Year of Living Blonde (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 1) (54 page)

Her fingers reach out, grasping at the bed’s duvet, trying to steady herself.

“You’re mine,” he says. “Tell me you’re mine.”

Natalie moans, her body overwhelmed with sensation. She shouldn’t like this terrible side of Anthony. This possessiveness. But it speaks to something in her she didn’t even know existed, something that wants him wild.

He slips his hand between her legs to where they’re joined. Stroking just where she needs it, the tension builds quickly. But then his fingers stop and she squirms and moans in frustration.

“Say you belong to me.”

Natalie is so aroused, it takes a moment to register his meaning. They’re both panting, but Anthony has slowed his movements, waiting.

“Tell me what I want to hear,” he demands softly.

“It’s you,” she says finally. “Only you I belong to.”

He moves inside her again. “That’s right,” he says. “That’s so right.”

Then his fingers are between her legs again and she’s giving in to it. Anthony starts speaking Italian as he increases the pace. She doesn’t understand his words, but understands the passion in his voice. When he finally pulls her in tightly, groaning, so does she—the two of them meeting ecstasy together.

Afterward, they collapse on the bed, trying to catch their breath, recovering. Natalie notices something different this time, though—she feels wet between her thighs.

Understanding dawns on her. “You didn’t use a condom?”

“I forgot.”

She looks over at him. He’s lying on his back, eyes closed, still breathing hard.

“You forgot?”

He nods. “You’re on the pill, anyway.”

“You never forget anything, Anthony. You have a photographic memory.”

He doesn’t reply at first, but then finally turns his head to look at her—his eyes the color of a rich ganache. He licks his lips. “You were right about what you said. I worry about losing control a lot, and it’s time I stopped.”

Natalie stares at him. A sense of unease settles over her.

“What is it?” he asks, frowning. “You’re still on the pill, right?”

She takes a deep breath. “I am, but I’ve sort of missed one recently.”

Anthony’s eyes widen as he sits up abruptly on his elbows. “Are you kidding me?”

“I’m not. I’ve been busy and I’ve never taken the pill for birth control, anyway,” she says in an even voice, trying to stay calm. “Peter had a vasectomy. I started taking the pill to manage PMS, so I don’t get migraines.”

He stares at her in disbelief.

“I didn’t think it was any big deal.”

“No big deal?”

“You’re always so careful about condoms,” she continues, starting to feel nervous. “How was I to know you changed your mind?”

Anthony continues to stare at her. Then to her surprise, instead of being angry, he starts to laugh. He sits up all the way, still laughing and shaking his head. “I don’t believe this,” he says. “Unbelievable.”

She watches him get off the bed and kick his pants off. Remove his shirt. His body is so muscular and beautifully proportioned that it’s hard to pull her eyes away. He’s still chuckling.

“You’re not angry?”

“Come here.” He motions to her. “I’ll unzip you.”

She gets up and stands in front of him. “It doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily get pregnant or anything. The odds are very small.”

“I know all about the odds.” He helps her step out of the gown and takes her bra off, too.

Standing before him, she realizes she doesn’t feel shy anymore being nude around him. He’s freed her of that. Anthony always makes her feel beautiful.

Even now, she watches as his eyes roam over her with obvious approval.

“You’re handling this really well,” she tells him.

“Let’s get in bed.” There’s a tender smile on his face.

They climb under the sheets together and settle under the hotel’s puffy white duvet, surrounded by pillows, and it’s like sinking into a cool cloud.

Natalie tries to understand what’s happening. He threw her phone out the window for texting Peter, but is calm now, when he hears they just had sex without birth control?

“These sheets are incredible,” Anthony says, relaxing on his back. “My ass approves.”

She rolls onto her side so she can see his face. His whole demeanor is surprisingly mellow.

“I can’t believe you’re not more upset.”

He shrugs. “What’s done is done.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Anthony puts his hand up and strokes her hair in that way he does. “I realized something tonight when I was onstage, scared witless, giving that terrible speech.”

“Your speech wasn’t terrible.”

“Give me a break.” He rolls his eyes. “I should have prepared something in advance. That was ridiculous.”

“You didn’t know you were going to win the medal. And your speech was fine.”

He chuckles. “Why are you defending me all of a sudden? You usually don’t let me get away with anything.”

Natalie puts her hand to his cheek, trails her fingers along the dark stubble on his jaw. “I know, but you’re being so hard on yourself. You deserve to be happy tonight.”

“Even though I threw your phone out the window?”

Her fingers still and her eyes flash to his.

“I’m really sorry,” he says. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You’re right. You shouldn’t have. I still can’t believe you did it.”

“Can you forgive me?”

Natalie thinks about what a crazy night it’s been and decides not to dwell on it. “Yes, but I want a new phone. And it better be fantastic.”

“I promise it’ll be kick-ass.”

“I’m baking
your
phone in one of our ovens if it’s not.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

They’re gazing at each other, smiling, but then Anthony’s smile slips away. He sits up in bed, leaning back against the pillows.

“What is it?” she asks, looking up at him with growing concern.

“Do you remember when you asked me how many women I’ve been in love with?”

Natalie nods, wondering where he’s going with this. “You said you fell in love easily.”

“No, I didn’t say that.” He pauses. His eyes go to the window and he seems to be searching for a way to say something. “The truth is, I’ve never been in love.”

Natalie raises her eyebrows. “Never?”

“No.”

She considers his words. “I’m surprised, especially after all the women you’ve been with. And what about your marriage to Nicole?”

“It’s why we got divorced. I could never tell her I loved her.”

Natalie is quiet, considering this. She feels real sympathy for Nicole. It would be unbearable to stay married to a man who didn’t love you.

“I’ve never said it to any woman,” he continues. “I’ve just never felt it and I didn’t want to lie.”

She takes his hand. “It doesn’t mean you won’t feel it for someone eventually.”

Anthony’s eyes meet hers. “Until now.”

“What?”

He lets out a deep breath. “I love you, Natalie.”

Natalie doesn’t say it back. Anthony didn’t expect her to, though he hoped she would.

“I can’t believe it’s finally happened to me,” he says, plowing his hand through his hair. “Now I get why people act so crazy when they’re in love.”

There’s a stunned expression on Natalie’s face. “You’re really in love with me?”

“Yes.”

She bites her lip and smiles. “Why me? Of all the women you’ve dated, you have to admit, I’m a peculiar choice.”

He could name a hundred reasons why he loves Natalie, but all of them amount to the same thing. She makes him happy. It feels natural being with her.

“Who knows?” he jokes. “I’ll be damned if I can figure it out.”

She gives him a playful shove. “What kind of response is that?”

“Hey, it’s not like you’re saying it back to me or anything.”

Natalie grows quiet. She moves up closer to him on the bed, then kisses him softly. “Just give me a little more time, okay?”

Anthony nods, his heart in his throat. He’s not used to feeling this vulnerable. “I’ll do that.” He pulls her leg over, so she’s straddling him and they’re face-to-face. His hands slide down her hips and ass, her skin like silk. He’s already getting turned on again, but tries to push it aside for now. “Do you really think you could fall in love with me?” he asks.

Her blue eyes take him in. “Yes.”

“When?”

She smiles.

“Soon?” he asks hopefully.

Her smiles changes. “I’ll tell you a little secret. I’ve been trying very hard not to fall in love with you.”

Anthony is taken aback. “Seriously?”

“I didn’t want to be another one of your groupies. Plus, I’m older than you.”

“Not this again.” He groans and puts his head back on the pillow, but then meets her gaze. “You shouldn’t hold back your feelings. I don’t want you to.”

“Oh, really? How many women have told you they loved you? How many hearts have you broken?”

Anthony studies her. And then realizes where Natalie is going with this.

She’s right.

“So, what, I don’t deserve you? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Not at all. But you have to understand why I’ve been cautious.”

Anthony doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he thinks about all the women over the years who have said they were in love with him. The letters he’s gotten, the cards and gifts. Some of them he barely knew and were only drawn to his appearance, and others he knew intimately. He never tried to lead them on, or break any hearts, but still it happened. He has to admit he feels a sympathy for those women he never did before.

“All right, I get your point. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up.” He grasps her hips. “In fact, now that I’ve bared my soul to you—and had you
reject
me—” she tries to protest, but he continues, “I’m going to spend the rest of the night using all my powers to prove exactly how much I love you.”

Her eyes widen.

“What do you say to that, Miss Natalie?”

They forgot to pull the heavy curtains shut, so sunlight streams through their hotel room window the next morning. Anthony is still asleep on his stomach. A dark angel. Despite all the coffee Anthony drinks, he’s a hard sleeper.

Natalie studies him, thinking.

He loves me.

It should make her nervous, but it doesn’t. Instead, she’s amazed someone this wonderful has fallen in love with her.

Suddenly, there’s a hard knock at their hotel room door. Natalie startles. The brisk knock happens again.

“Anthony,” she whispers, shaking his shoulder. “Wake up.”

He opens his eyes and when he sees her, gives a purely male grin. Memories of last night come rushing back and she feels her face warm. It was quite a night.

“Good morning, Miss Natalie,” he says, his voice husky.

There’s another knock.

He turns toward the sound. “What’s that?”

“I don’t know,” she says, still whispering. “Do you think it’s room service?”

“I didn’t order room service.” He frowns. “Let me go check.” He gets up and grabs one of the hotel’s terrycloth robes to cover himself.

Natalie waits in bed. There’s silence and then a few seconds later she hears voices and laughter.

Curious, she gets up and slips into the other terrycloth robe. When she ventures into the living room, she’s surprised to see a well-dressed man and woman there. The woman has her hand on Anthony’s arm, smiling and speaking Italian to him.

Anthony sees Natalie and waves her over.

“Guess what? My parents are here!” he says, grinning.

“Oh?”

Anthony introduces her to them as his girlfriend. He doesn’t seem fazed in the least bit that she’s meeting his parents for the first time wearing a hotel bathrobe after a night of energetic sex. Natalie draws her robe close, smoothes down her hair, and wishes she could vanish out the window like Batman.

She smiles politely.

Judging by their clothes and demeanor, his parents are conservative and wealthy. Affluence hangs over them like a thundercloud.

They’re both staring at her.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Natalie manages to say.

“They just arrived this morning,” Anthony tells her. “Apparently, their flight was delayed.”

“
Antonio
has mentioned you,” his mother says with an Italian accent. Her brown eyes—the same rich shade as Anthony’s—take in Natalie’s robe, messy hair, and then for some reason, stare at her neck.