The Cinderella Arrangement (21 page)

He sighed. “Why did you come here with me?”

My thoughts were barreling along like a high-speed chase. Why had I come? “Because I’ve never been to Europe and—and I wanted something different. A change.”

“That’s right.”

His voice throbbed in my ear almost like a sigh, and suddenly a light flickered on and I felt hot all over. I was in the arms of a gorgeous man in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.

He would have fought for you.

I looked up and our faces were inches from each other. I unclasped my fingers from his neck and smoothed them over his chest. His breath caught in his throat. Now his gaze seemed to tremble within mine—he was uncomfortable with this closeness.

A smile appeared on his face. “I guess I should apologize for taking your phone, but I’m not that sorry.”

Though I didn’t want to, I slipped from his lap and his arms unwound themselves. “Let’s get back to the bed-and-breakfast. I need to work on those designs.”

“Okay,” he said, giving me a strange look before he got out of the car.

* * *

W
hile William was
in a meeting with Mary downstairs, I sat at the small white desk in my room with my tablet PC and drew. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted a pastoral or a fairy-tale, children’s-book-type theme. There was something idyllic about this place that I couldn’t articulate in words. I cycled through the photos I took during the day. It reminded me of movies I watched as a child when I believed in magic and secret gardens and fairies. The Cotswolds almost made me believe in them again.

The kissing gate in front of the cottage was ensnared with vines and flowers, almost as if it was guarding something secret. I drew little, circular avatars of the gate, the cottage with a little river wrapped around it, the mill, the green pastures and moody skies. William and his team could decide which ones they wanted. Then I began the website banners, and there I could incorporate every detail I loved about the Cotswolds and this bed-and-breakfast.

“Nice work.”

“Shit!” I was so immersed that I didn’t hear Will creep up behind me.

Will smirked as he took a seat on the bed. “Too bad all of it will probably be for nothing.”

“Why?” I said, aghast.

“I’m just not sure this place lives up to the Pardini brand. People who go to our hotels expect excellence. Luxury. This…” he shook his head as he gazed at the ceiling, his eyes focusing on the chips of paint here and there.

“Oh, come on. This is affordable, isn’t it? And it’s a cottage. It will be cramped and small.”

He shrugged. “This isn’t what I had in mind.”

Giving up, I returned to my drawings. No matter what, I would put all of my effort into them.

The next day, we bid farewell to Mary and gathered Tom back into his cage to drive to the next destination: Bath. Will offered to drive, but I shot him down with a look.

No freaking way
.

Back at Cheltenham, we returned the car and took the train to Bath Spa. We found ourselves on a hill, with rows and rows of yellow and beige houses. The train tracks ran straight through the suburbs. Fantastic green hills surrounded us, but we were far away from all the attractions.

“Why couldn’t we call a cab?”

“Because we’re here to experience England like everybody else. Or something like that.” He smiled at me.

“Did you go to boarding school too?”

“Nope,” he said, sounding proud of that. “I went to private schools in Chicago with my brothers. Mom didn’t want to send us away.”

I wondered about his upbringing. I knew that his cousin, Luke, was bitter about being sent away to a school.

“So did you grow up getting everything you wanted?”

“Yeah. I was a spoiled little shit. When I grew up, I became an asshole. I was just drunk on the power of being really rich and able to get literally anything I wanted. Then…” his face darkened.

And then you got into a car accident, and it changed you.

“I didn’t become a human being until a few years ago.”

It was such a strange thing to say, and yet I understood what he meant perfectly. Up until that point, Will lived like a wild animal; taking what he wanted and devouring every opportunity without a thought of how it would affect anyone else. Then he changed.

“I think I became human when I escaped my parent’s clutches and could think for myself for once in my life.”

He smiled knowingly.

“I’m scared of that part of me. I was the only one of my brothers to go off the deep end. So that’s why I avoid relying too much on my wealth.”

Because that’s when bad things happen?

“Life shouldn’t be easy.”

“No, but it sure is nice to have cash sometimes.” I gave him a sly smile. “Never know when you’ll need to bribe someone.”

He chuckled. “Luke called me to bitch about that.”

I shook my head. “You guys behave like children. Why do you hate Luke so much?”

Will made a face. “I don’t hate him. I think he’s an arrogant bastard.”

“He is
not
a bastard.”

“He told me to stay away from you, as though I’m a toxic person.”

We had the bed-and-breakfast in sight. “I think he’s angry with you because your dad tried to sell the shares in his trust.”

He wheeled around. “What?”

My heart jumped. “Didn’t you know that? Luke is suing your dad.”

“Holy shit. I can’t believe he’d do that.”

I could see Will’s mind boiling with what I said the whole day. We finally reached the bed-and-breakfast, which was owned by a cheery man with an affinity for country music.

Designing the logo for the Bath location was easy; the Roman baths were the main attraction, and it was easy to draw a quick sketch of the yellow pillars and the green, bubbling pool. Below, I heard Will grilling the owner about his profits. His heavy footsteps climbed the stairs, and I braced for when he would burst inside the room.

He had a habit of violently opening doors and scaring me to death. Sure enough, seconds later, the door swung open and banged the opposite wall. He scowled when he realized there was no bathroom attached. And there was still only one queen bed.

“We can share the bed. It’s no big deal.”

Will removed his jacket, glaring at me as if I was up to something, but he was too tired to argue. Both of us were exhausted from walking to and from the Roman baths and exploring the abbey.

My hands were feeling stiff, and I swiveled in the chair, wringing my fingers.

“Take a break for God’s sake. Watching you work is exhausting.”

I set the stylus down and sighed, leaning into the chair. My eyes widened when Will took the hem of his white t-shirt and lifted it over his head. It was like being injected with adrenaline. Suddenly, I felt much more awake.

“What are you doing?”
Shut up, idiot! Let him take his clothes off
!

“I’m just getting ready for bed. You don’t have to stare.”

I could not look away. Under his t-shirt was a carved abdomen. His defined chest and shoulders made my mouth water. My eyes raked up and down, noting the small dark patch of hair on his chest and the faint line dipping below his belly button. He caught me watching him and smiled. “Like what you see?”

Of course I do and you know it.

Then he yanked his jeans down and my breath caught in my throat. “Jesus.”

A pair of tight, black briefs hugged his ass. I wanted to bump against him and run my hands all over him, but he merely slid into bed and closed his eyes, smiling slightly.

Now what? Do I join him? He said he had no interest in me, but he kissed me.

I already wore my pajamas, which were just a loose t-shirt and flannel pants, with no bra. I walked to my side, cursing the loud noise of my feet creaking the wood floorboards. Peeling back the comforter gave me a nice view of his body. I slid inside and joined his warmth, shaking with nerves.

But Will showed no sign he knew that I was in bed with him. His eyes remained closed. I turned away from him and listened to the sound of him breathing and his legs moving under the sheets.

How strange it is to be in bed with someone I’m not sure I’m allowed to touch.

There was another movement under the sheets and I felt the pad of one finger running a line down my neck, over my shoulder and body, over my bony hip. His other fingers joined to stroke my upper thigh.

Heart racing, I turned into his body. His heat spilled all over me and he kept his hand anchored on my hip. His eyes opened, revealing red-rimmed exhaustion, and yet his gaze was rigid.

There was a strand of black hair in his eye and I reached for it with my fingers to push it behind his ear.

“You surprised me today. I thought you had no sense of humor.”

“I thought you were a bastard.”

He grinned and squeezed my hip. “And now?”

“You’re still one.”

I sought his pouting, bottom lip and sucked it into my mouth. He sighed, and I ran my hands down his neck to stroke the broad muscles of his chest, stopping here and there to squeeze. His touch slipped under my shirt and slid up my back. He moaned when he realized that I wasn’t wearing a bra.

We both gasped when his thumbs moved around, stroking the sides of my tits. My nipples hardened under my t-shirt and he rotated his fingers, teasing the sensitive flesh. Then he groped my breasts, and I kissed him harder, burying him in the bed. He seized the two hard nubs and pinched them between his thumb and forefinger. Our lips finally parted and both of us breathed as though we ran a marathon.

I sat up and lifted the shirt from my head, fixing Will with a smoldering look.

“Jesus.”

Smiling, I lay on top of him and relished the contact of his naked chest. I could hear his breath thick with desire, going mad with my half-naked body.

“No, I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”

But even his arms refused to let me go. My back shivered as he ran his hands down and squeezed my ass. “Why not?”

“Because if we keep going, I will fuck you.”

“So?”

He gave me a half-frustrated, half-smoldering look. “I don’t want to be a one-night stand.”

“What are you talking about?”

His fingers weaved through my hair and pulled slightly. “And when I’m with someone, I want them to be thinking of me and only me.”

I was lost.

“You’re not over your ex yet. I like you, Natalie. I like you more than you realize, but I want a real chance with you.”

Something hot shot up my legs when he said that. I looked at his heavy-lidded eyes, his slightly flushed, hollow cheeks and the downy black hair and I couldn’t understand why the hell he thought I pined over Ben while I was in bed with him.

“That’s a really sweet thing to say.”

His smile widened. “I know. Now, kiss me.”

I sank to my elbows and grabbed his hair, kissing him harder than I’d kissed anyone in my life. His mouth was soft against mine, barely able to keep up. I played with his ears, running my fingers over them because I knew that it would drive him crazy. He suddenly got up on his elbows and flipped me onto my back. Will groaned as he sat back, admiring the view of my body. His erection dug into my hip and I felt a leap of excitement. Looking disgusted with himself, Will got off my legs and turned away from me.

“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.

S
o 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.