Longing for Her Read online

  The slap of our bodies filled my ears, the scent of sex and her skin throttling me forward.

  My control threatened to give out as I slipped a hand between our bodies to find her swollen clit. A few flicks had her grinding against me, her clutching limbs trembling. Her breath hitched and she arched up, her eyes never once leaving mine.

  “Come for me, Gwen.”

  I slammed home, erupting as she cried out, her pussy tugging…drawing every last drop from me.

  ****

  Curled around her naked backside, I breathed in the scent of her and grinned like a fool.

  Gwen. In my bed.

  I hugged her closer, planting a kiss behind her ear.

  “Don’t start something you can’t finish, old man.” Her voice, low and sexy as hell, twitched my cock.

  Nuzzling her neck, I slid a hand down her side and pulled her leg over mine. She shivered as I trailed my fingertips up her inner thigh. “An eighteen-year-old holds nothing over me,” I said, tilting my hips forward.

  “Mmm.” She pressed her ass against my cock.

  I dipped into her wetness, pulled out and twirled my slippery fingers around her clit, before sliding back down and in again.

  She groaned. “How is it, that you’re the only one who makes me feel this?”

  “Feel what?” I stroked her twice as she bucked her hips against my hand.

  “This turned on.”

  I withdrew my fingers, wiped them on the sheet, and turned her to face me. “Are you saying you haven’t—”

  “Not since our first time.”

  Her words took a few seconds to register. “Tonight was your first orgasm in three years?”

  She nodded, her cheeks flushing.

  “So I was your first and only.”

  “In more ways than one.”

  I smoothed back her messy spikes of red hair. “I figured that out when I got home.”

  Gwen started to wiggle away, but I pulled her tight against me. “If I had known, I would have been gentler with you.”

  “I impaled myself, Cole. Wasn’t like you had much control in the situation.”

  “Your first time should have been in a bed, slow and easy, not a quick fuck in the front seat of my damn car.”

  Her body relaxed in my arms. “Show me.”

  My brow rose.

  She wrapped her fingers around my hard length and stroked up to the head. “Show me how you would have done it.”

  “I have my own confession first,” I said, fighting back a groan.

  Hand stilling, she peered at me. “What?”

  “I haven’t been with anyone since you.”

  Gwen stared, her grip on my cock slackening.

  “One taste of you ruined me for any other woman. After a second failed attempt, I gave up on sex, deciding to go monk unless you someday forgave me.”

  Rolling onto her back, she pressed her palms to her eyes. “Fuckin’ A.”

  Tears leaked from beneath her hands, and I tugged her back toward me. She resisted, but I wrapped her up tight in my arms. “Look at me, Gwen.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Gwen.”

  “You’re such a saint, Cole.” Her voice wavered. “If you knew what I…how I’ve been behaving…”

  My stomach churned, but I refused to allow disgust over what I had been the cause of. “I know about the dating sites.”

  She finally met my gaze, her lower lip trembling, although fire flashed in her wet eyes. “Lia told you?”

  “Yes.”

  “What the fuck—”

  “I don’t care, Gwen.” Her mouth snapped shut. “I don’t care about anything except that you’re with me now.” A few agonizing seconds passed as she studied my face.

  “You’re too good for me,” she finally whispered, another tear escaping the corner of her eye.

  My Italian temper flickered to life. “I don’t ever want to hear those words from you again.”

  “But—”

  “Never again.” I tipped her chin up to make her look me square in the face. “I don’t give a shit about anything but the here and now. Sure, I might get my ass handed to me on Monday, but you’re worth it. I love you, Gwen.” She relaxed in my arms. “I always have, and I’ll do whatever I need to in order to be with you.”

  She wound her arms around my neck, the beginnings of her smile catching my breath. “Well, right now I could use some…what did you call it? Slow and easy?”

  Chest ready to burst, I pressed my lips against hers and gave her exactly what she wanted.

  Gwen

  The hours slid by, and I couldn’t get enough. Worn out, Cole finally fell asleep as the sun peeked past the drawn shades. My body buzzed with energy. I slipped from bed, grabbed up his tux shirt, and headed out the door.

  While meandering down the hallway, I buttoned the only two buttons still intact while taking in the funky artwork on the walls and along the staircase.

  Three of my mom’s living rooms would have fit inside his massive den. A huge screen TV hung on one wall, and a stone fireplace brought delightful ideas to mind.

  I roamed around the first floor, and while I found traces of Cole in his office, the rest felt sterile.

  Lacking.

  In the kitchen, decked out with the latest of everything, I discovered the thing I needed most—a coffee maker.

  Twenty minutes later, I stood in his bedroom door, sipping my coffee.

  Cole sprawled on his stomach, the navy silk sheet riding his backside half-mast. He had a great ass, rounded and perfect for clutching with my calves.

  My gaze swept up the muscles of his back as I ambled toward the bed. While a suit and tie man, Cole definitely took care of his body. Chiseled and sculpted, he resembled a Greek god.

  And he was mine.

  My lips curved as warmth kindled between my thighs.

  Let the poor man rest, Gwen.

  I made my way back to his office and curled my legs under me in his leather chair. Thanking God his laptop had only been in sleep mode, I began the task of deleting my profiles from all the dating sites I frequented.

  My conscious finally lightened of its guilty burden, I crawled back into bed beside Cole, whose mouth parted with light snores. Temptation to kiss him awake rose, but I curled a hand beneath my cheek to watch him sleep until my eyelids drifted shut.

  ****

  Sunday morning slept away, the afternoon allowed us time enough to explore each other’s bodies to our hearts’ content. Sated like never before, I grumbled at Cole’s suggestion we make a trip to my apartment for some clothes.

  Having finally gotten me where he wanted, Cole had no intention of letting me sleep any place else. I had no desire to go against his wishes.

  After a late dinner of Papa Gino’s pizza at Lia’s and my tiny kitchen table, I threw my clothes into a couple of trash bags. Cole helped me drag them to my apartment’s front door, but I hesitated in leaving. We’d spent three years together, me and the little Italian spitfire who saved me from becoming just like my pot-toking mom.

  “Changing your mind?” Cole’s studied my face, his gaze wary.

  “Not at all.” I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Just thinking how blessed I’ve been with having your sister for a best friend and, now, you for a lover.”

  He cradled my cheeks in his hands, his thumb sweeping along my lower lip. “I want you as more than my lover, but it’ll do for now.”

  “I think your papa will have something to say about that.”

  “He can take everything away from me, and it won’t matter.”

  I peered up at Cole. “Is his name on your car title? The house mortgage or your bank accounts?”

  “No.”

  “Then he can’t take jack shit from you.”

  Cole grinned and lowered his face. “He can take my livelihood.”

  “Then we sell everything we own and move to Maine. Hell, all I need is a little old shack with a bed.”

  Chuckli
ng, he brushed his lips against mine. “I might have to hold you to that.”

  Cole

  I showed up a half hour late on Monday morning.

  The fault fell on Gwen’s shoulders for joining me in the shower. Hands soaped up, she’d coaxed my cock back to life, and I couldn’t help but give in to her desire for a thorough pounding from behind.

  She’ll be the death of me.

  Inhaling and holding my breath, I pulled open the office door. Raquel tapped away at her computer, and my breath huffed out at finding her alone. “Good morning, Raquel.”

  She glanced up, a sweet smile lighting her pale blue eyes. “Good morning, Mr. Risso. There were two messages for you this morning, and your father stopped in, wanting to speak with you.”

  I pushed open the door to my office. “Messages on my desk?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Pausing, I turned back around. “Did Zane happen to swing by?”

  “No.” Pink stained her cheeks, and she shuffled papers around on her desk.

  She’d noticed him. And, if her shifting and red face was any indicator, she appreciated what she saw. Fuck. All I need.

  “Bastian still around?” I asked.

  “He flew back to West Virginia yesterday afternoon.”

  The boy couldn’t stand city life for more than two days. Heaving a sigh, I shut my door behind me. “I hope you find whatever it is you’re searching for, kid,” I muttered, settling into the chair behind my desk.

  I took my time booting up my computer and looking over my calendar. Two returned phone calls later, I decided it was time to face the heat. At least I had nothing pressing on my desk should Papa can my ass.

  While I walked down the hall to his office in the back of the building, my heart thumped like it did that rare time I got sent to the principal’s office. Inhaling a deep breath, I squared my shoulders, telling myself for the umpteenth time that I wouldn’t be intimidated.

  Papa’s secretary motioned me right in. “He’s been waiting for you.”

  Without knocking, I strode through the door to his private domain.

  Papa sat behind his wide desk, phone to his ear, lingering traces of cigar smoke hazing the room. He pointed toward the chair in front of him, and I complied, trying not to fidget.

  “Let me call you back later, Angelo,” Papa said, his unreadable gaze on my face. “Sounds good, my friend.” He hung up the phone and leaned back.

  Already on high alert, my body tensed.

  “So.” Elbows on the arm rests, he folded his hands together before him. “Gwen.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “She’s the one who has kept you from settling down all these years?”

  The lack of venom in his tone caught me off guard. “I…I’ve wanted no one else but her. It just took me this long to decide I didn’t care what anyone thought.”

  “By anyone, you mean me.”

  I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  He pursed his lips and studied me for a time. Refusing to cower, I returned his stare. “Your mother says Gwen is good for you.”

  A bolt of adrenaline rushed through my blood. “Sir?”

  “Claims she’s always known it would be Gwen. Took her hours to convince me not to break down your front door after the wedding, and the rest of the weekend to make me realize the truth.”

  Hope swelled, but I sat unmoving, tense. Waiting.

  “You have my blessing, Son.” My throat tightened, and I opened my mouth to offer thanks, but he held up a hand. “I only ask one thing.”

  “Anything.”

  “If you have future plans for making Gwen your wife, do it sooner rather than later so I don’t have to listen to your mother prattle on about more wedding plans.”

  I couldn’t contain my grin. “Yes, sir.”

  Papa stood and outstretched his arms.

  For the first time in years, I hugged Papa tight in a real hug. One that went beyond a family greeting. “Thanks, Papa.”

  “I just want you to be happy, Ercole.” He slapped my back. “And one more thing…a grandson would be nice.”

  I barked a laugh. “You sound like Mom.”

  He backed away, holding me at arms’ length. “You’ll find that keeping your woman happy will make you happy as well.”

  “Already noted that one, Papa.”

  One last slap on my arm, and he opened his door. “Now get back to work.”

  All but jumping to click my heels together, I strode back down the hallway.

  ****

  “Gwen!”

  “In here.”

  I dropped my briefcase and pulled off my suit coat before striding into the living room.

  She sat on my couch, legs curled beneath her, laptop in hand. “Since you’ve been gone all day, I’m assuming he didn’t fire you.”

  The silver ring through her lower lip glinted in the afternoon sunlight filtering through the windows. Although pleased to see Gwen back to her normal self, I kept my face void of expression and stalked across the room.

  She pushed my chest when I leaned down to plant one on her mouth. “You didn’t text. Didn’t call! Tell me what the hell happened already!”

  I took the laptop from her, placed it on the side table, and sank onto the couch beside her, drawing her close. “He…”

  A loud exhale, and she punched my thigh. “He what?”

  “Gave us his blessing.”

  Her jaw dropped.

  I grabbed her in my arms and squeezed tight. “Imagine that.” I rubbed my face in her short, un-gelled hair, loving the soft texture of the strands.

  “Well, holy shit.” She laughed. “Never thought he’d do such a thing.”

  “You’re not the only one.” I pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “So, want to jet to Vegas?”

  She smirked up at me. “Are you serious?”

  “While my mom will be pissed, Papa will love not having to listen to her for the next few months, waiting for us to plan a wedding.”

  “Never was one for a big hoopla. I’m game.”

  Grinning, I brushed my lips across hers and slid to kneel before her. “Gwen Larkin?”

  Tears filled her eyes, and she bit on her bottom lip.

  “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  She threw herself at me, and I fell back onto the floor as she ripped the buttons from my shirt.

  Two garments ruined in two days, but I didn’t give a shit.

  Gwen’s nimble fingers sprang my cock free from my pants, but before she could straddle me, I grabbed her forearms. “Gwen.”

  Pupils dilated, she focused on my face.

  “Will you?”

  A slow smile curved her lips. “Figured I’d show you my answer, but abso-friggin’-lutely.”

  Laughter erupted, but cut off as she crushed her mouth to mine.

  The End

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