Private Tasting (2 page)

She sighed and pivoted from her place by the curved staircase. The movement caused the soft fabric of her gown to brush against her bare legs. A week ago, she’d mapped out this night. Her grand plan to seduce Lucio would’ve been successful. Instead of rejecting her, he’d led her to bed and taken her into the erotic places only he could access. And tonight, she would’ve returned the favor. Fucked him. Sucked him. Made him scream her name.

Too bad her plan had imploded. The only place he’d taken her that night was to her house. Then he’d left her alone and lonely in her bed.

The fantasy had died, but she’d lived it so long, it was almost unconscious to dress the part of the seductress. From her hair, strategically upswept to fall at one pull of the ivory stick holding the strands in place—to the dress. Floor length with a halter top, the fabric was tight enough to hug her curves, loose enough for—she closed her eyes. Her imagination flashed to Lucio, standing behind her, sliding the fabric up her legs. Her nipples puckered. Her breath stopped.

God, his hands. Tan and strong. Calloused and rough from his time in the fields. How would it feel to have them on her breasts. Warm and heavy, cupping the round swells, squeezing until she cried out with pleasure? His breath hot on her neck, his tongue—shit. She was getting wet. Beth put her hands on her hips, tilted her head back, and lifted her gaze to the ceiling. When she looked back at the crowd, she saw him.

Lucio, standing at the top of the staircase. He wore a tuxedo, his skin made richer by the ebony fabric. His broad shoulders filled the jacket, tapered to his lean waist, and breath-takingly long legs. Her mouth went dry, and when he moved down the steps with his trademark sensual, primal grace, she forgot how to breathe.

By the time he reached her, she’d managed to take a breath, but as he smiled, spoke her name, and leaned in to kiss her cheek, her heart contracted with the memory of his gentle rebuff. He pulled away and met her eyes, but not before she could fully hide her emotion.

“Beth?” His dark gaze searched her face. “The other night—”

She forced a smile. “Forget it.”

“You seemed…you drank a lot. I was only trying—”

“I know.” She put her hand up to stop him as he opened his mouth. “But I’m a big girl, Luico. I knew—know—what I want.”

“Still,” he spoke slowly. “You’d had wine before you came over—”

“It wasn’t
your
label.” She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and met his gaze. “When it comes to your brand, I can handle more than you think.”

His eyes clouded—maybe. Maybe it was the shadows in her that made her see shade in his almost black pupils.

“The event is beautiful.” She shifted away from the scent of him, the heat of his body.

“Thank you—Beth—”

She heard the hitch in his voice, the subtle signal that he wanted to keep the discussion going, but the Master of Ceremonies stepped to the podium. Lucio gave her one last, assessing look. His dark gaze bored into her as though searching for the truth of that night, the truth of this night, then he gave her a small smile.

The woman on stage went into the usual spiel, thanking the organizers, bringing attention to the family who owned the massive estate where the gala was being held, greeting the guests, then moved to the first item on the program—the film that detailed the history of the various vineyards. The guests moved to form a small cluster in the center of the room. Lucio took Beth’s hand, silently directing her to allow the men and women to precede them. By the time the lights dimmed, she and Lucio were at the back of the crowd, but still close enough to hear the rustle of the silk and crepe dresses.

The opening credits rolled, and she felt him step close. Very close. The firm length of his body pressed against her, making her acutely aware of the heat and breadth of him, the intoxicating scent of his cologne, and the underlying masculine smell that left her trembling. “Lucio? Is—”

Her whispered question was cut short as his hands wrapped around her waist. This was no friendly, platonic touch. His intention transmitted itself in the confidence and power with which his fingers curled around her hips.

Her heart kicked and dived.

“You look beautiful tonight.” He trailed his finger along her temple and down her jaw.

She turned into his touch, closed her eyes, and let her lips brush his skin. “Do you like my dress?”

His touch smoothed along the fabric at her waist. “Almost as soft as your skin.”

“I thought of you when I bought it.” She paused. “Thought of what you might like to do to me when you saw me in it.”

His body tensed. “You wore this for me?” Sex and lust throbbed in his voice.

“I’m not a sexual coward,” she said. “I’ve just never had the right partner.” She took a breath. “I’ve never had you.”

His fingers pulsed at her waist. “You want me? Tonight?”

“Yes.”

“One night to prove your bravery.”

One night. When she wanted so much more. But it was all he was offering and a few hours with him would be worth the memories. “Yes.”

For a moment, he said nothing. Then he pulled her tight against him, and his hands slid along her torso, past her ribs toward her tits, then—Beth’s heart crashed as his fingers slipped under the silk fabric to cup her breasts.

She gasped at the shock of his bare skin on her flesh, the sensation of his roughened hands against her. The woman in front of them turned her head at the sound, but the dark room hid the wicked actions of Lucio. She turned her attention back to the movie, and the brush with them almost getting caught ratcheted Beth’s arousal.

He leaned to her ear. “Here’s your choice…”

Her stomach tightened.

“Give in to me. Let me pleasure you in front of all these people…”

“Or?” She could barely form the word.

His laughter was a wicked rumble. “Or I leave my hands here until the lights come on. Let them see what we were doing.” He leaned even closer until his full mouth was pressed against the delicate cartilage of her ear. “They won’t—how do you say it—bat an eyelash. The village knows my reputation. But you…”

There it was again. Lust. Sex. The promise of pleasure. It wet her pussy and made her ache for his possession.

“What will they say?” He pressed his lips against her temple. “It’s your choice,
cara
.”

And then she heard it. The protective lift in his voice. The tone that said if she didn’t want to do it, he wouldn’t judge, and that if she wanted to do it, he’d care for her through the experience.

She titled her head back. Her fingers wandered lower, and the evidence of his excitement filled her hands. “Think you have what it takes to pleasure me?”

He answered with a bite to her shoulder.

Her gasp was covered by the movie soundtrack. She felt his smile of triumph against her skin. His firm teeth nipped her neck. The pleasure sent shockwaves through her as his agile hands molded to the swell of her breasts and found the hard buds. He used his fingers like teeth, latching and pulling at her nipples, squeezing with the perfect amount of pressure to tighten the coil that connected her breasts to her center.

She’d never felt tension like this before, never had this kind of reaction to a man at her tits. But the way he bit and nibbled her neck mimicked the erotic movements of his fingers, and together, it twisted and stretched the need in her to breaking point. With every new volley, her hands pulsed at his cock, and he hardened beneath her touch. Her pussy throbbed and contracted, the ache pulling tight and wetting her G-string.

His breathing turned rough, his onslaught primal, as he grew and lengthened in her palm. His right hand pulled up the skirt of her dress, then pushed past the elastic waist of her lace panty, and moved to cup her sex. He flicked his finger along her hard clit, then slid it into her slick center. One final tug on her breasts, one pulse of his finger inside her, one more bite, one more throb of his cock, and the tension in her shattered. She tightened her jaw, clamped her mouth shut as she rode the tremors, and tried to keep from screaming her ecstasy.

He held her tight, pumping her with his finger as the orgasm shot through her body. Waves of pleasure and release buckled her legs, but Lucio caught her weight, cradling her until the final spasms of delight rippled through her.

He removed his fingers from her pussy. His breathing was as ragged as hers as he whispered, “Beautiful. I knew you’d be this beautiful,
cara
.”

She spun to face him, looking up to where the shadows hid his face. “I’ve never—” Beth gasped for air.

He bent his head, kissed the tip of her nose.

Her fingers trailed to where the evidence of his arousal made itself known.

Lucio chuckled, gently pushed her hand away. “I’m not going to make it that easy for you.” He must have guessed the question in her silence because he said, “I got you. Now, it’s your turn.” He pressed his firm mouth to her neck and frissons of desire shivered along her skin. “Come get me.” Then he turned and walked away.

****

Beth bided her time through the night, letting him drift in and out of her view, watching him from the corner of her eyes. She wanted to do something big, something that would make his jaw drop, but short of her stripping in front of the crowd, she hadn’t a clue what would catch his attention. As though sensing her thoughts, Lucio lifted his head and tossed a glance her way.

The action was smooth, subtle. To an outside observer, it would seem as though he merely looked around the room, but she saw the light in his eyes, the teasing lift of his mouth. And she realized he didn’t need her to do anything big. He was challenging her simply to
do something
.

And she knew exactly what that would be. A quick trip to the ladies’ room to take off her underwear, and she was ready.

Three hours later, the night wrapped up with a display of fireworks. The crowd moved from the sumptuous mansion to the field, their excited whispers and murmurs the perfect backdrop for her sexy return of his volley. She touched Lucio’s arm as he walked past her, her expression demure. “May I walk with you?”

He murmured his agreement, curiosity in his eyes and anticipation in his smile.

“Did you know the mansion had new security installed?” They stepped through the double doors and into the cool night. A gentle breeze gusted across the lawn, rolled along the cement patio, up the pillars, and kissed the heat from Beth’s skin.

“No, I did not.”

“They have cameras discretely installed, in well-placed areas.” She took him by the hand, revelling in the feel of his strong bones, how safe she felt in his presence. “We’re always under surveillance.”

“Always?”

She heard the amusement in his voice and knew he was well-aware of the estate’s security but was playing along with the game. “Always.” She led him to a quiet alcove, hidden from the view of security but dangerously close to where the crowd stood, waiting for the firework show. “They have guards that patrol the area.”

“Do they?” He placed his hands on her thighs and slid them up to her waist. The silk fabric rubbed against her legs, the warmth of his touch seeped through her dress, and the cold air tickled her thighs. “What shall we do?”

She flicked her tongue along his bottom lip and delighted in his hiss of pleasure. “Be very quiet.” Beth kissed the underside of his jaw. “At least, until the fireworks start.” She handed him her G-string. Then she spread her legs. “They patrol every fifteen minutes. We’ve been talking for five.” Reaching for his dick, she asked, “Who do you think will come first? Me or them?”

He chuckled, low and deep. “No foreplay?”

“Fuck foreplay.” Beth lifted her skirt. “Fuck me.”

Lucio stepped close, gripped her upper arms. She expected him to take her. Instead, he pulled her from the wall and loosened his grip. Before she could put words to her confusion, he’d slipped his jacket from his wide shoulders and draped the blazer around her.

“The marble is hard,” he said as he gently braced her against the column. “And your skin is so very, very soft.” He followed his words by trailing his tongue along her arm. “Now, where were we?” He kissed her neck. “Ah, yes, I remember.”

Lucio bent, grasped the silk fabric in his hands and dragged it up to her waist. His fingers trailed to her liquid center, traced the line of her lips.

She jerked at his touch, her gasp of pleasure covered by the first firework exploding in the sky. Reaching for him, she grasped the buckle at his waist. Aware of the time counting down, excited by the possibility of them getting caught, she undid the belt and popped the button of his slacks. The rasp his zipper made as she slid it down shrieked along her heightened nerves, and the knowledge of what was about to happen made her pussy contract.

Lucio reached into the inside pocket of his blazer. At the same time, she reached for his cock, groaning as the weight of his hot, rigid shaft filled her palms. She circled the base and ran her hands along his length.

He moaned.

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “Am I making this hard for you?”

The rasp of foil crackled between them, and her insides dived with the pleasure to come.

“No. I’m making it hard for
you
.”

Fuck. It was enough to send her into orgasm. If he could do this to her with his words, what would he do when his dick was inside her?

He stepped back. The exploding lights above them framed him in shadows of purple, gold, red, and green. There was the rustle of the condom as he rolled it on. Then he stepped to her and she stopped breathing.

Lucio moved between her legs, bending at the same time he gripped the base of her hips. Then the tip of his shaft was at her opening. She jerked at the contact. Her hands caught his shirt and stabilized her balance.

“I love how you respond to me.” His whisper was hot on her neck as he pushed past her lips and penetrated the most secret part of her.

God, he was smooth. Hard. Thick. Hot.

Lucio pulled out, then pushed deeper. Out. In. Almost out. Farther in. He did it to excite her, to lubricate her, to prepare her body for his thick, rigid length.