Spice and Ice - A Billionaire's Amour

Chapter 4 - Amore

He had been waiting for an hour, his wrath growing with every minute. Stuck inside the shuttered, stuffy apartment, with no lights turned on, Waiting for his prey. Anger and Jealousy plagued him all afternoon, Anyone looking at him randomly would not be able to discern his emotions, but his staff knew better. His stone-cold facade, compressed lips, eyes so sharp, felt like it could cut anyone daring to stand before him to pieces, his people steered cleared off him, giving him a wide breadth as he passed by them. His managers took the brunt of his hatred, practically flying out of the conference once done. At least he had someone to yell in his office, here without a single soul, the silence of the empty apartment brought back his ire, he felt like blasting the whole place.

Her file was on the table before the hour was out, along with another file on the Indian. He ignored the second one and took hers, going through her records, he did not find much, except she was orphaned at the age of 12, passed around a few foster homes. She had a degree in culinary arts, during the time in college, she did odd jobs for allowance. Her only living relative was her aunt, who lived in Milan. Her address was listed as well.

Verdict - A plain boring ordinary person, with nothing exciting or outstanding.

He pulled out the file on Aadiv Nambi - an immigrant from India, having the same degree in culinary arts. He traveled a few countries before settling in Italy. Meets Vera two years ago, looked like both graduated from the same college. Collected their earnings and together bought the restaurant, eight months ago. Their relationship could be described as anything from being close buddies to lovers. The last term is given to them by their friends and co-workers. They also lived together in the second half of their college days.

Dante's hands trembled in rage by the time he finished the report. He wanted to slam Aadiv with his bare hands, tear down the restaurant, punish him for the rest of his life for taking what was his. His mind whirled with ideas on how he was going to make him pay. But for now, he had to catch the small rabbit, which seemed to escape him so easily.

His watch ticked half-past ten, about the time she usually returns to her apartment. He had removed his jacket, hanging it by the back of the chair he had pulled to the farther side of the hall by the window. He chooses the position so that he would only be visible if she turns on the lights directly above him. After entering the small apartment, he gave a casual glance. Everything was orderly stacked, classic curtains, and beautiful ornament wall hangings adorned the place. He could see everything was hand-picked, elegant but not new. Worn out with age, showing they were accumulated from second hand or thrift stores.

The pieces of furniture were moderate. A plain double bed occupied the bedroom with an economical dresser and a wardrobe. The hall and kitchen were the same. Nothing looked out of ordinary. Exactly the kind of place he always avoided. He was beginning to wonder how the hell did he fall for a woman, with no sense of style or class. Nothing that screamed sophistication, except of course for herself.

She entered right when he was about to track her, talking with someone on her phone. She didn't bother with the lights, a plus for him, making him observe her in silence for a while longer. Her eyes gleamed, the way she held herself, head high, her stance well-disposed and graceful at the same time. Her petite figure swayed as she went on, to and fro from the bedroom to the kitchen, passing the hallway multiple times, but not once she realized there was someone else in the apartment. The thought irked him. How clueless she can be? leaving herself so open to being taken by anyone.

Once she was in the bedroom, he decided to make himself known. As he neared the door-way, he stood transfixed as she was about to change her outfit. His breath hitched, ogling her, as her shirt was pulled upwards barring her back, past her lacy bra, above her head, and stopped. Why did she stop mid-way? He shook his head coming out of his haze filled image to tune in to the conversation. She was frowning at the phone, waiting for something,

"They are hoping..."

She flew off the handle the next instant, "Hoping for What?" hands-on-hips, she threw her shirt down, fuming. Dante was presented with an impetuous image of a woman wronged, ready to kill anyone. He didn't know she had a fiery side. Until now he was only presented with a meek and vulnerable show of a woman - a character he despised. But as she shouted a few more words throwing the phone on the bed, starting to pace the room, he realized she had a hidden burning passion which was never displayed unless absolutely pushed.

If the issue of her flying off the handle was something to be learned, Dante's eyebrows furrowed. None of her files showed she had any person she did not like or even had a hint of enmity, if so then Who were they? Just listening to one word, 'they' had her fuming. Her carefree smile got replaced in an instant to pure hatred. Dante's palms clenched into fists, 'Who had the audacity to agitate his woman?'

Hold on - His? Dante frowned. When the hell did he start to think of her as his? But for some reason, the idea did not faze him. Yes, he wanted to make her his 'Tesoro' that instant. Just looking at her, standing there, contemplating something serious with just her bra and jeans on. She provided the perfect picture of his Woman.

Whatever the argument was she showed a disinclination to her outburst. Within seconds she called back her aunt to apologize, falling back covering her eyes as if she was about to cry. 'Enough!' he decided, it was time she realized that she was not alone. Faking a cough he stepped forward near the semi-lit doorway. The sound remained caught - suspended for a few seconds, Vera opened her eyes wide, scrambling off her bed, frantically looking towards her bedroom door, 'What the hell?' How could she be so stupid? Not realizing someone in the house all this time' She berated herself.

"Who is it?" she shrieked.

The sound of boots approaching her, she saw a figure standing outside her doorway. "Who are you?" she quivered, leaning forward on her hands, ready to bolt.

She presented such an alluring picture, Dante wanted to push her down and take her then and there. He strode inside the room, casually leaning on the door frame, arms folded across his chest, scrutinizing her.

Vera shrieked, scrambling to the back of the bed, 'No, No, No, No... this is not happening... Not happening. How the hell did he find her?

Dark grey eyes scrutinized her, the color of storm unleashed. He stalked in coolly, "Good evening, Tesoro"

His voice was like velvet, her chest knotted, desperate for air, feeling a band slowly tightening around her lungs. He looked very much the same as he did five months ago. Face lean with harsh planes, shirt threadbare, he had removed his coat, his muscles projected through his shirt.

She gazed at him at frightened, but something else stirred within her.

"H... ow?" Her mouth had gone dry, trying to swallow she sputtered, "How did you get in?"

One of his eyebrows lifted mockingly, "Through the front door, of course." The lateral addition implying it was insulting that she thought he entered any other way.

This is not happening, This is not happening, kept running round and round in her head, She shook her head vehemently, trying to dispel his image in front of her. He chuckled, "Shaking your head so hard is not going to dismiss me from your presence, Sweetheart."

"What do you want? How did you find me?" Her voice trembled.

A sly smile adorned his face, striding forward holding the bed rail, studying her, eyes lingering on each of her features. Her big green-eyes fringed with thick black lashes as dark as coffee, her skin light golden perfection, finely wrought and delicate.

His mind began fabricating images of his hands cupping and stroking her slender body. His eyes dropped to her slender neck, and then to her high full breasts covered in lace. Wishing he could kiss her breasts and run his face against the mounds... "Stop ogling me," She hissed.

"Can't I admire you, Mia Cara?" His voice so tender, sent a caress down her spine, she quivered as if he had actually touched her.

"No!" She denied vehemently. "I don't understand how you got in, but you are not welcome here. Get Out," she screamed.

"So eager to kick me out?" he frowned, his right hand rubbed along his stubble jaw as if he couldn't believe her words, "Hmm... but you gave me a different impression this afternoon, trying to smooth my convulsion" his eyebrows wiggled with amusement.

"Holy s**t! That was you," she accused.

"In-flesh, Piccola. I am so glad I did choke. Having you caress me, that way, I accept your apology for hitting me two weeks ago."

"I did not!" She shrieked, "You deserved every bit of blow coming your way, and stop calling me Piccola, I am not a little one."

He moved forward, his left knee clambering on the bed, "Stop... Stop don't come near me," She screamed backing away to the corner.

He never felt so sharply as his desire for her mounted. His right hand moved in a flash capturing her ankle, dragging her under him as they both fell on the mattress. Pleasure coursed through his veins as he held her tight against him. She opened her mouth to scream, instead, it got cut off as his lips crashed against hers, his tongue plundering into her mouth. The kiss went on and on, Vera lost track of time as to how long he kissed her, like a starved man finally getting his fill. When he did release her, she heaved for air, frantically trying to push him away.

He caught both her hands in a grip, raising them above her head, locked against the mattress. His other hand caught her chin and tilted her head, staring at her luscious kissed lips, his eyes yearning, "I miss this..." His head came down again suckling her bottom lip slowly, once, twice, gazing with such longing, in a flash his lips met hers with such ferocity, she feared he would swallow her whole. Her mind was drawing a blank with his kiss.

"I miss this so much..." his voice carved with such longing, raining kisses across her face and down by the side of her neck. Her body shuddered with a response, though her mind was screaming, demanding her to stop this madness. "I have dreamed of this so many days," he drawled in between kisses. "Bellissima, Squisita..." Dante continued in Italian, showering praises, as his hands and lips trailed their worship across her body. Unfamiliar physical sensations whacked her, caressing every inch of her.

As his mouth descended to the valley between her breasts, her breaths clutched in anticipation, 'Wait, she wanted this? No, No, No' She had to stop this somehow before... She gasped and all thoughts flew out of the window when he caught one ** and sucked hard. Her hands released from his grip and clutched his hair, involuntarily. Dante gave a shout of triumph in his head, she responded to him, willingly the way he wanted her.

Vera never wanted any other man, as she did this one - obviously, he was the only man she ever knew. Though she didn't remember much of her first time with him, end-of-day she realized, she enjoyed their night together as much as he did. It left her wanting more, though she knew for certain it was never going to happen. Nevertheless, it didn't stop her from dreaming about him. Now that he was here, willingly, pursuing her with a clear mind, not a haze filled dream, The questions - How he came in? what did he really want? took a back seat. She reacted wantonly. Her screams of passion brought an animalistic response from him. A response which he carved the last few months, from the time he first tasted her.

A response - he thought had died in him, the last few years.

Dante remembered his younger self, brash, and reckless. He had become the most accomplished businessman, a Tycoon at a young age, separate from his father's legacy. The success of his company along with his secret business empowered him, made him icy cold, heartless, with fewer feelings. He and his friends followed - 'Live For Today' motto. They were vivacious, impudent shifting from girl to girl every day, Until one day he practically stopped feeling.

Nothing surprised him, the women's varieties fawning over him, incited no reaction. The brazen bodies, lush curves, skimpy outfits none excited him. Not until that day when he found her on his bed in a hotel suite, wearing a two-toned cowl neck black mini dress. The sexy brazen picture she provided, with her hair, spread like a halo around her, pouting lips and alluring eyes, challenging him to claim her, was enough to drive any sane man to nuts.

Like always all he felt was indifference. His body was unresponsive, he moved to drag her off the bed, and kick her out of the room. But the minute he pulled her, she practically sagged against him, her face turned upwards pouting, her hips grinding rhythmically against his. "It's so hot," she whispered, "Please... Please release me..." begging him, placing her delicate arms around his neck, her tongue dabbed at her bottom lip staring at his mouth in an invitation he couldn't refuse.

In a fit of anger, he decided to teach her a lesson, taking her mouth in an aggressive kiss, one hand gripping her hair in a tight fist, while the other made its way into her blouse. The punishing kiss was supposed to make him feel wretched, but the more he drove hard, the more reckless she responded, finally after what felt like a lifetime, Dante felt his body coming back to life.

Surprised, his gaze bored into hers, 'What was it about her that turned him on? Why was she different? Her frantic actions were feeding his imagination. He didn't have time to ponder, "Since you want this, I will not restrain myself anymore," he declared, lifting and settling down with her on the plush sheets, giving up to his long-dead desires.

The memories of that night five months ago, brought back a pleasant smile on his face as he looked down at her sleeping form next to him, a few hours later. He had tired her out, though she was reluctant in the beginning, he felt her doubting herself. In the process, he pushed her to open her feelings to him honestly. The result was as he had expected, she was amazing. Though everything surrounding her was plain, there was nothing obvious when it came to her. She matched him in every aspect, not backing away to his aggressive caress, but pushing him beyond his inclinations, which made him want to strive harder to please her. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead he proclaimed, "I am never letting you go, Tesoro." He yanked the duvet, wrapping her into his embrace back to sleep.