Seduced By The Bachelor
Everyone spoke at once, but Rafael’s voice cut through the noise.
“Baby, that’s ridiculous,” he argued, draping an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “You don’t need a television show to learn about men. Just ask me. I’m the only man you need.”
Giggling, Paris cupped her husband’s face in her hands and gave him a peck on the lips.
The waitstaff returned, carrying several bottles of champagne, and Tatiyana dropped her utensils on her gold plate. “Champagne? You’re my kind of people!”
“What are we celebrating?” Markos asked, settling back into his arm chair.
Sharleen beamed. “Emilio’s ESPN Athlete of the Year award.”
“Another one? That’s the third award of your career.” Markos gave his brother a one-arm hug, then ruffled his hair. “I’m proud of you, little bro. Good job.”
Clasping Sharleen’s hand, Emilio raised it to his mouth and kissed it. “Baby, you deserve this award as much as I do, if not more,” he said quietly. “If not for you, I’d still be sitting in my living room, watching home videos of Lucca, drowning in grief and despair.”
“As usual, you’re giving me way too much credit. You’re the talent, baby, not me.”
“Sharleen, could you be a little less supportive?” Angela wore a sheepish expression on her face. “I want my man to win that coveted award, too, but Emilio’s impossible to beat.”
“Keep hope alive, sister-in-law! There’s always next year.”
Laughing, Dionne Fontaine-Morretti, Immanuel’s wife, filled each flute to the brim. The couple had eloped to Hawaii two weeks earlier, shocking their friends and family, and Tatiyana had enjoyed hearing about their wild, romantic weekend in Maui.
“To Emilio!” Nicco raised his glass in the air. “May this award catapult you to greater heights, and cement your place in Formula One history. Saluti!”
Cheering, everyone around the table clinked glasses.
“What do you guys want to do now?” Angela asked. “I’ve had a rough week at the news station, and if anyone deserves to party tonight it’s me.”
“Let’s go to the sports bar,” Immanuel proposed, checking the time on his gold wristwatch. “The World Rugby Championship is on, and I don’t want to miss it.”
“Bor-ing,” the women sang in unison.
“Markos, are you ready to go?” Tatiyana asked, tucking her purse under her forearm.
Dionne frowned. “Why are you whispering, and where are you guys sneaking off to?”
“Applause Nightclub,” she explained. “It’s old-school night, and all of my favorite acts are performing, including Divas.”
Angela whooped for joy. “Count me in!”
“Me, too.” Jariah slipped on her Pashmina shawl and hopped to her feet. “I’m game.”
“I’m going!” Dionne said. “I love R&B music, and I’m the biggest Divas fan ever.”
Immanuel kissed her forehead. “Then it’s settled. We’re going to the concert.”
Markos was convinced his ears were deceiving him. His brother, a security specialist with a stellar résumé, who they jokingly called Sharpshooter, wouldn’t be caught dead in a noisy, smoky club. Immanuel didn’t dance, preferred classical music to hip-hop and often joked he’d been born in the wrong decade. Leaning toward his brother, he kept his voice low, asking, “What happened to the rugby match? I thought you wanted to cheer on the Italian team.”
“It’s no biggie. I’ll catch the highlights when we get back tonight.”
“But you hate nightclubs,” Markos pointed out, confused by his brother’s behavior.
“I know,” Immanuel conceded with a shrug, his gaze glued to his wife, love shining in his eyes. “But what my baby wants, my baby gets, so let’s bounce.”
Chapter 4
“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but the club’s full,” the bouncer said, folding his arms rigidly across his flabby chest. “Better luck next time.”
Tatiyana cringed. It was a dig, an insult meant to embarrass her in front of the chic, crowd waiting outside Applause Nightclub, located in the Ybor entertainment district. Behind her, she heard people snicker. Ma’am? The word annoyed her, and the sneer on the bouncer’s face confirmed her suspicions. He was trying to humiliate her.
“I’m calling Rafael to tell him what’s going on,” Paris said, putting her iPhone to her ear.
Jariah protested. “No, don’t. We can handle this. We’re Morrettis now, remember?”
“Exactly!” Angela agreed, fervently nodding. “We’ve got this. We don’t need the guys to rescue us. We can take care of ourselves.”
At her request, the guys had dropped them off in front of the club so they could reserve a VIP room, but if Tatiyana knew the bouncer was going to give them a hard time, she would have stuck with the guys. No way he’d insult Markos and his famous family members.
Tatiyana could hear reggae music playing inside the club, a loud, infectious beat that made her want to dance, and wanted inside the hottest party in Tampa. She knew Divas were going to put on one hell of a show for their fans, and, since Tatiyana was determined to see the group perform live, she stepped forward and glared at the heavyset bouncer. “I flew thousands of miles to see—”
“Ma’am, come back tomorrow night. Women get in free until midnight.”
Tatiyana gestured to the scantily dressed women sailing past the red, velvet rope. “If the club’s full, then where are they going?”
“That’s none of your business—”
“I wish I had my iPhone,” Tatiyana grumbled, mad at herself for forgetting it inside the Escalade Markos had rented for the weekend. It seated seven, and on the drive to the club the group had chatted about their vacation plans, their favorite spots in Tampa and laughed at Nicco’s wild, outrageous stories about his bachelor days. It was hard for Tatiyana to enjoy herself. With each passing minute, her guilt intensified. “If I had my cell with me, I’d tweet about how the bouncers at Applause Nightclub disrespect women.”
Dionne stepped forward. “This is ridiculous. I want to speak to the manager.”
The bouncer turned away, ignoring them, and Tatiyana jabbed an index finger in his shoulder. “We’re not leaving until you get the owner.”
A slim man with greasy hair and aviators emerged from the club, clutching a bottle of Cristal. Speaking to the bouncer in Spanish, he winked and nodded.
“Are you the owner?” Tatiyana asked, raising her voice to catch his attention. Spotting Markos jogging across the street with the guys, she governed her temper. Tatiyana didn’t want him to think she was a hothead, didn’t want to do anything to ruin their date, and swallowed the insult on the tip of her tongue. The Morretti family was respected and admired, and Tatiyana didn’t want to embarrass her companions. Once again, warning bells rang in her mind. Tatiyana had doubts about seducing Markos. She couldn’t quiet her fears and struggled with what to do. Maybe she shouldn’t go through with it. Maybe she should come clean to Markos, tell him everything.
Tatiyana struck the idea from her mind. My mom already did that, she thought with a heavy heart. And Markos didn’t believe her. He called her a liar, said Jantel was an opportunist trying to ruin the mayor’s reputation, and kicked them out of his office. No, she had to stick to her plan. No matter what.
“Ladies,” the owner said in a soothing voice. “I understand you’re upset, but there’s nothing I can do. It’s packed inside, and if I let you in I could get fined for overpopulating the club. Come back tomorrow. You’ll be my personal guests.”
Tatiyana started to argue, to tell the owner his bouncers were sexist jerks who disrespected women, but a cheer went up from the crowd, seizing her attention, and she broke off speaking. Demetri appeared at her right side and Emilio at the other.
“Is there a problem here?” Rafael asked.
Whooping for joy, his eyes big and wide, the owner pumped a fist in the air. “Demetri and Emilio Morretti? Here, at Applause Nightclub? This must be my lucky day!” Standing tall, he adjusted his peacock-blue tie. “Right this way. The VIP room is available, and—”
Angela interrupted him. “You said the club was full.”
“I was kidding,” he said with a hearty laugh, dismissing her words with a wave of his hand. “There’s plenty of room inside for my favorite baseball player and his family. Now, please follow me to the private entrance at the rear of the club.”
Markos clasped Tatiyana’s hand. One whiff of his cologne made her thoughts scatter and her skin tingle. He had more game than a basketball player and the lean, toned physique to match. It was no surprise other women were staring at him, too. But he was with her, had his hands draped possessively around her waist, as if staking his claim.
Tatiyana smoothed a hand over her hair and adjusted her dress. Markos caressed her skin, told her repeatedly how beautiful she looked. He spoke in a deep, manly voice, intended to seduce, and it worked. Tatiyana wanted him so bad all she could think about was kissing him.
Wearing a triumphant smirk, Tatiyana stepped past the bouncer and followed the group through the gold door at the rear of the nightclub, anxious to get Markos alone.
“I’m ready for dessert. Are you?” he whispered, sweeping his mouth over her ear.
His words gave her pause. Hold on. Who’s seducing who?
A baby-faced brunette in a white jumpsuit led them to the second floor, into a glass room with mirror balls hanging from the ceiling, velvet couches and mauve walls covered with framed paintings. The savory scent in the air tickled Tatiyana’s nose and stirred her appetite. Silver trays topped with fruit, bite-size chocolates and cheese covered the marble tables, and ice buckets, filled with champagne, sat on the bar. It was an intimate, comfortable setting, and Tatiyana was impressed.
“Welcome to Applause Nightclub,” a server said, tipping his head in greeting. “You have the entire floor to yourselves, so relax and enjoy the Champagne Room.”
Angela plucked a chocolate off one of the trays. “Thank you. We will!”
“Can I interest anyone in a drink?”
While the server took orders, Tatiyana admired the décor. From the second floor, she had an overhead view of the club, and the dazzling light show, dance cages and swings made Tatiyana think of the Malibu nightclub she’d worked at to put herself through college. It seemed like just yesterday she was waiting tables and cramming for midterms, but it had been years since she was a student, and her life had changed drastically since graduation.
“Let’s grab a seat,” Markos said, gesturing to the couch. “I want to hear more about—”
“Come dance with me,” Tatiyana said, swaying her hips to the beat of the music. She tried to convince Markos to dance but he stayed seated, watching her instead. One dance turned into another, and by the time Divas hit the stage an hour later, Tatiyana was out of breath.
The crowd went wild, cheering, screaming, waving fluorescent glow sticks in the air. Tatiyana hadn’t been out dancing in months, and it felt good to cut lose with the Morretti family.
Markos was sitting on the couch, watching her, and when he smiled, her confidence soared. It was just a matter of time before they made love, and Tatiyana couldn’t wait. Was he a good lover? Generous and passionate, or a man who’d put his needs above her own?
Hoping it wasn’t the latter, Tatiyana picked up her cocktail glass from the bar and sat down beside Markos on the couch. “What a night!” she said, struggling to catch her breath. “Are you having fun?”
“Of course I am. You’re very entertaining, and I’m enjoying the show. So, what do you do when you’re not dancing at nightclubs?”
Giggling, she playfully pushed his shoulder, marveling at how well they got along. Less than twenty-four hours after meeting, and they were laughing and joking as if they were lifelong friends. “What do you do when you’re not charming women on airplanes?”
“I hit the gym, play golf, travel and attend sporting events. And you?”
“I enjoy cooking, dancing, and making love—”
“We’re going downstairs to take pictures with the performers. Want to come?” Jariah asked.
With her eyes glued to Markos, Tatiyana answered Jariah’s question. “No, I’m good.” Her voice sounded airy and breathless, as if she’d just finished an aerobics class. Tatiyana wanted to take his hands and use them to stroke her body, but since she didn’t want to turn him off by making the first move, she sat tight. “My horoscope was totally on point today. It said I would meet someone special, and here you are.”
“I’m the lucky one,” he said, gesturing around the VIP room with his drink. “Thanks to you, my family members are having the time of their lives.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Immanuel and Dionne kissing at the back of the room. They were a playful, loving couple, and it was obvious the security specialist was smitten with the life coach. Like his brother and cousins, he was completely devoted to his wife. Tatiyana was impressed, couldn’t believe how affectionate the Morretti men were. They wanted the world to know they were spoken for, and didn’t shy away from expressing their feelings.
Locking eyes with him, Tatiyana slowly and suggestively licked her lips, hoping to convey her need. His gaze was so intense, so powerful she forgot what they were talking about. Flirting with Markos was a turn-on, giving her a rush, and Tatiyana was dying to kiss him.
“Bro, whose team are you playing on tomorrow?” Immanuel asked. “It better be mine, or I’ll disown you.”
Markos waved. “Fine, Immanuel, it’s been fun knowing you. Deuces!”
Everyone laughed, including the waitstaff and suit-clad bartenders.
A couple more glasses of champagne and Markos was a different person—playful, laidback, at ease. It was obvious he enjoyed spending time with his family, and listening to him crack jokes with his brothers made Tatiyana think of Jantel. They used to be best friends, incredibly close, but these days all her sister did was lay in bed staring at the walls. Since the mayor’s bachelor party, Jantel had been sad and withdrawn, a shadow of her former self. Worst of all, she ignored Allie, barely gave her daughter a passing glance. Mayor Glover was to blame for her sister’s depression, and Tatiyana was going to ensure he did the right thing.
“Do you want to have lunch tomorrow before the tournament starts...” Trailing off, Markos took his cell phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. “I have to take this call. I’ll be right back.”
He strode out of the room with his iPhone glued to his ear. Tatiyana wondered if he was talking to one of his girlfriends. Why else would he abruptly end their conversation and leave the room? She’d done her research and knew Markos was dating a bevy of beauties. A surgeon, an engineer, a publicist and even a drama teacher. They were all talented and accomplished, the kind of women any man would be proud to take home to mom, so why was Markos still single? Why wasn’t he happily married like his brothers and cousins? His dating history was none of her business, but Tatiyana was curious about him.
“Tatiyana, join us,” Paris said, waving her over to the bar.
Finishing her cocktail, she danced with the group for several songs, but her thoughts were on Markos. Staring at her watch, Tatiyana was shocked to see he’d been gone for fifteen minutes. Who was he talking to? Was he coming back?
Tatiyana exited the room in search of her date. Heading down the corridor, she spotted a security guard and nodded in greeting. Hearing Markos’s voice inside the bathroom, Tatiyana sighed in relief. “I want to be alone with my boyfriend,” she said, opening her purse. “Make sure no one disturbs us.”
“Of course, Miss. Not a problem.”
Tatiyana took out a fifty-dollar bill and stuffed it into his shirt pocket. “Thanks!”
“Take as long as you need.”
I plan to, she thought, feeling a rush of excitement.
Designed with style and comfort in mind, the bathroom had soaring ceilings, antiqued mirrors and plush armchairs. Vases overflowed with colored roses and scented candles perfumed the air, putting Tatiyana in a tranquil mood. In the anteroom, she found Markos sitting on the chaise lounge, his head bent, singing in Italian.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Come mi chiedo che cosa sei.
What in the world? Before Tatiyana could make sense of what was going on, Markos ended his phone call. Shaking his head wistfully, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just done, he laughed to himself.
“Important call?” she asked.
Markos looked at her, surprise evident in his eyes, but his tone was full of warmth. “Yeah, it was my four-year-old nephew. Matteo calls me every night at bedtime, and if I don’t answer, he won’t go to sleep. He’s my little buddy, and I love our evening talks.”
Her heart melted. “Markos, I’m impressed. You sing beautifully,” she said, meaning every word. “What other talents do you have?”
Hours earlier, outside the steak house, he’d posed the same question to her, and now it was payback. Teasing him made her feel giddy inside, like a kid on Christmas Day.
“I’m a man of extraordinaire talents,” he joked, stealing her line.
“And I look forward to discovering each and every one of them.”
“Why wait? Now’s a good time.”
Enraptured by the sound of his voice, Tatiyana couldn’t think, let alone move.
“Come here,” he demanded. “I want you.”
“I want you, too—”
“Then why are you standing so far away?”
He seized her hand, drawing her in between his legs, and Tatiyana sank onto his lap. His touch thrilled her, making her feel alive, and his husky voice tickled and teased her ears.
“You look like you want to kiss me. Go ahead.”
Before she could, his lips claimed her mouth. They were soft, felt warm against hers, and sent tingles careening down her spine. His kiss was full of hunger, longing and passion, and Tatiyana wanted more.
Boldly possessing her mouth, Markos used his tongue to excite her, to show her what she’d been missing all her life. Wow, no one’s ever kissed me like that, Tatiyana thought, as they feasted on each other’s lips. Markos licked them, and sucked them. They were in public, making out in the VIP bathroom, but Markos wasn’t in a rush. He took his time kissing her, stroking her body, didn’t seem to care that someone could walk in on them at any minute.
“I wish I had protection...” he said between kisses.
Grabbing her purse, she stuck a hand inside and pulled out some condoms. “What flavor do you want?” she asked, waving them under his nose. “Strawberry, mint or chocolate?”
His jaw dropped, and Tatiyana smirked. She enjoyed shocking people, got off on making men blush—especially dignified men like Markos—and kissed him hard on the lips to prove how much she desired him. “I’m glad we met,” she said between kisses. “I haven’t had this much fun since I went to Coachella with my girlfriends last year.”
“Do you believe in love at first sight—”
“No, that’s a fallacy,” she argued, interrupting him. Markos was getting ahead of himself, and she had to be the voice of reason. “Love takes time, commitment and trust. It doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye. I believe in lust at first sight, though. Now, that’s real.”
“Care to elaborate?”
Tatiyana met his gaze, challenging him to disagree with her. “The moment I saw you I knew I was going to have you. And I will.”
Chapter 5
Mischief gleamed in Markos’s deep brown eyes, and an amused expression warmed his face. Tatiyana could feel her temperature rising, the electricity pulsing between them as their stares locked. Aroused, she kissed him with every ounce of passion in her body.
Taking his hands, she guided them to her breasts, urging them to explore. Markos was every woman’s dream man, and Tatiyana desired him more than she’d ever desired anyone.
“I admire your fearless attitude.”
His words filled her with pride. “You do?”
“You always say exactly what’s on your mind, and I find it refreshing.”
“That’s the only way to live.”
Markos brushed his fingers against her cheek, tenderly caressing it. He wore a thoughtful expression on his face, and spoke in a whisper. “Dannazione,” he murmured, his tone thick with desire. “You’re so beautiful I can’t stop staring at you...”
Her breath caught in her throat. His deep, husky voice made her skin tingle and her panties wet. At the thought of them making love, her heartbeat quickened. Tatiyana dated often, but she hadn’t had sex in months, and was ready for her sexual drought to finally come to an end.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Tatiyana was torn between doing the right thing, and doing Markos but she silenced her doubts. Straddling him, she draped her hands around his neck, pulling him close. “Yes, of course, why not?”
“Because we’re in a public washroom—”
“Yeah, a washroom fit for a king and queen,” she quipped, gesturing at their luxurious surroundings. “Hell, this room is nicer than my first apartment.”
Tatiyana laughed, and Markos kissed her, trapping the sound inside her mouth. She closed her eyes, sealing her in the moment as he ravished her with his lips.
Running her hands over his torso, she whispered naughty words in his ears, confessing how much she wanted him. Her desire for Markos was overwhelming, an all-consuming need she couldn’t control. Every nerve ending in her body stirred, throbbed and tingled as their tongues mated. She reveled in his kiss, the joy of his touch, of being in his arms. His caress was sensational, and Tatiyana wanted more, everything he had to offer.
Markos buried his face in her cleavage, making circles across her chest with his tongue, nipping at her skin with his teeth. He cupped her breasts, tweaking and rubbing her nipples. Goose bumps tickled her flesh, warming her body all over. This was what Tatiyana wanted, what she needed—Markos, the only man she wanted to make love to.
“Someone could catch us.”
“Not tonight,” she said with a cheeky grin. “I paid the security guard to be our lookout.”
“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“Of course. An opportunity is a terrible thing to waste.”
They kissed over and over again, until Tatiyana couldn’t think straight. His tongue explored her mouth, seeking, teasing, and pleasing. He slipped a hand between her legs, pulled her panties aside and squeezed her bottom.
Heat singed her skin. Nibbling on her earlobe, he slid a finger inside her sex, swirling it around in circles. He was having his way with her, and she was weak for him. Desperate. Unzipping his pants, she freed his erection from his boxer briefs, boldly seized it in her hands. At the sight of his length, her temperature rose. Watching Markos put on a condom, she hungrily licked her lips. Tatiyana wanted to taste him, to take him inside her mouth, but there was no time. Markos thrust inside her, powerfully, urgently, stealing her breath. His length filled her, electrifying her body. She loved what he was doing with his mouth, how his hands stroked her flesh, and the sound of his voice in her ears.
“Sei una stuzzicante bellezza,” he whispered between kisses.
Pride filled her heart as he showered her with compliments and praise.
“Stunning sia dentro che fuori, e ti desidero in ogni senso della parola...”
His words played in her mind, giving her a rush. You’re a tantalizing beauty. Stunning both inside and out, and I desire you in every sense of the word. More than I’ve ever desired anyone. Was he telling the truth? Tatiyana told herself it didn’t matter. It wasn’t important. They were making love, living in the moment, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it.
They were a perfect fit, moving together as one, holding nothing back, and it was a thrilling, exhilarating ride. Panting, she hiked her legs up on the couch to deepen his penetration. Gripping his shoulders, she rocked against him, moving to an inaudible beat. Is this actually happening? Am I having sex with Markos or is this a wonderful, erotic dream?