I didn't know what else to do and I decided to just go slump on my bed and have a little pity party. The only reprieve I took was a trip to the kitchen or a big handful of Oreos and a gla.s.s of milk.

Chapter 13.

The Oreo's ended up doing a lot more than helping me drown my sorrows about how I'd really messed with Salvatore. They also left chocolate crumbs ground in my teeth that took a good while to get out. I stood on front of my bathroom mirror, not liking the sight of me very well, and flossing my teeth. The entire time I thought about Salvatore. He'd come back into the house for a reason, but what was it? Furthermore, why had I been so stupid to not go after him right away?

Remembering how Salvatore had seen me in Chase's arms like that was so embarra.s.sing. Not long before that he'd been kissing my b.r.e.a.s.t.s to the point of complete arousal and making me feel s.e.xier than I'd ever felt in my life. We had a connection that we couldn't ignore and had longed for each other. Then my brain malfunctioned, distancing Salvatore and allowing Chase to enter. I'd messed up and handled the situation wrong. Now enough time had pa.s.sed since he stormed out that I didn't even know where I'd begin to look for him to try and get him to come back home.

I was driving myself crazy! Admittedly, there was a huge part of me that was also wondering why Salvatore was acting as if I'd betrayed him in some way. He didn't even know Chase and I had broken up. He'd confessed having feelings for me and wanting to lose his virginity to me, but then he'd distanced himself, too. Yet, I was the one standing here feeling like a complete heel and with a stomach that was in knots, hoping I could make everyone else happy. What about me? Didn't I deserve to be happy and have someone be considerate of what I was going through?

I heard my phone ringing, playing the ringtone that showed it was my mom calling for me. I ran out of the bathroom and over to my nightstand, where my phone was. "Hey Mom, what's up?" I said, trying to put on a cheery voice. It was completely phony; however, maybe my mom wouldn't notice.

"Hi honey. I want you to get a message to Salvatore for me, okay?"

"Okay," I replied hesitantly. Oh s.h.i.+t! "What is it? Everything's good, right?"

"Everything is great," Mom replied. "We just don't want him to cook tonight because we want to take you two out into DC to celebrate some very exciting news."

My heart just dropped to the floor, feeling like it stopped beating and was being crushed by a foot the way it may squash a bug. Just kill me now! Why me...why today? My parents would be so disappointed and devastated when I told them that Salvatore had left the house; especially without an explanation or a goodbye. And seriously, I couldn't tell them what had happened in detail. They'd be so disappointed in me. I clearly only had one choice.

"I'll tell him," I said, gulping as the words flowed off my tongue. "What's the occasion?"

Suddenly Dad was on the telephone. They must have had me on speaker and I didn't even realize it. Snap out if it, I thought, mentally scolding myself.

"Hi Taylor. You know how Salvatore's parents' business is a large percentage of our business." I listened to my dad laying out all the details and wished he'd get on with it. I had work to do. "Taylor, you there?" he asked.

"Just listening, Dad. Go on."

"Well, because of us, their business expansion into the US has exceeded their expectations and they have offered to buy a percentage of our business so we can become true business partners in all their exports, rather than just having an agreement. This will help us with our expansion plans and we'll be able to get more clients as a result. It's an exciting deal, one that has been in the making for a long time."

"That's great, Dad!" I said. I was genuinely happy for him because of how hard he worked and could not show that I was horrified that I may have single handedly destroyed the best business deal he's ever done.

Suddenly Mom was back on the phone. "This is a huge deal and so exciting," she began. "We want to make sure that Salvatore is taken care of as well as possible while he's here. Nothing less than the royal treatment for him. You've been doing a wonderful job so far and we have to make sure it keeps up."

Why didn't they just stab me through the heart? I gulped, knowing I had to act quickly and track down Salvatore. I couldn't ruin this night for my parents because I'd made some poor decisions. "Okay Mom, I'll go look for him. He went out for a jog and I'll have to track him down."

"We'll be home in an hour so be ready to go then. And make sure you're dressed up nicely because we are going to the best restaurant tonight. This is so exciting."

"Okay, Mom. Well, I had better go. You've left me without a lot of time and I have to track down Salvatore and dress to the nine's. I'd better get going."

"Bye Taylor, see you soon," Mom said.

I pressed the end call b.u.t.ton on my phone, sprinted to my dresser to grab my purse, grabbed it, and ran out to my car. I jumped in the car, backed out, and then stopped. I had to focus and collect my thoughts. I had no idea where to go. Honestly, did I think I'd just be able to drive around and find Salvatore in ten minutes?

I punched in Salvatore's cell phone number and called it. It kept ringing and there was no answer so I left a message. Yes, I was pleading and sounding desperate, hoping I'd guilt him into replying.

Next, I sent a text message, begging him to come home or call me because I had something urgent to tell him. I waited and nothing happened. Feeling tortured by sitting still, I ran back into the house and decided to get dressed first, hoping that Salvatore would get in touch with me soon and answer my pleas of desperation.

Just after I put the finis.h.i.+ng touches on my make-up, I looked down to see that Salvatore had texted back. Thank goodness!

Salvatore: I need some s.p.a.ce. I've checked into a hotel.

Taylor: Where? I really need to talk to you urgently.

Salvatore: I don't think that's a good idea.

Taylor: Please, it's urgent. Involves our families.

I knew that I was playing my ultimate card by bringing family into it, my ace in the hole, but I had to get Salvatore to tell me where he was. He didn't respond at first so I tried again.

Taylor: Did you bike? Where are you? I need to see you. Please...it's SO important.

Salvatore: The Ritz Carlton, #475 Taylor: I'll be there soon.

I ran out to my car, nearly twisting my ankle in my 5" high heels as I tried to move quickly across the pavers of the driveway. It was not a pretty sight, but it was more important for me to get to Salvatore than look graceful walking in those shoes at that moment.

I programmed my GPS and began to make my way into DC. Thank G.o.d I'd gotten ready while trying to get Salvatore to tell me where he was. Otherwise, there would be no way I could possibly make that one hour deadline my parents had given me.

Pulling up to the Ritz-Carlton was an impressive experience. It was undoubtedly one of the nicest hotels in DC and a place that only people with big money stayed. That was one thing about my family, we'd never cared if we stayed at the best of the best when we vacationed. We just enjoyed being together. Clearly, Salvatore was accustomed to staying at this type of place and probably didn't think twice about it. The same was true for Chase, too. Aside from me, it was probably the only thing the two had in common.

I took the elevator up to the fourth floor, receiving curious glances from the staff, but I didn't have time to worry about them and what they may be thinking. For all I knew, they thought I was a hooker, but I was a woman on a mission to salvage what I could out of a frayed relations.h.i.+p with Salvatore.

When I got off the elevator I easily found Salvatore's room. I stood in front of it for a second, hesitant to knock because I felt scared to see him. I had no idea how I'd respond or what he thought of me and that was unsettling.

I touched my hand on the door, suddenly too fearful to knock, and the door swung open.

Salvatore stood there, staring at me. He wasn't wearing a s.h.i.+rt and his jeans hung loosely on his waist so his boxer's band just hung out over them, making him look so hot and s.e.xy. I just stared at him, unable to say a word or tear my eyes away from his brown, impa.s.sioned eyes.

"Taylor, I...I thought it was room service," he finally said. "Come in."

He turned and walked back into the room and I followed behind him and closed the door. Feeling at a loss for words, I looked around at everything in the suite and was impressed by how polished and eloquent it was. Salvatore was polished and eloquent, yet he looked oddly out of place in the suite, like he should be in something more modern and trendy and less old world European.

"I am going to be here for the rest of the month. That's why I got a suite," he said. "Then I'll be back in Italy." He turned his head like he didn't want to look at me and it made me feel so ashamed.

The way he talked made me feel so bad. I didn't want him to go back to Italy, not on bad terms with him. Finally I spoke. "Oh Salvatore, this is a beautiful suite, but this isn't where you belong. You belong back at the house with us. Please come back."

"I don't know, Taylor. It isn't a good idea. I don't think I can stand to see you...see..."

"I promise I'll stay out of your way if you don't want to see me there. We can have different schedules even, if you want. I just need you to come back home. I need you to be there."

Salvatore looked at me and I saw that same smoldering desire as he'd had earlier come alive in his eyes. He couldn't hide his thoughts any more than I could hide mine from him.

"Why is it that each time I see you, you grow more beautiful?" he asked me.

I smiled, not sure how to answer and watched as he slowly walked toward me, staring at me so intensely that I thought I might burst into flames. He came up and extended his hand out, touching my face so softly. His nose was within an inch of mine and there was no barrier between us.

No words I said would have been adequate so I decided to take what I wanted. I leaned in and kissed Salvatore and he instantly responded, showing that it was a welcomed response. He let out a deep groan and then pressed me against the door, kissing me so pa.s.sionately and making me feel like I was depriving myself when I had to take a breath. It was all consuming and I was eager to be consumed.

Salvatore slowly pulled away and began to murmur. "You came after me," he began, kissing my cheeks softly. "You do care for me. I had not imagined it."

"I couldn't just let you wonder off...let you leave," I said, putting my hands up to his sleek chest and roaming up and down it. Each one of his muscles seemed to spasm at my touch and my fingertips felt hot from the sensations of feeling his skin underneath them.

"Why couldn't you let me just leave you?" Salvatore asked softly. "Is it because you want to experience more of this." He began to let his lips travel all across my exposed skin, kissing my neck and my chest just above my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and sending delightful s.h.i.+vers across my body.

Then he turned me around and slowly unzipped the back of my dress, letting it drop to the floor. He picked me up and it remained where I'd been standing and carried me to the bedroom in the suite. I didn't say anything and I eagerly awaited what would come next. I wasn't going to goof up this opportunity by over thinking anything. I was going to experience what I wanted and at that moment I wanted Salvatore more than I'd ever wanted anything in my life.

Salvatore's hands slid around to my back and with one hand he unlatched the clasp on my bra, making my b.r.e.a.s.t.s spring out and the bra straps slide down my arm. He slowly peeled it off the rest of the way and licked my nipples until they ached, rosy and aroused from his touch.

"I thought you were a virgin," I whispered, impressed with Salvatore's ability to masterfully control my body's reactions to his touch. Every move he did was so perfect...just right.

I looked down at Salvatore, intrigued by the way he was playing my body like a finely tuned instrument. He glanced up at me and gave a wicked, seductive little smile. "I'm only technically a virgin. I've experience nearly everything else before."

"That's tricky," I said, trying to protest, but I didn't care. He could have been a gigolo and I would have wanted him to keep going. Knowing that he desired me was a turn-on and something that demanded attention.

"Well, when you spend a lot of time at boarding schools you have a few more opportunities to explore and experiment with certain things." He raised his eyebrows and smiled at me brightly, showing a mischievous side to him that was so d.a.m.n s.e.xy.

"Really? I thought you were like a monk or something...studying, focused, and always serious."

"I am very focused during serious times like this," Salvatore said, winking at me and then ravaging my body with his lips once again. He had a slight 5:00 shadow which enhanced every sensation I was feeling and my body indicated that it wanted to be taken in response to everything he did.

Salvatore stood up abruptly and unbuckled his belt, sliding his jeans and boxers off. There it was. That big, beautiful bulge and it was so hard once again, showing that it wanted me as much as I wanted it.

"I definitely like what I see," I said softly. "What do you have in mind?"

Salvatore gave a cheeky smile. "You've been a very good tutor, Taylor, most accommodating, but there's one area that needs to be addressed still...something very important for my experience with you."

"And what is that?" I asked, not able to take my eyes off his hard c.o.c.k, which was so close to my mouth that I wanted to dart my tongue out and lick it.

"That I want to make love with you badly," he said, sliding back on the bed and pressing his naked body against me.

"You're sure," I whispered, wanting to make sure that this was the right thing for him. I knew it was for me, but this moment wasn't just about me. It was about us having a perfect union of what we both desired and wanted.

"I've dreamt about you taking my virginity from the first time I saw you. It's consumed my nights...driven me crazy at times. I'm sick of thinking about it. I want it to happen. Will you help me, Taylor?"

"Don't you want to plan it and make it special?" I asked. Inside I was shouting, please shut up just this once and take this beautiful man!

"Are you afraid?" Salvatore asked.

"No, but I've never taken anyone's virginity before."

"Don't worry, Taylor," he said and leaned over to gently kiss me on the forehead. "It may be my first time, but it isn't like I don't know what to do. In fact, I know exactly what I want and what I want to do, too. You want me, don't you?"

"Yes," I said breathily. It felt so good to say that out loud, to admit my desires and break down the little bit of resistance that had been left in me. That pesky good girl was going to take a hiatus and the s.e.xual diva in me was going to run wild.

Salvatore continued. "You want to be my first?"

"Yes," I said, shaking from how much I desired him. Enough talking. I wanted to explore with my body and my lips and go to places that I'd never been physically with another human being before. I just sensed that this would be more intimate, intense, and fulfilling to my very core than anything I'd ever experienced with Chase.

"I'm afraid," Salvatore said abruptly.

Ugh! No!

"Why? Don't be afraid. I don't understand," I said, reaching up and softly caressing his shoulder.

"I'm afraid that I'll enjoy it so much that I will miss it too much and miss you too much when I go back home." Salvatore sighed, haunted by the idea.

"We only have to deal with what's happening right now. This is what I want. This is what you want," I said. Then I rolled over Salvatore so he was lying on his back. I slid onto him, immediately feeling so full that a deep satisfying moan escaped from my mouth, and I began to rock my hips back and forth, greeted with thrusts from Salvatore that shattered my very core, making me build up to what was promising to be an extremely intense o.r.g.a.s.m.

I was staring at Salvatore, who had his eyes open, groaning and looking at me. His hands traveled up to my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and he gently touched them and squeezed them, making me feel even better while he begin to groan more loudly.

Then he placed his hands on my hips and slowly navigated me to my back, entering into me again and staring down at me closely, kissing me as he pumped harder and harder. My back arched and I felt my body clenching in so much pleasure, I couldn't hold back...it was about to happen.

"Salvatore, I'm...coming," I said, frozen in the moment and feeling the shattering o.r.g.a.s.m he'd delivered me.

"And I am coming with you," Salvatore said, breathing heavily and leaning down to kiss me softly.

His eyes squeezed shut in ecstasy as he let out a deep groan, shuddering before he collapsed on top of me. We laid there tangled in each other's body for a few minutes, neither wanting to move and have our bodies separate.

Chapter 14.

I was in heaven and in such a blissful state next to Salvatore. Our response to each other had been so perfect in every way, fulfilling a destiny that was meant to take place no matter how hard we tried to deny it.

Wanting to look into his eyes and see through expression, not words, what Salvatore was thinking, I rolled to my side and looked at him, extending my arm out to touch his hair, which was plastered against his face from the vigorous pace at which he'd loved me and delivered me that incredible o.r.g.a.s.m just a minute before.

"Are you good?" I asked, smiling at him.

"I'm good, but I am not satisfied yet," Salvatore said.

"What do you.."

I didn't need to finish my thought because Salvatore's body finished it for me. He began to kiss me again, this time more tender and pa.s.sionately, wanting to experience our connection at a less animalistic and aggressive level. He was slow and methodical, so precise and purposeful and every one of his movements had more significance than simply being a move.

He slid into me and we rocked together, feeling the warmth of our response and the incredible sensation that can only come from the perfect touch.

"Oh Taylor, oh Taylor," Salvatore moaned.

"I'm here for you...this is so right," I whispered. "Salvatore." My words were cut short by the tremor that surged through my body in response to his tender touch.