The Cinderella Arrangement Page 22

  “Okay,” I said to his back. “We can wait.”

  He turned around, his eyebrows lifted. “Okay?” He sounded disappointed.

  I leaned over and pecked his mouth, trying not to smile at his floored expression.

  “Good night.”

  Smirking, I turned around in the bed. I could feel his confusion, but I knew what I was doing. I wanted him chasing me again—I wanted his hands running up my hips when we were out in public.

  “Tease.”

  The bed bounced as he left to go to the bathroom. I smiled to myself.

  7

  So how is he? Is he behaving?

  Sort of. I’m having the time of my life! How’s Luke?

  Her next message was troubling: Not so good. Can’t tell you on text.

  I frowned to myself and glanced at Will, who was passed out on the train we were taking to Monterosso al Mare, Italy. His cat slept on his lap.

  She must have been referring to the lawsuit with Will’s father. I chewed my lip, feeling bad for Luke, but what could I do about it?

  I told Will about the lawsuit and he will see his father in Chicago.

  She texted back: Really? Wow.

  William reacted with anger and disappointment toward his father whenever I mentioned the lawsuit. He might not be a friend to Luke, but he did not approve of his father’s actions. I could tell that he was itching to go back to Chicago.

  I returned to the sketch on my tablet. Over the last week, I sent dozens of designs to the marketing department and the feedback so far was positive. Though, who knew if any of them would be used. I had a vague understanding of where we were going, only that it was on the Italian Riviera. Occasionally, the train would leave a tunnel and I would glimpse a deep, blue ocean crashing on a green coast, and my heart soared.

  We left the damp isles of the UK and took a plane to Èze, France, a gorgeous, coastal town with breathtaking views. Will assured me that the next stop would be even more spectacular: Cinque Terre. It meant “five lands.” It didn’t really matter whether this job amounted to anything. I was having an incredible time with Will exploring all these places.

  “Wow,” I said when we disembarked the train.

  “Wow” was the only appropriate response I could think of. A small, white beach gleamed under the bright sunshine, sparkling, deep blue water crashing on the shore. Behind the station was the tiny cliff-side village of Monterosso. Pastel-colored, cramped buildings sat on top of each other. Vineyards filled the green hills, spiraling around and around. We walked along the beach with our luggage and the sounds of accordion music lifted me up.

  “This is incredible.”

  Will blinked in the sunlight and smiled at me. “I told you.”

  We walked through the tunnel into the heart of the town. According to a placard in front of it, the tunnel was erected after a disastrous flood in 2010. My suitcase rolled and bumped on the cobblestones. Ahead of me, the stone path lifted and snared around the hill, which would lead to the next village, but Will and I turned left to find our bed-and-breakfast. There were markets and restaurants, tourists lifting heavy cameras from their necks to document every spectacular angle. My eyes moved from detail to detail. There were just a thousand things to look at and my brain couldn’t process them fast enough.

  The street became steep and my legs strained until there was a sign, “Villa Steno.” Lemon trees surrounded the cheery, yellow building and we rolled into the tiny lobby.

  “We’re excited to have you here, Mr. Pardini.” The receptionist handed him the keys to our room, and she showed us the way, with only the slightest hesitation at the cat sitting on top of Luke’s luggage.

  “Breakfast is from seven to nine, we also serve drinks in the lobby after seven. There’s a terrace on the roof where people like to have drinks. Here’s your room.”

  The sunshine-yellow room had a double bed. She walked across to open the patio doors and we received a magnificent view of the town and ocean.

  “Here are trail maps for hiking. If there’s anything else you need, please ask.”

  Will nodded at her, looking pleased with the arrangements. There was a safe in the closet, a desk, several chairs, but for me the greatest thing was the patio, which overlooked the tiny village and the sea. Tom jumped out of his cage the moment he was freed and dashed outside to perch on the wall. The door closed and finally Will and I were alone.

  “What do you think?”

  He slid up behind me and curled his arm around my waist. After seven days of rainy, cloudy British skies, the sunshine pouring over my face was a welcome reprieve. I turned into Will’s arms and nestled my head under his chin.

  “I love it.” I played with the fingers wrapped me and felt his chest swell and exhale a long breath. “It’s amazing.”

  I watched Tom bathe himself on the wall, his fur gleaming in the sun. Surrounding the patio were dozens of lemon trees and brightly colored homes, which faced the rolling ocean. My body relaxed in Will’s arms, but my heart galloped ahead.

  A deep sound of assent rumbled through his chest. “Yeah, it’s beautiful here.”

  I turned around and looked up at his face, which stared down at me with unhidden longing. I lifted myself on my toes and kissed him with a hint of my tongue sweeping inside to make him long for more. Finally. He kissed me, his mouth devouring mine hungrily. I stumbled back, my legs hitting the edge of the bed, which bounced as I fell onto it.

  William's body followed mine. My breath caught in my throat as his weight pressed over me, his hands diving underneath my shirt. I dug my fingers in his scalp, the sting of his teeth nipping my neck. Then his hot mouth found mine again, and he ripped off my shirt. My legs tightened around his waist.

  He pulled back, sitting between my legs. The battle raged behind his eyes. He shook his head. “Natalie, I want you, but—”

  “Am I not your type?"

  He seized my hand and I blushed as he pressed it against the bulge between his legs. "Does this answer your question?"

  Yes.

  "I want to fuck this shit out of you right now."

  "Then do it!"

  "I wanted to wait, you greedy woman."

  I threw my head back in frustration. "We both want this. What's the point?"

  His dark eyes glinted. "Hell if I know."

  Then suddenly my body was dragged to the edge of the bed, and Will stood up to yank me upright. I was overwhelmed with his hands running up and down my sides. A dark grin spread across his face as he snaked around me and planted light kisses on my neck as he undid my bra clasp. The bra fell down my arms as Will drank me in with a greedy expression. My high gasp hit the ceiling as he dug his fingers in my hair.

  "You know how often I've touched myself these past couple weeks? I was saving myself—I wanted our first time to mean something. I didn't want it to just be one night of hard fucking."

  I didn't know what the hell I was in for, did I?

  "But you keep begging me to do it anyway. A man only has so much self-control."

  Then he kissed my open mouth, grabbing my breast and squeezing. I lifted the shirt from his head, seeking the warmth of his body. Oh God. How long had it been since I felt a man's naked skin against mine?

  The door to the patio stayed open. I tried not to gasp as his chest flattened against mine. His thumbs hooked my shorts, pulling them down as my hands burned from the heat of his back.

  He smoothed the skin on my thighs as he kneeled down and kissed a trail to my hips. The shorts fell with my panties, stinging my pussy with the cool air until his mouth seared against me.

  William lifted his head at my gasp, smirking.

  “What?”

  He fixed me with his smoldering gaze as he smiled, resting his lips against me. Wet heat darted between my legs and a shock of pleasure to my brain made my vision blur. Then he squeezed my thighs, forcing them apart.

  “Oh my God!”

  He kissed me. Right between my legs.

  The warmth
spread over my lips, dipping into me as Will dug his tongue inside me. I couldn’t stop the groan. He pushed me back so that my knees hit the mattress and I fell back. My legs lifted over his shoulders as William’s head worked between my thighs.

  I’d never felt anything like this that made me cry out loud, not caring about the open door and the other guests who might hear us. His thumb suddenly pressed on my clit.

  “Will!”

  He rubbed it in circles, glancing up with a smirk. Then he went back to eating out my pussy, the sounds of his tongue driving me mad with desire. He took breaks to turn his head and kiss my thighs, and I dug my fingers in his hair.

  “Will—I need you.”

  He gave me a wicked grin. “Damn, I like hearing that.”

  Then with a last gentle nip of my skin, he stood. The fierce erection of his cock tented his shorts. My mouth watered as he undid the button, his fingers brushing over the bump I wanted to squeeze, and then he pulled them down. His briefs slid over his powerful thighs, revealing his thick length.

  A nudge of arousal hit my core as he grabbed himself and stroked, but there was no need. He was already rock-hard and ready to go, but he stood there and watched me with a carnal smile.

  It was torture watching him retrieve the condom, slicing it open with his teeth, and then rolling it over his huge length. Damn, how would that even fit inside me?

  But I was ready. I’d been ready for months—weeks.

  My legs wrapped around him as he climbed on the bed. My heart throbbed somewhere in my throat as his weight bore down on me. Then I felt an unyielding pressure between my legs, and my breath hitched in my chest. Will held me with his fiery gaze, his reassuring smile. I watched as his eyes glazed with pleasure as he slowly sank inside me.

  Our sighs hit the ceiling. I felt my walls expand around him and I bit my lip hard. Then my sigh became a loud moan as he anchored inside. I tightened around him, adjusting to his thickness. Will found my lips, cutting off another moan as he gave another thrust. I dug my heels into his back, urging him on. Will sucked in my bottom lip and bit down, the pain mingling with pleasure. Another yell erupted from my chest, and then Will’s hips hammered me. His cock pounded me as his grip around my shoulders became suddenly fierce. My head tilted toward the ceiling, his lips on my neck as his body slammed into mine.

  We paused to rip the shirt from his back, and then I sighed in pleasure as Will’s hot skin pressed against mine. His back rolled like a wave, and I clung onto him as though I might drown. I pulled his body close to mine, so that he was riding against me. My nails scraped the back of his head. Every exquisite inch of him pounded me, and he held on to me as though for dear life. As though he needed me.

  Will grabbed my right leg and swung it over his shoulder. Then he drove in, the shock of him striking my core with intense, pleasurable heat. His face transformed, and I dug my fingers into his back. The orgasm I knew was coming trembled up my thighs. Then my pussy clenched over his cock. My leg hooked around his waist as his chest fell over mine. Will groaned deeply, thrusting once, twice, and then he took my chin in his hands. His dark eyes simmered with barely satiated lust.

  I crushed my lips against his as waves of pleasure crashed over my body. I melted in his arms as he kissed me back. Then he sighed, his breath billowing over my mouth.

  “Damn, I needed this.”

  I couldn’t remember the last time I had sex, but I was painfully aware of it now. I wanted more of him, even though he was still anchored inside me.

  His lips tugged into a smile. “Are you getting all quiet on me now?”

  “No.”

  “Good. I like your voice,” he said, kissing my cheek. “Especially when you’re screaming my name.”

  I had sex with Will.

  It was incredible. And it was all I could think about as we hiked. Will showed no indication that he was thinking about how I’d laid underneath him hours earlier as he fucked me into oblivion.

  Every time I glanced at him, I pictured his naked body, thrusting over mine and an overwhelming heat filled my cheeks. Will promised me fun and nothing more. No strings. That was obvious.

  And yet my heart fluttered when he’d glance back at me with a smile.

  Will and I walked along the uneven path. Every so often I would look to my right and just stop to gaze at the endless deep blue water that shifted into a vivid turquoise when it approached the shore. Combined with the bright green grape vine-covered hills and the colorful houses, it all looked like a highly colored, vivid dream. We climbed high up the hill until our village was just a handful of brightly colored boxes, shining like a beacon. Green, luscious vegetation surrounded our path; endless rows of grapes wound around the hills, reminding me of California. On the way up, a man-sized hole was cut in a chain-link fence, revealing a tiny wooden stand and a man crouched underneath. A crude wooden sign said, “Fresh Limoncello and Lemonade!”

  Tired hikers stopped to buy small cups of fresh lemonade from the exuberant salesman behind the hole in the fence. The sun beating down on our backs made a cup of fresh lemonade sound very appealing, but I tried the limoncello instead. Cinque Terre was known for its lemon liquor and I still hadn’t tried it.

  “Do you want to have some?"

  He shook his head. “I don't drink."

  Nevertheless, William entered the queue to buy my drink, refusing my offer to pay. He returned with a small glass of acid-yellow liquid and a plastic cup of lemonade for himself. He smiled as I took a sip. It was sweet but refreshing. He laughed at me.

  “What's so funny?"

  “You will fall on your ass. That stuff is strong."

  “I don't feel anything." I took another swig of the sickly sweet beverage.

  “That's because you're standing still."

  Sure enough, when I took a step and lurched upwards, I stumbled. My ears burned as William’s laughter rang out on the narrow path. My mind swimming, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

  I yelped as I collided with Will’s stationary body and would have fallen down if he hadn’t grabbed my arm.

  “Sorry,” I gasped as I righted myself.

  “Lightweight,” he muttered. “Try not to kill us both, will you?”

  I felt another wave of warm dizziness that had nothing to do with alcohol as he squeezed my arm. We continued up the trail and I drank the bottle of water to shake the warm sleepiness from my limbs. The buzz from the limoncello melted away, and we were rewarded with an incredible view of the next village, Vernazza. The pile of multicolored buildings sat on the beach below the green hills, wrapping around a tiny harbor where a half dozen boats rocked from the ocean waves.

  We stood there for a while, taking pictures of the village and appreciating the view before we began the descent down.

  The path became level. Ahead of us was a picnic table with a sign and a blue bucket hanging on a tree. A tabby cat sat on the table, licking himself. The sign was in Italian. William moved his lips as he read the sign and his face darkened.

  “What does it say?"

  “It says to feed the stray cats with the food in the bucket."

  We stood in a small clearing in a forest area. Several yellow eyes blinked at me from hanging, low branches. A black cat watched us from the arm of a tree, another one scratched its claws on the bark of a tree, and yet another dashed from bush to bush. Another cat leapt on the table and meowed plaintively at us. Will outstretched his hand and the cat bumped its head against his knuckles.

  “Poor bastards,” he sighed.

  On closer inspection, we saw that many of the cats had filthy, mite-infested ears. Some were limping, and others had sores in their mouths.

  “I wish I could help them.”

  “Well, why can’t you? Just hire people to trap the cats and bring them to a vet in town. It’s a huge waste of time, but it’s obviously important to you. I can’t wait to see the headlines, ‘Foreign Billionaire Saves Cats of Cinque Terre.’”

  Will looked
at me like I had just sprouted an extra head. “You’re a genius.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll make a few calls later.”

  You should fix your own problems, first.

  Still, the cat situation seemed to pull him out of the well of guilt and he talked excitedly about what he would do to help. He would set up a trap, neuter, and release program and pay locals to take them to the vets in La Spezia.

  There were even more cats when we descended to Vernazza. They prowled the cobblestone streets and hopped on chairs to beg from tourists eating lunch. Will pet the ones that approached him, grief stirring in his eyes when they pawed his hand.

  “I didn’t know you were such a bleeding heart,” I said as I stroked the yellowed, filthy fur of a white cat.

  “I like animals, and I think I should help them, especially when I have the means to do so.”

  My fingers brushed his hair. It was a sweet, sensitive side of him I’d never witnessed before.

  “I think I’ve one more village in me and then I should head back to work.”

  He smirked. “You sure that’s why you want to head back?”

  My heart slammed against my chest, the brief image of Will ripping my clothes off consuming my mind.

  The ascent to the next town made my thighs scream in protest, but the views were perhaps the most breathtaking. We were on the edge of the terrace, looking down at the inviting ocean stretched out as far as I could see.

  “Let’s just stay here. You can buy a place and you can rescue cats and I can sell my paintings to tourists. You speak Italian—it would be perfect!”

  Will turned around with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Oh, yeah? You’d be happy staying here, playing house? What about all of your ambition?”

  Watching the rolling waves had me hypnotized. “All of that doesn’t seem to matter anymore.”

  “You would get bored of it. And I would drive you crazy.”

  William wiped the sheen of sweat from his brow with the back of his dark hand and squinted at me under the sun.