Everything You Need (9 page)

And wasn’t that what they’d been doing for each other
for the past two weeks? Okay, her brain was muddled by lust and
longing. She was reasoning to herself like a horny teenager, but
then Brice spoke again. “Define need.”

His teeth sank into the sensitive flesh between her
neck and collarbone. Her eyes might have closed, because she
couldn’t see anymore—but her brain could barely wrap around what he
was doing with his mouth to be sure. His hands grazed the sides of
her breasts before he took them fully in his hands and massaged
them.

“We should go inside,” Hazel choked out.

She fumbled around for the door handle and they
lurched inside. Brice steadied them, but his tongue continued to
lavish the skin along her neck.

“You don’t even know me.” He lifted her shirt and
placed his hands on her bare stomach. The calluses created a
pleasurable contrast when they caressed her abdomen. He took off
the shirt and started to massage her already sensitive breasts.

Her vision had dimmed again. He was stilling talking
like he wanted to leave. Her brain latched onto a question to keep
from tackling him to the floor. “What’s your favorite color?”

His hands traveled back down, and she almost
whimpered, thinking he was going to stop touching her. He
unbuttoned her jeans and began to use his teeth.

“Red,” he finally answered.

The color of her bra. “See, I know you’re funny.”

Though she couldn’t bring herself to laugh. The air
in her lungs had become nonexistent. He unclasped her bra, brushing
his palms over her nipples in the process.

“Um, uh, favorite sport?”

“Soccer. Still, you don’t know me.”

He’d worked his way back up to her ear and bit her.
She moaned and her mind blanked for a moment. “We’re on a
first-name basis—that has to count for something.”

His hand moved to the zipper of her jeans and undid
it. “Yes, red is my very favorite color.”

She sighed when his fingers dipped into her panties.
“Can you speak Italian? I took a few courses in college.”

He parted the folds of her sex. He groaned and
pressed against her from behind. “
Bagnato.
”

Her skin flushed with heat when the meaning hit her.
“I am, aren’t I?”

“Very.” His tongue curved over her lobe. “And
Americans kept the good words pretty much the same.” He flicked his
finger over her very wet clitoris.

Hazel pressed her legs together as her knees
weakened. “Okay, you can’t keep doing that if all you’re going to
do is leave.”

He sighed. “You’re right. I should stop.” He
continued to please her with his fingers until she was rocking
against his hand.

“Very
bagnato
now.” His voice sounded
hoarse.

She would collapse on the floor if he kept this up.
She moved his hand and turned to him. “How about you give me a
refresher course in Italian.”

Though she could see his arousal stiff against his
pants, Brice hesitated. She took his other hand and placed it over
her breasts. “What’s this?”

His eyes darkened and she knew he wasn’t going to
leave. Her heart thudded under his palm. No she hadn’t been
lying—they both needed this.

“Well,” he lightly pinched her nipple. “This is an
ugello.
”

She placed her hands on his face and brought his
mouth down to hers. He started to walk, moving her backwards. For
the first time in her life she followed a man’s lead willingly.
Once her brain cleared, later, she’d worry about the implications.
Her hormones were running the show tonight.

Finally they fell onto the bed, a tangle of limbs,
but his mouth stayed on hers. The kisses were no longer banking the
need growing inside her. Yes, her hormones could run the show.

He lifted her leg and murmured, “
Piedino.
”

She lifted his shirt over his head, feasting her eyes
on the muscled chest. “
Bello.
”

He chuckled. “My chest is not beautiful.”

“You’re not seeing my view.” She began to unzip his
pants. He helped her by kicking them off. She cupped him in her
hands. He was warm there, too. “Very
bello
,” she
murmured.

“
Coscia.
” He gripped her thighs, pulling her
closer until their sex brushed. He placed a kiss on her navel.
“
Ombelico
…”

He acquainted himself with her body by using his
tongue and teeth and words her brain couldn’t translate anymore. He
reached her mouth finally and said, “
Labbra.
”

“No, that’s lower,” she sighed.

He chuckled then kissed her. The kiss deepened and
changed the playful mood between them. She wrapped her legs around
him until he was a breath away from being inside her. She raised
her hips and moaned, but he didn’t enter her. Her thighs tightened
around him and still Brice continued to claim her mouth as his.

He pulled back long enough to say, “You still taste
like wine.”

Hazel’s head spun as if intoxicated. The moment felt
hazy from the effect of their foreplay and him being so close, so
damn close to being inside her. She bit his lip and he groaned. She
rocked her pelvis and he groaned again.

He pulled away, left her cold. He rummaged on the
floor, in his jeans. “The one time I might actually thank my
brother.” He sheathed himself with a condom.

She couldn’t laugh, not with the weight of want
coursing through her. “Brice, it’s time.”

He didn’t take her slowly, but thrust in deep and
hard. “Cara.”

His body was already slicked with sweat. A knot
formed in her stomach and she held onto him. This is right, she
thought. He could always take the lead as long as he made her feel
like this. The certainty of that fact scared and exhilarated her.
It brought her closer and faster to a climax. His thrusts reached
deeper. Just hold on.

“
Cara
,” he repeated. “
Monte bella.
”

Her heart ached in her chest at his words.
Endearments. She had needed this more than he had. A connection. It
had been years since she’d let someone in this close. Since she had
needed someone this close. Her breath stopped for a moment at the
realization.

“It’s okay,
Cara
, I’ll meet you there.”

He reached down between them and pressed his thumb
against her clitoris. She moaned and tried to fight it, still not
ready. Ready for what she couldn’t be sure, but Hazel knew if she
let go this one last intangible wall there would be nothing to turn
from. The knot in her stomach tightened and she shook her head.

“Cara, it’s okay.”

He moved his thumb in slow, hard circles. A heat
spread over her body. He applied more pressure. She closed her
eyes, knowing she couldn’t stop the inevitable now. His movements
had quickened. She clenched around him, fighting for air, her
sanity.

“Cara, you’re so
bagnato.
Muy bagnato.
”
He brushed his lips against her ear and whispered, “Come for me,
Cara. I want to come with you.” He murmured this time, “
Monte
bella.
”

She gripped her hands in his hair and came on his
command. Another first, but Hazel didn’t care. Not in this moment
when everything was hazy and had a glow, but still had such
clarity. Before they had even made it to the bed, she had been
falling in love with Brice. He was going to hurt her and there was
nothing she could do about it. The next orgasm hit her and she
didn’t care.

Chapter 9

Hazel woke with sore limbs and a heavy heart. The
night before she’d practically pushed Brice out of the bed before
he could doze off. If he’d stayed, he would have insisted on
cuddling. Even though ninety-eight percent of men hated doing it.
It was exactly what she wanted him to do, and he was doing
everything she needed him to do.

And cuddling only led to wanting things you could
never have. It would have felt too normal, too right to curl into
him and slumber in his arms. Two weeks ran on the clock for the
duration of her vacation and the time she had to create “new and
fresh ideas.” Ugh. She had started to hate those words. She wanted
her mind blank this morning, without emotions brewing underneath
the surface. She’d had great sex; she should be skipping
around.

Hazel tried to turn her mind off as she rolled out of
bed and stomped to the kitchen to brew coffee. She frowned after
opening the cabinet where the coffee had been the morning before.
Maybe she had moved it. She opened three of the other cabinets
above the coffeemaker. Nothing.

Someone knocked at the door. Without opening it, she
knew who’d be there. She closed her robe and went to the door. The
woman had the same bored expression.

“You need coffee and some girly-like
conversation.”

“And the company sent you?” Hazel should have been
asking how they knew. Not once had she spoken since the night
before, so audio bugs and video cameras detailing her every need
were out. But…no, it couldn’t be.

“Take me or leave me.” The woman held up a steaming
cup of heaven.

Hazel considered it for a moment, but then the smell
of freshly ground coffee beans hit her. “Ok, but what’s your
name?”

“I tend to go by Angie.”

“Hi, Angie. You’re rude, but I think you’ll have to
do for this morning.”

Angie smiled. “Thank you. I try. In my line of work
everyone expects you to be chipper and happy. I like being the
outcast. It does get me in trouble from time to time, but since I’m
effective…” She shrugged and didn’t wait for an invitation to sit
before plopping down onto the loveseat.

Hazel took a sip of coffee for fortitude. “Hmm,
incredible. I really like your company’s accommodations.”

“We provide what you need. Now I don’t have a lot of
time, so I’ll cut to the chase. Go see his house.”

Panic made her heart stutter. “I really don’t think
that’s a good idea.”

“I’m here to give you what you need and you need to
go to his house.”

Hazel pursed her lips. “How do you know what I need,
outside of food?”

Angie rolled her golden eyes. “We’re exceptional at
what we do, so trust me.” She huffed out a frustrated breath.
“Since I’m still here, I’m guessing you need more. You women like
to talk?”

Since Hazel hadn’t allowed anyone close to her in
years and years, she settled into the couch. “Yes, I do, but I
don’t think you’re the right person.”

“I’m the only person. My hearing is fine. I promise
to be patient.” Hazel snorted. “No, seriously, it’s what you need,
right? An open ear. I’m all ears. It’ll be less painful if you get
started now, before…” Angie shook her head and leaned forward.
“Seriously, I’m listening.”

Hazel took another sip of the coffee, feeling better
with each intake of caffeine. “Ok, there is this man and he’s not
my usual type, but I’m very attracted to him.”

“If the hickey on your neck is any indication of how
much you like him…”

Hazel placed a hand over the spot on her neck where
Brice had bitten her. She cleared her throat. “Well, now I’m not
sure how involved I should get with him. He’s…a mystery.”

“From my understanding, all men are, and then they
think of you in the same way. I just don’t get it, but I’m not here
to say that. Go to his house and work it out. I’m sure he won’t
mind seeing you again.” Angie pointed to her neck. “I’m sure he’ll
be downright ecstatic to see you again.”

“Yes, I’m sure he would, but…” Hazel shrugged. “It’s
complicated.”

“He’s probably going to hurt you. It’s my
understanding most men do, and then they make up for it for a few
years. For all I know, you just might be hurting him by not going
to see his house this morning. You don’t want to hurt him, do
you?”

No, she didn’t. At the moment, she didn’t think she
could. He’d called her Cara—that wasn’t love, but he made her
laugh. Had seemed almost to need to make her laugh the day
before.

“I don’t know,” Hazel finally said.

“Go to his house. Seriously. I don’t think you want
to talk to me again, but take my advice. I hear it’s on pretty good
authority.” Angie glanced toward the kitchen. “Plus, by the time
you get back I can restock your coffee.”

Hazel straightened. “How did you know I needed
coffee?”

Angie finally smiled. “Everything in the house has a
sensor.” She laughed. “Isn’t that what most hotels have?”

It was, but for some reason Angie’s answer didn’t
jibe. “I guess.” She sighed. “Well, you can go now. I’m going to
Brice’s house.”

Angie glanced up at the ceiling. “Yes, that’s all you
need. Catch you later.”

Hazel frowned at Angie’s retreating back. She was
going to double check for cameras. Maybe even check for those
“sensors” Angie had told her about, but first she was going to go
see Brice. The need to see him had won over the need to not poke
the bear of what had happened the night before. It was sex between
two consenting adults. It shouldn’t change a thing between
them.

Yeah, and Hazel was sure someone would be willing to
sell her a bridge.

*****

Aerosmith greeted her on the walkway. They were
dreaming on if the miniature stereo blasting the lyrics was to be
believed. She halted at the sight of Tony with a hammer in his
hand, shaking his butt around the empty living room. She knocked on
the frame.

“Am I interrupting?” she said loud enough to be heard
over the stereo.

He cursed, the hammer dropped from his hand onto his
foot, and he cursed louder. Concern forced her to cross the
distance in lightning speed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Steve Tyler
screamed an octave higher, drowning out her words, as Tony plopped
on his butt and took off his bent steel-toed boots. Hazel left his
side to turn down the radio. By the time she stood to his left,
he’d taken off his sock and was wiggling his toes. Pain no longer
etched lines in his forehead.