Her tongue met his and he caught it between his teeth. She rewarded him with another dose of her husky laughs.
His trousers would burst before he got her to his pad. The shrill horn of the car behind them jolted him. Irena moaned and leaned back against the seat. “Didn’t we pass the road to your house three blocks back?”
After shifting gears, he took her hand and kissed the soft mohair of her glove. “Babe, there have been many changes. My parents passed away six years ago.
Ante and I sold the shack we grew up in and opened the restaurant. Who knew my mom’s traditional recipes would turn into an overnight success? We’re no longer the two dirt-poor brothers.” He gauged her reaction from the corner of his eye.
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents. They were such nice people.” She turned to the window and after a long silence faced him. “Better than mine, but I don’t want to resurrect the past, not tonight.” A soft smile formed tiny dimples in her cheeks while she glided her hand over the smooth leather interior. “This is a nice ride.”
He raked his top teeth over his bottom lip. “Wealth comes with a price. Suddenly everyone’s a bosom friend with me and Ante.”
She snickered. “Knowing you, you’d give them everything you’ve got.”
“You know me, babe.” He pulled into the parking spot designated for visitors in front of his building. “Let me show you where I live now.”
Easing out of his car, all tension left him. She skirted the hood and wrapped her arms around his waist. The way she molded her lithe body to his made him forget all the unasked questions swarming his head. He glanced at the top of the twenty stories high building. The moon reflected off the dark windows of his penthouse. A few more steps to the entrance and he’d start peeling her clothes off in the elevator so he could lay her on his bed as soon as he got her through the door.
She glanced over her shoulder, and again after a couple of steps.
He narrowed his gaze, peered into the darkness
beyond the parking lot of the condo building. Other than the sanitation had not picked up the garbage for the second week, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. And even the piling trash bags were becoming the norm. Turning to her, he pulled her closer. She’d been acting strange, avoiding talking about her past fourteen years. But he wouldn’t let her get away that easy. “Let’s get up to my place and then you’re going to tell me what’s going on.”
Inside the condo lobby, the stainless steel door of the elevator stood wide open. Dario quickened his steps, ushering Irena toward the car. He pressed the button for the penthouse. She wrapped her arms around him and cast him a seductive smile. Her eyes sparkled with desire. God, she was beautiful.
Their embraced image reflected in the shiny door as it slid closed. He leaned toward her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. He’d never burned with such intense desire. Every nerve in his body vibrated with aching need.
She sighed and pulled back, her tongue moistening her luscious lips. “Fourteen years without a kiss is a long time.”
He gave a slight tilt of his head as her words sank in. “You mean, you never…” Unable to finish the sentence, he glanced down to her heaving chest. This news filled him with joy. Still, sorrow swirled through his heart. Although she’d said she could never love Fred, as years passed by, Dario assumed she had accepted her commitment. Had she suffered and cried many nights? Her hopeless past would stay in the past. From now on, her future would change for better.
“Yes, from the get-go I knew I’d spend my life in a
loveless marriage. Only, I’ve expected to be free of Fred sooner.” She whispered in his ear, wrapping Dario again in her enchantment.
“Surely, on your wedding night, you must’ve—” “My wedding night.” She dragged the words out,
corners of her mouth slid down and her nose wrinkled. “What a joke. I spent it in the bridal suite, alone, flipping channels on the TV.”
Relief chipped away some of Dario’s worry. Often he cringed at the thought of her enduring Fred in bed with her. Though the rumors about Fred put Dario’s fears at ease, he was never too sure. “And the groom?”
“The groom?” She snorted. “He was on another floor’s executive suite in the arms of the priest who performed the wedding ceremony.”
Dario’s mouth dropped, and he stared at her, wide eyed. “I’m sorry you have to suffer like that. Your parents thought they secured you a fairy-tale future.”
“They only cared about the payment from Fred, which they never got. Serves them right.” Her seductive whisper sent another shiver through his body before she caught his lobe between her teeth. A promise she’d soon answer all his questions lingered in her kiss.
He barely held onto the little control he had. Damn it, why was the elevator going down? The door slid open on the underground parking level, and a plump guy staggered in, cinching a sleeping boy higher on his shoulder.
Irena pushed away from Dario, pulling her deep hood over her head. She retreated into the corner and stared at the elevator’s floor tiles.
The man nodded and pressed the button, lighting number four on the panel, then cast aren’t-you-gonna-
introduce-me look to Dario.
Dario feigned indifference, but a stone dropped through his gut. Irena acted strange as if she didn’t want to be seen with him. The man’s expression changed to fuck-it-I’ll-introduce-myself. He adjusted his hold on his son and extended his hand. “You must be the newest fling of our city’s most eligible, yet sworn bachelor. I’m Stan by the way.”
Rage flamed inside Dario, and he fisted his hands. If not for Irena’s presence and the sleeping child, Stan’s teeth would meet his knuckles.
“Nice to meet you, Stan,” Irena murmured, glancing at the intruder, but not accepting Stan’s hand. “Your boy looks cute asleep on your shoulder.”
“Ah, yes, party animal, just like his dad once was. I thought he’d never go to sleep.” Stan’s deep laughter boomed in the elevator.
“Too much excitement?” Dario kept his gaze at the round number on the elevator’s control pad. Stan’s floor dinged as the elevator stopped and the door slid open.
“Too much sugar,” Stan answered Dario’s question and put one foot out. “But you know the saying, what goes up, must come down. Have yourself a great night.” He was about to step out, but he halted and faced Irena again. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Claire.” She nodded, casting another glance at Stan.
Stan murmured something under his breath and finally left, leaving behind the stench of body odor.
“Claire?” Dario raised a questioning eyebrow.
She lowered her hood and pressed her body to him. “He didn’t need to know. I’ll explain. Later.”
Dario traced his finger along her smooth forehead. God, she was that one person who fed his soul and gave him the reason to get up in the morning, face the new day, and even smile. After all these years, she was back in his arms, all grown up and beautiful as ever. Fear shadowing her big eyes couldn’t escape him.
“What are you afraid of, Irena?” The elevator chimed in time with his question, the door silently slid open.
She grabbed his hand while he still brushed her hair from her face, placed a kiss on his knuckles and tugged him along. “Let’s leave the questions.”
Holding onto her hand, he approached the single, cherry color door on the top floor, and fumbled for his keys inside his jeans pocket. “My unit is the only one on this floor. Just wait until you see the view.”
His hand shook while he inserted the key. The lock clicked and he pushed the door open, extending his arm, his palm facing up. “Welcome home.”
Her slow steps carried her deeper into the penthouse. He followed the trail of her perfume and stared at her from the door. She descended the three semi-circular steps spanning the width of the ten-foot wide landing. Her slippers sank where the hardwood floor met the plush cream carpet. Judging by her mouth hanging open and eyes wide, she was amazed by his new place.
“Gorgeous,” she breathed, approaching the window spanning from the floor to the ceiling. The twinkling lights of the city spread before her.
In a few strides, he was at her side and pointed at the distance. “And you can see all the way to the islands. See that moving light? That’s a fishing boat in
the channel. The lights beyond that are in the village of Kali on Ugljan.”
“Amazing.” She turned to him, a smile lingering on her lips. “You’ve done quite well.”
He cupped her petite face in his hands, placed a soft kiss on the top of her little nose. “All with you in mind.”
She froze, if not for her slow blinks, he feared she stopped breathing. “I thought of you every day. Can’t tell you how glad I am to find you single. I was afraid you’d be married with a couple of kids by now.”
“No babe. It was hard at times, but I held on to the prediction that we’d be together again.” Her eyes glazed over and he forced himself to step back, give her space. “Where are my manners? Let me take your cloak. Can I get you something to drink?”
A nervous smile appeared on her lips, her white teeth flashed in the dim overhead pot light. She pulled on the string of the red cloak and shrugged out of the cape, then peeled off her white, mohair gloves. Stones on her ring twinkled as she draped her garments over his offered arm. He caught her hand, staring at the jewel on her finger. The question pressed on his mind, but the words wouldn’t form.
“It’s fake.” Her words pulled his gaze to her face. She shrugged. “Just like my marriage. But I can see it on your face. You wonder why I still wear it. Because…” She took her hand out of his and yanked the ring off her finger. “It hides the real one. “
She raised her hand in front of his face and flashed the yellow pipe cleaner he’d wrapped around her finger the night they’d parted.
“I hardly take it off. Only when I need to wet my
hands, still it held up pretty well over the years.” She paused, exhaling a shaky breath. “All I ever wanted was home and family with you and…I…”
Molten lava erupted deep inside him and boiled to the surface, making him drop her cloak and gloves on the heap next to his feet. For the first time in his life, the shame of growing up poor spiraled through him. Today he lived a very different life, but he’d never forgotten where he came from. His breath hitched as pain sliced his chest and constricted his throat.
Her heaving chest and face tense on the verge of tears. “No, baby, don’t.” Her voice strained, she swiped her thumbs under his eyes.
“Oh, Irena.” He croaked, pulling her into his embrace. The emotions he couldn’t keep bottled up any longer erupted. He forced the words out. “I promised you a real ring. I lost all faith you’ll be mine and…”
She combed her fingers through his hair while he rocked her trembling body. Her tears soaked the fabric on his shoulder. “The ring doesn’t make a marriage. Now, where’s that drink you offered?”
He pulled back, but still held one arm wrapped around her while the tight bend loosened up his chest, and flashed a grin. “This occasion calls for a champagne, unfortunately, I don’t have any. How does a glass of wine sound?”
“White if you have it.” She bent to pick up her things where he’d dropped them. Her teary eyes deepened his pain. Knowing her, she’d need a moment alone to regain her composure.
“Glass of white coming up.” He stepped into the kitchen. Lights appeared misty, reflecting on the black granite countertops. The wine cooler built under the
kitchen island was a perfect refuge to gather the last of his composure. After some careful consideration, he settled for a bottle of Malvasia Istriana. She’d love its floral and fruity aroma and crisp taste. He grabbed a corkscrew and two long stem wine glasses and joined her on the balcony.
“I see you found the way out. The view from here is even better.” He handed her one glass and placed the other on the wide railing, then proceeded to uncork the bottle.
Her perfume drifted stronger, and he became aware of her closeness. “Yes, the view is marvelous, but I much rather memorize your body in the light of candles.”
His hand turning the corkscrew halted, and he met her lips with his. In an instant, their bodies molded together, squeezing the bottle between them.
“M-m-m…babe,” he whispered next to her lips, placing kisses on her cheek. “Let’s not allow this wine to go warm. It’s best consumed chilled.”
Licking her lips, she pulled back and raised her empty glass. “Then, by all means, pour.”
The pale yellow straw colored wine tinged with green filled her glass. He filled his, then held it up for a toast. “To our beautiful future together.”
A dark shadow crossed her eyes, but she clicked her glass with his and downed the drink in a few gulps. She extended her empty glass to him. “I know this wine is for sipping, but I couldn’t help it. Tastes fabulous, clean and zesty, yet it’s light bodied.”
He tilted the bottle over the rim of her glass but didn’t pour. “More?”
“Only a dribble, so you don’t have to drink yours
alone.”
“Say when.” The liquid barely filled the bottom; she waved her hand for him to stop.
He placed the bottle on the small table in the corner and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She tilted her head toward the sky.
“I forgot what the night sky looks like here. In Toronto, the light pollution is too great to see a single star.” She rubbed his hand, then laced her fingers with his.
“Ah, this is nothing,” he said, tilting his head at the starry vault. “I know of the place where you can see stars better. The sky appears so low. You’d think you can just reach up and grab them. I want to take you there. To the stars, that is.” He took another sip of his wine. Her closeness and warmth worked its effect on his already primed body.
“Dario,” she said, turning to him then placed a kiss on his neck. “Make love to me. Now.”
He swallowed, repressing the urge to strip her of her tight jeans and the fitted sweater right there on the balcony. To satisfy fourteen years of drought in love making would put a great pressure on any man, but he was up to the challenge. He took her hand and pulled her into his embrace. She smelled of heaven and home, and everything he always wanted. As if recognizing the scent of her arousal, his cock sprang full mast and threatened to burst out of his pants. Easy boy.
He traced his thumb along her cheekbone and she narrowed her eyes to almost almond shape, he could still get under her skin. Cradling her head in his palm, he swayed with her to the gentle blues rhythm drifting from the speaker in his living room. His lower abdomen
contracted as he brushed his thumb along her bottom lip. The stir of her breath on his face when she leaned closer set his heart on a wild race. Her lips touched his, pressing, caressing, tasting.
Drawing her closer, she wrapped one arm around his neck, deepening the kiss, and reached her other hand to his crotch. The sweet hint of wine still lingered in her mouth and incited him on.
He slipped his hands under her sweater, finding the clasps of her bra, and whispered, “This night may not end here, but I want to start fulfilling your wish on the balcony.”
“No, Dario. We spent too much time here already.” A hint of fear in her voice caused the tiny hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. “Let’s take this to your bedroom where no one can see us.”