Secret Pleasure (Secret Series) (Volume 2) Read online

  “I’m not trying to seduce you. It’s you who has seduced me. You hold all the power here, Airlea.”

  Liking the sound of that, she smiled. She was shocked when he placed both of his hands on either side of her and pulled himself up. Keeping his hands on the counter, he leaned in and took her mouth in a soft kiss. She reached up and ran her fingers over his freshly shaved face. It was smooth and she enjoyed the feel of it in her hands and on her face as he nibbled on her bottom lip. She moaned and held onto his good shoulder lightly for support, enjoying the fresh smell of his shaving cream and aftershave. She knew he was balancing himself on his good leg and didn’t want him to feel any discomfort that might stop him from continuing to kiss her.

  Running her tongue across his bottom lip, she nipped at it and then kissed it all better. His hands were still on the countertop, helping him stay upright. She wished they were running over her, and wondered how they would feel on her heated skin.

  Pulling back a little she tried to act light and friendly, but she couldn’t deny she’d been affected to her core.

  “You know, you are going to seriously piss off your aunt if you keep messing with the help.”

  “Is that what she called you?” She could see the flash of anger in his eyes.

  “No.” She realized he would have defended her and felt bad for joking with him. “She just told me to stay clear from you. Dante, I don’t want you to think that… Well, it’s just that I’ve just come out of a bad relationship. I’m not looking…”

  He laughed. “Neither am I, believe me. I think you realize I have too many issues right now to step into something serious.”

  She smiled at him, “Good, now that we have that all settled. I think it’s almost time for dinner.”

  That little witch just couldn’t keep her hands off him. She’d given her plenty of warning. Dante was destined for greater things than a mousy nurse who didn’t know how to do anything. Maybe it was time to step up her game.

  Her plan hadn’t worked out so well with Katie and looking back at it, she’d been a fool to hire the two dumb thugs. It was a good thing they hadn’t known who she was or they might have exposed her. Even if they had, she would have handled it. After all, what was the point in having the family position and prestige if you couldn’t exploit it?

  Yes, her plans with Katie Derby were over. The girl hadn’t made a play for the family’s wealth and her brother’s will hadn’t changed. She’d overheard Damiano saying to Kathleen that he had no intention of changing it.

  Dante’s position was secure. Her mind flashed to an image of him as a young boy as she held him in her arms. Her precious boy. Her mind cleared. No, not in the flesh, but in so many more ways.

  She’d been there from the first days of his life, when his mother had disappeared to the States and abandoned him. She’d been the one to feed him, change him, and keep him safe all these years.

  Her years of planning would not be destroyed. She just had a few more plans to make and maybe this time she’d have to do some of the work herself to make sure everything was done perfectly.

  Dante watched as Airlea closed and locked his french doors for the night. Her simple dark slacks, silver shirt, and the gold chain around her neck could have easily been a long, flowing dress made of silk and diamonds draped around her. He couldn’t stop staring at her.

  Now and then she would look over at him and smile. Did she know how she affected him? He hadn’t lied to her earlier. He wasn’t looking for a relationship. Hell, his longest relationship in the past had lasted only three months. He wasn’t a ‘in it for the long haul’ kind of guy. Especially now when his body was broken and his mind was not always sharp. He couldn’t imagine trying to maintain a relationship with a woman while his own life was up in the air.

  Looking at her though, he didn’t have any problem thinking about enjoying a few pleasures with her. After all, she was there, good looking, and she’d pretty much told him that she didn’t want a relationship. Physical pleasures could be just what they both needed. A release.

  He watched her walk over to him and take the tray from his lap. He’d eaten everything on it quickly. His body was recovering from the two days of not eating anything.

  “Do you think you could go without a pain pill tonight? I’m a little leery of giving you anything right now.”

  He assessed the pain in his body. Starting at his left foot, he moved up his leg, up his hip, then to his arm and shoulder. He knew he wasn’t in any shape to have a physical relationship with anyone at the moment, but that didn’t stop him from wanting it or from trying. After all, he was a man, and a horny one at that, and there were other things they could do to relieve their tension, at least for the moment.

  “The only pain I’m in right now, you can help me relieve.” He smiled at her and watched as she licked her lips and looked at him. He was wearing his basketball shorts and nothing else. His shoulder still hurt too much to try to get a shirt on, plus it was still warm enough he didn’t mind being bare chested.

  He’d caught her looking at him several times and had silently made a note to ask her to bring up some of his weights from the garage. He may not be able to lift with his left arm yet, but he could at least work out his other side. He didn’t want to let himself go while he was recuperating.

  “Dante, I don’t normally just jump into bed with someone—”

  “I never thought you would,” he interrupted. “I hope you don’t think that about me, either.”

  She smiled and moved to set the tray down on the desk next to the door. Then she turned and started walking around the room. “So, I was thinking about this. I know that you are in a great deal of pain, and I don’t think that too much physical strain would be good right now.”

  “Airlea?”

  She stopped her pacing and looked at him.

  “Lock that door and come over here.” He patted the bed next to him and smiled.

  He watched her eyes roam over him and felt himself getting harder. She turned and flipped the lock on the door, then walked over, removed her shoes, and slid next to him on the bed.

  “Let’s try and see how far we get before the pain is too much, shall we?” He pulled her closer and kissed her. He could lose himself in her lips. They were plump and soft. He ran his hand down her braid and fumbled with the small tie that held it at the end. He wanted her hair in his hands and as he untwisted it, he couldn’t help but marvel at its silky, softness.

  Her hands were exploring his chest and he moaned when she started pinching his nipples lightly.

  “You have such a nice chest.” She moaned into his lips as she moved into a better position, so that now she was leaning over him. One of her hands rested on the headboard and the other roamed his chest and neck freely.

  He still had his good hand fisted in her hair as his bad arm lay by his side. He wished he had full motion in his shoulder so he could pull her down to him. He moved his hand down her shoulder as he took the kiss deeper. She smelled like heaven. Now that her hair was freed, he could smell the zesty shampoo and wished he could bury his face in the soft curls.

  “Airlea, you smell so good. I want to lick you all over.” He watched as her eyes darkened and felt her soften over him. Running his hand down her side, he smoothly dipped his hand under her shirt and started to pull it up and off, which he discovered was very hard to do with just one arm.

  She sat up and straddled him, making sure to sit higher on his lap, above the metal brace near his knee. Then she removed her shirt quickly, revealing herself to him. His mind fogged. He’d never seen more perfect breasts than the pair that were a few inches from his face. Leaning up, he started running his mouth over the soft skin and realized she tasted even better than she smelled. She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him, so that he was sitting up a little more. Their cores were pressed together and her hips started to move slowly against his.

  “Dante,” she moaned and threw her head back as he took her nipple int
o his mouth. He sucked and then licked his way across to the other side. All the while her hips kept moving slowly over him, and he could feel that he was on the verge of coming. His hand reached around and grabbed her hip, to hold her still. How could she have him there so fast?

  “Airlea, let’s just…”

  He moaned as he felt her slide her hands down his stomach, past the waist of his shorts to grip him. He swore his heart rate tripled as she started to move her hand over him.

  Closing his eyes, he laid his head back on a moan and tried not to come too quickly. It had been over six months since he’d had any pleasure with anyone. He supposed it was the long hiatus that had him moving much quicker than he’d like.

  “God, you feel so good.” She ran kisses down his exposed neck, down his chest as she continued to torture him.

  He moved and took her wrist in his and pulled it up and off him. Then he smiled at her and unbuttoned her pants, slipping them down off her hips. He watched as she took over and slid them the rest of the way down and off her long legs. Her skin glowed in the soft light of the room. He pushed her down until she lay beside him, then he rolled onto his bad side, only flinching a little.

  “Dante?”

  “No, don’t. I’m okay.” He smiled down at her. “Let me, I just want to please you.”

  She watched him with her dark eyes as he bent his head and took her nipple into his mouth again, his right hand roaming her body and lightly playing over the lace panties she wore. He rubbed her softly through the light material until he felt the moisture through the lace.

  Her hips moved up and down with each stroke of his hand. Her hands fisted in his hair as he kissed his way up her neck and back to her soft lips. Then he pushed the lace of her panties aside and touched her silky skin. Her shoulders jumped off the mattress as she moaned into his mouth. He rubbed her slick, soft skin until finally he dipped one finger into her heat and had her coming in his hands.

  When he felt her stop convulsing, he moved his hand up to her chest and rolled her nipple between his fingers. Her eyes opened and he watched her as she ran her hands down his chest and pushed him onto his back. Slowly, with her eyes on him, she pulled his shorts lower until his erection sprang free.

  “Mmmm.” She smiled at him, then shocked him as she leaned down and took his entire length into her mouth smoothly, licking him as she moved up and down. He leaned his head back and kept eye contact with her as she pleasured him.

  He’d had his share of women in the past, but none had ever been this good at what she was now doing to him. She was using her hands and mouth and he didn’t think he could hold out much longer.

  “Let go, Dante, just let go,” she said against his heated skin.

  How could he deny her? Why would he want to? Just then lights exploded behind his eyes and his entire body tensed as she pleasured him to completion.

  Dante fell asleep immediately, and Airlea couldn’t blame him. She knew that he had overextended his energy that day. They were lucky they hadn’t hurt him. He was halfway laying on his damaged leg and shoulder and she was afraid that if she tried to roll him over, she might wake him, or worse, cause him pain.

  She lay there for just a few minutes, watching him sleep. His dark eyelashes and mouth were mesmerizing, and she couldn’t seem to look away. Her eyes traveled over his body and she marveled at how great of shape he was in. She knew some people with major injuries like this let their bodies go. She’d have to add some other exercises into his daily routine. Knowing how much he could handle allowed her to make sure she pushed his limits.

  Slowly, she moved to get off the bed and gather her clothes. She’d enjoyed the release—no, she’d needed it. She wasn’t one to ever deny her needs and knowing that they were on the same page as far as not wanting anything more personal allowed for a wonderful outlet. Making sure she turned the lights down, she peeked out the door to make sure no one was in the hallway. It was darker there as she made her way the few steps to her room without incident.

  Smiling, she deciding to treat herself even more that night and went into the bathroom to run hot water for a bath.

  Chapter Seven

  Airlea was in a dead sleep when she heard the thud. She jolted from the bed and listened, then her mind registered moaning and she rushed from the room, down the hall, and flew through Dante’s door.

  Seeing his bed empty, she ran to the other side and saw him looking up at her through the darkness. Rushing to switch on the nearest lamp, she asked. “Are you okay? What happened?” Seeing him lying face down on the rug, still bare naked, she bent down to help him up.

  “Get your hands off him!” She hadn’t heard his aunt move into the room, and she was shocked when her arm was yanked back and she was pushed a few feet away. “I told you to leave him alone, now look what you’ve done. No doubt he’s ripped another stitch out fooling around with you.”

  Dante’s eyes were huge as the woman pulled him from the floor. His mouth opened and closed a few times and Airlea watched with some humor as he tried to shield himself with his good hand from his aunt’s view.

  “Aunt Florentina, we weren’t doing…”

  “You be quiet now, I’ll have my say. This woman is standing in your bedroom in that outfit in the middle of the night and you are not going to lie to me and tell me you weren’t doing anything. I won’t stand here and have you lie to me. No doubt it’s her fault you are on the floor.”

  The older woman’s face was red and her voice was so loud that the whole house could probably hear every word. Her long gray hair was tied back in a loose braid and her night coat was zipped up to her chin. Airlea questioned if the woman had ever been pretty or if she’d just quickly gone from a young woman to an old maid. That got her wondering if she’d ever been with a man and what kind of man would have her.

  She watched as his aunt helped him sit back down on the side of the bed. He quickly covered himself with the sheet and blanket and was no doubt silently wishing for his bathrobe.

  Airlea walked over and took it off the hook and handed it to him, then turned and addressed his aunt. “Miss Cardone, I was in my own room when I heard Dante fall. I got in the room seconds before you did. I assure you, up until a few minutes ago, I was resting peacefully in my own bed.”

  “You expect me to believe you? Dante?”

  Airlea saw Dante question it. The last time he’d seen her she was lying naked next to him, happily pleased. He turned to his aunt.

  “I simply fell while trying to go get a glass of water. For a minute I had forgotten my injuries. That’s all. Besides, my private affairs are none of your concern.” Of course, he made this statement right as his mother and father came rushing into the room. Airlea closed her eyes and took two deep breaths.

  “What is going on here? Tina?” Damiano asked, using his nickname for his sister. Airlea wondered if anyone else had ever called her that, but by the look she gave her brother, she wondered how he even got away with calling her that.

  “This nurse has seduced Dante and because of their rowdy behavior, he has ended up on the floor, hurt. By the looks of him, he’s in a great deal of pain. No doubt she’s forgotten to give him his pain medicine again.” The woman walked into the bathroom and Airlea could hear her hunting around the drawers.

  “Dante, are you in pain?” Airlea asked.

  “I wasn’t, but that fall jolted my leg some. Do you think it’s all right for me to have another pill yet?”

  Airlea looked at her watch and calculated. He’d eaten enough that day and it had been over two days since his last dosage.

  “We should be fine.” She walked into the bathroom and wasn’t surprised to see his aunt still hunting through the other drawers. Airlea slipped the gold chain over her neck and unlocked the drawer. She took out one pill, placed the bottle back in the drawer, and locked it. Once she put the chain back over her neck, she walked to the sink and filled up a glass with water, all under the close eye of Florentina. Airlea could feel the woman’
s stare burning into her back.

  When she walked back into the room, Kathleen was sitting next to her son, checking his bandages. It was almost time to remove them completely and let his incisions breath.

  “Here, Kathleen, let me do that.” She walked over and handed Dante his pill and the glass of water. “It’s about time we stopped putting bandages over his incision points anyway.”

  She sat and took over the task. “Well, nothing ripped this time. They actually look quite good. No doubt when we get the staples out tomorrow the doctor will be pleased.”

  “Well, as long as you’re okay, son, we’re going to head back to bed. Florentina, go back to bed.” Damiano didn’t even look back as he and Kathleen walked from the room. Florentina followed them quietly. At the door she turned and kept her eyes on Dante.

  “Be more careful. I wouldn’t want someone to get hurt.” Then she turned and left, making sure to leave the door wide open.