Baby V (Chianti Kisses #1) (27 page)

I smile at his description of me. Do
m’
s finger makes one last trail in my slickness before it, too, disappears. I hear the sounds of fabric piling together and close my eyes.

“
Well... come and get it, my naughty little school girl
,
”
 
he tests my sincerity.

I inhale deep, fortifying myself before inching off the table and standing in front of a naked Dom. I reach up on my toes to kiss his reddened lips, a touch saltier than normal. I can feel the excitement in him, the surprise. Lowering myself to the wood planks of the flooring, I settle on my knees, positioning myself in front of muscular legs.

His hardened manhood stands erect, the pink flesh taking on a deep red scarlet closer to the tip. I use my fingertips to trace the blue bulging line trailing down the length of his shaft. I can feel the pulsing underneath my touch. Studying the object in front of me, I notice a small bead of glistening dew forming a teardrop at the apex. I close my eyes, and bring myself to rest my lips on the growing, pulsating, summit.

The drop of moistness falls onto my lip where it lingers and then spreads as I open for him, taking his length into my warmth. My tongue caresses each little bump and crevice, resting on the pulsing vein. The pounding of my own heartbeat mixes with his in the hollows of my cheeks as I form a vacuum around him, wanting to make contact with every spec of his flesh as possible.

I hear him groaning from above
,
“
V, you have no idea what you do to me
.
”

H
e’
s wrong, I think. I do know what I do to him...

I bob my head over his bulkiness, struggling to fit both length and width within. Each time I lower myself I manage to accomplish a bit more. I hear the ripping of foil from above, as Dom breathlessly calls out to me.

“
No more, V. I ca
n’
t take anymore
.
”

He reaches under my arms and lifts abruptly, his length being ripped from my mouth with a slurping sound. His lips crash down to mine, hungry and eager as his hands go to work sheathing himself.

He anxiously man handles me as he turns me around, pushing me to lay forward, bent at the waist onto the dining table. My cheek finds solace in the coolness of the wood as it flattens over the surface. Dom grabs hold of my panties and rips them down past my knees. I feel droplets of liquid follow behind in their path.

Grabbing hold of my lower hips, Dom aligns himself with me, and I feel the familiar cold tightness pressing into me, this time offering a different sensation from last night. The angle perhaps... I do
n’
t know, but i
t’
s sinfully delicious and I find myself craving more. My hands reach around to cover his and pull hard, signaling my request. He growls loud and pushes more of himself into me, filling me further than I even believed possible, this time without pain.

The carnal scent filling the room leads to the animalistic intensity we find ourselves wrapped up in. His grunting and thrusting feeds my moaning and whimpering. Our connecting bodies ferociously supplying what the other craves. My breasts ache and my body tenses, with no relief in sight for the mounting pressure in my core, i
t’
s on fire and Dom is only feeding the flames higher. I begin to cry out my frustration... the growing, bubble-like need inside begs to be popped, to be released.

“
Just let go, V. Come with me
.
”

I let go of the imaginary handles steering my frustration and find that it sails away, bursting through any barriers and explodes, relieving the tension and edge, replacing it with a floating wave-like sensation. Dom finishes not long after me, splaying over me, recovering. I breath heavy, a steamy fog building up on the glossy finish of the table in front of me.

Dom kisses my neck, my jawline, his own breathing erratic, but showing signs of improvement. It takes several moments, still joined moments, to calm ourselves back to normal. Our breathing becomes in tuned with one other, neither one of us eager to separate and end the union. I speak first, his lips too busy playing with my skin.

“
We need a new dining table
.
”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Stopping into the local boutiques to buy a quick change of clothes and a cup of coffee, we head back home early the next morning. The weather is dramatically different than yesterday, making the closed top a necessity for the drive home. The windshield wipers offer a metronome-like rhythm to our conversation, before it is interrupted by a call to Ellen to confirm Do
m’
s travel plans for later tonight.

“
How long do you have to be gone, this time
?
”

Dom exhales slowly.
 “
Not long, I hope. Just long enough to stay on sight until some major deliveries pass through safely
.
”

“
What were you talking about with John last night? It did
n’
t sound like you would just be checking up on deliveries, Dom
.
”
 
I sit up, eager to be given an honest answer ti satisfy my curiosity.

Dom reaches his hand from the gearshift to join with mine.

“
I
t’
s nothing crazy, V. We lost another shipment. One that was diverted from its original shipping route. Only someone on the inside could have known about the change. So,
I’
m going to go down and re-route all of the deliveries myself and try and figure this thing out
.
” He darts his eyes back and forth from the road.
 “
Why... yo
u’
re not worried about me, are you
?
”

I pinch his hand as punishment for his smart-ass attempt to deflect.
 “
Was anyone else hurt this time? How many people have to end up in the hospital like Stanson? Yo
u’
re going to go put yourself in the middle of that
?
”

Dom pulls off of the major highway, and we enter his neighborhood.

“I’
ve got to leave in a few hours, babe. Do
n’
t pick a fight, OK
?
”

I plaster a sarcastic, tight lipped smile as I grin to him. Fine. You want to pretend everything is all rainbows and cotton candy?

“
Fine
.
”

I remove my hand from his and fidget with my phone, emailing Theresa to meet me for drinks tonight at the sushi bar around the corner from her apartment eight PM sharp. Sh
e’
s been begging to try the place.

~*~

The blue neon background lights under the table surface offer a really cool ambiance to this place. I can see why Theres
a’
s been itching to come here. I informed the hostess that I would be joined by a guest, but so far... no sign of Theresa. Sh
e’
d returned my email earlier today, confirming our plans, so she must just be running late. I order another club soda and wait it out. Dom should be landing in Miami soon, so I keep my cellphone in reach to receive his text.

Fifteen minutes later and still no sign of Theresa. She may not be the most punctual person, but sh
e’
s by no means as perpetually late as I am. She falls somewhere in the middle. I decide to text her and find out how much longer sh
e’
ll be so I can place an appetizer order for the two of us.

As I reach for my phone to start typing the message, a voice calls out to me.

“
Miss Lombardi? Vincenza Lombardi
?
”

I glance up to the man standing nearby with drink in hand. He dark eyes and short dark hair add to the mystery-type vibe he exudes. His dark, tailored designer suit molds to him, complimenting his muscular form.

I struggle to match his face to a name. I
t’
s on the tip of my tongue, but eludes me.

“
Emilio... Emilio Rizzo
.
” He announces his name, introducing himself.

My mouth gapes. I knew I had met him before, but had never expected him to be the infamous enemy of my family.

“
Mr. Rizzo. Of course. How nice to see you agai
n…,
” I try my best to play nice.

He smiles, flashing his perfect and no doubt very expensive dentistry while eyeing the empty chair across from me
.
“
Are you dining alone
?
”

I turn to the chair, searching for an explanation for i
t’
s emptiness.

“
Oh... Oh no.
I’
m just waiting for someone. She should be here any moment
,
”
 
I offer.

Without invitation, he takes the seat, placing his drink on the table.
 “I’
ll just offer you my companionship until your guest arrives
.
”

I sit stunned.
 “
Oh no, tha
t’
s not necessary. Please... do
n’
t let me keep you
.
”

Emilio, waves my words away, dismissing the notion.
 “
No trouble at all. And please, call me E.J. I insist. Please, let me order you a drink
.
”
 
He waves a waiter over and hod up his cocktail glass
.“
Another, please. And one for the lady
.
”

I try to interject politely, but both he and the waiter overlook my objections. I sit back, sizing up my opponent. H
e’
s devilishly handsome, for sure, and cocky to boot.

“
Come here often
?
”
 
I make sure my words drip with sarcasm and insincerity.

E.J. Laughs and sips the remaining liquid at the bottom of his glass.
 “
You could say that. I usually stop in for a drink when
I’
m in the neighborhood. You? I know your boyfriend likes it here,
I’
ve seen him once or twice. Usually with that girl... wha
t’
s her name
?
” Emilio snaps his fingers in the air, pretending to recall a forgotten name.
 “
Ah! Tanya! I think that was it. Lovely girl
.
”

Ah, so h
e’
s gonna play dirty. Tha
t’
s how this is gonna go, hmm. The waiter interrupts our passive aggressive conversation, setting down large frosted glasses filled with a multicolored concoction. I nod to him, thanking him for the cool refreshment, although I have no intention of drinking anything ordered by this man. Once we are left to ourselves again, I retaliate.

“
Yes, well... Do
m’
s just a real personable kind of guy, I guess. One of the skills necessary to run a multi-billion dollar company so successfully
.
”

He sips his drink, eyeing me.
 “
Ah... that must be it, then. Speaking of the charming CEO himself, wha
t’
s this I hear of even
more
trouble? Delivery losses
?
”

E.J. Is baiting me, taunting me, all the while fishing for information. I clear my throat, squinting my eyes menacingly at him.

“I’
m not sure I know what you mean. Business has never been better
.
” I steal a glance over to my phone. No messages.
Where the hell is Theresa?

E.J. Nods condescendingly.
 “
Ah... I must get better informants, then.
I’
ve been told he is traveling as we speak to our newest shipping hub to deal with some... hiccups. But, what else is to be expected from such a dangerous business as ours
.
”

His eyebrow raises, judging my nonexistent reaction. I shrug my shoulders, brushing off his query.

“
Nope. Sorry... H
e’
s just going to touch up his tan. If yo
u’
ll excuse m
e
…”
 
I reach for my phone and handbag, standing.
 “
...
I’
ll be using the ladies room. If yo
u’
re no longer here when return, I must say my farewell no
w
” E.J
.’
s manners prove to be impeccable as he rises for my exit.

“
Good night, Mr. Rizzo
.
”

“
Miss. Lombardi
,
”
 
E.J. acknowledges as I walk past.

I reach the safety of the ladies room and promptly withdraw my phone, texting furiously to Theresa.

WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!!!

I hide behind the swinging door as woman after woman enters and leaves. The pinging of my phone alerts me to Theres
a’
s overdue message.

ME? WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!!! YO
U’
RE ALWAYS LATE V, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I LOOK LIKE A MORON SITTING HERE ALONE!

I furrow my forehead. What the hell is going on here? I send one last final text.

MEET ME AT YOUR APARTMENT.

I pull the swing door open, stealing a glance at the abandoned table previously occupied by that rat, on my way out of the restaurant. As I am only two city blocks from Theres
a’
s apartment, I arrive first. The doorman recognizes me on site, and we make pleasantries, keeping each other company as we await Theres
a’
s arrival.

Within the half hour, a yellow cab pulls in front of the glass doored building. I see Theresa struggle to disembark from the back seat without flashing the passers by, in her tight black skirt. She hands a folded up sum to the driver through his opened window before hurrying into the lobby.

Out of breath, she immediately begins to question me.

“
Where were you, V? I waited almost an hour
!
” She is visibly upset at her ordeal.

I hush her, taking hold of her elbow and lead us to the elevator while furiously pressing the upward facing arrow button. There is
n’
t much demand for the elevator at this time of evening, so there is not much time to wait before the bell chimes and the electronic doors part for our entry. I wave to the confused doorman through the rapidly closing doors.

Once inside and alone, I turn to my friend,
 “
What restaurant were you in
?
”

She looks more confused than before.

“
What are you talking about, V. The exact restaurant you told me to meet you in. Albert
i’
s. Have you lost your damn mind
?
”

Imaginary sirens ring in my head. I whip out my phone and bring up my most recent emails, scrolling through to show evidence for my next statement. I hold out the phone to her as I speak.

“
You mean Sushi Sushi? Her
e’
s the email I sent you. And here..
.”
I reclaim my phone to advance to the next email
.
“
Her
e’
s the one you sent me, confirming
.
”

Theresa shakes her head,
 “
No... Look..
.
” She brings up her own email on her smartphone
.
“
...See. I
t’
s right here, you said Albert
i’
s
.
”

We both eye each other and our phones, no closer to an answer than we were. The elevator door opens and we pile out in the direction of her apartment door.

“
What does all this mean
?
” She wonders aloud as her keys jingle in the locking mechanism.

I swallow hard, unhappy with the creepy explanation I was about to offer. I close the door behind us, locking the deadbolt as well as the door chain, offering a sense of security before I divulged my theory.

“
It means.... someone switched our messages. Someone wanted to separate us tonight, and
I’
m pretty sure I know who
.
”