“Hasn’t anyone kissed you here?” Vincent asked as he touched her between her legs.
To know he’d be her first excited him. But he wasn’t sure how innocent she was.
“Are you a vir—?”
Shaking her head, she softly said, “No, just not very experienced. I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be disappointed. I’m sure you’re used to—”
He interrupted her with a powerful kiss. “You’re far from disappointing to me, amore mio.” Her body trembled as he spread her legs. She quivered as his tongue traced lower, stopping only to nip softly on her inner thigh.
Breathlessly she begged, “Vincent, I can’t.”
“You can,” he said as his tongue licked her center gently. “All you need to do is trust me.” He circled her clit then sucked on it. Renita cried out in pleasure, arching her hips off the bed, her moans only encouraging him. “You taste so sweet.” He couldn’t get enough of her, devouring her feverishly as he felt her tense beneath him.
“Vincent. Oh, please, Vincent. I—”
Her body jerked violently as she lost herself in a powerful release. He continued to suck until her body began to settle. There was no getting enough of her. Damn, she’s perfect. His hard throbbing cock ached to feel her wrapped around him. He quickly reached down, grabbed his wallet from his pants pocket, pulled out a condom, and sheathed himself.
Her body still trembled when he returned to her as he kissed his way back up her stomach and claimed her breast again. His fingers once again slipped between her folds, which were now wet and ready for him. But he wanted to bring her to the brink again before entering her. His thumb stroked her clit, and she stirred again. This time, she didn’t hold back and was moving with him, begging him so she could feel it again. Her hands ran down his back, nails digging in at times as he brought her to the brink and held her there.
“Please, Vincent. Please, no more,” she begged softly in shallow breaths.
Sucking her nipple hard, he stroked her clit faster. He needed to feel her release on his cock. Pressing his throbbing cock at her opening, he paused, his mouth taking hers. She was hot and wet, ready for him, and he could wait no longer.
In one thrust, he buried himself deep inside her. She instantly cried out his name again and again. She may not be a virgin, but she was so very tight, and he worried he’d hurt her. He stopped for a moment, still deep within her and raised his head enough to see her face as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, it’s . . . I never knew it could be . . . I mean I’ve never . . .”
She was innocent in her own way. Whoever her lover had been before was selfish, not to please her first. He’d probably done the same in the past, but he could never do such a thing with Renita. She’ll always be first in my life.
Emotions flooded him with that knowledge. I love her.
This was not only their first time together, but he was also giving more of himself than he’d ever thought he could. Vincent slowly began to move inside her, all the while kissing her softly. No thought of his own desire. Only when her hips began to move did he quicken his rhythm. Moving faster and deeper, her cries of pleasure filled the room. As she moaned, her body rocked with a release, causing him to lose control and plunging deep within her; he shuddered with his release.
He collapsed on her as they both caught their breath. He rolled to his side, careful not to crush her. Pulling her close, he kissed her gently and whispered, “Good night, my love.”
She responded the same in Italian, “Buona notte, amore mio.”
Chapter Seven
Renita woke the next morning, wondering if it was all a dream. As she stirred in the bed, she felt Vincent’s naked body near hers. Never had she felt so good, so alive, as when he’d held her, called her my love. But was that just something he did in the heat of the moment?
She knew she was a good and kind person, but he was rich and powerful. This is no Cinderella story. He didn’t need to rescue her from anything. Renita might not be living her dream, but she was happy. One thing was missing, and she never realized it until Vincent entered her life. Love.
It was a foolish thought. They’d only met earlier this week, yet the connection to him was beyond words. I don’t want this to end. No matter how hard I want otherwise, he’ll leave.
“What’s the matter, my love?” Vincent’s voice was husky as he was just waking up.
“Nothing’s wrong.” She wasn’t sure how he’d picked up on it, but he seemed very attuned to her emotions. That wasn’t good, because it’d make it hard for her to pretend not to care when he said goodbye.
He rolled onto his side and propped himself on his elbow, looking down at her. She knew her eyes told him everything. “Renita, talk to me. Why are you sad?”
She didn’t want to discuss it. Instead, she had her own questions for him. If he wants to talk so much, then I’ll be happy to listen.
“Have you decided how long you’ll be staying?” That wasn’t the question she’d wanted to ask. If anything that only brought it right back to her, where she didn’t want the focus to be.
Vincent brushed a lock of hair away from her face before he answered. “I promised Ricco and Maria we’d attend Sunday dinner. But I can’t stay after that. I’ve already been away too long.”
But that’s tomorrow. I wanted you to . . . stay . . . oh God. No matter how long, it’s not going to be easy. But after a family dinner, it’s going to be nearly impossible. “You don’t have to go tomorrow. I can make an excuse for you.”
“I want to go. Or do you not want me to be there?”
How she wished she could turn away so the truth wouldn’t be obvious. But he watched her closely, waiting for her to answer. He wants to go? I don’t know why. I don’t want to be there.
“It’s not that I don’t want you there, it’s just not going to be what you’re used to. Maria is going to be doing the cooking, so I don’t know what that’s going to be like. This is . . .”
“New for both of us.”
She smiled up at him. “Yes, it is.”
“So my sweet Renita, quit worrying about it. We have today to enjoy ourselves. But don’t think for one minute that I’ve forgotten your private cooking lesson.”
Renita rolled her eyes. “Can’t we just say we did when we didn’t? I’m never going to be able to cook like you or my father.”
“You don’t have to. All you need to do is cook like Renita, not anyone else. Let it flow from you, all your passion and love, and you’ll find what you make is delicious.”
“Why is it you make everything sound so easy?”
“No, letting go of things that scare you or intimidate you is never easy.”
She laughed softly. “I can’t picture anything scaring or intimidating you.”
He didn’t laugh and his voice became soft and tender, “The thought of never seeing you again scares me.”
Her heart skipped several beats. It’s what she wanted, but she was almost too afraid to believe it. Could I be dreaming? He stayed because of me? V
incent’s expression said he was dead serious.
“Me too.” She didn’t know exactly what that meant for them going forward, but they appeared to be on the same page.
“I was thinking about that lesson.”
She shook her head. “Really? Cooking is what you’re thinking about right now?”
Vincent laughed, grabbing her and rolling her so she laid on top of him. Before claiming her lips, he said, “I wasn’t thinking about food.”
She knew there were so many things she should attend to, but none of them seemed to matter to her. Smiling, she gladly melted into his arms. Let the lesson begin.
Chapter Eight
Vincent had never been nervous about going to dinner before, but this felt different. He’d told Renita he wanted to go. That wasn’t exactly accurate. He had an agenda he wished he’d mentioned to Renita before they arrived at the house.
Better late than never. “Renita, I think we should talk before we go inside.”
He could see the concern and panic fill her eyes. “A little late to change your mind. I can see my father looking at us through the living room window.”
“No. I’m not backing out. But I haven’t told you why I came to Vermont.”
“Sophie Barrington’s charity event. Or have you forgotten that I saw the guest list for seating purposes? Not saying I may have seated you next to the most boring couple on purpose or anything.” Teasingly she batted her eyelashes at him.
He was trying to be serious, but the expression on her face was so darn cute he couldn’t help but smile. “What was that payback for?”
“For criticizing my tomato soup.”
“You should be thanking me. If I hadn’t stepped in everyone would’ve starved, long before the event started.”
