Seduced (The Lottery Winners Book 8) Page 8

  He placed a hand on either side of her on the countertop. “You smell good,” he purred, leaning closer.

  Julia closed her eyes, trying to push her need aside. “If you’re going to leave, you need to do it fast. Don’t…don’t torment me like this,” she blurted, shocked by her honesty. It was there and she was trembling with the need to reach out and touch him. When he touched her, she opened her eyes, startled that he wasn’t hurrying out the door.

  His green eyes looked into her hazel ones and she trembled, both fear and desire warring for dominance inside of her.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  He lowered his head, his lips and jaw close. So close. His nose almost nuzzling her hair but…not quite. Close, but not actually touching at all.

  She couldn’t answer. Answering might reveal too much about her feelings. But she couldn’t lie and tell him that she wanted him to leave either.

  “I’m taking that as a ‘stay Tony’.” His lips pressed against her cheek, her neck, nuzzling that spot that felt so good when he kissed it just like that.

  “Stay Tony,” she repeated with a groan.

  “Why?”

  Once again, she bit her lip, trying not to speak. He lifted his head away from her neck and she whimpered, wanting that touch back.

  “Julia, be honest with me. If you want me to leave, if last night was just a one night thing, then tell me now.” He pulled back slightly, taking her hands in his and rubbing his rough thumb against the backs of her hands. “But I’ll tell you that I want you still. I didn’t get enough of you last night. So, if you feel like I do, then…say something.”

  Tony stared at her, trying to figure out what she wanted, where her head was at this moment. But he couldn’t read her. Not with those beautiful eyes closed. And obviously, she was nervous about this morning. Last night had been…mind blowing. Incredible! Better than any night he’d ever had with a woman. Not to mention, this was Julia! Damn, he still couldn’t believe that he’d actually made love to Julia. After thinking about it so many times and in so many ways, he’d actually experienced the reality and…it was better than anything he had imagined.

  But she hadn’t been in bed with him when he’d woken up. And it felt like she was pulling back now, trying to push him out the door. Although, when he touched her, she made those sexy sounds, just like she’d done last night. It was hot, and he couldn’t believe that she didn’t want to repeat last night’s activities.

  “If I say yes, what does that mean?” she whispered, that tongue darting out, licking her lips and giving him wildly erotic ideas.

  “Good question,” he replied and pulled her close, relief surging through him when she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her forehead against his chest. He loved the way her sandy blond hair tickled his neck and jaw, wanting to bury his face in the softness, just as he’d done last night. “I think it means that one night wasn’t enough.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “And you think one morning will be enough?”

  He shrugged and she pulled back. “I think we should give it a shot.”

  Julia laughed and he loved that sound. Always had. There was just something thrilling when he could make her laugh like that. He felt powerful. A bit like superman.

  “Why don’t we try it?”

  She looked at him skeptically. “Let me get this straight. We’re going to have sex this morning in an attempt to get this out of our systems?”

  He liked the sound of that. Although, he would have said making love instead of have sex. And he didn’t want just today, but he’d take whatever he could with her.

  “I think we should. I was distracted yesterday because I hadn’t seen you for a week. I was worried about you.”

  His hands slipped under her soft camisole and he discovered that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Again! Damn, he loved that about her.

  “And having sex will keep you from being distracted in the future?”

  He chuckled, understanding that it sounded ludicrous, but if it got her naked, he was all for it. “Yeah. I think it is a worthwhile experiment.” He bent lower, nipping her earlobe even as his thumb slid along the bottom half of her breast, right below her nipple. He felt her sharp intake of breath. And he also noticed how she shifted her body, obviously trying to get his thumb to slide over the peak he knew would already be tight and delicious.

  “We shouldn’t ignore science if it benefits the business,” Julia agreed, tilting her head back as he explored her throat.

  Tony lifted her hands and placed them on his shoulders. “If we’re going to do this,” he said mock-seriously, “we should do it right. We should focus on the experiment.”

  Julia laughed, a husky sound. But she squealed as he lifted her up and placed her onto the countertop. “What are you thinking?” she demanded, laughing as he leered at her.

  Tony contemplated his options. “My first plan of action is to strip you naked. Maybe hide all of your clothes, so that you can’t get dressed again.” His hands proceeded to do exactly that. And since Julia was in complete agreement, she helped him.

  “What about you?” she demanded, breathless and squirming, needing to feel him moving inside of her.

  “We’ll get to that,” he replied, his fingers moving to her knees. “But first things first,” he teased. A moment later, he lifted her legs up onto his shoulders, causing her to fall backwards. She caught herself on her elbows as she stared down at his head between her legs.

  “Tony…” she warned, remembering last night and how he’d teased her until she was screaming.

  “Any last comments?” he asked, kissing down the soft swell of her stomach, then her hips, and finally her inner thighs.

  “Just that…” her eyes drifted closed as she felt a finger caress her heat. “Yeah…um…”

  “I take direction extremely well.”

  She laughed, but then gasped and jerked slightly when his finger slid into her. “You don’t!” His finger moved in and out of her and she shifted, her hips dancing as she felt her body already getting too close. “You do not take direction!”

  “Sure I do,” he slipped two fingers inside of her, teasing and making her squirm.

  “You don’t! Last night, I begged and you didn’t help me.”

  He pulled his fingers out and she gasped, looking at him with fury and desire in her eyes.

  “Are you saying that you weren’t satisfied last night?” he asked softly. Ominously.

  “Yes! I mean, no!” She shook her head and he slid his fingers back into her body as his tongue darted out, teasing that sensitive nub. From that point on, she had no idea what she was saying other than, “Tony!” or “Please!” Or “Don’t stop! Please don’t stop!”

  And he didn’t! He took her over the edge into a climax that caused her to scream his name over and over again, her body arching and writhing while his hands gripped her hips, holding her where he could finish his torment.

  After it was all over, Julia opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling for a long moment. When she had the courage to look at him, she burst out laughing at his smug, victorious expression.

  “Oh, so you think you’re free and clear?” she asked, sitting up and sliding down off the counter.

  “I think that we have a problem,” he told her softly.

  “What’s that?” She skimmed her fingers down over his chest. And lower.

  He grabbed her hands and pulled them away. “I don’t have any more condoms here,” he admitted.

  She stopped, looking up at him with a frown. “No more?”

  He kissed her, thoroughly and deeply, his hands curving around her bottom to pull her up so she more perfectly aligned with his body. When he lifted his head, he explained, “If you would go get dressed, we could head over to my place. I have plenty there.”

  She considered her options as he lowered her back to the floor. Tilting her head, she pressed back against his chest. “Or…” she began, her eyes lighting up as her fingers f
iddled with the button on his jeans, sliding the zipper down until…

  “Julia!” he groaned, trying to move her hands away. But it was too late. She’d already freed him and her fingers explored his shaft eagerly.

  “It’s only fair that I get payback, Tony,” she told him and kissed her way down his chest. She loved licking every ridge of his stomach and discovered that he was a bit ticklish along the sides of his abs. Julia loved being in control.

  “Julia! You don’t have to…”

  “Shut up Tony,” she teased, then let her tongue tease the tip, tasting him.

  “Damn!” he groaned, his head falling backwards as he gripped the counter behind him. “You have to hurry up. I’m not going to…”

  He couldn’t finish that statement because she licked the spot just under the head where she knew he was extra sensitive. She heard him grumble something, but wasn’t really interested in anything he might say. So she opened her mouth and took as much of him as she could, her tongue teasing while her other hand wrapped around the base.

  “Julia!” he shouted. A few more grunts and she almost laughed at the power she had over him now. Moving her mouth up and down, she flicked with her tongue and…

  That was all it took. Too quickly, he was groaning even as he tried to pull her mouth off of him. But she wouldn’t let him and she held on until the very end.

  When he groaned out again, she stood up, kissing her way up his chest and smiled at the expression on his face. She realized that she’d probably looked exactly like that a few minutes ago and laughed out loud.

  The sound of her laughter caused his eyes to open as he looked down at her.

  “Oh, you think you won that round, huh?”

  She grinned. “Yeah. I think I won.” Spinning around, she grabbed her shirt and…well, she tried to put it on, but he wasn’t letting her. A sharp swat to her bottom caused her to burst out laughing as he carried her into her bedroom. “I thought you were out of condoms,” she reminded him, trying to catch her breath when he tossed her onto her bed.

  “Get dressed, woman. I’m not even slightly finished with you.”

  Julia loved this side of him and walked over to her dresser to grab underwear. “Don’t bother,” he slammed the drawer shut. “You won’t need that.”

  She spun around, horrified by the suggestion. “I can’t leave here without underwear, Tony.”

  He threw back his head to laugh as he pulled her in close. “Julia, do you really want to waste time arguing about this?” he nuzzled her neck again. “I have an unopened box of condoms in my bedroom and a bigger bed.”

  She considered his words, then nodded. “You’re right. No underwear.” She grabbed a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt, then pulled her hair up into a band, unconcerned about what it looked like. At the last minute, she raced into her bathroom and put on a touch of makeup, feeling like she needed something.

  He saw what she was doing and spun her around. “Don’t,” he urged. “You’re gorgeous without it.”

  Charmed, she smiled up at him. “You really know how to make a woman feel beautiful, Tony.”

  He cupped her face with his big, strong hand. “You are beautiful, Julia.” He kissed her softly. “Even when you’re as slow as a turtle.”

  With that, he took her hand and tugged her out of the door. Julia barely had time to put the leashes on the dogs to bring them along, then grab her purse and keys but she was just as eager to be with him so she didn’t mind in the least.

  Chapter 10

  Julia stepped through the back door of “Desire”, wondering how she was going to face Tony. She’d left him last night, telling him that they needed to get a good night’s sleep. They’d been together for the past two days, making love, watching movies, eating, and making love again, or curled up in each other’s arms sleeping. She had no idea how many times he’d brought her body to a heart-stopping climax, but she felt like her bones were liquid.

  Unfortunately, it was time to get back to the real world. After their first night, they’d decided that they needed another day to let this thing burn out between them. But after that day, they’d agreed to another night.

  Last night, as she’d driven back to her apartment and during the long, sleepless night she stared up at the ceiling, convincing herself that this was good. They’d gotten their need for each other out of their systems and they could focus on work now, be more productive and efficient.

  She made her way through the restaurant, keeping her eyes down. She would not look in Tony’s direction, sure that he would know exactly what was going through her mind. Julia told herself to be cool and composed, professional and impersonal.

  Thankfully, there weren’t too many people in the kitchen, just the early prep team that were busy chopping and preparing the foods for the night’s specials. Even better, Tony wasn’t in his usual place. She had no idea where he was, but his absence made her walk through the area much easier.

  With a sigh of relief, she sat down at her desk and went through the food orders she’d placed last week. Tony’s menu this week was going to be interesting, but that wasn’t anything new. His menus were always interesting, always different. Every week was something new and exciting and she loved pairing the meals with excellent wines.

  About an hour after she arrived, she heard Tony come in. Her office shared a wall with his so she knew that it was him and not additional prep staff. Besides, the next set of sous chefs wouldn’t arrive for another hour or two, depending on what was needed for the night’s meal.

  And then he was there. Looking handsome, big, and…delicious, standing in her doorway and she couldn’t stop her gaze from traveling up and down his jean-clad legs, the sweater that hugged his arms and shoulders, making her think of how he’d pinned her down last night and…did all sorts of things that she wanted him to do again. And again!

  “You sleep okay?” he asked, leaning a shoulder against her door frame.

  Julia pushed all of those ideas out of her mind, trying to be cool. She leaned back in her chair and smiled up at him, trying to ignore the tug of desire that sparked through her.

  “No,” she replied, surprising herself with that bit of honesty.

  His lips quirked upwards with that one word and he stepped into her office. “Neither did I. You should have stayed with me.”

  Julia laughed softly. “Neither of us would have gotten any sleep if I’d spent the night.”

  He chuckled as he moved around her desk. With a tug of his hands, he pulled her out of her chair and into his arms. “Yeah, but at least we’d be tired and satisfied. Right now, I’m just tired.”

  With a tilt of her head, she conceded his point. Laying her head against his shoulder, she sighed, feeling safe and warm. “We had two days together.”

  “Yeah. I know.”

  “We decided that would be enough.”

  “I know.”

  She laughed. “We’re just going to have to resist.” Julia stepped out of his arms and picked up the list of wines. “I have to get this stuff ordered or next week’s menu won’t be ready.”

  He leaned down and kissed her. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

  A moment later, he left her office and she heard him clanging away in the kitchen. The smells of something delicious hit her and she realized how hungry she was. She considered going into the kitchen to get something to eat, or just find out what smelled so good, but decided against it. She didn’t want to go in there because…well, because Tony was there. And she clearly hadn’t gotten him out of her system over the past few days and nights.

  But they couldn’t keep up like this. It was too much and she was already madly in love with him. Continuing with this affair, or whatever it was, would hurt in the end. The longer she reveled in Tony’s lovemaking, the harder it would be when she had to move on and get over him.

  “You didn’t eat this morning, did you?” Tony demanded, stepping back into her office with a plate of food. “Eat,” he commanded, putting a
salad with grilled salmon on her desk. A moment later, he was gone and she laughed, shaking her head at how thoughtful he was.

  She ate and worked, put in supply orders, checked on vendors, paid suppliers, and enjoyed the salad with the tangy dressing he’d created for her. By the time the dinner rush started, everything was in full swing, but orderly…just the way she liked it.

  Julia looked around, feeling a sense of triumph. Every table was filled, wait staff were moving between the tables serving the patrons. There was also a line of guests outside with drinks and appetizers as they waited for their table to become available.

  Julia wandered into the kitchen, needing just one look. Just one and she’d walk back out. Stepping through the doors, she pretended to check on the wine stock. But in truth, she just wanted to look at Tony. As soon as she stepped through the doors, he stopped and turned. It was almost as if he could sense her presence. Their eyes locked. A secret message moved between them.

  And then the moment was over. A waiter pushed through the doors, calling out an order and Tony focused on his meal preparations. She went back out to the front area, answering questions from the bartender, and a waitress asked for a table stop, so Julia walked over to greet the patrons, smiling and solving their issue. For the rest of the night, it was business as usual, but that one look…that was all it took and she felt balanced again.

  Slowly, the night wound down to just a few filled tables. It was Wednesday night, so relatively early, but she still breathed a sigh of relief when the last patron left, smiling and offering their praise for the meal.

  Tony stepped through the doors into the dining room, wiping his hands on a towel that he flung over his shoulder. Broad shoulders. Shoulders she knew had the power to make her drool when he took off his clothes.

  They stared at each other while the staff cleaned up, shutting down the kitchen and dining room for the night. Tension built up to almost unbearable levels. She felt his eyes like an electric current.

  “Julia, do you know where…” Julia pulled her eyes away from Tony to answer the bartender’s question, and so it went. Another hour passed, but the tension never abated. Every time Julia walked into the kitchen, she could feel Tony’s eyes on her, sense his impatience for the night to be over. When she came back through a little later, she smelled something cooking and knew that Tony was cooking dinner.