A Life Sublime (23 page)

He tasted toffee apple, champagne and the promise of so much that they could have together. His strength came from desire to hold her tighter, taste more of her, to never let her go again. The chattering of people faded, the music from surrounding bars, the rumbling of taxis evaporated. All that remained was Belinda. He broke the kiss first.

“Was that yes?”

“Take me home with you,” she insisted.

No hesitation, you should know
, he warned himself. “All or nothing Bella?”

“All,” she replied without waiting a beat. A smile partly hid how smeared her lipstick was now. “Do you have food?”

He laughed, cradling her against him. “Yes, I do. Plenty. Come, I will make sure you are well fed.”

He didn’t really sleep. How could he? Every now and then waking and falling into a light doze, he’d open his eyes to make sure she was still there. Not that he could be blamed, he’d spent an unreasonable amount of time imagining this, it wasn’t a stretch for him to think he was hallucinating and rather than returning to his home, Belinda had gone to her own place. But she hadn’t. She had gone home with him. Expectant and hungry. He’d had a meal prepared for them which only required a brief reheating.

Just as he’d cleared the plates away, Belinda started to strip. First the jacket, then the silk blouse and finally the trousers, revealing the purple, ruffled panties he’d challenged her to wear. “Where’s your bedroom?” she’d asked mildly. Plates long forgotten, he bodily lifted her into his arms and carried her there before she could change her mind. And it was as glorious as every minute they’d been together in Italy, probably more so for their separation.

His fingers traced with wonder over her arm and along her spine. He palmed the curves of her ample bottom only to do the same to her breasts, the large orbs spilling over his fingers. Light began to drift into his bedroom when desire over took him. With a strong hand curling into her thigh, he hooked her leg over his own, a thrill chasing through his stomach as his cock slid over the creamy wetness of her pussy. She murmured, hovering between dreams and consciousness, only to push back against him, seeking more without saying a word. He surged into her, his whole body drenched with a shudder at the grip of her inner walls on his cock. Slipping his arms tightly around her, he moved within her, slow steady strokes to savour every sensation. He buried his face in her neck and breathed deeply. It felt incredible even more so when her moans coincided with each thrust.

Lowering his arms to her waist, he kept her firmly in place as his body drove on automatic, going harder, her ass cushioning the intensity of his movements. He felt the tremors of her orgasm long before his own seized every muscle in his body. Belinda turned over with a laughing smile. “You’re a very good alarm clock. Can you do that again at eight?”

Struggling to catch his breath, he managed a smile. “I will do my best.”

She snuggled against him, throwing a thigh over both his own. “Very good.” Within two breaths she was fast asleep again. He adjusted his arms around her and watched the room brighten with sunlight, echoing the effect the woman in his arms had on him.

She shuddered. It happened so many times it was becoming automatic. He’d touch her. She’d shudder. His mouth would brush over her skin. She’d shudder. It had its own nickname now. The Massimo Reflex.

She had no idea what time it was. The opera felt like years ago when it had been last week. Seven days had gone past in a blur. Had she gone to work? She had the vague recollection of half sleeping at her desk and cowboy walking between her office and other rooms. Flowers had arrived for her, this time from the man sharing the mattress with her. That had been a delightful slap in the face for the reception bitches.
Yes, someone cares about me. Someone thinks I’m worth a two hundred pound bouquet. There’s someone that knows how to make me feel so good! This good…

Another shudder gripped her body. What was she trying to work out? Time. No idea. Only that it was long ago since her last orgasm, she was still in his bed, he was beautifully naked and he still desired her. His mouth was fully occupied by her nipple. One hand gripped the other and his free hand was nestled between her legs, stroking her nether lips. The sheets beneath her bottom were as soaked as her inner thighs and his hand. Divine.

He lifted his head and the smile in his eyes that came before the smile on his lips set her off. The Massimo Reflex became a full on earthquake. Her thighs locked around his corded forearm as he leaned up to capture her lips with his mouth. She was shaking so hard she was seeing double and not because of her hyperopia.

He sat her up and eased her into position. Before she knew it, she was straddling his lap, her hands braced on his shoulders and he was whispering to her in Italian, rubbing the length of his cock over her silky slit. The heat of his arms crossed over her lower back, pulling her tight against his body. No matter how many times this happened, it felt more and more intimate. She tightened her legs around his waist and caught his face between her palms. Watching his face while she moved over him until he slipped inside her.

That intake of breath. The moan he gave against her lips. How her body partly resisted his entry before that secondary nudge inside her demanded she give way to him. She'd missed this. Not just the act of physical love but Massimo. No one, not a single person who knew her or pertained to know her would ever doubt how much she did love him to let him this close. To let him love her. Show her with his touch, his kisses, his body that she was ultimately desirable. He’d been right. Celibacy didn’t feel closer to godliness. Loneliness didn’t enhance her spirituality. If anything, she was repeatedly thanking God that she’d met this man. By the same term she understood that she’d earned him. The trials of her life resulted in the reward, the joy, the exquisite pleasure that he was.

His arms tightened around her as they moved together in unison. It was as if he was not only inside her body, he was inside her mind. She barely thought of what she needed and he was there; mouth on hers, palm over her bottom, squeezing and manoeuvring her faster over the bullet hard head of his sex. Her clit rubbed against his stomach each time she even breathed. The orgasms, like stepping under a powerful waterfall, crashed over her again and again until his hands tightened on her hips and his body trembled against her own. Her own heat accepted the warmth of his climax as he puffed short breaths.

“You’re not having a heart attack are you?” she asked, panicked.

He stared at her for an incredulous moment before laughing. “Almost. A very good attempt on your part,” he returned, eyes sparkling with amusement.

Knowing he was teasing her but too replete to argue with him, she unwrapped herself from around him and snuggled under his sheets.

“If you’re lucky, we’ll try again later.”

He spooned against her and Belinda waited for the inevitable sleep but it evaded her as light brightened the sky and the clock ticked out her solitude. Maybe she had dozed too much before and now she was awake for having the cheek to sleep in the middle of the day. Rolling over, she looked at Massimo’s face instead. What they had was perfect. Perfectly illicit but perfect nonetheless. She’d happily put things right by marrying him and praying for God's forgiveness but why would he marry her when they were perfect now? Lightly, she kissed him on the lips and buried her face in his neck desperate for sleep that didn't come. Instead, she waited until late morning to take herself to the bathroom, for want of anything else to do.

“Where are you going now?” a sleep roughened voice demanded, as Belinda untangled herself from Massimo’s brick hard limbs.

“Ladies, if you don’t mind,” she retorted. Massimo’s arms came around her waist once more, his mouth nibbling on her neck.

“You look delicious.”

“It’s not to look good,” she untangled his arms again and got to her feet.

“That is disappointing,” he murmured. She turned to see a boyish grin on his face.

“We can’t spend all day here.”

“Yes, we can,” he argued. “Why not? You are not working, I am certainly not doing anything that does not involve you staying undressed. We can be civilized tomorrow.”

“Let’s be civilized now. It can’t all be about the bedroom.”

“Again I ask, why not?”

She huffed. “Because I’d like to think there’s more to this than the bedroom.”

He held up his hands in defeat. “All right Bella, I will concede. What would you like to do?”

Triumphant, she clapped her hands together, “Go to the Southbank. There’s an African influence music exhibition I’d like to see.”

“If we go, then you must agree to return here with me for the night.”

Ah. That. She hadn’t quite got a handle on spending time at his home and not her own. To be honest, she enjoyed being surrounded by her own belongings. Massimo’s home, whilst glorious, was distinctly feminine free. “I have no underwear or clean clothes or anything I need.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “We can buy them at Southbank or I can tie you to the bed. Your choice.”

A smile instantly kicked up the corners of her mouth before she could prevent herself. Massimo’s eyes lightened. “So you would enjoy that, regardless?”

“You are a devil in disguise. Fine, we’ll buy things for me.”

“So you can stay here whenever the mood takes you, or more likely me,” he added with a suggestive nod.

“I have my own home for a reason.”

“We could stay there, but you do not let me.”

Cheek! “I do. Every time we go out, your house is that much closer.”

“Because I want to get you undressed. The distance to Thornton Heath is very inconvenient for that purpose.”

“I don’t know why you like arguing with me so much,” she sighed, trying not to laugh. He was ridiculous.

Massimo threw back the covers of the bed, displaying the thick spike of his erection. “This is why,” he advised, stroking his hand slowly over the length. Her eyes transfixed by the motion, she shook herself once.

“There is a bathroom behind you.” He said gently, tucking both hands under his head.