Lucky bastard.
Tony wanted to see if the bond between him and Carmella would grow stronger over time, or if they’d fizzle out. That he even thought about the long term took him by surprise. He’d never thought about having permanency with any woman.
But Carm was unlike anyone he’d ever dated. He couldn’t wait to get to her place and see her after so long apart. He’d just let nature take its course and worry about the future some other time.
Tony left his hiking gear in the truck and bounded up the steps to Carm’s condo. He knocked, waited a moment, then heard, “It’s open, Tony.”
Curious as to why she didn’t come to the door—and how she knew it was him—he shrugged and let himself in. The scent of salt air hit him seconds before he heard the sounds of the waves hitting the shore. She must have been missing the islands.
No sign of her. “Carm?”
“I’m in the bedroom.” Clearly, she hadn’t been in the bedroom when she’d called out to him earlier, so she must have made sure he was the person knocking on the door. Good girl.
“No rush! Sorry I’m late.”
“I can use your help with something, Tony. Come on in.”
Tony made his way down the hall. He’d never actually been in her bedroom before. He found Carm lying in the middle of the bed wearing that sexy nightie she’d worn at the villa. Her long tanned legs were spread shoulder width apart, and her hand was draped over her mound as if she’d just been playing with herself.
Carmella smiled. “I’ve got a slow-burning fire I need you to put out for me, fireman.”
Tony grinned, and his cock stirred to life. While he wasn’t in uniform, Tony was happy to fulfill whatever fantasy she had in mind. “Just point me to the fire, ma’am.”
She lifted the hem of the gown, exposing herself to him and used her middle finger to touch her clit.
Holy shit!
There were few things hotter than a woman pleasuring herself, except maybe for him to be the one giving her that pleasure. Tony pulled his T-shirt over his head with haste.
“Mmm.” While one hand stroked her clit, Carmella pinched her nipple through the silky fabric with the other. The bud quickly grew to a hard peak.
Even faster, he shucked his belt and jeans, until he was wearing only his boxer briefs and a smile.
He placed his knee on the edge of the mattress and crawled toward her. His body ached for her touch. They’d only been apart a short time, but after having her with him every day for over a week, the separation had been a killer.
“Hurry, fireman, before I self-combust.”
Tony removed her hand from her clit and placed it next to her head on the pillow. “I’m here to put out the fire now, ma’am.”
“About time.”
“If I’d known this alarm had been called in, I’d have left the station an hour earlier.”
“That’s okay. You know what they say about a slow burn, fireman. When it finally reaches its fever pitch, the flame burns so much hotter.”
Rather than bring this fire to a fever pitch, he intended to stoke it into a four-alarm blaze.
Straddling her, he propped his upper body on his elbows and leaned down to kiss her. Sweet as nectar to a bee. Carmella tilted her pelvis against his erection as if anxious to get on with it.
“Lie still. I’m in charge now.”
A spark flashed in her eyes. “Yes, sir. Whatever you say.”
He trailed kisses along her jaw to her neck, moving the thin strap of the gown off her shoulder to continue on his path.
Suddenly, Tony froze. Damn.
“I didn’t bring protection.”
Carm pointed to the drawer of the night table. “I bought a box the other day, just in case.”
God, he loved this woman.
Tony got off her and opened the drawer, pulling out one of the foil packets she’d dumped in there. She’d even gotten rid of the box so that nothing slowed down their momentum. “I like a woman who’s always prepared.”
“I like a man who can put that thing on his hose with record speed so he can put out this fire.”
Tony chuckled. He liked it when Carmella took charge—well, up to a point. “Sit up and remove your gown.” He removed his briefs and donned the condom while she obliged and returned to the bed and his slow exploration of her body. Her nipples were rigid, and he pressed her down on the pillow again to continue his journey. His sucking and pulling on her nipple made Carmella moan with pleasure. How he loved that sound.
“Hurry, Tony! I’m burning up!”
Forty-five minutes later, he lay beside her waiting for his heart rate to slow down. Carmella leaned over him tracing a finger along his jaw line. “That was incredible.”
“I’ve missed you, dolcezza.”
“Missed you too. I wish we weren’t so far apart.”
“Yeah. It was nice being just down the hall from you at the villa.”
“Except for the last two nights when we shared a room.”
Only with Carmella.
“Ready to go hiking, T.G.?”
“Unless you have any other fires for me to put out.”
She laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Perhaps later, if you’re spending the night. But I really need to get that hike in. I have a major trek coming up and am a little out of shape.”
Tony definitely intended to stay the night, now that he’d been invited.
He smacked her on the butt. “I don’t know. I kind of like your shape.”
And a whole lot more about you.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Two hours later, Carm sat beside Tony at Maroon Lake overlooking the Bells as they snacked on the bread, cheese, and fruit she’d packed for them. “I’ll never grow tired of this view,” she said.
“Me neither.”
She glanced at him to share the moment only to find him staring at her. She rolled her eyes but smiled. “I
