Fire and Desire (BWWM Romance) (9 page)

“You plan on translating?”

“I’ll tell you later. Go ahead, and get your main girls,” he challenged.

“I won’t need them.” She smiled.

Grabbing Antonio by the hand, she led him down the hall to an empty room and unlocked it. She ushered him to the ottoman and left him sitting in silence.

Emily rushed back to her bedroom and selected one of her outfits. Instead of using the door from the hallway, she entered through the bathroom entrance and snuck back in the room behind the sheer curtain. Taking a deep breath, she turned into her alter ego, Mercedes.

“You ready for me, baby?” Mercedes said in a low seductive tone.

“Show me what you got.” He looked at the camera. “I hope you’re watching this, Emily.”

Pushing play on her iPod tower, Mercedes let the music get her in the mood. She was ready to blow Antonio’s mind. She emerged from behind the curtain in a Leopard dress with a V neckline down to her navel. The material barely covered her breasts. Slits on both sides came all the way up to her waist, showing her magnificently toned legs and side string of her black thong.

Antonio’s eyes widened. He sat up upright with his mouth wide open. Composing himself, he shrugged and sat back on the ottoman.

Doing the classic stripper walk to the beat of Ciara’s Promise, she walked with one leg in front of the other, her back arched, making her ass stick out farther than normal as she worked her way to the pole.

“The name is Mercedes,” she purred, making eye contact with him. She stood in front of the pole with her legs spread apart. With a lick of her lips, she placed one hand on the pole and took three large steps around it. She walked around the pole slowly, then faster, building up momentum. Mercedes swung around, letting her body flow freely with her head hanging back. As she came to a stop, she placed her other hand on the pole. With the grace of a gymnast, she wrapped her legs around the pole and let go of her hands. Now upside down, she rolled her body, arching her back and stomach in deep waves, until she had moved all the way down to the floor.

With her ass facing him, she popped her back up and down, working to the rhythm of the music. Her ass bounced in unison. Sliding across the floor with her booty still bouncing, she made her way in front of him. Rising off her knees to a squatting position, she laid her head back in his lap and stroked his thighs with her hands.

“Be still,” she whispered.

Mercedes did a backwards flip onto the ottoman, landing with her legs around his, her crotch in front of his mouth. She did a few forward thrusts with her hips, then slid down his body, back to the floor.

“
Mi piace
. I like.” He adjusted in his seat.

“I’m just getting warmed up.” Mercedes stood in front of him with her legs slightly apart as she unlaced the strings of her dress. Once it was undone, she let it fall to the floor. Bending over slowly, she picked up the dress and rubbed it across Antonio’s body, taunting him. Tossing it to the side, she straddled his lap. She rotated her hips, riding him slowly.

Hardness pressed against her.

“Mm,” she moaned, continuing her cowgirl assault.

“Emily…I can’t.” He placed his hands on her waist and tried moving her.

“The name’s Mercedes.” Her eyes looked on his. Her mouth formed a perfect “O” as she leaned her head back and gyrated on him.

The look on Antonio’s face—pleasure, pure unadulterated pleasure. Her hips slowed to a crawl, and she stopped before he could climax. Mercedes pushed off him and stood over him with one leg on each side of his. She rocked her hips side to side while playing with her breasts.

His eyes were trained on her. In a swift motion, she lifted one leg, then the other, and removed her black lace thong, revealing her shaved glory. Taking one finger in her mouth, she sucked it, making it wet before guiding her hand down.

Antonio swallowed hard.

Mercedes continued down to her precious jewel. Spreading her vaginal lips, she fingered her bud until she was moist.

“
Così bella
.” He licked his lips and leaned forward, sniffing her. “So beautiful.”

Antonio gripped her butt cheeks and pulled her down on his face. His tongue flicked her clit. Her bud hardened to his touch. Licks turned to suckling.

“Oh my.” Mercedes ground her body on his tongue.

Using her foot, she massaged his crotch. His dick stretched the confines of his slacks. She moved her leg to the side, allowing him to fumble with his belt and loosen it. Mercedes pushed his hands out the way and slid her hand down his pants. She found her prize and freed it. Wrapping her hands around him, she stroked his dick up and down.

Antonio pushed his pants and boxers down far enough to kick them off the rest of the way. Changing position, he laid her down on the ottoman and removed his shirt. Mercedes marveled at his chiseled chest. She kissed and sucked his nipples as he licked along her neck. Her body tingled with pleasure.

He brought his mouth to hers, running his tongue against the rim of her lip. Her mouth opened, and it slipped inside. Their tongues danced while his hands explored the curves of her body.

“Tell me you want me,” she said, gasping for air.

“Desidero che voi siate miei.”

Never had she heard words of passion spoken so eloquently, even if in another language. Her body yearned for him. “Then take me.”

Gently, he entered her moisture-filled walls, giving her what she had been waiting for. Pumping back with a fever of her own, Mercedes matched Antonio’s deep strokes. Years of reading romance novels couldn’t prepare her for energy she felt between them. He was gentle, yet full of power, and her body welcomed him.

She wrapped her legs around him, granting him full access. Sweat soaked their bodies. Mercedes gripped the edge of the ottoman and arched her body as he moved deep within.

Antonio pulled out and rolled her over. He placed an arm under her stomach, lifting her slightly before entering her again.

“Yes, baby, yes!” she cried.

She pumped her body back against him. Squeezing her vaginal muscles tight, she gripped him with each stroke.

“Oh, baby, damn,” he said.

He pumped harder. She matched his pace. Not relenting, she milked him with her inner walls.

“Ooh, argh.” Antonio collapsed on top of her. His hot liquid filled her.

“I win,” she whispered in his ear. Her body went limp, exhausted from all of her gymnastics.

Chapter Six

Antonio leaned back in his leather chair. One more interview for the day and he’d be finished. He glanced at the clock and laughed at the thought of actually calling it before five o’clock. Prior to meeting Emily he’d never had a reason to want to. Even though it had only been a few weeks, his heart warmed whenever he thought of her. The Marine, trained to be a defender of the nation, taken down by the smile of a five foot six chocolate vixen.

His phone rang interrupting his thoughts.

“
Ciao nonna
, hello grandmother,” he answered.

“Hello
nipote
,” a raspy female voice responded in a thick Italian accent. “How’s my favorite grandson doing?”

“I’m you’re only.” He smiled.

“Hmph, it’s only a matter of opinions. When do I get to meet this lovely girl who’s taking all your time?”

“
Nonna
.”

“Don’t
nonna
me. I know you.”

Antonio closed his eyes and listened. He knew better than to dare interrupt his grandmother, or any elder Italian woman for that matter.

“You’re a Moretti, of my blood line, and we love hard. If she didn’t interest you then you wouldn’t be bothered. Your mother tells me the woman isn’t Italian…” she paused. “But she runs her own business. I guess that should be enough to make up for it.”

He rolled his eyes before responding. Antonio had no doubt his grandmother had moved her hands left to right across her chest and then from her forehead down in the sign of the crucifix when she paused. She’d been on him for years about finding a nice Italian girl. “Emily is an amazing woman
nonna.
Her fire can match any Italian woman and she’s managed to capture my heart.”

“Ah.” She clapped her hands. “When do I get to meet her?”

“In due time. I have to go
nonna.
I love you.”

“
Anche io vi amo nipote,
I love you too grandson. Just make sure I’m not in my grave before you decide to let me see her.”

The line went dead. Antonio placed the phone down just as his receptionist buzzed him.

“The next applicant’s here,” she said.

He pressed the intercom button. “Send him in.”

Footsteps neared his doorway. Antonio looked up. “Dwayne Brown?”

The man gave a cocky grin and extended his hand for a fist pump. “That’s me.”

Antonio ignored his lack of professionalism. He’d grown accustomed to it. This line of work brought in all sorts. “Have a seat.”

Dwayne sat down—legs spread and elbow propped on the arm rest.

Antonio cleared his throat and adjusted his posture, straightening more than he already was. As anticipated, Dwayne repositioned as well. It was a simple maneuver he learned while training his fellow Marines. All orders didn’t need to be shouted.

“I’ll get right to it. From you resume I don’t see much in the way of providing security outside of your current job but I notice you played football in college.” He looked at Dwayne and gave a half smile.

“Defensive tackle.” He stuck out his chest.

“It looks like you’ve kept yourself in shape since then as well.”

“I work out five days a week.”

“I see.” Antonio narrowed his eyes. “How are you when dealing with a room full of half-naked women? It’s a big difference than providing security for an apartment complex.”

If it weren’t for two other contracts along with Emily’s grand opening he wouldn’t have let Dwayne in on the interview process. Apartment security was lower than a mall cop. All the guy had going for him was he wasn’t bad looking. Along with protection for her girls Emily wanted descent looking men as eye candy for the club. They’d gone round and round about it but she stood firm.

After the other three interviewees, Dwayne looked like a shining star. He was one of the few who’d bothered to complete the application, aptitude test, and provide references online. Antonio called the number for the apartment complex Dwayne provided and the woman spoke highly of him.

“I don’t have a problem with it.” Dwayne shrugged his shoulders. “I mean I know I can’t touch them or try to get with any of them.”

Antonio crossed his arms. “No you can’t. You need to be focused and do your job.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Provided you can pass a drug test you’re hired.”

Dwayne nodded and smiled. “Cool."

“Tasha, my receptionist, will give you all the information you’ll need. It was nice meeting you.” Antonio stood.

Dwayne followed suit. He held out his hand for a shake instead of a fist pump. Antonio smiled and accepted. He watched Dwayne walk out his office before checking the time. Four-thirty, plenty of time to stop and grab flowers for Emily before surprising her with a small celebration dinner.

***

Emily was hooked. Though it was she who posed the challenge, it was Antonio who bested her. Never had she met a more skilled lover and friend. It seemed as if she known him for years. He was so easy to talk to, and he actually listened to what she had to say. They’d become almost inseparable after the night she won the bet. She’d become so used to his company over the following weeks, she started to include him in on her plans for the club. He’d become her confidant in the cutthroat business.

Antonio surprised her with a night on the down to celebrate her success. She drank way too much and didn’t hear him when he left. When her alarm went off, she hit the snooze button four times before realizing she was supposed to have a phone conference with a potential club investor. Reluctantly, she got out the bed dragging her weary body to the shower, desperately trying to wake up. If coffee didn’t upset her stomach, she would’ve injected herself with it. Her business line rang as she stepped out the shower.

“Emily speaking,” she said, straining to sound chipper. Drinking Tequila had made her voice raspy.

“Good morning! This is Edmond. I’ll get straight to the point. I love your business plan for the club. You have impeccable business sense, and your vision can be a huge success with my help. I’ll be willing to front all of the money, and you can just follow through with those brilliant ideas of yours.”

She was finally able to get a word in. “Why thank you, but I don’t need someone to pay for my business. I just need a small investment to put a credible name behind my project to bring in more white-collar clientele,” she responded, now fully alert.

“That’s exactly what I have in mind. You wouldn’t have to worry about such thing. That’s for me to do for you.”