Charmed (10 page)

Luxuriating by the pool, Ella was more often on Adam’s lounge chair than her own. She draped across him, sitting between his legs with her head on his chest, content just to be with him. Touching and feeling with Adam was as exciting as sex. In fact, the entire day her body tingled with pleasure and her heart swelled with love. It was a special day, alone with her sexy man, but she knew the bubble would burst.

There was still the matter of Claudio and the dangers he posed. But for now, Ella wanted to enjoy their time together. The server dressed in white shirt and slacks, who Adam called Eli, looked like a waiter in a five-star restaurant. He was in his late thirties, trim, with spiked blondish hair, giving him a trendy look. Adam told her he was from German descent, able to create dishes of German, Italian, Brazilian, and other nationalities. Both his gourmet cooking skill and his impeccable, nearly invisible, service were top notch.

The late afternoon sun reflected on the rippling water in the bay and the glassy surface of the pool. As the mountains darkened they added to the postcard-perfect scene, with the burning sun pale yellow and orange on the horizon. Despite the non-stop snacks Eli had served, Ella realized she hadn’t eaten much, more focused on Adam than food, no matter how delectable. So when he suggested dinner out, she readily accepted.

Going out wasn’t as easy as it sounded. She changed into one of the stretchy fabric dresses she’d brought. The cream-colored spandex accented her delicate curves and highlighted her smooth, tanned skin. Thinking of Adam’s words just moments before, she flushed. He’d looked at her with his piercing gaze, the way only he could, and said, “Tonight, do not wear any underwear, amore mia. I want to think of you naked under your dress. Naked for me. Will you do that?”

She could only nod; no words possible. His request had made her weak. Even now, recalling the scene, her sex throbbed. The tight dress required no bra either, the stretchy fabric enough to support her small breasts. Before, she’d thought of them as too small, but Adam seemed to like them. Her nipples stiffened the instant she recalled his sensual touch.

Longing to be with Adam, she put aside her memories of intimacy with him, and brushed out her hair, letting it fall, full with just a hint of curl, over her shoulders. Putting on her gold chain necklace and gold strappy sandals, she was ready.

Stepping out, she stopped to watch Adam talking into an earpiece. The slim beige slacks he wore hugged his lean thighs and curved over his butt, just so. Hardly able to take her eyes off of that sight, she let her gaze roam upward, admiring his broad shoulders narrowing to his trim waist, under the clingy nylon polo shirt he wore. The pale copper color of the material contrasted
perfectly with his golden hair.

Just as she had the idea of running her hands through his hair, Adam turned to face her, and the look on his face wiped away her lascivious thought. He frowned, looking at her but not really seeing her, intent on what he heard through the earpiece. She waited.

Adam nodded then looked at Ella alertly. “Wow,” he said, and she shifted foot to foot, still not used to his open admiration. “You are sexy in that dress. It clings in just the right places.” He took two long strides toward her and pulled her close to him. Looking up into his amber eyes, she saw lust reflected there.

He kissed her forehead, her temple, her cheek, making each sweet kiss count. His hot lips seared against her skin, and her heart pounded. He could have kissed her more, her lips slightly parted, anticipating. But he brushed his fingers along her jaw and lifted her chin, just to look in her eyes, and said, “You’re beautiful.” Leaving her wanting more, craving him, filled with desire, he put his arm around her and guided her out.

“Although we will have Nico and his team with us, it’s best if we are not followed. We’ll have to do a few maneuvers to ensure we are alone. But just relax, amore mia, and we will be at the restaurant in no time. Hungry?”

“Yes,” she answered, not only referring to the rumbling in her stomach. The pulsing in her body whenever Adam was with her supe
rseded any other physical need.

Pulling out of the garage in Adam’s Chrysler, Ella saw a white sedan in front of them and another behind. They left like a caravan, and a short distance away they whipped into an alley. Quickly, Adam and Ella switched cars, slipping into the backseat of the white sedan and took off. Glancing back, she saw a couple in the back seat of the Chrysler they’d just vacated.

“Won’t whoever is watching know that’s not us?”

“Yes, after a bit. But by then we will be snug inside the restaurant.”

“So your father is watching you…that closely?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Adam said. “He’s not alone, and the crowd he hangs out with is ruthless. Best to keep you a secret for as long as possible.”

Ella searched his face, trying to deduce more than he was telling her. She wanted to ask Adam more questions about the danger they were in, but didn’t want to ruin her evening with him. “Where are we going?” she asked instead.

“Zazá Bistrô Tropical. I think you’ll like it. It’s a fun place and they have great food.”

“Well, if you like it, I’m sure I will.” And she did. “Quirky” was how she’d describe the establishment, located in the heart of Ipanema. Only steps from the beach, the contemporary restaurant sported brightly colored décor appropriate for the flamboyant city of Rio. The bright blue walls, lush green ferns, and rainbow-colored curtains were playful, the service friendly, and the food delicious.

Adam and Ella sat on a lovely terrace lit with tiny party lights enjoying the view. Adam spoke to the waiter in Portuguese, but fortunately for Ella there was both an English and a Portuguese menu. Noticing a variety of languages being spoken on the intimate patio, she inquired. Adam informed her that the restaurant attracted guests of many nationalities, so it was likely she’d see international customers: Brazilians, English, French, Argentines, and Germans.

Ella was beginning to feel like a bit of a world traveler. Having never left California before, it was quite an experience, and she was enjoying it. The menu described the offerings as Brazilian dishes with Southeast Asian touches; definitely something Ella had never had before. Appetizers were Indian samosas, evidence of the international influence.

“Would you like a caipirinha?”

“Oh no, I better not. Those things are potent. At least if they are anything like the ones Fiorella makes,” Ella replied.

Adam grinned. “Yes, I suppose they are, for those not used to them. Beer is a good choice. Or if you prefer wine, I could choose one for us. Wine can be a risk; in most restaurants here they don’t feature local wine. And I wouldn’t advise the house wine. Is white wine okay?”

Ella nodded, and Adam ordered a Chilean Chardonnay, which the waiter served promptly. In no hurry, they sipped their chilled wine and enjoyed the atmosphere. Ella was dying to ask more questions but didn’t; at least not right then.

“So I guess you liked my vacation home in Newport.”

Ella blushed, guessing where this was leading. “Yes, of course I did.”

Adam smiled. “Ray keeps an eye on it for me.”

“He told you?”

Under the table, Adam rubbed his foot against her ankle affectionately with a hot look. Her sex tingled, and she wondered if he was thinking about her nakedness under her dress.

“He told me. It made me feel good that you were there.”

“It did?”

“Yes, it was a little like being together in a strange way. When I heard you’d come by and Ray let you in, I felt…closer to you, I guess.”

“That’s how I felt too.” Ella furrowed her brow. “But that’s not the kind of closeness I want. Closeness in absentia. Let’s never be apart again. I don’t think I could take it.”

Adam’s eyes darkened and he reached out, placing his hand over Ella’s. “I don’t want to be without you…ever.” And somehow she knew he was thinking about his father again, and what he feared could happen to her.

“You won’t be, Adam. I’ll be here.”

The lazy evening relaxed them both. They lingered over the appetizers, finally ordering the seafood ceviche with mangoes and green coconut curry, the Brazilian and Asian flavors perfectly blended.

Ella tugged on her right earlobe, practicing the gestures she’d learned from Adam’s family, before saying, “This ceviche is delicious. So far all the food I’ve had since I arrived has been fantastic. Brazilians know what they are doing in that department. I’ll be spoiled.”

“I like spoiling you.”

“You would,” she teased.

Lemon sorbet was all Ella could manage for dessert, passing up the devil’s chocolate cake. “We will have to come here another time, just for dessert, if you expect me to have room for it.”

Adam made a thumbs-up motion; she’d seen him do many times if he thought something was good. “Not a bad idea. A dessert date. I like that.”

The restaurant was so cozy, and being with Adam felt so safe that Ella forgot about the security standing guard. That was until she saw one of the bodyguards walking stealthily along the back wall of the building, only a few feet away. Adam nodded in his direction, and Ella guessed he was responding to what the guard had told him through the earpiece. “Okay, sure,” Adam said quietly.

“We have to leave,” he told Ella, and she didn’t like the stress that darkened his features. Adam pulled out her chair for her and put his arm around her waist, protectively. “I have a tab here. We can just go.”

Ella knew better than to ask questions. She trusted Adam, and just did as he asked. Even in the back of the white sedan with Nico in the vehicle right behind them, she had an eerie feeling. It was all too dramatic, like something out of a movie. Nothing like that had ever been a part of her life, and she certainly didn’t like it.

The intrusion of evil into the fairytale-like evening was both abrupt and unwelcome. She clutched Adam’s hand and he smiled at her joylessly. He winked and squeezed her hand too, but she didn’t feel any better, only feeling the tenseness in her body go when they’d left the car in the garage and were securely back inside th
e glowing white of Adam’s home.

The worst part was, she didn’t even know what she was afraid of—she was just feeling afraid because of Adam’s reaction. Ella had never met Claudio, never even seen a picture of him. Nor was she familiar with any of his criminal cohorts. His ability to harm them was beyond her, unable to imagine he’d physically harm his own son.

Yet Adam seemed to put nothing past his father, and considering how sane and down to earth Adam was, that was a strong indication that the danger was real. Ella shuddered.

“Are you okay?”

Ella nodded, then after a moment’s hesitation said, “No, not really.”

Adam wrapped her in his arms, standing in the spacious living room lit only by the moonlight streaming in through the windows. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Ella hugged back. She hated seeing him upset. It was ripping her apart. “I’m not worried about me. I can take care of myself,” she said, more bravely than she felt.

“I’m sure you can,” Adam said softly.

“But I’m worried about you, Adam. Your father is messing with your life. It’s not right.”

“Yes, amore mia, he is. But it’s not for you to worry about. I will handle this. I have an investigative team getting the information I need. Claudio may think he is in control, but the tables will turn…when he least expects it.”

Ella looked up into his eyes, caring only about him, the situation receding into the background. “I have faith that you will,” she whispered, feeling warmth spread through her body under his gaze.

Adam ran his fingertips along her jaw, and a tingly awareness prickled her skin. “Beautiful Ella. I want you. I want you very badly. All day, watching you, under the bright sun, in the pale light of the afternoon, under the moonlight, you are beautiful, always beautiful. Just to see you, be with you, hear your voice, excites me.

“But I cannot wait longer for you. I am hard and so much in need. I must be close to you, amore mia, close, very close. Close…” His words faded, and he leaned down to kiss her. Not on her forehead or temple this time. He slanted his mouth over hers, lips slightly parted, and pressed into her. The love radiated through her, and she kissed back, finding his hot tongue.

Endlessly they kissed, until Ella could barely breathe. She felt weak and shaky under his adoring, passionate kiss. Kissing alone would nearly have been enough, such was the intensity radiating between them. Adam leaned back, fisting her hair, amber eyes dark with lust,
but he craved her, needed more.

Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to the bedroom, lowering her to her feet and kissing her again and again, wildly, out of control. She grabbed at his hair, kissed his neck, his lips, pressing against him and feeling how hard he was under his thin pants. “Adam…Adam,” she gasped.

The room was silent, semi-dark, lit only by the bright moon shining through the wall of windows. Only Adam’s panting and Ella’s whimpers echoed against the pure white walls of the private room. For that time, no one else existed; nothing mattered except being together.

Adam reached to the hem of Ella’s dress and lifted it to mid-thigh. She held her breath as he slid his hand underneath to see if she’d complied with his wishes. Emotion flooded her, a combination of impending danger combined with Adam’s strength and protection and the insanely sexy feelings boiling inside her, making a powerful elixir.