“I didn’t think you could get any hotter.” He presses out a gorgeous smile and my insides cinch just like that first night we met. “But you are on fire, Kenny.”
“Well, thank you.” I give his lips a slow seductive lick in lieu of a kiss.
“And frisky.” He slips an arm around my waist while adjusting the hard-on in his pants. “You don’t even know what you’re doing to me.”
The Della Argento is dimly lit with a romantic ambience sponsored mostly by an arsenal of candles strewn about. A lush red carpet rolls throughout the walkways, and replicas of oil paintings from the Renaissance period cover the walls. A false lattice stretches across the ceiling and rows of grapes hang overhead like a canopy. Bodies fill the tables as if they were giving away free booze while a moody instrumental hums throughout the speakers.
A gorgeous blonde greets us with a pair of menus. Her hair is curled down to her waist, and her eyes sparkle a clear shade of green. One eyebrow is arched higher than the other, giving her that perennial vixen appeal.
“Well, hello handsome.” She gives Cruise the exclusive greeting as she lunges her cleavage at him. “Is it snowing outside?” She offers a conciliatory glance in my direction. Her teeth shine like glass, so white against her perfect red lips. Just the sight of her turns my stomach. I’m not sure I like the idea of her smiling so wide at my boyfriend, let alone calling him handsome, even if he is.
“Nope. Perfect night.” He glances over at me, and his dimples go off like sirens.
She motions for us to follow her, but she keeps pace with Cruise, eyeing him every now and again even though he’s openly holding my hand.
“I think I know you.” She bites her finger playfully while inspecting him. “That’s right, you were in Osborne’s class with me last year. I didn’t fare so well.” She stops shy of a table and lays our menus down. “I could really use someone who knows what they’re doing. You know, like a tutor.” She brushes her hip against his in a not so accidental manner, and my heart sinks like a brick.
Cruise steps out of the way like a perfect gentleman.
“Good luck with that.” He pulls me in and kisses the side of my cheek. I can feel the heat from his body envelop me like a cloud born of desire. I hope the bleached bimbo is physically and emotionally crushed from his outright disregard for her. But she’s beautiful—far more in his league than I can ever be.
She disappears, and we take our seats. I’m sick over how blatantly she flirted with him. I’ll probably arrange for her to take a terrible fall at some point this evening because my immature and bitchy nature demands it. I never said I was above stretching my legs at an opportune moment.
“Sorry about that.” He picks up my hand and kisses it.
“Don’t apologize.” I take him in under the flicker of candlelight. I wouldn’t blame every woman in the vicinity for wanting to get on their knees for him, beg him to tutor them—hell, I did. “I guess it’s an occupational hazard.”
He shakes his head. That budding lewd grin widens as he affixes his gaze over mine.
“Kenny”—his eyes glaze over the way they do just before he pours out all of his lust for me—“you’re the only woman I see. I used to wonder if love existed. I thought I knew, but I had no idea. Before, I simply stepped off the ground, but with you—I’m in the stratosphere. You leave me breathless.” He needles me with a smoldering gaze, and I take off my coat, slow and seductive. I lean in and my chest bulges from the low-cut dress I specifically chose to entertain him with this evening.
We place our orders, and Cruise never once looks up at the menu-wielding menace. She crimps her lips with disappointment and stalks off while he openly molests me with those sky-born eyes.
“Come on.” He jumps to his feet and takes up my hand.
“Are we going to steal kisses?” I pant, trying to keep up as he moves us toward the back in haste.
“No. I’m going to fuck you.”
Cruise
The blackened hall of the Della Argento stretches out seamlessly like a tunnel void of reality, nothing but a dark arid space. I pull Kenny into a private alcove laden with spare tables rolled onto their sides, the entry partially covered with curtains.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” I say before plunging my tongue down her throat, my hands running wild over her satin dress. The minute I set eyes on her tonight, she got me going. There was a second, back in the truck, when I thought of taking off, hell—taking off her clothes right then and there.
I pull down the top of her dress and close my mouth over her nipple, flicking my tongue around it gently until it’s nice and hard.