“I have everything a man could want, and all I need now is the right woman to complete the picture. And that’s you.”
“I feel the same way,” she said, tenderly stroking the back of his head. “When we’re together I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Emilio tightened his hold around her waist, held her close. “I want to open the Lucca Morretti Recreation Center next year, but I can’t do it without you. You’re full of great ideas, and you’re one of the smartest people I know.”
“Now I really want you!”
Her kiss blindsided him. Sharleen pressed her body against his and crushed her lips to his mouth. She kissed him so hard, with such passion and intensity, he stumbled into one of the potted plants. She tasted sweet, of wine, and her hands felt warm against his skin.
Emilio didn’t know what had gotten into Sharleen, but he liked it—a lot. This was not what he was expecting when he’d brought her home from the airport, and her aggressive, take-charge attitude blew his mind. Turned on, he couldn’t think of anything but making love to her.
Sharleen parted her lips slightly, to let him in, and he eagerly accepted the invitation. She sucked his tongue into her mouth, licked it as if it were covered in chocolate. Emilio told himself to calm down, but it was hard to control his desires when she was grinding her hips against his crotch. “Take me upstairs to your bedroom.”
“Do you want me to draw you a bath?”
“No, I want you to make love to me.”
She gave him the look, and his mouth dried. Emilio stood motionless, paralyzed. Did she just say what I think she did? Determined to do the right thing, he dropped his hands to his sides and took a step back. “I respect your decision to wait—”
“I don’t want to wait. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I want you to be my first.”
His lust spiked. She slowly licked his ear with her tongue. A groan fell out of his mouth. Then another one. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest, and his mind was jumping from one explicit thought to the next. Emilio couldn’t concentrate, and he struggled to reclaim his voice.
“Don’t you want to make love to your very sexy, very horny life coach?”
You have no idea. Emilio wanted to rip off her dress, bend her over the couch and bury himself so deep inside her they became one. But he shook his head and held her at arm’s length. “I think you’ve had too much to drink.”
“And I think you’re scared I’m going to rock your world.”
Her bold declaration stunned him, blew his mind. Sharleen was the sexiest virgin he’d ever met, and by far the most beautiful, but he wouldn’t take advantage of her. Not tonight, not ever. Tomorrow, she’d thank him for ignoring her sexual advances and probably have a good laugh about her antics.
“I’m wearing red lace panties. Do you want to see them?”
Hell yeah! His face must have betrayed his desire, because Sharleen took his hand and led him back into the house and up the staircase. His second-floor master suite was spacious, filled with luxurious furnishings and framed oil paintings from Italy.
“This is quite the bachelor pad,” Sharleen said, glancing around. “You must entertain in here a lot.”
“No, this is my private sanctuary, and completely off-limits to guests.” He smiled. “Except you, of course. You can come in here anytime you want.”
She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the car-shaped pool and pulled back the burgundy silk drapes. “Wow, what an amazing view.”
“It pales in comparison to your beauty.”
Emilio watched her as she fiddled with her fingers and knew coming upstairs to his suite had been a mistake. He longed to make love to her, but tonight wasn’t the night. Spending time with her the past few weeks had made him realize how shallow his previous relationships had been, and Emilio was determined to build a long, lasting relationship with Sharleen. Not one based solely on sex.
“This is all new to me,” she said, with a shy smile. “What happens now?”
“Sharleen, we don’t have to do this. There’s no rush.”
Her face fell. “You don’t want me—”
“Of course I do. You’re sexy and vivacious and beautiful.” To prove it, he pulled her into his arms for a kiss. He didn’t want to come on too strong, but one kiss wasn’t enough. He loved her with his mouth, feasted on her lips until his body ached for her. Emilio was weak, desperate for her, and each slow, sensuous kiss intensified his hunger, his need.