Harbour of Refuge (7 page)

Enzo stared at her as he ate. “You’re certainly a different woman than most I meet, Halyn.”

Her response was a slight grin before attacking her food. Their talk returned to him and his racing as they finished the meal. He paid after a short discussion, and she struggled not to envision him stripping down before her.

“How do you want to do this?” he asked as they walked out.

She waved over her shoulder at her friends and shrugged. “Do what?”

“Get to my brother’s.”

“I can follow you. That way you don’t have to leave there again once dessert is over.”

He spun her against the side of a vehicle, trapping her in by settling his arms on each side of her head. “What if I
want
to leave after it’s done?”

Heat pooled and her knees wobbled. “We… Well, in that case I would say follow me to my house and we can take my car. That way I’d have to bring you back.”

Her skin tingled and burned as she pined for his touch. It wasn’t fair being this close to him and having to behave because they were in public.

“I like that idea best. Where’s your car?”

His breath was warm and inviting as it flowed over her. All she would have to do would be turn her head slightly and their lips would connect. She was so tempted.

“The blue convertible Z28.”

“You are full of surprises,” he whispered in her ear.

He sucked the lobe in his mouth and grazed his teeth along it. She whimpered, her hips bucking against him. Tightening her hands in the cotton on his sides, she closed her eyes and prayed for the strength to do this, to keep her self-control.

“We should go.”

“Right. I’ll follow you to your house.”

He gave her a fast kiss, one which rattled her shaky body even more, and sent her on her way with a smack on the ass. She took several deep breaths on her way to her car. Unlocking the door, she glanced at him over her shoulder. He stood next to the white Lexus RX330 he’d pressed her against.

“Great, he drives a Lexus.” She hopped in her car and turned the engine over.

Sure enough, he fell in right behind her and she took them to her place, a one-storey ranch. While it wasn’t huge, it was hers. She pulled into the drive and parked.

Moments later, he vaulted into the passenger seat beside her and buckled himself in.

“Nice house. Can’t wait for the tour.”

“Where are we going?” she asked, turning down the music.

“Don’t turn it down on my account, I love classic rock.”

She turned it up again and listened to him tell her where to go. She had some idea of where it was, and could get them on their way. During the ride, Enzo constantly touched her, keeping her body in a state of hyperawareness.

It wasn’t like he had his hand down her shorts fingering her, either.
Okay, not a good thing to think about.
No, these were simple touches. Intimate touches. A stroke down her cheek. Tracing the shell of her ear. Trailing his fingers down her bare arm.

“Turn left into the drive in about a mile and a half.” His instruction came over the wind and music.

“Got it.”

When she made the turn out of the trees that lined the longer drive, her breath left her in a rush.
Holy shit!
A large, three-storey A-frame log cabin sat there. Suddenly she felt way out of her league. As if sensing her dilemma, he reached out and squeezed the hand she had on the gearstick. She turned the music down again and slanted her gaze to the man beside her.

“You’ll be fine,” he said.

In what world is he living in?
She locked her uncertainty away and parked according to Enzo’s directive. They climbed out after the engine shut off and headed for the door.

She gratefully accepted his hand on the small of her back, the heat from it offering comfort. The front door opened before they reached it and a tall man—a
hot
man—stepped through with a baby in his arms and a smile on his face.

“Oh, good, you made it,” he said. “I’m Gio, welcome to our house.”

They paused beside him at the top of the steps. “Halyn. Thank you for the invitation. You have a lovely home and I’m looking forward to meeting your children as well. Is this Michael or Dante?”

Chapter Five

Enzo met Gio’s shocked expression at Halyn’s question with a smile. “This is Michael,” he answered for his brother.

“Adorable.”

“Please come in,” Gio said. They did and as he passed his sibling, Gio stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “You told her about your niece and nephews?”

“What? Is that so shocking?”

“Actually, yes,” Gio deadpanned. “You never share family with others.”

He didn’t want to think about the implication of that statement so he ignored it. Thankfully, Jaydee walked into view at that moment causing a distraction.

“Hi, Jaydee,” he said.

“Enzo.” She faced Halyn and gave a small smile. “Hello, I’m Jaydee.”

“Halyn.”

The women shook hands briefly and he wondered if he should have told Halyn that Jaydee was a bit odder than most.

“You have a very beautiful home and children.”

“Thank you.”

They walked off to the kitchen talking amongst themselves, leaving him alone with his brother. Enzo reached for his nephew and Gio passed him over. Brushing a kiss along his temple, he and Gio followed the women, albeit at a much slower pace.

“She’s a looker.”

He smiled. “She is that. I don’t know, Gio. There’s just something about her.”

“I can see that when you look at her. Does she know you’re falling for her?”

Personally, he thought the bigger question was whether he knew it. And what he planned on doing about it.

“We’re just out on one date, Gio.”

“Uh huh. If that’s what you need to tell yourself. I was there earlier today when you talked about her, remember?”

Shit.
“I’m only in town for a short time.”

“And yet, you come here in her car, not your rental, which tells me you’re heading back with her as well.”

“Do you have to be so damn observant?”

“Pilot.”

He opted not to remind his sibling he no longer flew planes, instead he just grunted. Gio took Michael back and went to the stairs.

“I’m going to put him down and I’ll be back to join you for dessert.” He vanished with an easy stride.

Enzo made his way to the kitchen and saw Halyn pouring coffee while Jaydee cut the cheesecake. Both women looked up when he approached. Jaydee stared coolly at him but Halyn gave him a warm smile. He went to her side and dragged a hand along her hip.

“Gio will be down in a few.”

He helped put everything on the table and soon his brother joined them. They ate, talked and relaxed. A few hours later, he walked out of the house with Halyn. Gio and Jaydee went with them and soon they all stood outside on the porch.

“It was lovely to meet you, Halyn. I hope we see you again soon.” Jaydee gave her a slight smile.

“Thank you for everything,” Halyn said.

“Great meeting you, Halyn. Take care of her, Enzo,” Gio added.

Glaring at his brother, he added his farewells after Halyn answered Gio. Then they headed down to where her convertible was parked.

“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” he asked, once they were on the way back.

“Nope, not at all. I like them. Their children are beautiful.”

She didn’t turn the music back up when they got in so it was much easier to hear her. The wistfulness in her tone had him watching her closer. It was easy to tell she enjoyed children and he knew she’d make a good mother. He’d seen it just by watching her with his niece when she’d woken.

In his head, he ran over what they’d discussed over dessert. She’d mentioned having a toy store. He could see it—her helping children find what they wanted.

The closer they got to her house, the further thoughts of her job got. His mind focused on the lush body she had, and what they would be doing once they got inside. She pulled in the drive and went to the garage, where she parked.

He got out after her and once the door had lowered, he followed her inside. Plush, slate-blue carpet cradled his feet. He trailed her as she went up the hall past the kitchen and to the tiled foyer. She kicked off her shoes and he did the same. Beyond that was a large living room with a corner fireplace between a window and a sliding glass door leading somewhere, it was too dark to tell, but he guessed a patio.

They continued through the living room and she turned left, into what was obviously her bedroom. She flicked on a light and he gazed about, taking in the scene before him.

The same blue carpet filled the room. Her full-size bed was to his right and ahead was a well-constructed mahogany dresser. In the corner by a window sat a large overstuffed chair and she had a padded bench at the end of her bed. Not a lot of things, but nice things.

She spun before him and wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him closer for a kiss. He growled in the back of his throat as her taste, combined with cheesecake and coffee, mingled with his.

Her hands were almost frantic as she tore up his shirt, seeking and finding the skin beneath with a purr. She raked her nails over his chest, flickering over his taut nipples. He responded by reaching for the hem of her shirt and lifting it.

“Right now?” he mumbled to her lips.

“You came here to talk more?”

He responded by lifting her up in his arms and depositing her on the bed with a bounce. Seconds later, his shirt hit the floor, followed swiftly by his jeans and socks. Standing before her in nothing but his boxer briefs, he paused prior to shucking them also.

His cock sprang free, thick and hard. He gripped it and stroked up and down the shaft. “Undress,” he rasped.

A siren’s smile lifted her lips and she wriggled free of her shirt. Her shorts were the next to go and he groaned as she revealed a blue bra and panty set. Just as hot as she’d been the night in Monte Carlo. And he wanted her even more now.

Up and down, he fisted himself. He didn’t know if he could get any harder. When her bra and panties dropped beside the bed and her fingers walked down her belly, over her close-clipped curls, then dipped into her wet pussy, he knew he could.

She put her feet flat on the shiny bedspread—a mix of royal purple, mauve and gold—as she continued to finger herself.
Shit!
He could feel his balls beginning to draw up for release. He’d not even touched her yet, aside from putting her on the bed.

“You like me watching you.” He made it a statement.

“I like watching you.”

Nothing shy about her. Her knees fell wider, giving him a much clearer view of her fingers—three of them now—as they plunged in and out of her wetness. With her free hand, she cupped a breast and tweaked the nipple. Her teeth caught her bottom lip as a cry slipped free.

“Then watch me,” he ordered when her lids lowered.

Her eyes were hazy and filled with desire but she listened. Her fingers stimulated her clit and he gripped himself harder as his strokes came faster. He stepped closer to the bed and the scent of her arousal met him, welcomed him, taunted him.

“I want you,” she said.

“I want to watch you get yourself off.”

Her gaze burned with fire and he noticed the sudden hitch in her breath. She took her hand from her breast and it joined the one between her legs. “Only if I get to watch you.”

Fuck me
. It wouldn’t take but a moment for him to lose it. Although, from her expression, he didn’t think she was that far either.

He released his shaft and reached down, swiping two fingers through her cream to coat his cock. She moaned and he paused in his renewed stroking.

“You can’t just watch, sweetheart.”

He really should have just let her observe. It would have been easier. She licked her lips and drove those three fingers back inside her core. Her other hand played with her clit, rolling it, tugging it, making it stiffen even more. She panted and mewled in obvious pleasure and he almost came just from watching her. He had to hold out, he didn’t want to miss a second of her display.

Her hips rolled and arched off the bed as she finally crested, a loud cry bursting from her lips. Christ, she was a thing of beauty when she came. So pure, uninhibited and honest.

He had a condom on before she had even stopped shaking, moved between her spread thighs and with one single stroke sank into her heat, replacing her fingers with his cock. Her cry, which had been fading, crescendoed.

Fire burned. Thunder boomed. All in his head, he knew, but he also knew he wouldn’t last long. She was too tight, too hot. He drew back, stared in her desire filled eyes and thrust forwards again.

Her internal muscles rippled around him, gripping him, trying to keep him deep inside. Somehow he managed to force back his own desire and started a slow, easy rhythm. In and out. Back and forth. Nice and undemanding.

Halyn captured her lower lip in her teeth as she undulated beneath him, keeping in time with his strokes. Her large eyes focused on him and he could read the blatant need in them.

“Please,” she gasped.

“What, sweetheart?”

“Faster. More. Harder.”

Three words that sounded divine to his ears. But he didn’t want it to end. Shaking his head slightly, he leant down to brush their lips together. “No. Easy.”

“Enzo.”

He chuckled, even though he wanted to take her up on the faster, more, harder. “Do you have any idea how fucking hot you looked getting yourself off?” He dipped a shoulder and repositioned one of her legs over it. Then he did the same to the other side so the backs of her knees rested on him. “Oh, yeah,” he rumbled. “I like this much better. I can get even deeper into your pussy.”

He punctuated the statement with two powerful drives into her. She dug her nails into his forearms and went with him. Her gaze locked on his, he continued to piston his hips, he filled her then retreated, only to do it all over again. His balls had drawn tighter and he knew it would be over for him soon. Her breasts bounced with each forwards motion he made and his mouth watered to have them to suckle. Right now, he focused on holding out as long as he could.