Harbour of Refuge Read online

  He helped put everything on the table and soon his brother joined them. They ate, talked and relaxed. A few hours later, he walked out of the house with Halyn. Gio and Jaydee went with them and soon they all stood outside on the porch.

  “It was lovely to meet you, Halyn. I hope we see you again soon.” Jaydee gave her a slight smile.

  “Thank you for everything,” Halyn said.

  “Great meeting you, Halyn. Take care of her, Enzo,” Gio added.

  Glaring at his brother, he added his farewells after Halyn answered Gio. Then they headed down to where her convertible was parked.

  “It wasn’t that bad, was it?” he asked, once they were on the way back.

  “Nope, not at all. I like them. Their children are beautiful.”

  She didn’t turn the music back up when they got in so it was much easier to hear her. The wistfulness in her tone had him watching her closer. It was easy to tell she enjoyed children and he knew she’d make a good mother. He’d seen it just by watching her with his niece when she’d woken.

  In his head, he ran over what they’d discussed over dessert. She’d mentioned having a toy store. He could see it—her helping children find what they wanted.

  The closer they got to her house, the further thoughts of her job got. His mind focused on the lush body she had, and what they would be doing once they got inside. She pulled in the drive and went to the garage, where she parked.

  He got out after her and once the door had lowered, he followed her inside. Plush, slate-blue carpet cradled his feet. He trailed her as she went up the hall past the kitchen and to the tiled foyer. She kicked off her shoes and he did the same. Beyond that was a large living room with a corner fireplace between a window and a sliding glass door leading somewhere, it was too dark to tell, but he guessed a patio.

  They continued through the living room and she turned left, into what was obviously her bedroom. She flicked on a light and he gazed about, taking in the scene before him.

  The same blue carpet filled the room. Her full-size bed was to his right and ahead was a well-constructed mahogany dresser. In the corner by a window sat a large overstuffed chair and she had a padded bench at the end of her bed. Not a lot of things, but nice things.

  She spun before him and wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him closer for a kiss. He growled in the back of his throat as her taste, combined with cheesecake and coffee, mingled with his.

  Her hands were almost frantic as she tore up his shirt, seeking and finding the skin beneath with a purr. She raked her nails over his chest, flickering over his taut nipples. He responded by reaching for the hem of her shirt and lifting it.

  “Right now?” he mumbled to her lips.

  “You came here to talk more?”

  He responded by lifting her up in his arms and depositing her on the bed with a bounce. Seconds later, his shirt hit the floor, followed swiftly by his jeans and socks. Standing before her in nothing but his boxer briefs, he paused prior to shucking them also.

  His cock sprang free, thick and hard. He gripped it and stroked up and down the shaft. “Undress,” he rasped.

  A siren’s smile lifted her lips and she wriggled free of her shirt. Her shorts were the next to go and he groaned as she revealed a blue bra and panty set. Just as hot as she’d been the night in Monte Carlo. And he wanted her even more now.

  Up and down, he fisted himself. He didn’t know if he could get any harder. When her bra and panties dropped beside the bed and her fingers walked down her belly, over her close-clipped curls, then dipped into her wet pussy, he knew he could.

  She put her feet flat on the shiny bedspread—a mix of royal purple, mauve and gold—as she continued to finger herself. Shit! He could feel his balls beginning to draw up for release. He’d not even touched her yet, aside from putting her on the bed.

  “You like me watching you.” He made it a statement.

  “I like watching you.”

  Nothing shy about her. Her knees fell wider, giving him a much clearer view of her fingers—three of them now—as they plunged in and out of her wetness. With her free hand, she cupped a breast and tweaked the nipple. Her teeth caught her bottom lip as a cry slipped free.

  “Then watch me,” he ordered when her lids lowered.

  Her eyes were hazy and filled with desire but she listened. Her fingers stimulated her clit and he gripped himself harder as his strokes came faster. He stepped closer to the bed and the scent of her arousal met him, welcomed him, taunted him.

  “I want you,” she said.

  “I want to watch you get yourself off.”

  Her gaze burned with fire and he noticed the sudden hitch in her breath. She took her hand from her breast and it joined the one between her legs. “Only if I get to watch you.”

  Fuck me. It wouldn’t take but a moment for him to lose it. Although, from her expression, he didn’t think she was that far either.

  He released his shaft and reached down, swiping two fingers through her cream to coat his cock. She moaned and he paused in his renewed stroking.

  “You can’t just watch, sweetheart.”

  He really should have just let her observe. It would have been easier. She licked her lips and drove those three fingers back inside her core. Her other hand played with her clit, rolling it, tugging it, making it stiffen even more. She panted and mewled in obvious pleasure and he almost came just from watching her. He had to hold out, he didn’t want to miss a second of her display.

  Her hips rolled and arched off the bed as she finally crested, a loud cry bursting from her lips. Christ, she was a thing of beauty when she came. So pure, uninhibited and honest.

  He had a condom on before she had even stopped shaking, moved between her spread thighs and with one single stroke sank into her heat, replacing her fingers with his cock. Her cry, which had been fading, crescendoed.

  Fire burned. Thunder boomed. All in his head, he knew, but he also knew he wouldn’t last long. She was too tight, too hot. He drew back, stared in her desire filled eyes and thrust forwards again.

  Her internal muscles rippled around him, gripping him, trying to keep him deep inside. Somehow he managed to force back his own desire and started a slow, easy rhythm. In and out. Back and forth. Nice and undemanding.

  Halyn captured her lower lip in her teeth as she undulated beneath him, keeping in time with his strokes. Her large eyes focused on him and he could read the blatant need in them.

  “Please,” she gasped.

  “What, sweetheart?”

  “Faster. More. Harder.”

  Three words that sounded divine to his ears. But he didn’t want it to end. Shaking his head slightly, he leant down to brush their lips together. “No. Easy.”

  “Enzo.”

  He chuckled, even though he wanted to take her up on the faster, more, harder. “Do you have any idea how fucking hot you looked getting yourself off?” He dipped a shoulder and repositioned one of her legs over it. Then he did the same to the other side so the backs of her knees rested on him. “Oh, yeah,” he rumbled. “I like this much better. I can get even deeper into your pussy.”

  He punctuated the statement with two powerful drives into her. She dug her nails into his forearms and went with him. Her gaze locked on his, he continued to piston his hips, he filled her then retreated, only to do it all over again. His balls had drawn tighter and he knew it would be over for him soon. Her breasts bounced with each forwards motion he made and his mouth watered to have them to suckle. Right now, he focused on holding out as long as he could.

  She came again, back arching and a scream of pleasure ripping from her throat. He couldn’t last any longer with the feel of her muscles tightening around him. One final thrust and he, too, came with a cry.

  Sweaty, he sank upon her, barely able to keep from crushing her. He was drained, wrung out, spent. His heart pounded out a rhythm it hadn’t known for months.

  “Oh, yeah, I missed that,” she stated breathlessly, her hands smo
othing up and down his back.

  “Me too,” he admitted.

  Once he’d caught his breath, he pulled out of her and went to dispose of the condom. When he returned to the bed, she’d settled beneath the covers, leaving them open for him.

  She observed him with such frankness he found himself asking, “What?”

  “Nothing, I just like watching you.”

  He grinned. “Likewise, sweetheart.”

  She rolled on her side and his gaze lingered on the breast he could easily see. “Just remember, next time I get to watch you finish.”

  His cock stiffened a bit at her statement. Had he said he’d missed her? Because, hell yeah, he had.

  * * * *

  Halyn bent over to pull the baking tray out of the oven, the smell of the freshly baked scones making her mouth water. She turned off the appliance and put away her hot pads. Once she’d grabbed her cup of coffee, she took a sip and glanced at the time again. There was still time before she had to go to work.

  She wouldn’t be able to let him sleep much longer. As if her thoughts alone conjured him, Enzo Cassano walked into her kitchen. Immediately he sucked up all her attention. How couldn’t he? She was so into him.

  “Morning,” she said, somehow managing to sound normal, not like a sex-starved woman who wanted anything and everything he would be willing to give her.

  “Smells good in here.” He gathered her close and kissed her until she felt boneless in his embrace. “Morning to you, too, sweetheart.”

  “Cranberry scones and coffee. If you’d like something else, I could make it for you.”

  He didn’t release her, just shook his head, his morning stubble abrading her forehead a bit. She didn’t mind.

  “No, these look delicious. Do you have to work today?”

  “Yes, I have to leave in an hour.”

  She’d be lying if she didn’t admit that playing hooky had been foremost in her thoughts for a while now. She might have, if she’d known what his schedule was. She figured he’d be spending time with his family. Something she had no problems with—family should come first.

  “Can you skip a day? Maybe a week, and spend it with me?”

  Be still, my beating heart. “Sorry. Besides, aren’t you here to visit family?”

  He stepped back and crossed his arms. “I am, but they won’t mind.”

  “I bet they would. How often do you get to see them?”

  “More than I see you.” His reply was swift and honest.

  “I’m not family. I’m a booty call.”

  His gaze narrowed on her face. “Why would you call yourself that?”

  She reached for some plates. “Because it’s true. Can you stand there and honestly tell me when you called you weren’t thinking of sex?”

  His silence spoke volumes.

  “See, booty call. Not that I mind because, damn. But I don’t think you should forfeit time with family. I have to work all the time, even through the race. I was planning on watching it if I could but, I don’t want you to be distracted.”

  “Wait a minute, are you telling me to leave you alone?”

  No, taking me up against the wall would work though. “Not at all. I’m merely saying don’t change all your plans because I happened to be in the town your next race is in. I’d love to see you when you are here, but I will make no assumptions.”

  He stared at her for a few moments and she busied herself with putting a warm scone on each plate. Strong arms braced on either side of her and she inhaled deeply, enjoying the pure scent of Enzo. Turning, she met his gaze.

  “I want to spend as much time as I can with you, Halyn.”

  She went up on tiptoes and brushed a feather-light kiss along his lips. “I’d like that.”

  He waited and seemed to weigh her statement. After a brief nod, he took both plates to the table where they ate. She brought a cup of coffee for him and over the easy breakfast she gave him her work schedule so they could set up time to be together. Enzo left when she headed off to work. With a lingering kiss, they left her house and went their separate ways.

  * * * *

  She opened up her shop and quickly became busy. The great thing about her toy store was that when parents came in with children who needed to calm down a bit, or do something that didn’t require a lot of attention, Halyn made sure there were lots of activities and games available.

  In the early afternoon, a black-haired woman entered with a boy of about five in tow. He had a blank expression on his face. No, she corrected, a brooding one. He had dark, curly hair and brown eyes.

  “Good afternoon, can I help you find anything?” she asked.

  The mother gave a small huff and said something to him in a language she didn’t understand. The child barely blinked. “We need something for him to do in the hotel. Something like a card game, video game.” She shrugged.

  Her accent sounded Slavic to Halyn. “Okay. The display of games for the handheld devices are on aisle three, and card or board games are on five.”

  The mother walked off immediately while the child looked at Halyn. She gave him a tentative smile. Nothing in return, but he followed his mother when she snapped a sharp command in his direction.

  Halyn shook her head. Poor child. Vacations were a lot harder on kids than people thought. Parents got stressed and the young ones tended to get the brunt of it. Soon, a few more people came in and she helped them out.

  “You have restroom?”

  Looking up from where she worked in the stuffed animal section, she found that black-haired woman staring at her. Halyn pushed to her feet and wiped her hands off on her pants. “Sure. Head to the back and you’ll see the door on your left.”

  Another strained smile. “Thank you.”

  Worrying her lower lip, Halyn returned her attention to the task at hand. She only managed to get one more thing put up before she turned to look for the boy. She found him standing by the portable game consoles.

  “Find something you like?” she asked.

  He glanced up then dismissed her, focusing back on something before him. She tried to see what he was looking at but she wasn’t sure. “Would you like to try a game? We have the test one right over here, perhaps that will help you decide which one you want.”

  He didn’t exactly jump for joy at her offer, but he did move with her to it. She stood back as he took it and scrolled through the offered sample games. Halyn watched him as he did, noting what ones—if any—would create a bit of excitement. Nothing did, and she backed off when his mother returned.

  “I’m sure you’ll find the perfect game,” she said to him as she walked towards the work she still had to do.

  The duo left about fifteen minutes later, having picked up a game full of puzzles. At the door, the child glanced back at her briefly before his mother tugged on him and took him off down the street.

  “Well, he was cute,” she mumbled, cutting down the cardboard box beside her.

  She stayed busy the rest of the day and around an hour before closing, she looked up to see her best friend stride through the door.

  “Hey, girl!” Mila said easily, pushing behind the counter. “Are we alone?”

  “Yes we are. How are you?” Halyn asked.

  “Fine, fine.” She waved a hand about. “Now, I want to know all about last night.”

  “He took me for dinner at The Grill. We had dessert at his brother’s house.” Halyn flushed as she recalled what happened after that. Over and over again.

  “Oh no, you don’t. Tell me. I know you hit that again. I’m so jealous. Enzo Cassano. Details.”

  “We went to my place since he’s in town for the race. It was…better than it had been in Monte Carlo.”

  Mila released a low whistle. “Really? Because you were pretty damn sure no one would ever lay anything on you like he’d done. Now he tops it? I really hate you, bitch. I knew I should have gone after him.”

  “You’re practically engaged, Mila,” she reprimanded.

&n
bsp; “Please, I think Joe would forgive that indiscretion. The damn man has a crush like I do, if not worse. Enzo is his favourite driver. You should have seen his face when I told him the man was in town early. He wanted to know every detail.”

  Another reason Halyn hadn’t told her where they were going for dinner.

  “He wants to know if you would mind bringing him over for supper one night?”

  “Your boyfriend wants to know, or you do?”

  Mila flashed a grin. “Both.”

  Halyn shook her head. “No, sorry, Mila. I’m not his agent to set things up for him and I’m not going to abuse my relationship with him so you and Joe can take pictures with him. He came early for a reason and I will respect that.”

  “You and your damn small-town values,” she griped. “Are you sure? Maybe just stop by for like, drinks or something?” Mila was in her coaxing mode.

  “Nope. Because I know you, Mila. You two would have all your co-workers there and possibly the news. I won’t do that to him. Why would you ask that?”

  “Can’t we, like, just ignore those small-town values for a moment or two?” Mila grumbled.

  “Curse me all you want, Mila.” Deep down, she knew Mila would understand. “That’s foul play and you know it.”

  “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

  Both women jumped at the intrusion of the deep male voice and jerked their heads around. Enzo stood there, leaning against the counter further down, watching them with amusement in his gaze.

  Mila’s skin flushed red and Halyn was grateful that hers, darker, didn’t show it as much.

  “Enzo,” she breathed.

  He stood there in a dark green shirt and baseball cap. She couldn’t see the rest but it didn’t matter. Her body knew and responded.

  “Hello, Halyn. Good to see you again, Mila.”

  It didn’t take her friend long to recover from her embarrassment of being caught trying to weasel a visit from him to her dinner table. She stood tall, tossed her silky, black hair back and shoved her breasts forwards. Halyn bit back a groan.

  “I’m so glad to see you again, Mr Cassano.” Mila’s words dripped in invitation and came on a seductive purr.