Turn Towards the Sun Book Two: After the Rain (40 page)

“I don’t need to come. I can wait,” I say, hopefully removing the strain from my voice.

“Is that so? Is this your attempt at a power struggle?” Enzo asks, running his hand down my back.

“Is it working?”

“Ava, my love, I am completely powerless in your hands. The only power I have is what you give me. You understand? What happens next is up to you.” He kisses my neck.

I take a deep breath. I have to trust that both of us know what we are doing, and that neither of us will let it get out of control.

“I want to play some more.”

I feel his grin pressed against my skin, the rough sequins of the mask contrast with the softness of his lips. His teeth nibble my shoulder.

“What will it take to get you to say it, say that you belong to me?” he whispers.

“Let’s find out.”

Enzo takes my arm and leads me over to a secluded corner of the room. Backing me against the wall, he leans towards me with his arms placed at either side of my head. I reach up and lift his mask, revealing the beauty of his features. His phenomenal smile fills his face.

“Enzo, you talk about my beauty all the time, but you… you’re unbelievable.”

“Take off your mask,” he instructs me.

Removing it, I lift my eyes to him. I completely belong to him, but I’m not saying it yet. No way – this is way too hot.

“You drive me crazy, you know that? You sashay through here, swaying that luscious ass of yours. I thought those men you passed on the way to the bathroom were going to pass out. That ass is mine. Say it, dammit.”

I grin. “Why do you want me to say that?”

“I need to hear it.” He leans in closer, pressing his forehead against mine. I feel his hand start to pull at the hem of my dress.

“What will you do if I say it?” I ask.

“Make love to you.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ll make you beg.”

“Maybe you should be begging,” I reply, giggling.

“I already am, Ava. Can’t you see?”

Reaching down, I stroke him through his pants, feeling that he is very excited. Enzo wouldn’t take me here, in this room, would he? We are surrounded by people, including our friends and family. He tugs at my hem again and my dress rises up my legs. His eyes burrow into me, and I know he is just waiting for me to give him what he wants.

“Are you going to undress me here?” I ask.

“I would like to. I want to climb between your legs right now.”

“That would be nice, but I haven’t said what you want to hear yet.”

“No, you haven’t. I’m waiting,” he says huskily.

“I know.”

“Jesus, Ava. How do you do this to me?”

“I could say the same thing to you.”

Enzo leans in and kisses me, finally. It’s a passionate kiss that makes me forget where we are. He breaks away unexpectedly and I’m surprised to see Grayson standing behind him. Enzo releases me and I smooth my dress down. I’m sure that my face is turning twenty shades of red.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Enzo, but some local news stations have shown up to cover the event. They are setting up cameras around the venue. I thought you would like to know.”

Grayson’s face is just as red as mine must be, having caught his boss in a compromising position in the corner of a nightclub.

“Yes, thank you,” my husband says, straightening his suit jacket. After running his hands through his hair, he puts his mask back in place.

Damn, our moment is totally broken. Stupid media.

I put my own mask back on and walk quietly back to our table, my hand in Enzo’s.

“We’re not done yet, signora,” he whispers, winking at me.

“Where the heck did you go, girl?” Cassie yells as we arrive.

“I was with my husband, obviously.”

Smiling, I sit down in between her and Marisa, and reach for another glass of champagne.

“And what were you up to, missy?” she whispers in my ear.

“Just having a little new year’s fun,” I whisper back.

She laughs. “I can tell. I bet your cheeks are bright red under that mask.”

At that moment a photographer approaches our table and has a brief discussion with Enzo.

“Ava, come here please,” he calls to me.

I stand up and walk over to him, and he pulls me onto his lap. The photographer takes several pictures of us as a couple and then of our entire group. Enzo kisses my cheek and keeps his hand rested possessively on my leg the entire time. I’m surprised at this behavior as he is normally so aloof when the cameras show up.

Enzo stands and shakes hands with the photographer. “Ava, this is Giancarlo. He has covered some of my hotel openings in the past.”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” I say.

“Nice to meet you, too,” the man replies. “I’ve been dying to meet the woman capable of getting this guy to settle down.” He grins.

Surprising me again, Enzo smiles too. “She has quite the way with me, Giancarlo.”

“I can see that,” he answers. “It’s awesome bumping into you here, but I had a feeling you would be. This is definitely the place to be this year.”

“It has been a very exciting evening so far, right, amore?” Enzo’s eyes glimmer with mischief.

“Very much so,” I reply coolly. “With much more to come, I hope.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. The dancers haven’t come out yet. I’m really excited to see them,” Giancarlo says, his eyes shooting around the room.

I’m surprised. “What dancers?”

“You don’t know?” Giancarlo asks with excitement brimming in his voice. “Rumor has it that they have a very impressive burlesque show coming shortly before midnight. It has been one of the most talked about events for months. Apparently, it’s very erotic.”

I look over at Enzo, who appears to be hearing this for the first time too. “Well, that should make for interesting conversation,” he says.

“Yep, that’s why I’m here,” Giancarlo explains. “I’m covering it for Vegas Today. I hope it’s as hot as they say. The hotel’s entire reputation is launching tonight. They’re going for a high-end crowd, but one that still likes to push the envelope a little.”

“I think we fit that description, no?” Enzo grips my waist a little tighter.

“Yes, I would agree,” I murmur.

“Cool, well, hey, it was great seeing you, Enzo. I’m happy to come out to Arizona if you want when the time comes to open your place.”

“I’ll call you.” Enzo says.

Giancarlo extends his hand to me. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Milano.”

I smile. “You, as well.”

“An erotic burlesque show?” I ask, as the photographer heads off.

Enzo grins. “More excitement, no...?”

“How much can a girl take?”

“Much more, I hope. I have more planned for you,” he reveals. “Are you ready to say it yet?”

“Nope.”

Enzo smiles and drags his hand across my thigh. “When I do get you to say it, it will be the sweetest sound to my ears.”

I grin. “Vediamo.”

“Yes, we will see.”

I take another glass of champagne, feeling my inhibitions lower with each sip. Changing seats, I chat with the girls, while the men talk about gambling and sports. Waiters stop by every ten minutes or so, offering tasty tapas. I feel heady with excitement, alcohol, and good food.

I listen to Cassie while she tells a story that makes us all crack up laughing. Without warning, the tingling sensation begins. My eyes shoot to Enzo, who appears to be engaged in conversation with Calvin and Chris.

Ah, back to the game.

The vibrating continues, increasing in small increments. I cross my legs to push the feeling closer to my throbbing clit. I shift uncomfortably, hoping my face is not giving away my little secret.

I glance at Enzo again, but he pays no attention, other than an occasional smile. The sensation is starting to become unbearable. The pulsating between my legs is becoming more rapid and I know I’m breathing harder. I’m thankful the room is dark and the music loud. I can barely take any more.

Surely he is not going to bring me to climax here on this couch?

My attention shifts to the DJ booth, as a man announces that the show is about to start. We all stand and walk to the front of the stage area. Enzo mercifully turns off his toy, but it has not decreased my level of arousal.

Enzo stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Are you ready to talk yet, signora?”

I shake my head. I don’t know how much more I can take, but I’m willing to find out.

“Very well,” he whispers.

Gabby grabs my hand. “This is so exciting. What a great night so far!”

“I agree. Can’t wait to see this show,” I tell her.

The curtains pull up slowly as seductive music starts to play. As the lights go out, a spotlight appears on stage. A lone, dark-haired woman sits in a chair. Throwing her head back, she lets her hand glide down her neck and extends her leg out in front of her. Her face is provocatively covered with a gold mask and her rather voluptuous body is draped in sexy, red lingerie.

Erotic isn’t a good enough word for what I’m watching right now. The woman stands and proceeds to conduct a very sensuous dance with just her chair. When she finishes, the room explodes in applause. She smiles innocently as though unaware of the effect she is having.

There is a brief lull in the action, and Enzo whispers in my ear, “Did you like the performance?”

“I did. She was hot.”

“Was she? In my mind that was you dancing just for me, because you belong to me. God, I wish you would say it and not force my hand.” He grins to take the edge off his words.

“I rather like it when your hand is forced,” I reply, saucily.

“I can see that.” He kisses my cheek as the next performance starts.

The curtain opens again and at least a dozen women pour out from backstage in various stages of undress. It is quite a show and the audience is clearly entertained. The pretty woman from the first performance approaches me and Enzo, and dances around us for a moment. She wraps a silk scarf around my neck, and shimmies up and down as she circles my body. As the scarf slides around my waist, I lift my arms and twirl around with the woman, loosened by my excessive alcohol consumption.

I glance at my husband, who is watching me with a captivated look on his face. I’m suddenly very thankful that the woman chose to dance with me. She then takes Enzo’s hand and pulls him close to me, before wrapping her scarf around the two of us. The woman continues to dance around us in a sort of burlesque-style belly dance.

My husband’s eyes lock on mine, his expression one of pure lust. I cannot wait any longer, I have to give in.

“Enzo, I–”

The woman pushes between us, prolonging the tease just a little longer. Enzo’s face falls for just a second before he laughs. Taking her arms and pulling her to him, he whispers something in her ear. Immediately, her eyes shift to me and she smiles.

The dancer wraps her scarf around my waist several times and then unwraps me quickly, causing me to spin around, right into Enzo’s arms. She moves on to the next couple, so I know my husband must have asked her to leave us be.

People crowd around, watching the show, oblivious to us. Enzo pulls the remote out of his pocket and turns it on, full force. Tensing, I lean against him.

“You were saying?” he asks, pulling me closer.

Ah, shit. It feels amazing. I love experiencing such an intimate thing in a roomful of people.

“Say it, Ava, or you can’t come.” He lowers the speed.

Shit. “Please,” I say.

“I don’t want you to beg,” Enzo says. “I want you to tell me what I want to hear. Say it and you can come. Don’t you want to, baby?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Then say it.”

I give up. I can’t take it anymore, so I tell him, “I belong to you.”

He closes his eyes. “Say it again, please…”

“I belong to you, Enzo,” I repeat. “Only you, forever.”

My husband opens his eyes and exhales. “Yes, you do. You are mine. Now you get your reward.”

Turning up the vibrator, he pulls my body as close to him as possible. He leans back against the column behind us, pressing his lips against mine, enveloping me in his energy. My whole body ripples with the anticipation of an orgasm.

“Are you ready? Or shall I turn it off?” he taunts me.

“I’ll kill you if you turn it off.”

Enzo grins and sucks my tongue into his mouth. I grip the back of his neck, digging my nails into his flesh. He’s driving me crazy. I feel his hand reach down and press the vibe against me, which is all I need to finally push me over the edge.

I throw my head back and suck in my breath as a violent orgasm invades my body. Enzo turns me around so that my back is against the column. He sucks my neck and whispers in my ear. “That’s right, baby, come for me.”

Without warning, I begin to convulse and tears fill my eyes. I shake against him and collapse into his arms. Enzo pulls my chin up so that my eyes meet his and removes my mask.