does she have some pipes.”

Bella saw Slade’s eyes narrow at the mention of Giovanni’s name and struggled to hold back a giggle. Bella noticed Jason watching her and shot him a sparkling smile full of mischief that had his brow raising.

Tony agreed, smiling. “We saw her a few months ago. When was that, Bells?”

“Right before I moved back here. She was performing in New York.”

Tara waved a fork in the air. “I saw her last month when I was stopped over in Paris. I just stopped in to say hi, and she insisted I come see her perform that night. Boy, is she something live. She almost had me in tears. We had dinner after. Gio was there, too. I’m surprised he didn’t mention it to you.”

Jason had been watching the exchange silently, determined to understand what had put the sparkle of amusement in Bella’s eyes. It wasn’t until he put it together that had his eyes widening in shock. “This is Angelina Cossi? Gio’s sister is
the
Angelina Cossi?”

Tony nodded. “You have to admit they do have some talent in that family.”

Sal leaned on the counter and chuckled. “Man, I think it’s been like ten years since I’ve seen her. She was a pretty little thing, but I remember she was a brat.”

Bella threw a towel at him. “She’s twenty-three now, and you thought all my friends were brats.”

“That’s because they were, especially Tara and Liz,” Sal said, playfully pulling on Tara’s hair, earning him an elbow in the stomach. His breath whooshed out.

Damn woman had put some weight behind it.

Tony snickered. “You earned that. But trust me, you wouldn’t recognize her now. She sure has grown up and is a freakin’ knockout.”

“Gio would kill you. You don’t mess with his baby sister. Plus she’s a sweetheart, too good for either of you,” Tara joked.

“We all have to die sometime.”

“You’ll get to see her again soon,” Bella said innocently. “After all, she’s singing at our wedding.”

Slade’s slow smile had Bella turning around to hide her own. She was going to have to remember to introduce them at the wedding, but on the other hand Slade would probably take care of that himself. She cleared her throat. “Would someone set the table please?” And was pleased when they all jumped up to help.

Getting back to business, she laid the large golden-brown cutlets onto the serving platter, drizzling a light wine sauce over the top, and added a garnish. She pulled the pans of lasagna out of the oven and placed them on the counter to cool. Moving to the side, she quickly poured thick, white, creamy, fragrant sauce over perfectly cooked pasta in another large bowl and mixed it with two large spoons. After cutting the fresh bread she had made earlier, she placed the pieces into a bowl, drizzled garlic-infused olive oil over the top, and stepped back to survey the spread.

A knock sounded on the door. As if summoned by some silent dinner bell, in walked the twins, both of them trying to look surprised but failing miserably as Jason frowned at them.

“We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to interrupt dinner,” Adrian offered with a sheepish smile. Neither of them was sorry in the least.

“Come in, come in. I made enough. Please join us.” Bella laughed at their wide grins. Tara had already warned her that the twins had called earlier trying to beg for an invitation. Bella had learned to cook in mass quantities already and wasn’t bothered at all by the addition to their dinner party.

The men happily carried the platters of food over to the large wooden table that sat in the dining room. The table was a huge old piece, one of the only things that Jason had kept from his family’s home.

Bella cracked her neck and stretched.

Jason came up behind her and rubbed her shoulders after passing her a glass of wine. He knew she always liked to have a fresh glass after she completed whatever she was cooking.

She took a sip and let the cool sweet liquid slide down her throat.

“Darling, everything smells wonderful, but you smell even better,” Jason murmured to as he snuggled into her neck to breathe in that vanilla-spiced scent that was uniquely Bella. She chuckled and turned to face him.

He stroked his thumb over her cheek as he stared down at the woman he loved. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” he whispered in a silken voice that wrapped her in its intimacy.

“I don’t know, but we both got pretty lucky,” Bella responded before his lips brushed softly against hers.

“I love you.”

“I know, baby. I love you, too.”

“Geez, give it a rest, please, I’m starving!” Tony cried.

Jason and Bella joined the rest of the gang, and he sat at the head of the table with Bella to his right. She leaned into him to whisper, “I like your family, Jason.”

He was startled for a second before he looked around, and a slow smile spread across his face. It was like a family dinner, Jason thought. Why did he not see it before? These people had become his family. Bella had not only made this a home, she had given him a family.

“Yeah, we put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional,” he said wryly, making Bella laugh.

“What are we having tonight?” Rock asked eagerly.

“
Costoletta alla Milanese
, my famous lasagna, a new seafood pasta dish I’m experimenting with that has a creamy garlic cheese-based sauce, fresh bread, antipasto, and save room, we have tiramisu for dessert.”

“Damn, I should have asked you to marry
me
,” Adrian said with a wink.

Jason’s face made Bella think that he was fantasizing about transferring Adrian to Siberia.

“Please, everyone enjoy!" Bella announced gaily.

Dinner was a whirlwind affair, and food was consumed at a massive rate, just like every time she had cooked a meal for these people. Conversations were loud and boisterous, with everyone talking over one another that only came when people were truly at ease. When everyone had left, Bella leaned back on the couch and watched Jason finish cleaning up. He had sequestered her in the living room, not allowing her to help.

Watching his gorgeous form move around the kitchen was almost like foreplay to Bella. As he wiped down the counters, she watched the muscles of his arms and back under the soft material of his T-shirt that stretched taut with each movement.

Bella knew they had to talk, but first she had other things on her mind.

Jason looked up, and the full power of Bella’s sensual amber eyes had him ensnared, bewitched. They hadn’t made love since she had been poisoned because he wanted to make sure she was healed, but it had been killing him. Three days never seemed so long. It had been a lifetime for him, and he had been a walking hard-on without release, but he would be damned if he put his needs before hers. Or he could die trying.

“Jason?”

“Aye, love?”

“I want you to…come…here.” Bella’s voice stroked over him like velvet, low and filled with sensual promise.

Bella watched Jason’s Adam’s apple bob and his jaw clench. His fists tightened on the counter as he tried to control himself. “Bella, lass, we need to make sure you are well. You were poisoned—”

“I know Jason, but I miss you. I miss your touch. I want you to touch me. I need you to touch me.”

She seduced him with her words so his body tightened with need. Jason bowed his head, eyes closed, and took a deep breath, forcing his body to remain around the barrier of the kitchen counter.

Closing his eyes had been a mistake.

A huge mistake.

When Jason’s eyes opened, his breath left in a rush.
Jesus
, he felt like someone had sucker punched him. His eyes blazed with possessive fire as he struggled against the need to leap over the counter and to take her. He wanted to devour her, to sate his need for her over and over. He wanted to pound himself into her until neither of them could move. He gritted his teeth as he felt his cock harden as all the blood in his head rushed downward. His erection was heavy and thick, pulsing, ready to tear through the fabric of his pants.

Bloody hell, she was trying to kill him.

While Jason had been struggling for control with his eyes closed, Bella had quickly stripped off her clothes and now lay on the couch, naked. Watching his reaction to her made her hot, made her wet with need. Breathing heavy, she slowly reached down and stroked her fingers along her body. Her fingers rubbed lightly over her tight nipples, and her breasts were heavy with need. Her hands drifted lower to play over the naked flesh of her now-bare pussy, and she parted her legs to give herself more room. She had never done something like this before the watching eyes of a lover. The feeling was so exciting it made her body tremble as she used her own cream to play with the throbbing clit between her legs.

“You never told me if you liked me waxed,” Bella whispered, her own voice husky with desire. Her eyes went wide as Jason vaulted over the counter, coming to her with blurring speed as he pulled her hand up, away from her body.

“I love it.” Jason’s voice was thick with lust. He raised her hand and licked her cream from her fingers, making her shudder. “But, lass, this pussy is
mine
. You make me crazy watching you play with…when you touch
my
pussy.” Molten silver eyes gleamed with a hunger he could barely control.

“Then
you
touch it,” Bella challenged.

“Oh, aye, I will.” Jason growled. He jerked her hips forward so her back fell flat on the couch and her legs were braced over his shoulders. With no warning, he dove straight down to lick and suck at her clenching, hot little hole, tearing a strangled scream from her throat. He hummed low in his throat as his tongue lapped at the soft, smooth pale flesh, drinking in her sweet nectar.

White lightning hit, and Bella screamed in shocked surprise as she came. And came. Bright lights danced behind her eyelids as Jason sucked her clit into his mouth softly, prolonging her pleasure, causing her scream to trail off into gasps as she desperately tried to suck in oxygen.