Chapter 18
Sabrina
Sun peeked into my room alerting me it was morning before my alarm clock did. Heat radiated off the naked body next to me. I quietly rolled to my side to face him. His soft brown hair was wavy and messy in the best bed hair way ever. The ends of his long dark eyelashes curled up in the slightest way.
Light scruff lined his jaw and peppered his face. Part of me wanted to reach down and touch it, but I also didn’t want to wake him. Not when I could take my time and study him. His cross shifted while he slept and now rested on his collarbone.
My eyes raked down his smooth taut skin that covered his muscular chest and torso to that delicious V that women lost their minds over. I’d never been with a man who had such a defined physique, and seeing one in person, I now understood.
The white bedsheet laid just low enough for me to enjoy his pleasure trail, and just high enough to cover the part of him that brought me to such heights last night. Becky would tell me how white spots would dance under her eyelids, and how she could be transported while having an orgasm. I used to think she was exaggerating, but after last night, I now understood.
Not wanting to take a chance of getting caught, I made sure he was still sleeping. Eyes closed, steady breaths, peaceful expression—perfect. I bit the corner of my bottom lip, very gently took the white sheet between my fingers, and lifted to play a bit of peek-a-boo.
My brain scolded me to look away while my eyes chanted don’t you dare. Needless to say, my eyes won. I swallowed the sigh that was on the tip of my tongue and just stared in grand appreciation.
“Good morning.” His deep voice caught me off guard. Despite that, I didn’t lower the sheet. Why bother? I was busted anyway. “See something you like?”
My brain quipped, told you so. Regaining my composure, I summoned the confidence I had last night. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He sat up and tugged me to nestle against him while resting his hand on my bare ass. With his other hand, he pushed the hair off my forehead before kissing it gently. “For the record, I see something I like as well.”
“You do?” A funny expression crossed over his face.
“Why do you doubt me, Sabrina? You’re a beautiful woman.”
I wanted to say, no one has ever called me that before. And, it wasn’t that I needed constant reassurance and compliments. Actually, I was used to not getting them. On occasion, Dillon would appreciate a dress I wore or if my hair was styled the way he liked it. The way Luca doled out the flattery supported the type of man he was. Sure, Luca was stunning, and his confidence made him even more attractive. But now, having gotten to know him a bit, I felt his romantic side was what made him even sexier.
“Sabrina,” he prompted.
“I don’t feel beautiful sometimes. Dark circles and stretch marks will do that to a woman.”
He pushed me onto my back, hovering above me. A mixture of anger and disbelief altered his handsome face. I expected words to discredit my insecurities, but instead I got actions. Luca kissed my neck, moved down to my breast kissing each in turn, and then to my stretch marks to place kiss after sweet kiss over them. The kisses weren’t sexual or erotic, but they still caused an immediate response in my body. If he took those kisses any further, it would be impossible to stop him.
His devious grin revealed just what ran through his mind. “Luca, can you hold that thought? I’d love to stay and play all day, but I need to shower and get ready for work.”
He dropped his head onto my belly and groaned. “I can join you and wash your back.”
God, I hated that I had to adult today. “I’ll never make it to the salon on time if you do. Raincheck?”
“Fine.” Moving back up to come face to face with me, he placed a chaste kiss on my lips before resuming his position on his back. “I’ll make coffee, you get dressed, and I’ll drive you to work.”
“That would be great, thank you.”
I eased away from him and out of bed. My gut instinct was to tug the sheet off the bed to expose him while covering myself up. For some reason, feeling his penetrating gaze, and remembering his words a minute ago, emboldened me to walk around my room collecting clothes all while he stared without apology. “You’re making this very hard for me, Sabrina,” he said with a smirk.
“Sorry.” I had to control my expression at seeing just how hard it was for him. But if I went anywhere near that bed, I’d never get to work. So instead, I smiled coyly before darting down the hall toward the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, I stood in my kitchen watching Luca cooking at my stove while shirtless, barefoot, and in his dark jeans. Damn, he was perfect. His hair still stuck up in places from sleep. The way the denim hung low on his hips revealing nothing but skin meant he was commando.
He turned his head when he spotted me. “I hope you like eggs, because I’m making you a breakfast sandwich. I wasn’t sure how much time you had, so if you need to take it with you, you can.”
“You made me breakfast?” He let out a laugh and probably thought, duh! But, in all fairness, I couldn’t remember the last time someone made me breakfast. Aside from Mikey pouring me a bowl of cereal, that was it. “I have enough time to eat here, thank you.”
The egg flipped in the air with a flick of his wrist. “Cheese?”
“Yes, please.”
In no time at all, I had a breakfast sandwich sitting on the plate in front of me worthy of being photographed for a restaurant’s menu. “I would’ve poured your coffee, but I didn’t know how you took it.”
“Black.”
“Great, that will be easy to remember for next time.” He winked and sat down next to me.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I will later. After I drop you off, I’m going to the gym.” He patted his bare stomach, giving my eyes an excuse to ogle a bit. “I need to keep in shape since my girl likes what she sees.”
His girl.
Damn, I could get used to this.
The sandwich tasted even better than it looked. I covered my mouth with my free hand and said, “Thith ith tho good.” He chuckled as I swallowed and tried again. “Sorry. It’s delicious.” It truly was, and I appreciated the second bite more than the first.
“I’m glad you like it. I have a couple of other culinary tricks up my sleeve.”
This time I swallowed my mouthful before I spoke. “I remember you telling me you learned from your mom. What’s your specialty?”
“You’ll have to wait and see,” he said matter-of-factly. “Speaking of, what time will you be done today?”
“My last client is at three.”
He leaned over and ran his thumb over the corner of my mouth in such a casual way while having no clue my heart pounded over the gesture. “Can you meet me at Greenmarket?”
“On First Avenue?”
“Yes. It’s a short walk for you. We can shop for our dinner ingredients together. It’s supposed to be a nice day.”
My brain quickly ran through a scenario that could happen tonight—a romantic dinner after which Luca made love to me all night in his bed. There was one huge problem with that wonderful chain of events, I had to drive to Queens in the morning to celebrate Easter with my family.
“What?” he asked, picking up on my dilemma.
“Nothing. I just need to be at my parents’ house fairly early tomorrow.”
“Okay, so I’ll drive you back to your apartment.”
Shit, I couldn’t believe I assumed he’d ask me to spend the night. While internally chastising myself, he took my hand in his and flipped it over to kiss my palm. “Sabrina, what is running through that head of yours?”
“Nothing,” I repeated. “Thank you again for a great morning… and night.”
A slow, sexy smile lifted the corners of his lips. “You can thank me properly later.”
I finished my breakfast and stood to place my dish and mug in the sink. “I’ll do this, go get ready.” As Luca began washing, he added, “Pack a bag.” His words halted me in my tracks. Sensing my confusion, he turned off the water, wiped his hands on a dishtowel, and walked over to where I stood in the doorway. Chocolate brown eyes searched my facial expression, “Did you think I was driving you home in the middle of the night?”
“No…” I shrugged at the way he quirked a brow in challenge. “Fine, yes. I wasn’t sure.”
“Well, now you are.” After placing a chaste kiss on my lips and a firm slap on my ass, he pushed me toward my room and said, “Chop… chop.”
Luca had me at work fifteen minutes early. He double parked in front of the salon and twisted in his seat. “Meet me at the entrance of the market.”
“I will.” My eyes cut toward my overnight bag that sat on the back seat. “I can’t wait for tonight.”
He placed a hand on the back of my head and pulled me toward him. “Me, too.” I felt his fingers tighten over my hair just as his firm lips met mine. It wasn’t a quick peck by any means. Luca was about to send me off with desire coursing through every part of my body.
He dipped his tongue inside and coaxed mine into his own mouth. I followed his lead to continue the erotic dance he initiated. His other hand held my face as he deepened the kiss between us and sucked on my tongue.
An immediate shot of electricity traveled from my mouth and ended between my legs.
Luca pulled away with a groan. “Go, before I drive us right to my place.” Based on the condition he had just worked me up to, I couldn’t guarantee I’d argue if he did. “Have a good day, dear,” he said as I let myself out of the car. Giving him a brilliant smile, I blew him a kiss and dashed into the salon.
Three steps in, and I came face to face with a grinning Becky. “Holy hell.” Ignoring her, I walked around where she stood with hands on her hips toward my station. “Hey, missy. Spill it.”
“There’s nothing to spill.” I figured I had about three minutes before she’d beat the information out of me. With her eyes trained on my back, I removed my tools from my work bag to place them on my counter. None of the other stylists were due to arrive until ten. Becky opened the salon an hour earlier for me on the Saturdays that I worked. “Coffee is up?” I asked, walking myself to the break room to grab a cup.
She was right on my heels, zipped around my body, and planted herself at the entrance of the small kitchen at the back of the salon. “You walked out of here last night after doing Mrs. Brennan’s clown do. And today you sit in front of my place of business sucking face with that hot Italian. So, you have two choices. You either tell me what went down between Mrs. Brennan and now, or I’ll go full stalker mode and ask him myself.”
I knew she’d make due on her threat. The woman was relentless when she wanted info. “Fine,” I conceded. “Let me get my coffee, call Mikey to say good morning, and then I’ll tell you what happened.”
She tapped her wristwatch and released an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. But not the abridged version.”
“Yes, the abridged version.” I pushed her aside to get to the caffeine I desperately needed from a second cup. “I haven’t been with a man since Dillon. There is no way I’m telling you every detail.” I carried my cup to my chair and sat with a huff.
“Don’t be so selfish, Sabrina.” She had the nerve to stand beside me with a pointed authoritative finger in my face. “I have no prospects in sight and the least you can do is give me something to work with.”
“You were just with someone last week.”
My statement caused her mouth to hang open in an unflattering way. “That doesn’t count. It was meh at best. I need new material to fantasize over. It’s the little things in my sad life.”
“There will be no fantasizing over Luca.”
She released a shot of air through her nose. “Oh, that ship has sailed, my friend.”