The Italian's Bedroom Deal (4 page)

He was quiet for a long moment as he studied her downcast features in the dim light coming from the party’s floodlights as well as the security lights hidden in the trees behind the bench. “Tell me what’s bothering you,” he asked softly.

Clarissa didn’t know if it was the darkness or the noise from the party but there was a feeling of intimacy between the two of them that made her feel as if she could confide in him. Taking a deep breath, she started off by saying, “I just want to know what its like to feel passion,” she said as if she’d revealed a horrible secret. “Is that so awful?” she asked. “I mean, I’m twenty-five years old and haven’t felt the slightest twinge of interest in a man.”

Max hid his surprise exceedingly well but he couldn’t deny the satisfaction that settled deep in his chest. His next words pushed him into dangerous territory but he couldn’t stop them from coming. “And you’d like to feel passion?”

“Of course. Who wouldn’t?”

“Why do you think you’ve never felt anything for any of the men you’ve dated?”

She thought about that for only a moment before grinning. “Perhaps I’m gay?” she suggested impishly.

Max threw back his head and laughed. “You think so? Are you attracted to women?”

Clarissa’s grin disappeared. “No.” She sighed heavily, wondering if there was something wrong with her. The men she had dated in the past definitely tried to maul her on a regular basis. To the point where she didn’t date anymore. And the one man she was powerfully attracted to wasn’t interested in her in a sexual way. Very frustrating.

“There’s one way to find out,” he suggested and before Clarissa knew what he was going to do, he’d leaned forward and pressed his hard, firm mouth against hers. She was so surprised, she felt herself gasp but that only gave him better access to her mouth. Once the surprise had vanished, the feelings took over. Her hands dropped from her knees, her legs straightened out and she sat up straighter, eager to get closer to the man who was showing her what kissing was really about.

They weren’t touching anywhere but their mouths, Max’s left hand still resting along the back of the bench while his other stayed in his lap. But his mouth moved over hers, decimating all her school girl fantasies about what a kiss would be like when there was desire behind it. This wasn’t softness or a sweet, fluttering feeling as she’d been thinking a kiss would generate. No, this was a toe curling, mind boggling rush of desire that immediately pooled in her stomach, then dropped lower, her body aching while her mind stopped working.

All too soon, he pulled back and looked down at her. His eyes examined her flushed face and glazed eyes with satisfaction. “So? What’s the verdict?” He was having a great deal of trouble pulling back and not shoving his hands into her soft, curling hair or pulling her against him and continuing the kiss, deepening it and touching her body with his hands, feeling her softness. He was still painfully hard and he realized he’d never had this much trouble controlling his desire for a woman before. She was like an aphrodisiac and Madonna all rolled into one slender, sexy package and the impact was mind-blowing.

Clarissa wanted to smile. She tried to smile as if to shrug off the amazing feelings that were tingling all up and down her body making her feel as if the world were sparkling. Unfortunately, she was too stunned, amazed and overwhelmed to do anything more than shake her head. “No, definitely not gay,” she whispered out loud, her tongue coming out to wet lips that were parched all of a sudden.

Max smiled and stood up. “Problem solved,” he said and winked at her a moment before he walked away, ducked into his car and drove off.

Clarissa watched him, horribly embarrassed that the kiss that had meant so much to her, that had exceeded all of her fantasies and made her heart leap in her chest and her body experience the sweet, painful side of desire, was simply an experiment to him.

Sighing in disappointment that seemed more severe than she had ever imagined it could feel like, she watched the man of her dreams walk away, start up his car and drive away. As his headlights faded into the night, she bit her lip as the ache inside her belly gave way to small tears of frustration.

Shaking off the disappointment, she stood up and squared her shoulders. The man’s kiss was dynamite, she told herself. And instead of feeling frustration, she should be even more determined with her goal. She’d try one more time with him. That one kiss had shown her that he was definitely worth the effort.

Chapter 3

Clarissa sat nervously at the table, her hands flattened against the white linen table cloth as she waited, breathlessly, for Max to arrive. She’d called his office three days ago to make the appointment and his secretary had only taken a message, then called back to confirm that Max would take a lunch meeting with her.

Now, as she waited for him to arrive, she couldn’t help but feel both terrified as well as excited at the prospect. Today, she would make her first proposition. And to a man who excited her as no other had ever done.

She smiled when she recalled the kiss a week ago. That one kiss had only reaffirmed her desire to have Max initiate her into this wonderful, scary world of lovemaking. It proved he was a master at the art and she definitely wanted to experience her first time with the best. It might have been nothing to him but it had been wonderful and exhilarating to her and she was determined to make him her first lover. Either that, or she’d die of embarrassment, she thought grimly.

When he entered the restaurant, Clarissa’s heart stopped in her chest, only to resume back again at triple speed. He was so handsome, she thought, becoming jealous of the other women who were also watching as he made his way across the room. Thankfully, his eyes were on her and her alone and his look made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world. How could he do that so effortlessly, she wondered?

Bending down, he kissed her hand gently on the fingers before taking his seat across from her. “You look lovely, Clarissa.”

“Thank you,” she said, feeling very sophisticated in her new suit with the lace camisole underneath. “I appreciate you accepting my request for a meeting.”

“So formal,” he purred with his lilting Italian accent. “How have you been lately?” he asked.

They spoke of trivialities for several minutes and Clarissa was grateful for the time so she could get her body back under control. She hadn’t figured out how to work around to the proposition although she’d spent the last three days trying to come up with a good way to broach the subject.

The waiter arrived and Clarissa studied the menu, deciding on a salad, knowing that her stomach couldn’t handle anything heavy when she was about to propose something so outlandish.

Again, Max soothed the way, talking about different events, asking her about her day, questioning her on small details and generally making her feel as if she were exclusively his. She liked that idea and was especially thrilled when she asked him about his week and he told her those details as well. It was as if he were sharing things about his day that he’d never shared with anyone else, but of course, that wasn’t the reality. Regardless, she pretended that was the way it was, at least for the remainder of their lunch together.

They laughed about a show that had just passed through town, neither one of them liking the opera overly much. Clarissa mentioned the latest book that had come on the market by her favorite author and, after her description, he said he’d have to get it and read it himself.

When the desert plates were carried away, Max leaned back in his chair and watched her. “How about if we get to the point of your request for lunch? I have to admit that I’m curious. It isn’t every day I get invited to lunch by a beautiful woman.”

Clarissa blushed and lowered her eyes to her plate. “I’m sure it happens often enough that it isn’t a surprise, Max.” She hated that idea of any other woman being in his life, but knew she needed to play this lightly. She didn’t want him to think she could become territorial, although that was definitely the case with him. Since she had no right, she took a deep breath and looked up at him with a smile.

His eyes were regarding her with curiosity. “Why would you say that?”

She laughed nervously. “Are you saying this has never happened?”

He shook his head. “I’m not saying I’ve never been invited to lunch before. But never by someone like you.”

She grimaced. “I’m not sure what you mean by ‘someone like me’ and I’m not sure I want to know either. That only reaffirms my mission though.”

Clarissa fiddled with the stem of her water glass, unable to hold his gaze any longer. She’d been having such a lovely time talking with him, but now he was right. It was time to get down to business.

Clearing her throat and sitting up straighter in her chair, she glanced around to see if anyone would be able to overhear their conversation. Max noticed her look and did the same, then leaned forward. “This must be quite a conversation from the anxious look on your face,” he said softly.

Clarissa took a deep breath, unaware that her cheeks were already burning red with embarrassment. “I have something to ask you,” she said and laid her palms down on the table, still looking at her water glass. “I hope you’ll keep an open mind about the request.”

Max smiled. “Are you perhaps looking for a job?” he asked. “If that’s the case, no issues. I’ll personally find you a position in one of my companies. What are you interested in doing?”

Clarissa smiled her appreciation but shook her head. “I’m looking for a position but not in one of your companies and I know it won’t be a permanent one.’

He chuckled. “Now I’m very intrigued. Explain.”

It was now or never, she told herself. “I want to become your mistress,” she finally blurted out. Her shoulders were tense and the red in her face deepened. She couldn’t believe she’d actually said the words! Hearing them spoken, so quickly and inelegantly, made her bite her lower lip with frustration. Oh, why couldn’t she be more casual about this?

The stunned silence that followed her declaration made her look up into his face. Sure enough, he was just as shocked as she’d anticipated. “Let me re-phrase that,’ she said quickly.

He was stiff with what she could only guess was indignation. “Please do. I’m sure I misunderstood.”

She smiled tentatively. “No, you probably didn’t. But you need to know the background behind my request to really understand why I’m asking. You see,” she started off, knowing she was still floundering and he didn’t appear to be relaxing in any way, “when I went off to school, it was to a very safe boarding school but regardless, my father sent several body guards along with me.”

“As he should,” Max replied, his mouth a grim line as he waited patiently for her explanation.

Tucking her hands under the linen covered table, she inhaled deeply in an effort to gain control of her nerves and get her point across. “Well, all of my friends have had boyfriends. They’ve had a lot more experience with life and with all the wonderful things that I’ve yet to discover.”

She waited for his reaction but when he didn’t move, she continued on. “And I want to move into that area.”

“Why?” he demanded. “And what does that have to do with this request?”

Clarissa could feel his anger but couldn’t really understand why he was so furious. She was sure he hadn’t been a virgin all this time! “Well, because I don’t have any experience with sex. I was hoping that you could help me out in that area.”

He glared at her. “Let me get this straight,” he said sharply. “You want me to have sex with you so you can understand what all your friends are talking about?”

Clarissa shrank back from that point of view. “I guess, when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so good but it isn’t really like that. I want to know what all the excitement is about. When I talk with them, some of them, at least, they all have experiences that they can relate to. I’m an outsider. I can’t contribute to the conversations and I feel as if something is wrong with me. Does that make sense?” she asked, hoping she had explained her feelings so he could genuinely appreciate her position.

“Absolutely!”

She was getting irritated as well. She looked at his cold eyes with confusion. “You’re angry but I don’t really understand why. What’s wrong with wanting to learn about sex?”

He sighed impatiently, slashing his hand through the air. “You’re not like that, Clarissa.”

She gasped. “What an awful thing to say!”

Max shook his head. “You’re taking that the wrong way. What I mean is that you shouldn’t be trying to find someone to have sex with until you find someone to marry. You’re the kind of girl that gives her innocence to her husband.”

Clarissa was furious and leaned back in her chair, glaring at him. “That’s horrible!”

He was stunned with her anger. “You’re denying that?”

“Yes! Absolutely.”

“Explain yourself,” he demanded furiously, then held up his hand. “No, not right now.” He held up his hand for the waiter who immediately appeared by his elbow. “Get me the check immediately,” he said and the waiter instantly disappeared with a slight bow. “This is a ridiculous conversation and I can’t believe we’re talking about such a thing in a public place.” He shook his head again before saying, “In fact, I can’t believe we’re having this conversation at all. It shouldn’t even be in your mind, Clarissa. You’re not like that,” he said in what she guessed was his patient but angry voice but it only came across as patronizing.