Page 50 of Tessa's Trust

I flipped open the protective cover and punched in the code, waiting until the garage door lumbered up. “She’s not here.” I didn’t want to lie to him again.

“Where is she?” The persistent jackass followed me through her empty garage to the door to the kitchen and then inside.

“None of your business.” Once inside Donna’s cheery yellow kitchen, I turned to face him. Then I couldn’t look at him any longer. Basanelli was just too damn sexy standing there, all masculine in such a feminine place. His black hair had curled beneath his ears, and his eyes were a mellow bourbon color. His lips were firm, and now I knew what they felt like.

In fact, after kissing him the other day and then being hauled over his shoulder, I knew what most of his body felt like. Hard and strong. So, I turned away, stomped to the island, and poured two glasses of the excellent cabernet. “What is it you wanted to discuss?”

He prowled forward and accepted one, tipping it back and swallowing the entire thing down before placing the glass deliberately back on the granite counter.

All right. So maybe he wasn’t as in control as I’d thought. The idea gave me courage, and I took several deep gulps of my wine before pouring more for us both. Yeah, I knew exactly what I was doing. “Donna is still out of town.”

He reached for his glass, swirling the liquid. “So you lied to me twice.”

A chill skittered down my spine. “Like I said, my life is not your business.” Then I tipped back my second glass of wine.

He did the same in an odd dance that was making breathing difficult. Even the way his throat moved when he swallowed was masculine. Sexy. “I want you to give us a chance.”

The words jolted me into fumbling to place my glass safely back on the granite. “No.”

“Why not?”

“We’re too different, and we want contrasting lives,” I said lamely. “And you’re just too much, Nick.” I had to be honest with him.

My luck with men had sucked so far, and I’d been taken over by a strong personality in my last relationship that had ended with him punching me and stealing my car. Oh, I hadn’t stayed with him after that, but I should’ve gotten out faster than I had. The guy was an asshole. Nick was not, but he was still just too much. “I don’t want to give up my dreams to follow yours.”

He cocked his head and reached for me across the kitchen island, easily lifting me up and across.

I completely lost the ability to breathe as I ended up sitting on the cool surface with my knees on either side of his hips.

He leaned in. “I’m not asking you to marry me, Contessa. We don’t have to worry about dreams right now, if ever. But there’s something here, and I don’t want to always wonder. Do you?”

“One night,” I blurted out, my mouth way ahead of my brain. “Just one night.” So I’d never wonder. So I could replay it in my mind when he was a famous senator, and I was happy with my diner…or diners. My plans to expand beyond Silverville were mine alone, and I’d never shared them with anybody. “All right?”

His chin lifted, and his eyes glittered with an expression that slammed heat into my abdomen. “If you think I’m too much of a gentleman to accept that offer, you’ve read me wrong.” Then he kissed me.

Deep.

The kiss on the side of the road had been nothing compared to this one. Hard and fast, he took me under, all passion and Italian fire. I clutched his shirt and drew him closer, tired of fighting myself. Of forcing myself to do nothing but work, forgoing all pleasure just because I didn’t want to get hurt.

The pain might be worth it this time when he left. Or when I did.

We had this one night.

Nick wrapped an arm around my waist and lifted me from the counter, his mouth still busy ruining me for any other man. I murmured and ran my fingers through his thick hair, tugging lightly. Then he started toward the nearest open doorway.

“No. That way,” I whispered against his mouth, pointing.

He pivoted and walked through Donna’s living room to the guest room, stepping inside and kicking the door shut with one foot. All while kissing me senseless. Placing me on the bed, he released my mouth and tugged my shirt over my head. His hands slid over my breasts, and his mouth nipped my jawline before kissing up to nibble my ear.

My bra released and flew through the air.

Then his hands were on me, followed by his mouth. Nick was all heat and fire, hands and mouth. Somehow, my sweats were gone, and his clothes were soon somewhere else, as well. He pushed me back onto the bed and trailed his fingers down my body, finding me more than wet and ready.

His mouth was on me then, my legs over his shoulders.

Nick knew exactly what to do with the female body. The rumors about him from high school were true. Beyond true.

His hands were everywhere, as were his mouth and his heated breath. A small whisper in the back of my brain hinted that this was a bad idea, but it was way too late for logic. The orgasm of all orgasms waited for me, and I wanted it.

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