Words of Lust by Lise Horton

anxiety during the drive over when he regaled her with the story of Gia’s spreading the word about their date. It was, apparently, such a major event every member of his immediate family, includes his mother’s parents, were attending. All to get a look at his new lady. That’s what he’d called her, “my lady.” That had given her a nice little thrill, but the joy was quickly overwhelmed by dread.
    He occupied the entire drive to his parents’ Forest Hills home with family anecdotes.
    “You’re not helping, you know,” she had finally grumbled at him as he drove over the 59th Street Bridge.
    “What?” His genuine puzzlement had her rolling her eyes.
    “I’ve never met anyone’s parents before and you’re telling me I’m facing the entire Stellato clan in one fell swoop?”
    “You’re nervous?”
    “Terrified. Why is that so surprising?”
    “Puh-lease, Professor. You’re brilliant, gorgeous, gainfully employed, you’re Italian and I’m assuming you have no police record. My mother will probably spend a week in church saying novenas.”
    “Maybe they won’t like me.”
    “Don’t be nuts. They’ll love you. Gia’s been singing your praises for a week.”
    “Yes! Telling them I teach dirty books. Not exactly a desirable topic of conversation when one is meeting a man’s parents for the first time.”
    He just laughed as he pulled up in front of a lovely house and cut the engine. He leaned over and kissed her. It was still new, but she had the feeling kissing him would never get old.
    “You’re a charmer. They won’t even mention what you teach, I promise. I’ve never brought a woman home before. They’ll be so excited I’m here with a date they’ll be as nice and polite as can be.”
    She looked at him and hoped her expression adequately conveyed her skepticism.
    “Trust me. I’m only surprised there’s no red carpet.”
    “Well. I suppose if I can face the tenure committee, I can face your family.”
    At that moment, however, the choice was taken out of her hands as the front door swung open just as he reached for the knob.
    “Niccolo!” Behind the wizened, elderly woman who was screeching for him was a horde of Stellatos.
    She gulped and put on her committee smile. Cool, confident, welcoming. She hoped.
    Nick was swept up into a series of hugs and embraces, but eventually extricated himself and reached out a hand to her. It was like a lifeline to a drowning woman, and his smile said he’d stand by her. She took a deep breath, grabbed his hand and walked into the noisy crowd in the foyer.
    A woman who was clearly his mother swept through the milling people, wiping her hands on her apron, before grabbing him and kissing him on both cheeks. She was a bit heavy, dark-haired, with vibrant eyes and a great smile, the ghost of which she could see in Nick’s own. She looked fierce and homey at the same time.
    “Finally.” Then his mother reached past him and pulled her into a hug.
    “Professor Serafina Luca! The woman our Gia raves about and the one my bachelor boy has finally brought home to supper. Welcome. It must be a miracle.” One of the elderly women tsked her dismay at the sacrilege and Mrs. Stellato shushed her.
    “You don’t think so? Has Niccolo ever brought a girl home to meet the family? No! What would you call this big event?”
    Behind Mrs. Stellato she caught sight of a grinning Gia, and an older girl she decided had to be Cara. Farther inside were two tall, handsome men she had no trouble determining were Nick’s brothers. He was the biggest and the sexiest, but they had the unmistakable grins, dark eyes and the same thick curling blue-black hair. The Stellatos made beautiful kids.
    “Professor Luca, welcome to our home. I’m Santo Stellato.” The Stellato patriarch was an older, silver-haired version of his sons—swarthy, still lean and muscular. He dropped an arm around his wife and led her into the living room, where everyone immediately fell onto chairs