Chapter Eleven
(Sabrina)
Sabrina wanted to climb this man like a tree. She was also painfully aware of how inexperienced she was, so she had no idea what she was doing. But Cesare made her feel so comfortable and safe, that she didn’t have room to feel worried about anything.
The idea that Cesare thought he may have competition was comical. With the exception of one attempt gone hilariously wrong in college, she hadn’t done much with the opposite sex. For the most part, she’d been in class, studying, or at the rescue.
Sabrina’s dad had played football in high school with several friends who went on to join the local police force. Every Saturday night the garage would fill with his friends, and Sabrina would sneak a peek at the group of large, sometimes burly, lumberjack-esque men that gossiped worse than any women she’d ever met. Sabrina’s mother, Nicki, also had worked part time at City Hall until finances from the rescue could cover basic expenses.
Her parents had known everyone, and everyone knew her parents. As soon as Sabrina started talking about boys, Fred Hamilton made it a point to ensure every guy in town knew they’d have to contend with him, half the police force, and most of the shipyard crew if anyone so much as looked at Sabrina.
Her parents’ sudden death had brought her back home to Kittery to take care of her little sister, Brooke, and the rescue.Sabrina had been trying to pull herself out of survival mode ever since.
She wanted her first time to be with someone meaningful. In truth, she knew very little about Cesare. But the way he looked at her made her feel like he knew exactly what she needed, and how to take care of it.
Sabrina wanted to trust him. She wanted to relax, wantednotto worry; to let someone in,really in, for the first timeever.And that desire alone meantthis, whateverthiswas, was something important and worth exploring.
Sabrina continued to text Travis. Cellphone reception along the coast was infamously terrible, but they managed to confirm that equipment and supplies were on the way. He’d meet them on the beach, and whoever arrived first would try to ensure as much space as they could get between any beachgoers and the seal pup.
Cesare announced over the radio he’d be making an emergency landing as soon as they entered York airspace. His voice, ever calm and controlled, remained so as they circled the harbor, assuring local air traffic that no help was needed.
“There’s the group! Oh my gosh, they’re literally having a party.” Sabrina muttered. “Which is great for them, but terrible timing for the pup.” She shook her head.
“Do you see the pup?” Cesare asked.
“No, but I’m going to guess it’s in the middle of the circle of humans on the edge of the beach.” She answered, feeling somewhat exasperated. “Anyone who’s grown up here has been told a million times not to touch the seals.”
Cesare nodded in support as he narrowed in on options for landing.
“York Harbor Traffic, Helicopter N2367Y, clear of hotel parking lot, York Harbor.”He radioed out.
Sabrina looked down at the traffic circle they were landing in the center of, just down the road from a hotel beside the beach.
“This is a parking lot?” She asked wryly.
“Close enough.” Cesare shrugged with a grin. “If anyone has a problem with our landing here, I would love to discuss it.”
Sabrina tilted her head to the side, as if suddenly seeing him in a new light. “You get off on confrontation, don’t you?” She remarked, her voice tinged with amusement.
At that moment, they made touch down and Cesare gave her a rogish grin.
“What I get off on is dominance and control.” He answered in a deliciously deep voice.
Sabrina couldn’t help the hitch in her breath, or the warmth that flooded her cheeks. Maybe she had a sound kink. Was that a thing?
Cesare began flipping switches and controls with a speed and efficiency Sabrina found impressive. The sight of his large hands and muscled forearms flexing every time he reached for a dial or lever made her blood pulse with awareness.
Why dideverythinghe do turn her on? Was this going to be her new normal? Constantly distracted by the walking, talking sex machine that was Cesare Lombardi?
“I’m also a trial attorney.” Cesare added after a moment of contemplation. “I enjoy the element of competition, and knowing I’m honing in on something; perfecting my work even more. I appreciate precision, and control.” He added as he unbuckled.
“How does that translate to a relationship?” Sabrina asked curiously.
Cesare looked at her with a wolfish grin before exiting the helicopter wordlessly. He walked around the aircraft and opened Sabrina’s door, stepping up and partially in. He leaned over her as he unbuckled her harness, hands gently disconnecting the buckles. His touch was disappointingly respectful.
Cesare looked up once he finished undoing the harness and took a long lock of Sabrina’s copper hair between his fingertips, playfully tugging it before tucking it gently behind her ear.
“I pay extremely close attention to detail, and I am thorough.” He answered lowly. “When I see something I want, I go after it until it’s mine. And then I protect the shit out of it. I am a complete ass to anyone else if I think they’re a threat to my peace, or the peace of my family. Sometimes that will annoy you. But I would take better care of you than anyone ever has, and you would want for nothing.” He finished matter-of-factly.
