Turn Towards the Sun Book Two: After the Rain (36 page)

“I think I’m not sure you’ll make it out of this hotel room wearing it.” He grins with a most seductive expression on his face.

I pull my sweater over my head and let my hair down. Running my hands down Enzo’s hard, muscled chest through his crisp, white shirt, I stand on my tiptoes to kiss his chin and his neck, inhaling the scent of his cologne.

“Baby, you turn me on so much just being near you,” I whisper to him.

He grabs my ass and pulls me towards him. “The feeling is mutual.”

I throw my head back and enjoy the sensation of his hands roaming over my body. Enzo unclips my bra and slides it off. His hands grasp my breasts and gently squeeze.

“Ava, your body is so luscious. I’ll never get enough of it.” Bending his head down, he sucks a hardened nipple into his mouth.

I let out a small moan. “I hope you never get enough.”

“Never,” he repeats, pressing his face into my cleavage.

We both jump, startled by the sound of his phone.

“Shit,” he says.

“It’s okay, baby, you can answer it.”

He looks down. “It’s Dax.”

“Answer it.”

“Enzo,” he answers, and paces the room while I finish undressing.

I start the shower, hoping my handsome prince will join me soon. I lay out my Suzette dress and the shoes I plan to wear. Pulling the new lingerie I bought out of a bag, I select something to wear.

Enzo walks into the room and smiles at the sight of me standing naked, laying out my clothes for the evening. “A beautiful sight, Mrs. Milano,” he says, grinning.

“Why don’t you take off your clothes and join me? I’m rather fond of the sight of your naked body as well.”

“Happily…”

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Oh, yes, it’s perfect,” he replies. “In fact, Dax called because he has good news. We were able to get some additional permits approved, so we can progress. At this rate, the hotel is going to be finished well ahead of schedule.”

He slips out of his pants and shirt.

“That’s good news. Little Vegas needs a name soon, no?”

“Yes, this is true. I just can’t decide. I want it to be iconic, but I don’t know what it is.”

We step into the shower.

“What about a name?” I ask. “Is there a name you really like? Or an Italian word that is really meaningful to you?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. I like your name.”

I shake my head. “That’s not a good hotel name. What about the Milano?”

“I don’t know. That doesn’t feel iconic to me.”

“Hotel Milano? Calabrese? Calabrian? Florentine? Tesoro? Amore? That’s all I’ve got,” I say, exhausting every word I can think of that is associated with my husband.

His face lights up. “That’s it. Yes, Ava, that’s it!”

“Um, what did I say?”

“You’re thinking of all these words that are related to me, but it’s a word that’s all about you – Bellissima. The hotel will be called La Bellissima. Perfetto.” He kisses me and pulls me close. “Do you like it?” he asks.

“Actually, I love it.”

“Then that’s it. I’ll call the marketing people later, and tell them to get started on designing a logo.”

“It’s iconic,” I say and giggle.

“I think so, yes.”

“We should ask Francesca and our friends, too, for a little focus group testing, no?”

“Yes. Good idea. You’re not only stunningly beautiful, you’re extremely bright.”

“And wrinkly,” I reply, giggling. “Can we get out now?”

He laughs too. “Certo.”

We climb out of the shower and dry off. Enzo is brimming with excitement now that he’s found a name for his hotel.

“How much time do we have before dinner?” I ask.

Enzo looks at the clock. “One hour. Is that enough time for you?”

I put my hands on my hips. “Meaning what? How much time do you think I need?”

“Honestly, none at all. I think you are beautiful just as you are now. I meant how much time do you think you need to look the way you want?”

“Good save, mister,” I say with a wink. “I don’t need much time at all. I’m going to blow dry my hair, but leave it wavy, and put on a little heavier makeup than usual to go with the dress.”

“You didn’t wear a lot of makeup in Italy when you wore the dress.”

I laugh. “This is Vegas, baby.”

“Yes, this is the one place where sexier is better. I will have my hands full with you tonight then.”

“There are plenty of sexy women walking around Vegas right now.”

Enzo grins. “None as hot as you.”

“I only have eyes for you my prince.”

“And I for you,” he insists.

“Let’s get dressed,” I suggest, and head to the sink to brush my teeth. He joins me at the vanity and starts to apply shaving cream to his face.

“No, don’t shave please. Leave it rough,” I say, winking at him.

He puts the razor down. “As you wish.”

I lean back against the counter. “So, I’ve been thinking…”

“Thinking about what, my love?”

Watching as he wipes the shaving cream off his face, I reply, “Fantasies.”

Enzo wraps his arms around my waist. “I would like to hear all about those.”

“I think the idea of doing something where we could get caught is exciting. I don’t want to actually get caught, though. I just like the idea. Like when we were in the car that time.”

“Ah, public sex… Are you a little exhibitionist?” he asks.

“Maybe, and Vegas is the perfect place for it.”

“Yes, I agree. It also happens to be one of those things I always wanted to do, but never had someone to do it with. You read my mind this time, signora.”

“We have a very exciting couple of days ahead of us then,” I tease.

“We do. Maybe an opportunity will present itself tonight, no?” He nuzzles my neck, his stubble creating an exhilarating sensation across my skin.

“I do hope so, my prince.”

I walk into the bedroom and squeeze into my dress, thankful that the material is so forgiving, before slipping into my new black stiletto pumps. My hair is wavy and wild, and I love the look. I add some dramatic, smoky eye makeup and a light, neutral lip color. Personally, I think I look freaking hot.

“Well, what do you think?” I ask Enzo as I step into the sitting area.

“Fuck, Ava.” He has a wide smile on his face. “Excuse my mouth, signora, but you look absolutely incredible, even better than the first time you wore it.”

I run my hands over my stomach. “I’m a little curvier than I was the first time, but I think it looks good.”

“Beyond good…”

I smile. “Grazie.”

“You look so good that I want to throw you down on the couch and ravish you,” Enzo says, his eyes gleaming with lust.

“Ha! Well you can’t because we’re going out. You’ll have to wait.”

“We’ll see about that, signora.”

I rush away from him, laughing like a gleeful child, as I collect my clutch and cashmere wrap. Enzo starts to chase me when our playtime is interrupted by a knock on the door. He answers it.

“Ready to go out?” asks Calvin, standing in the doorway.

“Yes, we are,” Enzo replies, laughing.

“Wow, Ava. You look fantastic,” Gabby remarks.

I grin. “So do you, my lovely friend.”

Gabby is wearing a dark brown wrap dress with a high neckline. It highlights her tiny waist and curvy hips. Her hair falls in sexy waves around her shoulders and down her back, and, if I’m not mistaken, she is wearing makeup.

“You’re a little hotty, Miss Gabriella,” I tease, using my husband’s name for her.

She blushes. “I’m feeling pretty hot tonight – must be a Vegas thing.”

Calvin rubs her back. “She’s always hot to me.”

“Shall we go down to the lobby and wait for the others?” Enzo asks. “I ordered a car for us.”

We head to the elevators, where Grayson and Marisa join us. As we descend, I turn around and rub Enzo’s back. I lean in and whisper in his ear, “Fantasy,” and wink.

“The elevator?” he asks.

“Hell, yeah.”

“That could possibly be arranged.”

“But they’re too fast,” I point out.

“We’ll see what I can do,” he says with a grin.

Waves of arousal wash over me just thinking of the possibility.

After a few minutes, Francesca and Eduardo, then Chris and Cassie, join us in the lobby. We walk out to the valet area where our limo is waiting. Cassie’s face lights up when she spots it – she loves this over-the-top, VIP treatment.

“Are you going to complain about the car again, your highness?” Cassie asks, before bursting into laughter at her own joke.

I roll my eyes. “No, Cass. I’m happy to have it.”

“Ah, what’s this? Acceptance, tolerance, or submission?” she asks me.

“Let’s go with a willing combination of acceptance and mild submission,” I reply, and look directly at my husband. Cassie has no idea of the meaning of the word submission between us, but Enzo certainly does.

He responds with a wink and a small back rub. “I like that combination.”

“So do I,” I reply.

“Okay, you two, can we make it through dinner without the two of you gagging us with your mushy love talk?” Cassie asks.

Enzo replies, “I won’t make promises I cannot keep, Miss Cunningham,” causing me to explode with laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Gabby asks.

I grin at her. “Inside joke. Anyway, we’ll try to keep it to a minimum, how’s that?”

Cassie rolls her eyes. “That’s as good as it’s going to get, I suppose.”

We walk into Dolce, where we are immediately escorted to a large table. The restaurant is stark and very modern in appearance, but the low lighting helps to soften the surroundings. It definitely feels like Vegas in here.

A waitress strides over wearing a red dress. Glancing around, I notice that all of the female staff are wearing the same thing, while the men are dressed in red shirts and black dress pants. Fancy. The woman announces that the chef has prepared a special menu for us tonight, so we should all just sit back and start drinking the numerous bottles of wine that are sitting on our table.

“This is a very nice place. I read a write-up about it in a magazine on the way here,” Marisa announces. She flips her red hair around as she speaks.

“Yes, the chef, he is winning awards across the world. His food is Italian, but he modernized it. I’m so excited,” Francesca enthuses.

“Yeah, me too,” says Cassie. “I watched his biography on the Food Network. I was drooling just thinking of this place, and now I’m here. It’s too cool.”

Enzo explains, “The menu concept is unique, like Spanish tapas but with Italian-inspired cuisine. I am quite interested how our meal will unfold tonight.”

Our first course arrives on at least twenty plates. It is a selection of just about every appetizer on the menu, from mussels in a garlic wine sauce to grilled prawns, and a very delicious-looking bruschetta with a delicate spread of avocado and fresh tomatoes. Every bite is divine and the food just keeps coming. We go through several pasta dishes, pizzas, house specialties, and too many bottles of wine to even bother counting. Our meal is finished off by a selection of small, but magnificent desserts.

Amazingly, I don’t feel stuffed, as everything was just a bite or two. I am, however, completely drunk. The wine was beyond good and I’ve had more than my fair share of it.

“Are you tipsy, amore?” Enzo asks. Smiling, he leans back in his chair and looks at me.

Our friends are chatting and laughing together while I sit entranced by my husband’s presence.

“I believe I am. And I’m ready for you now,” I say, draining my glass.

“But signora, you are slurring your words. Are you sure I won’t be taking advantage of you?” His eyes twinkle as he drags a finger softly down my cheek.

While I may be drunk, I know damn well that I want my husband’s hands all over me right now.

“Can we go to our room, Enzo? I want you.”

Grinning, he asks, “In what way?”

“Don’t fuck with me. You know what I want.”

“My, my, signora, the language – what a mouth you have.” He swishes his wine glass around and takes another sip, taunting me.

“I will stand up and strip right here, right now, in front of all of these people,” I challenge him.

“You will do no such thing. You’re bluffing. I can read your poker face, remember?”

Enzo is right, I am bluffing. I cross my arms and stick out my bottom lip in a pout.

He drinks the rest of his wine and leans in close to me. “I am going to fuck you, Ava, all night if I can. I’m going to do unimaginable things to that gorgeous body of yours, and, oh, what I have planned for your dirty little mouth.”

I grin. “I love it when you talk to me like that. Let’s go. Now.”