Risky Negotiations (17 page)

“
Good evening,” Sal said to no one in particular.

“
You’re looking well,” Thomas said. “I guess you got over whatever you had earlier this week.”

Sal nodded his head but kept his eyes on Laci who was talking with Victoria and Antonia. He didn’t know what they were saying, but he was worried that they might change her mind in some way.

Carlo noticed the direction of his gaze. “She’s not going anywhere, Sal,” he said, laughing.

Sal’s gaze slashed over to his younger brother. “Yes, she is.” Sal spared a glance for all four of his younger brothers at once to ensure that they understood his meaning and wouldn’t interfere, then moved determinedly over to Laci. He took her hand, excused her from his sister and sister in law, then pulled her along behind him, making a bee line for the door.

Laci didn’t mind. She didn’t want to chit chat anyway. She knew Sal had been staring at her the whole time and she just wanted to get away and be alone with him. She was extremely nervous about the idea, but she was determined to experience the magic only Sal was able to weave, at least for one night.

He took her coat ticket and retrieved her coat, gently placing it over her shoulders. The parking attendants were still busy parking people’s cars who were arriving so they were able to retrieve Sal’s car quickly.

Before Laci knew it, Sal was pulling up in front of his house. He jumped out of the car and opened her door for her, taking her hand as she got out of the car. He unlocked the front door, then pulled her inside.

For a moment, he only stared at her. Laci started to get nervous, thinking he was going to change his mind.

“
Are you sure about this?” he asked. “There won’t be any phone calls or doorbells to interrupt us this time.”

Laci took a deep breath. “I’m sure,” she said but couldn’t look at his face. She was staring at his jaw when she said the words.

He put a hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. “Convince me you mean it,” he said.

Laci stood up on tip toe and kissed his lips gently. “I mean it,” she said and felt her coat fall to the floor.

Sal groaned and pulled her up higher against his body. “I’m glad. Because I don’t think I could have handled it if you had changed your mind.” And with that, he kissed her passionately. He wasn’t gentle anymore. His kiss forced her mouth open so his tongue could gain entry and ravish hers. Laci fell back against his arm and let her hands slide up onto his shoulders inside his tuxedo jacket, her fingers wanting to feel his muscles underneath the fabric.

For the first time, she released everything. And it felt wonderful. No worries, and no regrets, she promised herself. She would enjoy this one time and savor it for the rest of her life. She knew Sal’s reputation. He was definitely a ladies man. But tonight, she didn’t care. When he moved on to the next woman would be time enough to care.

The world tilted as Sal lifted her up into her arms. He carried her upstairs, down the long hallway and gently laid her on his bed. He stood up to take off his tuxedo jacket, letting it fall to the floor and not caring that the beautiful suit would be wrinkled in the morning. The tie was next and he undid the first few buttons before coming back to melt into her on the bed.

Laci reveled in the feel of his weight over her. She wanted to touch him, feel his skin, touch every part of him. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders so she could gain better access to his muscular chest.

She was unaware of Sal pulling down the zipper to her dress until she felt the cold air on her breasts. She was wearing a thin, strapless bra that was instantly moved away as his hand moved over the firm mound of her right breast.

Laci’s head fell back, her mind drowning in the feelings his touch evoked. She writhed under his body, quivering with need. Laci pulled his head down, desperate to kiss him and touch him.

Sal followed her lead, kissing her mouth, her neck, then trailing kisses down to her breast, teasing her nipple by not taking the peak into his mouth. He moved to the other breast, getting closer and closer, but never taking the nipple.

“
Please,” she cried, her body reaching out to him.

That was all Sal needed, all he was waiting for before his mouth moved to take her nipple, his tongue caressing the peak. He suckled gently, then harder, alternating between the two, driving Laci mad with desire.

Sal stood up and took off the rest of his clothes, watching her the whole time. Laci licked her lips as more of Sal’s body was revealed. She’d known he was well built, but never had her imagination taken her to the level that reality could. He was muscular all over. His broad shoulders blocked out the light as he moved closer to her and she had only a glimpse of the rest of him but enough to take her breath away.

He reached down and took her hands, pulling her up off the bed. With that simple movement, the red silk pooled at her feet, leaving her standing in black lace underwear and black silk thigh high stockings.

Laci tried to cover herself, wondering what Sal was thinking of her risqué underwear. But as soon as she moved her arms, he caught her hands again and held them at her sides. “You’re beautiful,” was his only response as he boldly took in her curves.

With his look, Laci grew bold. She stepped forward, reached up with one hand and wrapped it around his neck, pulling his head down for another kiss.

While his mouth ravaged hers, his hands were everywhere, touching and searching, feeling her satin skin. She leaned into him, their naked bodies touching everywhere. Laci was lost to all thought now. All she wanted was to feel the sensations that tingled throughout her body.

Sal leaned down and took them back to the bed, covering her body with his. He pushed a knee between hers and Laci wrapped her legs around his waist, eager for him to join her. Within moments, she felt his sex probing her and Laci arched her back to accommodate him. Sal took that movement as an invitation to take her nipple into his mouth again and Laci cried out at the dual sensations.

With the first movement, Laci started to slip over the edge. Her eyes widened and she looked up into his dark, passion filled eyes. “Go with it,” he said, his voice hoarse with his own need.

“
I…” Laci tried to express her feelings but the words wouldn’t come.

“
Trust me,” he said and took both her hands in his and held them over her head as he continued to move within her.

Moments later, Laci felt herself fall over the edge as her orgasm consumed her. She wasn’t aware of Sal finding his own fulfillment, only the ecstasy that Sal had given her.

Laci didn’t know how much time had passed, but she opened her eyes to find Sal staring at her, a satisfied smile on his lips.

“
You’re beautiful,” he simply said.

Laci felt as if she were glowing. “So are you,” she replied.

Sal’s response was to lean down and kiss her gently. Then follow her jaw line to her neck. Laci moved slightly and realized that they were still joined. “Did you…?” she started to ask, but unable to finish, embarrassed that she didn’t know the answer.

Sal chuckled. “Of course I did,” he replied, nibbling at her shoulder.

“
Then, why are you still…”

“
Because I want you again,” he said and moved slightly.

The friction made her groan as the feelings immediately started again, just as intense as the first time. “I can’t believe it,” she said and wrapped her arms around his neck, fully prepared for the next incredible ride.

“
Believe it,” he said and started moving again in earnest. “I’ve wanted you for too long,” he said harshly, sweat breaking out on his forehead as he slowed down to accommodate her body’s needs as well as hers.

“
Oh,” was all she could say. Then all thought was lost again.

Chapter 6

Laci listened to him sleeping. He was holding her against him, their legs and sheets tangled between them. She was still flying high from the incredible feelings he stirred within her. She should get up and get dressed, she thought with a yawn. She should probably head home and take a shower, but she wasn’t able to stir the energy to climb out of bed.

She would just rest for a few minutes.

The room was lit only by the hallway light when she next woke up. Sal was stirring her body to life again and she didn’t want him to stop. “What time is it?” she asked sleepily.

“
Does it matter?” he asked, nipping at her earlobe.

Laci’s breath caught in her throat. “I guess not,” she said and opened her mouth for his kiss.

They made love two more times that night. The sun was just coming over the horizon when she let out a sleepy yawn. “I’d better get home,” she said.

That woke Sal up instantly. “Why the hell would you do that?” he asked, his look angry.

“
I need to get home,” she said, feeling a little in awe of his anger this close.

Sal shook his head and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist as he settled back down onto the pillow. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said and tucked her head under his chin.

Laci smiled to herself. He certainly was possessive, she thought, before she closed her eyes and fell asleep in his arms again.

The sun was shining brightly when she next woke up. But this time, she was alone. She heard the shower running in the bathroom as she sat up in the bed. She pushed her hair out of her face and tried to orient herself. Thoughts of the night before came back to her and she wondered if that had really been her. She’d never been so uninhibited before. Sal made her feel things she’d never known were possible.

She reached down to the floor and pulled on his shirt then went into the bathroom. He instantly saw her and smiled through the large, clear glass doors of the shower. “Good morning,” he said and opened the door, releasing a large amount of steam. “Come here,” he said.

Laci blushed, seeing him for the first time completely naked. “I think I’ll stay over here,” she said.

Sal shook his head and reached out a long arm. With a small yelp, she realized that, despite her cautious distance, she still had been too close. He already had her under the hot spray before she knew what he’d intended. And he was kissing her again while taking off his already drenched shirt.

Laci didn’t mind. The sight of him completely naked in the shower had her aching to be with him again. He didn’t stop kissing her as he moved his hands along her water slick body. As she gasped with pleasure, he lifted her up against the warm marble walls, then slid into her, moving to give both of them maximum pleasure. Laci cried out her enjoyment, unable to hide her response. He was simply too overwhelming for anything other than complete surrender.

An hour later, they were sitting in the sunny kitchen eating scrambled eggs and toast with steaming coffee.

“
What do you suppose your sister was thinking when we left last night?” Sal asked, watching her over his coffee mug.

Laci lowered her gaze to her plate, trying to think of a way to avoid directly answering his question. “I’m sure she understands.”

“
What does she understand?”

Laci shrugged. “You know…”

Sal put down his fork. “No. What do I know?”

Laci couldn’t answer him. She took another bite of eggs but they tasted like saw dust in her mouth. “Let’s not go into this, ok?”

He watched her for another moment and Laci could tell he was trying to decide if he should let the subject drop. After considering for a while, he seemed to accept her answer. “What was it like growing up with Victoria?”

Laci laughed but was grateful for the subject change. “Difficult,” she said. “She was always beating me up or stealing stuff from me.” She nodded at Sal’s skeptical face. “Don’t let her sweet, calm exterior fool you. She can be mean when she sets her mind to it. But since I was her trusting, younger sister, I didn’t understand why my Halloween candy kept disappearing. I thought I’d either already eaten it or, if I was sure I hadn’t, I assumed I’d hidden it so well I couldn’t find it again.”

“
Do you have any other siblings other than Victoria?”

Laci rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Thank goodness, no. One is about all I can take. She was pretty mean growing up but now she can be a little over protective.”

Sal nodded. “I can understand that.”

“
Being the oldest, it must be easier,” she said.

“
Sometimes,” he shrugged. “I got to steal all the candy,” he leered.