Rocco took a deep breath, trying to release the anger. “And what about Nikki?”
Brianna started walking again. “Nikki’s parents died in a car accident. We were in the same foster home.”
“Was it a good one?” he asked, afraid of what she might say next. He’d heard some pretty horrible things about foster homes. Some were excellent with warm, caring people who helped children through some horribly difficult times. But there were some who could cripple a child’s emotions and development with cruel treatment.
Brianna thought about that question for a moment. “It was a safe place to be,” she finally responded.
Rocco knew there was more. “What did Nikki need to protect you from?”
Brianna turned to look up at him, squinting into the sunshine. “I’ll tell you what, you answer one question for me answering one of yours. How about it?”
Rocco smiled and stepped closer. “Deal. So what did your friend protect you from?”
Smiling, she shook her head. “Nope. I’ve already answered several of yours. It’s my turn to ask questions.”
“No way. You just negotiated the terms. You can’t make the deal retroactive. So give in,” he commanded, stepping closer so that his head blocked the sun from her eyes. “Why did you need protection?”
She debated how to answer and was about to respond when he stopped her. “Don’t even think about telling me a lie. I can see everything you’re thinking on your face.”
Brianna didn’t like that, but she adjusted her answer so it was more honest. “The homes were safe enough. It was the other kids in school that Nikki helped Rachel and I deal with.” Before he could even open his mouth to ask the next question, she stopped him with her own. “Who is the man I saw you pretending not to speak with at the dance club last week?”
Rocco smiled slightly. “His name was Nazar.” With that, he turned and started walking away.
Brianna ground her teeth in frustration. A first name? Really? That was all he was going to give her?!
Nikki had taught her never to let someone take advantage of her and she wasn’t going to start now. The man’s phone rang and he was momentarily distracted as he answered the call.
Bending low, she grabbed a handful of snow, excited that it was early enough in the winter season so the temperatures weren’t well below the freezing point. That made the snow perfectly packable and her gloved hands quickly formed a snowball.
In hindsight, she should have channeled her temper in a safer direction. But at the moment, she was too irritated by his non-answer and the numerous questions she’d answered for him. She’d been more than forthcoming about her life and he’d answered with just the man’s first name? Oh no! She couldn’t let him get away with that!
Nikki had taught her well. The snowball hit him smack on the back of the head. There was a silence as Rocco stood there with his back to her, the cell phone about an inch away from his ear.
And then he turned. Slowly, as if he still couldn’t believe what she’d just done.
And even at that moment, she should have run. But instead, she stood there, smugly happy with her perfect aim.
“I’ll have to call you back,” he said to the person on the other end of the phone line. Without waiting for any response, he clicked the phone off, tucked it casually into his pocket, then….
Brianna’s confident smile turned to a screech of horror and laughter as Rocco raced after her. She ran as fast as her shorter legs and the deep snow would allow, but she was no match for Rocco’s longer and stronger stride. Within moments, she was flung down into the snow, landing with a laugh and a thud on top of his chest. Even then, she was up and running once again, slowed down by the laughter that was debilitating her.
The next thing she knew, she was plucked out of the snow and flung over Rocco’s shoulder. “Do you give up?” he demanded.
Between gasping laughter, she tried to slip off of his shoulder.
“Never!” she yelled right back at him.
“I’ll just have to ramp it up a bit,” he came back.
Within moments, they were at the back door to his house and he flung her upright. But he wouldn’t let her go and her laughter was still in full force. Even when he pinned her against the mudroom wall, her mind didn’t acknowledge the danger she was in. So when his mouth covered hers, she was still laughing. Her hands automatically moved up to his broad shoulders and she gasped in excitement, still delirious from her laughing to stop him.
By the time his hands were moving up underneath her shirt, she could barely breathe because of the overwhelming desire that swamped her. It was just like the last time, only more intense.
“Tell me you want me,” he commanded as his hands swiftly found her soft, full breasts.
“Would it matter?” she asked, her head falling backwards as his expert thumbs found her already hard nipples, slamming her with an electric jolt so strong, she could barely hold herself upright. If it weren’t for his strong arms, she might have melted along with the snow puddling at their feet as it melted off of their bodies.
“Tell me!” he commanded more forcefully as his leg pressed between hers.
“Yes! Don’t stop!” and she pressed her body closer to his, needing more, needing all of him. Her own hands were gripping his neck but she didn’t want that any longer. She needed to touch him, to feel his skin and all those glorious muscles she’d felt the last time they’d been together.
A small part of her brain couldn’t believe she wanted this so badly, needed him after only being in his company for one day and one night. But there was just something about him that she couldn’t deny, something so elemental, it made her feel whole and complete when he was touching her and she could touch him.
He didn’t carry her up to his bedroom this time. There wasn’t any time. Their urgency was too intense, too demanding. He tore his hands away from her breasts and she cried out, instantly missing his touch. But then his arms lifted her up and he carried her into another room. She had no idea where they were, but suddenly she was laying down and he was standing over her, pulling her clothes off at such a rapid rate, she was naked in what felt like seconds.
There was no time to worry, no time to wonder about the crazy need that this man, only this man, could instigate so deep inside of her. As soon as her clothes were off, his hands were working on his own, discarding shirt, jeans and boxers at a surprisingly fast rate. A moment later, he was right back with her, leaning down and kissing her even as his body found hers, sliding skin against skin. Brianna groaned as she felt a tingling all over her body, pooling right at her core as her need increased to an almost painful level.