Year of Living Blonde (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 1) (40 page)

“Natalie,” he says, his voice husky. “I need you. Now.”

He looks into her face and is relieved to see she’s nodding with understanding. “I want that, too.” And then she hesitates. “Do you have a condom?”

“In my wallet.”

She smiles. “So guys really do carry those in their wallets.”

He grins back a little, but is too aroused to joke around much. Besides, it’s true. Ever since he got Nicole pregnant all those years ago, he never goes without a condom, no matter what. Even if the woman he’s with is using birth control.

“Is it in your pants?” She looks down on the floor.

He motions toward the chair. “It’s in my jacket.” He makes a move to get it, but she’s already headed there and he lets her go, wanting to watch her walk naked. The sway of her breasts and that bit of ass jiggle is enticing. Once again, he wishes the room wasn’t so dim.
Next time the lights are staying on.

“Which pocket?” she asks, holding up his motorcycle jacket.

“Left,” he tells her, his eyes wandering down her body. Even her legs are curvaceous and pretty. “I mean, right. The right pocket.”

I sound like an idiot.

“Is it okay if I get it out myself?”

“Sure.”

She finds the condom and then stuffs his wallet away again. He watches her walk back toward him, her breasts bouncing with every step, the sight sending more jolts of lust through him. By the time she’s in front of him, holding up the condom packet, he’s already reaching out for her. Now that it’s close—and he’s finally going to have her—excitement is pounding through him. His cock feels thick and hard and all he wants is to grab Natalie and sink into her.

Get a grip.

He swallows and even closes his eyes. Anthony can’t remember the last time he wanted a woman this badly, but he knows he needs to keep a clear head.

He pulls her onto the bed and has her lie on top of him, thinking maybe it will help him calm down. But he’s wrong. She smells so good, like a woman, but also like vanilla and cream. Her skin is silky all over and even her soft hair falling around him is turning him on.

Without a thought, he wraps his arms around her and rolls them both over, so he’s on top. He puts his face in her neck, kissing and licking her skin. But he wants to be closer. She’s breathing hard, grabbing his shoulders, and he reaches downward between her thighs. His fingers slip through her folds, into all that slick heat.

And then he can’t wait any longer. Sitting up partway, he asks Natalie where the condom went.

“I still have it,” she says, holding it up.

He takes it from her and sits up more.

“Should I put it on for you?” she asks.

“No . . . it’s best if I do it myself.”

“Okay.” She lets out her breath. “I wouldn’t know what to do, anyway.”

“What do you mean?” He looks over at her.

“We never used them. I’m on the pill. And I’ve never been with anyone else, so . . .”

“Anyone else—ever?”

Natalie seems embarrassed and doesn’t say anything for a moment before finally nodding.

Anthony stills, trying to take in the enormity of what she’s telling him. “You’ve never been with another man besides your ex-husband?”

“That’s right,” she says softly.

He sits up and stares at her. Something like this had never even occurred to him. And if he’s honest, he’s not sure how he feels about it.

“It’s not like I’m a virgin, so you can stop looking at me like that.”

Anthony doesn’t know what to say. He’s quiet, thinking it over, and then finally, he knows what to do. “Come here, Natalie. I’m going to show you how to put on a condom.”

Her eyes light up. “Really?” She sits up and Anthony smiles to himself.

“First off, this is the only condom we have, so try not to break it, okay?”

She nods solemnly. “Yes, Professor.”

Tearing the wrapper with his teeth, he pulls it out. Holding it up for her, he explains how it slides down over his cock. “But you need to leave the gap at the top.”

“Why?”

“So there’s room for when . . . I come.”

Her eyes go dark and she licks her lips. “I see,” she says in a low voice.

Which hopefully won’t be any time in the next five minutes.

“Here,” he says, handing it to her.

She considers the condom, then looks at him. “Why don’t you lie down and I’ll put it on you.”

Anthony lies back on the bed, but stays propped up on his elbows, while Natalie positions herself at his waist.

She takes her time and doesn’t put the condom on right away, instead running her hand over his cock, fondling him. His pulse jumps. It feels so good that it’s hard not to let go and enjoy it. Not to mention the view of those magnificent breasts as she leans over. Between the red light and watching the way Natalie is touching him, there’s something almost surreal about the experience.

His hips are moving with the motion of her hand and his breath is getting more unsteady. “Anytime would be good now,” he tells her.

“So I slide it over your cock,” she imitates the motion with her hand on his shaft, “and then I leave the space on top,” she rubs her thumb over the head, “for when you come.”

“Yeah,” he breathes, “that’s right.” He’s getting even stiffer the more it sounds like she’s talking dirty.

He watches as she finally takes the condom and carefully rolls it down over him, following instructions perfectly.

“How did I do, Professor?” She comes over to lie beside him, her face close, eyelashes fluttering.

And then he understands. He shakes his head. A grin pulls at his mouth. “You’re shining me on again, aren’t you?”

She bites her lip. “A little bit.”

“What part?”

Her face grows serious. “Everything I told you is true. I’ve only been with one other man. But come on, Anthony,” she gives him a teasing smile, “any dumb-ass knows how a condom works!”

He chuckles in a low voice. It surprises him to hear it. He seldom laughs during sex.

Natalie is laughing, too. “I couldn’t resist. I hope you aren’t mad.”

“No, but you’re forcing me to bring out the big guns now.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.” He pulls her close, and then quickly rolls on top of her, so she’s beneath him and he’s cradled between her hips. She grabs his shoulders with helpless laughter.

“
Voglio fare l’amore con te adesso,”
he says in a low voice.
I want to make love to you now.

Natalie’s laughter dies away and her eyes go dark and smoky. “Uh oh,” she whispers.

Anthony’s face is pure male ego as he watches the effect his words have on her.

“
Dio,
” he whispers in her ear. “S
ei così bella.”

“What are you saying to me?” She hears the passion in his voice.

He pauses. “I said I think you’re beautiful.”

“Is that true?”

“
Sì, Natalie.”

They’re gazing at each other and her heart feels like it’s in her throat at such an outrageous statement. She doesn’t say it back, figuring he’s heard it plenty over the years from far too many women. Besides, it isn’t what she finds appealing about him.

“I think you’re . . . good.”

“Good?”

She nods. “Here,” she says, touching his head. “And here.” Natalie places her palm over his heart.

Anthony doesn’t reply at first, taking in her words. He seems pleased by them. “Thank you.”

It’s an odd sort of compliment, but she realizes he is good. He’s not perfect—the fiasco with the bakery has shown that, but she suspects that in his heart Anthony is a good man.

He shifts position on top of her and she feels him then—hard and ready—pressing at her center.

“
Fammi di mostrare
quanto sono bravo,
” he says with a sly smile, his breathing unsteady.

Lust spirals and skitters. Natalie widens her legs and slips one ankle over his hairy calf, arching against him, sending a message. He’s gazing down at her. For a moment, it’s as if time is suspended, but then Anthony is pushing into her. He goes slowly at first, easing his entry, as if sensing it’s been a while for her, but then somewhere along the way his control slips and he thrusts hard and deep.

Natalie gasps at the invasion, her eyes falling shut. The sensation is so intense. So bright and true. It’s been a long time, so long she’s nearly forgotten.

How have I lived without this?

Anthony groans, thrusting into her again, and when she looks at him his eyes are already half-lidded. Lost in pleasure. Wild even. As if he’s been holding back this whole time.

She’s still gazing at him and, even though she didn’t say it earlier, she has to admit, he is a beautiful man.

Anthony says something more in Italian, his voice low and rough, but melodious, too. A language made for sensuality.

She pulls him even closer. His body is hard on top of hers, pressing downward, his muscular arms caging her in on each side as he takes her. It was never like this with Peter. And then she banishes all thoughts of Peter. It is only Anthony.

After a while, his movements begin to slow. They’re both breathing erratically and he reaches for her arms and pulls them out from behind his neck and stretches them above her head. He holds both her wrists in place, the position making her back arch, thrusting her breasts high.

“Look at you,” he breathes, his eyes roaming over her—feasting.

Then he does feast on her. Holding both her wrists in one hand, he bends over, lapping at her breast, capturing a beaded nipple in his mouth, working her over before moving on to the other.

Natalie moans and squirms, mindless, her back arching even more, pushing herself into his mouth. Sharp pleasure angles through her, but this time she wants it.
Oh, my God.
He’s still holding her wrists tight over her head and then he starts to move inside her again. And it’s so good. Just right. Everything.

“Don’t . . . stop . . .” she manages to say, her voice hoarse.

Anthony isn’t gentle, but she doesn’t want it gentle. She wants his urgency, wants him to use her. The small of her back tingles. And then it’s her whole body vibrating. He seems to sense how close she is, because he’s murmuring things in a low voice. Naughty things, things no one has ever told her before. Telling her how good she feels. How hot and wet. How perfect.

She whimpers and moans, and then finally, it’s a tidal wave, sweeping her under. Her wrists are trapped and it adds to the peak, pushing her higher.

Vaguely she’s aware that Anthony is lost, too. He lets go of her wrists and reaches down to grab her ass. Hooks another hand under her knee as he drives into her, taking what he needs. And then Anthony groans, low and long, the sound torn from someplace deep. He’s still moving and groaning and she feels a tingle of desire even though she just came.

Finally, he stops, his weight heavy on her. His face in her neck rains soft kisses.

Anthony lifts up, gazing into her eyes, not shying from the intimacy, and Natalie feels the strongest sense of peace she has known in a very long time.

JOAN JETT’S “BAD
Reputation” blares from Natalie’s phone. She grabs it off her nightstand and declines the call from her sister, who programmed the song as her personal ring tone. Lindsay does it with everyone. Her recent ring tone for Natalie was “Brick House” and Natalie wasn’t sure if she was complimented or annoyed.