Page 70 of A Perfect Pairing
“Because I love you, too, and I didn’t know if I would ever hear you tell me again. I never stopped loving you, Tonio.” It made her wonder if it had been her fault that none of her previous relationships had worked out. Had any of those men sensed that she’d held back a corner of her heart, the closed-off part that no other man had touched except her Tonio?
“I think you’ve always had a part of my heart. I just didn’t realize it until I came home. But now my whole heart is yours and always will be.”
When their lips met, Natasha didn’t have to wonder if what she felt was love. Sheknewit, tasted it, absorbed it.
“Tasha. My sweet, sweet, Tasha,” he whispered. “You are my heart.” He whipped his shirt over his head and tossed it on the bench at the foot of the bed.
Natasha slid her hands over his broad shoulders, chest, and down to his tight abs. She loved his smooth skin and how the muscles contracted beneath her hands. Stepping back, she pulled the sleep shirt up and off, leaving her completely naked.
Antonio groaned. His hands feathered up her torso to her breasts, and he captured her lips again.
His tongue twirled with hers, sending waves of pleasure through her. Still kissing her, he walked her backward until her legs hit the bed. He followed her down and stretched his tall body over hers.
“Tonight I’m going to show you how much I love you, how much I adore you.”
“Show me, Tonio. Then I can show you how much I loveyou.” He made love to her slowly, tenderly, whispering passionate endearments. The way he moved inside her was unlike anything Natasha had ever experienced. She wrapped her legs around his back and gripped his shoulders. The sex between them had always been good, but tonight… The feeling was indescribable, and she cried out his name.
“Tasha.” He called her name almost reverently.
He used a finger to trace her lips and gazed at her with such love, tears pooled in her eyes. He kept up the intense thrusts, his eyes never leaving hers. Sensations started deep in her belly and flared out to every part of her body. Natasha exploded with white-hot pleasure, shaking uncontrollably and screaming his name.
Antonio went rigid, then bucked inside her. He threw back his head and groaned out her name. “Baby, I love you.”
Natasha held on to Antonio, grateful that they’d been given another chance.
Antonio stood on the town hall steps talking to Cedric and Lorenzo. They’d just left the meeting with the town’s governing body, along with the hospital’s medical director.
“I thought the mayor was going to run out and dance in the middle of the street,” Cedric said with a chuckle. “I wish we had this kind of support from our political officials.” Mayor Brewer had been beside himself with excitement, particularly when he found out the entire cost was already covered. The only stipulation was that the Hunters and Grays remained anonymous. He’d readily agreed and stated he would announce it at the next town hall meeting.
He smiled. “The beauty of small-town living. I’m sorry you two won’t be able to hang around for the weekend, as planned.” There had been a hiccup at one of their work sites, so the two men were heading back to Sacramento.
“We’ll make sure we can do it next time.” Lorenzo clapped Antonio on the shoulder. “Either Ced or I will give you a call to confirm the start date. Because the land is already leveled and paved in places, it’ll cut down on the building time.”
“I hope so. Thanks again for everything, and please pass along my thanks to your family.” Even with the land already leveled, it would still take close to a year to finish the project. When the mayor heard the plan, he and the council voted to donate the land adjacent to the hospital on the old grocery store lot. With the hospital being located near the outskirts of the town, the owners had wanted a more central location for people to shop.
“No problem, Tony.” Cedric glanced down at his watch. “We’d better hit the road.” He gave Antonio a brotherly hug. “Go on over and give your grandmother the good news.”
“Drive safely, and tell Randi and Desiree that wine tasting is on us when you come back.” Cedric and Lorenzo headed to the parking lot, and Antonio started up the street to pick up Tasha from her office. He wanted her with him when he told his family. It had been two weeks since Tahoe, and they’d grown closer each day. And as soon as they left his parents’ house, he had a surprise for her.
Antonio spoke to the receptionist and waited in the lobby while she called Tasha. Minutes later, the woman he loved strutted out. His heart nearly beat out of his chest with pride. In her, he’d found everything he’d always wanted, and the connection they shared was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
“Hey, handsome.” Natasha leaned up to kiss him. “Ready?”
“I’m always ready for you, love.” He held the door open for her.
She called out a good night to the receptionist, then paused and said softly over her shoulder, “It’s a little early in the day for sweet-talking, isn’t it? Unless you plan to—”
“Don’t start,” he said with a shake of his head. He didn’t think he’d ever get used to her flirting. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, woman.” He’d parked at her office earlier to save time. He led her to the car and helped her into it.
“How did the meeting go?”
Antonio merged into the light traffic. “It went very well. Mayor Brewer was more excited than with the condo project.” He gave her the particulars.
“Wow. I can’t wait to see the look on Mama Nora’s face when you tell her about the facility.”
“I just hope my mother can keep the information to herself until the town meeting in a couple of weeks.”
“Good thing it’s notmymother. I’d wait, and she would find out when everybody else did.”
