Year of Living Blonde (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 1) (44 page)

Natalie is still angry about what happened, but she wants Anthony. She wants him a lot. “Yes, I’ll get past it. It’s like you said when you came over last night. This relationship is about you and me.”

“So you’re going to tell people we’re involved? You can’t just start lying to everyone.”

“I know. I’ll tell them.”

Anthony frowns to himself. He doesn’t like lies and he doesn’t want to be anybody’s big secret. Ironically, the women he dates usually want to show him off. This is the first time someone has tried to hide him in the closet.

“They might not like it at first,” he says, taking her hand again, rubbing his thumb over her baking scars. “But they’ll come around. And even if they don’t, it’s your life to live, not theirs.”

“I know. Just let me figure out how to handle this, okay?”

“All right, fair enough.”

They finish their coffees. Anthony pulls his sunglasses off his head and puts them back on. “I’d say we accomplished our mission today. Are you ready to leave, Miss Natalie?”

“Ready when you are, Moondoggie.”

He takes the shortest route back to her house. Usually he takes the scenic route if there’s a choice, since he enjoys riding his bike, but he can’t wait to get Natalie alone. He’s been trying to hide it, but the anticipation of having her again has become unbearable. He’s intensely aware of her. The way she looks, feels, and smells. It’s been a struggle to keep his hands off her.

Once they’re parked in her driveway, he locks his bike and practically pulls her to the front door, his jeans tight with the erection that’s been plaguing him since Starbucks.

“I can’t wait,” he murmurs in her ear as she unlocks the door. “I’m already hard thinking about all the things we’re going to do.”

He can tell she likes hearing this as she fumbles with her keys. Once the door is open, and they’re inside the house, Natalie turns to him.

“Do you want me, Anthony?”

“Yes, you know I do.”

There’s a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Then you’re going to have to catch me first!”

To his surprise, she suddenly runs past him. He’s so startled he doesn’t even grab her and before he knows it she’s already gone around the corner.

What the . . .
Anthony stills for a moment and then grins. He likes this kind of game.

Thinking ahead, he opens the bag from the drugstore and pulls out a condom, slipping it into the front pocket of his jeans. Then he walks into the living area. Natalie is standing on the other side of the room, near the bottom of the stairs, watching—waiting.

Their eyes meet and lust slams through him.

“You’re a naughty girl, Miss Natalie. Teasing me like this.”

He knows she’s expecting him to go around the furniture and make a run for her. That’s the most obvious path.

“Somebody has to make you earn it for a change,” she tells him.

So that’s what this is about.
He glances to the side, letting her think that’s the route he plans to take.

And just when she starts to relax, he suddenly grabs the edge of the couch and leaps over it. He lands only a short distance away from her.

“Aaah!” Natalie shrieks with girlie laughter. She starts running up the stairs with him right behind her. His fingers graze her shirt, but she’s surprisingly fast.

She makes it to the top and he can hear her laughing as she runs down the hall.

“I’ve almost got you!”

“Ha!” Then she runs into her bedroom and slams the door shut.

When he reaches for the door, he finds it locked. He rattles the knob. “Let me in, Natalie.”

“I don’t think so.” He can hear her voice on the other side.

“The door is locked.”

“So it is,” she agrees. “Guess you’ll have to figure out that one next, Professor Smarty Pants.”

Anthony grins. He bends down to examine the brass knob. It’s just a simple interior lock. He figures there’s a pushbutton on the other side, so all he needs is something pointy to fit in the center hole and release the mechanism.

He stands up, considering for a moment what he can use. A nail would work, or a paper clip. Anthony goes downstairs and finds a paper clip on a small desk down near the kitchen. Straightening it out, he heads back upstairs, chuckling to himself. He can’t remember the last time he had this much sexy fun.

When he reaches her door, he tries the knob again to make sure it’s still locked and then pushes the paper clip inside. He fiddles around a few seconds until he hears the mechanism pop.

“I hope you heard that,” he tells her. “Because that’s the sound of your doom.”

He turns the knob and enters.

Natalie is standing on the opposite side of the bed. There’s a smile tugging on her mouth, but her eyes are heated.

“And now you’re mine.” He moves toward her. “To do with as I please.”

Her eyes flicker toward the door.

“I don’t think so.” He smirks.

She’s breathing hard watching him. “You haven’t caught me yet!” And then she makes a final run for it.

This time he’s faster though, and grabs her around the waist. Natalie squeals with laughter. She tries to squirm away, but he holds her tightly as she grips his arms, pushing at him. Her breasts are smashed against him and the whole thing reminds him so much of his boxing fantasy his groin aches and he’s getting even more aroused.

“Let me go!” she says.

“No way, I have plans for you.”

She goes still in his arms. “Seriously, let me go, Anthony.”

Immediately, he releases her. “What’s wrong?”

She pushes him away. “Nothing’s wrong!” And then she laughs and runs for the door.

“Dammit!” A few choice swear words stream from his mouth as he starts chasing her again. “The gloves are off now, Natalie.” He sees her at the end of the hall. She’s trying to lock herself in the bathroom, but he gets there in time to shove his foot in the door before she can close it. “This game only has one ending. And I think you know what it is.”

She’s still struggling with the door, grinning at him. “I said I’d make you earn it, didn’t I?”

“We’ll see who’s earning what here.”

He manages to shove his knee inside and then pushes the door wide enough so he can slip through. She backs away, but there isn’t any place for her to go.

“I can’t believe you faked me out like that.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” She smiles sheepishly and has the decency to look embarrassed. “Lindsay used to do that to me and, if it’s any consolation, I always fell for it, too.”

“No, that’s not any consolation.” He steps closer. “Don’t do it again.”

She blinks. Her hair is messy, eyes bright.

And then he reaches out and kisses her hard. Natalie moans. Her arms immediately wrap around his neck. He’s holding her tight and their kiss turns into something else, something crazy. Mouths feeding on each other, tongues and teeth colliding.

He grasps her ass with both hands. “Wrap your legs around me,” he breathes urgently.

She does and he lifts her, carrying her until her back is pushed against the wall. They’re still kissing greedily, bodies rubbing in all the right places, setting each other on fire. Anthony feels like he’s losing his mind.

He puts her down, grabbing the front of her jeans, trying to get them off her. His hands are shaking. Both of them frantic, fumbling.

“Now,
now
. . .” Natalie chants, and it’s making him even crazier.

Somehow he tugs her jeans and panties off. He wants Natalie naked all over, wants to touch her and see all she has to offer, but at this point all he can think about is getting inside her.

Thank God I brought a condom.

He pulls it out of his pocket and holds it between his front teeth as he unbuttons himself and shoves his pants down, his erection finally free.

Natalie is watching him, her breath choppy, the blush high on her cheeks. She looks dazed and Anthony can’t help thinking that she’s beautiful. Her lips are parted, the color like wild berries.

He pulls the condom from his mouth and kisses her again. Just because he can.

Finally, he tears the packet open with his teeth and quickly slips the rubber over himself.

“Grab me again,” he tells her and when she does, wrapping her legs around him—he lifts her up, and then situating himself, brings her down—impaling her.

God.
His eyes fall shut.

They both groan. Her arms and legs tighten around him and it’s so sweet—so hot.

Still holding her, he drives upward and the two of them begin moving together. Natalie moans and sobs with every thrust. It feels so right, Anthony never wants to leave this moment, wants to stay inside her like this forever.

Eventually, Natalie starts squirming against him and he knows what to do. He slips his hand between her legs in front to help, rubbing his fingers where she needs it. She immediately goes nuts. Clutching him, digging her nails into his shoulders as she cries out with her climax. And then it hits Anthony, too. His self-control crashes and ecstasy ricochets through him. It’s already white-hot before the final explosion comes and he groans, holding her tight, blind to everything but his release.

Afterward, they both sink to the floor. Anthony almost forgets to pull out of her and take the condom off.

“Wow,” Natalie breathes, trying to catch her breath. “Is it always like this for you?”

“No,” he answers honestly, his voice hoarse. What he doesn’t add is that he’s not sure if it’s ever been like this for him.

“I’m starving,” Natalie says, still breathing hard.

“Me, too.”

She thinks about what she has to eat in the kitchen downstairs. Some leftover enchiladas that Lindsay made a couple days ago. She’s not sure what else. Fruit and cheese—bread for sure.

Anthony is watching her. They’re both still sitting on the bathroom floor, trying to recover. He puts his hand out to touch her breasts through her shirt.

“What is it?” she asks.

“I was thinking about how I didn’t even get to see these. I was too excited to take all of your clothes off.”

She considers his words and can barely believe the next thing that comes out of her mouth. “Do you want to see them now?”

He nods, and then grins. The expression on his face is so male it does something funny to her insides.

“Okay,” she tells him. And then sits up and lifts her T-shirt above her bra.

His eyes go down to her breasts and stay there. His fingers reach out, caressing her through the fabric, her nipples beading again from the attention.

“Would you take the bra off, too?”

Natalie meets his imploring gaze. Pushing her shyness aside, she reaches behind herself to unhook and pull her bra off.

Anthony leans his head against the wall. “Thank you,” he says and starts caressing her again, this time on bare skin.

Natalie closes her eyes for a moment and sighs. His hands are gentle. It’s wonderful to have someone so attentive toward her, even if he is admiring her breasts.

When their eyes meet, they gaze at each other for a long time. His are a rich brown and the heat of them warms her all over.

“It’s weird,” she says.

“What?”

“I’m so comfortable with you. I thought it would be awkward with another man, but I feel . . .” She stops herself, doesn’t continue. She almost tells him how she feels more comfortable with him than she did with Peter, but that seems like too much, too soon. Plus, she doesn’t fully trust this feeling with Anthony.

Anthony looks curious, though. “What were you going to say? Tell me.”

“Just that I feel good with you. I’m at ease.” She hopes he understands her meaning.

He nods and his expression is thoughtful, taking in her words. “It’s the same for me,” he agrees. “It feels natural between us.”

Eventually, they make their way downstairs and start pulling things out of the fridge. They wind up on the living room couch with a smorgasbord of leftovers.

“Is this bread yours?” Anthony asks, loading up a piece with a hunk of cheese.

Natalie takes a bite of cold enchilada. She’s too hungry to even bother heating it. “Yes, I make it for Santosa’s—a bistro up the street.”

“Really? I’ve eaten there.” He takes another bite and chews for a bit. “It’s fantastic. I didn’t know you baked bread.”