Revving Up the Holidays Read online

  Immediately, he made his way to her, and she turned into his arms. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I’m a little nervous.”

  He kissed the top of her head. Her dark hair was silky against his lips. “You could ask me to leave, Giada. I’ll still come back tomorrow.”

  “I don’t want you to leave. I’ve been waiting half my life for this. I don’t want to wait anymore.” She tipped her head up and his lips claimed hers.

  The dress’s open back allowed him to caress the soft skin between her shoulder blades. She sighed against his mouth and, unable to help himself, he plunged his tongue inside. She tasted sweet and spicy at the same time. All his thoughts that this was somehow wrong rushed from his mind. His cock was tucked tight against her abdomen. Her hands traced little circles along his neck and back. He couldn’t remember ever wanting another woman as much as he did Giada Leone in that moment.

  He slid his hand down and cupped her round bottom, pulling her tighter to his arousal. Her small hands clutched at him and made him think that maybe her desperation matched his.

  She reached back and took his hand. For a moment he thought she was trying to stop him from touching her ass, but then she moved his hand up to where a zipper held the fabric together. Taking the hint, he slid the fastener down. She shrugged out of the thin straps and the little black dress puddled at her feet.

  Isaac’s arms closed around her and lifted her out of the pile. He kept her feet off the carpet, backing up until he felt the edge of the bed at the back of his legs. Then he put her on the ground and looked down at her creamy skin broken only by a black lace strapless bra, matching panties and thigh-high stockings. He might never breathe again. “Holy shit.”

  She smiled wickedly at him. “Does that mean you like what you see or not?”

  He traced the swell of her breasts with the back of his knuckles. “It means that if I’d known this was under that dress, we’d have never made it for our reservation tonight.”

  His body trembled with need, but his pleasure would have to wait. He dropped to his knees and kissed a path from her bellybutton down to where he could lick a line along her lacy panties. Her fingers threaded through his hair, not pushing or pulling, as if she only wanted to encourage but not force his direction.

  “What do you want, Giada?”

  Her cheeks colored. “I like the feel of your lips on me.”

  “Anywhere in particular you want me to put them?”

  He thought for a moment she wouldn’t respond. “You seem to be headed in a fine direction.”

  Smiling, he tugged gently at the elastic waist and the lacy confection slid down her legs, revealing a perfectly shaved pussy. He could already smell the muskiness of her arousal mixed with her light perfume. She stepped out of the underwear and left her legs slightly apart.

  He watched her eyes as he split her pussy with his tongue. Her mouth opened on a gasp and her lids closed. He licked her again, eliciting another soft cry.

  It would never be enough with her standing. He wanted to hear her come. He longed to taste her juices. She was his manna and he had to have all of her.

  Standing up, he lifted her and placed her on the bed. If she was surprised, he couldn’t tell. Her gaze was filled with desire and something he had no name for. Whatever it was, he wanted more of it. She made him forget about everything else.

  He pressed her knees up and took a good look at her glistening folds. One of her shoes had fallen off when he’d lifted her to the bed. He took the other off and tossed it to the floor before kissing his way up her stocking-clad leg. At the top of the thigh-high he lightly licked her inner thigh and then kissed his way higher. Giada moaned and raked her fingers through his hair again.

  His cock ached with the desire to be buried deep inside her wet pussy. He knew he probably should have spent more time with her, taken her out on a few more dates. He also knew this would likely be the only time she would let him anywhere near her bedroom. His desire to make her come over and over again overshadowed any sensible thoughts he might have had.

  Lowering his head, he licked her clit and breathed in the warm scent that was uniquely Giada. “You taste so good.”

  He licked again, and she gasped.

  “That feels wonderful.”

  He traced a path along her outer lips, dipping down toward her anus and up again to her clit. Her cries echoed in the small condo. He loved her responsiveness but longed for her to come. He closed his mouth over her clit and sucked the sensitive bud until she bucked and arched off the bed. He slid one thumb into her wet slit and felt her tight sheath pulse around the digit while she cried out unintelligible words.

  “You are incredible.” He crawled up the bed until he was lying beside her. He rested one leg over both of hers and skimmed his hand across her stomach.

  Her skin quivered at his touch. “I haven’t done anything. You did all the work.”

  He kissed her cheek and she turned her head so that his mouth was on hers. She would taste herself on his lips. The idea had his shaft straining painfully against his trousers. Her tongue danced with his, feeding his desire.

  She pulled back and kissed his chin, jaw and then down his neck. Her deft hands slipped each button from its hole one at a time until his shirt gaped and her lips made a path to his nipples. She gave a sigh and he wondered it if was contentment or desire. Either way, he wanted to hear it again.

  She sucked hard on the small pebble and his rod jumped against her hip. His belt, button and zipper were quickly undone. Her hand slipped inside his shorts and wrapped around his shaft.

  “Giada.” It was the only word he could manage under the circumstances. Her digits enfolded him, tugging the taut skin. His body vibrated with need. Every other thought drifted from his mind. In that moment, there was only Giada and the raw desire she generated.

  She kissed his collarbone and the corded muscles of his neck before nipping his earlobe. “I want you inside me, Isaac.”

  An instant later he jumped from the bed, divesting himself of his clothes. She didn’t take her eyes off him. If she minded the lamplight, she didn’t say. Making love in the dark had always been a turn-off for him. He wanted to see every nuance of the woman he was with.

  He put one knee on the mattress.

  She smiled. “There are condoms in the nightstand.”

  He was sure his surprise showed on his face, but she just giggled. The sound made his cock jump. He opened the drawer and found an unopened box of condoms. For some reason, that turned him on. Had she bought the box because he was coming over? He had to ask. “Did you know we would wind up in your bed tonight, Giada, or do you always keep condoms handy?”

  “A girl can hope.” She didn’t quite answer the question.

  He tore open a foil pack and rolled the condom on, never taking his eyes from Giada’s face. Her smoky eyes were riveted on his cock. If he could have gotten any harder, that look would have done the trick. As it was, he was ready to burst at the seams.

  He knelt between her legs. Her hips rose, letting him know she was impatient with longing. He leaned down on his elbows and captured her mouth. His tip prodded her opening and her hips lifted again, drawing him in half an inch. He held back, wanting to make the experience last as long as possible.

  “Isaac, please.” The words were muffled by his mouth and he was powerless against them.

  He thrust forward in one steady move until he was buried deep inside her wet heat. She screamed. He groaned. She was tight and encased him as if they’d been born to make love together. Holding still became impossible. He’d wanted to give her time to adjust to his size, but her hips were already drawing down and up again. He met her gyrations with a thrust before pulling out to the tip and plunging deep inside her. Every move elicited a cry from her full lips. Each cry brought him closer to coming. It took all his will to keep from embarrassing himself. He longed to watch her face when she came undone a second time.

  Her hips rocked in time wit
h his plunges. He supported his weight with one hand and reached between them to massage her clit. At his touch, her body bucked and she screamed his name.

  “Open your eyes, Giada. I want to watch you.”

  She obeyed and he put a bit more pressure on her bud while pulling almost all the way out and diving forward again and again. She erupted around his cock. Her gaze stayed locked with his as her sheath milked him. He couldn’t hold on any longer. Leaning again on both hands, he pumped into her hard and fast as his own orgasm shook him.

  He collapsed on top of her for a moment before rolling over and taking her with him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. “You are amazing.”

  “Mmm.” She kissed his shoulder and settled against his side. One of her legs wrapped around his and her arm draped over his chest.

  She shivered and he leaned up to pull the blanket folded at the bottom of the bed over them.

  Her head grew heavy on his shoulder. He kissed her hair, taking in the flowery scent.

  He thought she’d fallen asleep until she spoke. “Will you stay the night, Isaac?”

  He nodded and his chest tightened. The idea of waking up with Giada in his arms was enough to make him hard again.

  She got up and turned off the light. He took the opportunity to go to the bathroom and dispose of the condom. When he returned she was tucked under the covers. The room was only lit by the streetlights outside but he could see the sparkle of light in her eyes as she watched him. He slid under the covers behind her and pulled her bottom tight to the top of his thighs. It was a perfect fit.

  “Thank you for staying.”

  He smiled. “Holding you all night is not exactly a hardship.”

  She chuckled. “I’ll have to get up early and go to work in the morning.”

  “Okay. I understand.”

  She snuggled back against him and sighed. His cock stiffened. She sighed again.

  “If you don’t stop moving, I’m never going to get to sleep.”

  Another giggle bubbled from her lips but her body relaxed, and a moment later her breathing grew deep and regular.

  It probably took him another hour to fall asleep. His mind reeled with the idea that Giada Leone was asleep in his arms. She’d made love with him. Darker thoughts about the future tried to make their way into his mind. He pushed them away. He didn’t want to mar the perfection of the evening with the reality that he was leaving in a couple of weeks.

  * * * * *

  Isaac woke to the dusky room and the sound of the shower. Traces of her sweet scent remained on the pillow and he breathed them in before sitting up and finding his clothes.

  By the time she walked out of the bathroom in a navy business suit, he was dressed and waiting on the end of the bed. Her outfit was modest. The snug skirt covered her thighs, leaving her knees and shapely calves exposed.

  She smiled. “Good morning.”

  He stood up and pulled her into a hug. “You look incredibly sexy in that suit.”

  “You must be nuts. This is not a sexy outfit. This is my stern Professor Leone suit.”

  She was warm and pliant and he would have given anything to divest her of her clothing and spend the day in bed. With a sigh, he released her. “You could make a potato sack look sexy.”

  “Thanks, I think. What are you doing today?”

  He took a deep breath. “I’m going with my mother to look at the over-fifty-five place she’s moving to and I’m going to do some work.”

  “I didn’t know your mother was moving.”

  “That’s what she told me.”

  She cupped his cheek in her palm. Her fingers were warm and soft and he turned his face to kiss them. “You must have mixed emotions about that. I mean, her leaving the house you grew up in.”

  “I do, but it’s the right decision for her. She doesn’t need a big house and all her friends are over at this place. I’m trying to be a supportive son and not a spoiled brat.”

  She leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. “You’re doing a great job.”

  They walked through the condo and out the front door. He waited while she locked the deadbolt. “Can I call you later?”

  Her eyes widened. “Yes. I mean, I hope you will.”

  His chest relaxed. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d been wondering if she ever wanted to see him again. “Great. I’ll call after dinner.”

  He walked her to her car and watched as she drove out of the parking lot. He wished he’d asked about her feelings. He wanted to know how she felt about their night together, how she felt about him. He looked at his watch and shrugged. It would have to wait. At least his sister would be at work when he got back to the house and he wouldn’t have to explain his whereabouts all night. Poor Giada would be the one to answer those questions.

  He smiled, wondering what she would say.

  * * * * *

  As soon as he returned to his sister’s house he showered and pulled all the files he’d brought with him out of his briefcase. Spreading the papers out on the small desk in the guest room, he opened his laptop and studied the documents while the computer started up. He opened Visio and began to forge a marketing plan of attack for the new sporting goods account. His mind raced with all the possibilities, tossing out the common ideas and creating boxes for the unique ones.

  He wrote several emails to colleagues and answered a few others. His stomach growled, but he ignored his hunger as another thought came to him and he typed a note in his calendar. He often did this to examine at a later time.

  The chimes on his cell phone brought his attention to the late hour. Nearly the entire morning had slipped by while he worked.

  He cringed at the word “Mom” on the phone’s display. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi, yourself. I thought you were going to come over and we would visit The Grove together.”

  “Sorry, I got caught up with work.”

  “You’re on vacation.”

  He ignored her comment. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  There was a long pause. “Fine. You can take me to lunch before we see the model homes.”

  He agreed quickly, hung up the phone and closed his computer.

  When he arrived at his childhood home, his mother was already standing in the driveway with her fists on her hips. He ignored her glare, got out and opened the car door for her. He expected more commentary on his car but she kept her peace.

  After a quick lunch at a local deli, they went to The Grove. The senior housing development had perfectly groomed shrubs and mums blooming in newly mulched flowerbeds. It was nothing like the eclectic neighborhood where he’d grown up. All the houses looked alike. Some were bigger than others and some had screened-in porches or four-season rooms, but they were all some variation of the same house.

  They drove around the grounds for a few minutes. Some houses were decorated for Hanukkah but most had their Christmas lights up. Those made him think of Giada and the incredible night he’d spent with her. Her condo hadn’t had any decorations for the coming Christmas holiday. He tucked that information away and drove around to the club house.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  “It’s very neat.”

  “They have people to mow the yards. I can plant flowers if I want, but if not they will weed my beds and prune the bushes. Nothing for me to do on the outside.”

  “That will be good, Mom.”

  “Drive around to the front again. I want to show you the model I’m buying.”

  As he walked through the cookie-cutter home, he thought about all the character in the house his parents had turned into a home. He couldn’t help himself. “Why do you want to move here?”

  “You don’t like it?” She sounded disappointed.

  “I didn’t say that. This is a nice little house. It’s just so different than what you’re used to. Are you sure you’ll be happy here?”

  She stood behind the marble countertops in the kitchen of th
e model home and placed her hands flat on the top. “I like the simplicity of the place. I’m sixty-two years old. Too old to mow a lawn and I have no interest in gardening. I can’t take care of that big house anymore, and without your father I have no desire to do any of it. Here, I can join a bridge club if I want. They take trips shopping and to the movies. They have a club for everything here. I think it will be a nice change.”

  It might have been the most sensible thing he’d ever heard his mother say. “I think it’s the perfect place for you, Mom. I’m glad you’re moving here. I think Dad would be happy to know you are safe and happy in a nice little house and I know he’d be glad that it’s a gated community.”

  She nodded. “That’s what I think too.”

  He’d never seen his mother vulnerable before. She was always overbearing and willful. This was a different side of Barbara Backman. Maybe this was the side that his father knew and was why he adored her so much.

  They walked out to the car. “Why did you keep my old motorcycle?”

  “I didn’t. I gave it to Mark.” She got into the low sports car. This time she remembered to grumble about it being a silly vehicle.

  Isaac slid in. “But you kept it for years before that. You could have sold the thing when I left for college.”

  She turned toward him. “You might have wanted it. Plus, I thought you’d come home at some point.”

  His gut tightened. He forced himself to continue. “But then I didn’t come home. You still kept it.”

  She huffed and looked out the windshield. Her turned-down mouth and narrowed eyes told him that the conversation was over, so he started the car.

  They pulled away from the curb.

  Her voice was stern. “A mother can hope that one day her son might come back.”

  His throat tightened. She’d waited for him and he never did come home. This forced vacation was the longest he’d been home since high school. He reached across the stick shift and took her hand, noting the silky thinness of her skin. “Thank you,” he said.

  She gave his hand a squeeze and released it. He thought he saw her dab at her eyes out of the corner of his.

  They continued in silence for a few minutes. “Mark gave me the bike. I’m fixing it up. I have to pick up a few parts. Do you want to come along?”