Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
My eyes widen. My heart does a little stutter dance and my mouth immediately waters. “Who said I’m fucking you?” I whisper. This time, I reach out and push his glass up toward his lips.
He seems to like that as he drinks. “The way you’re looking at me.”
“We haven’t gotten that far yet.”
“And we never have to if you decide you want to leave.” He gestures toward the door. “It’ll never be locked.”
“Good to know, but I mean, I hope that’s a metaphor. This isn’t a great area.”
His laugh is low and soft. The sound rolls down the little hairs on the back of my neck. “You like being funny, don’t you?”
“Better than being boring.”
“It’s how you keep all this inside.” He puts a hand on my chest. Holy shit, it’s a simple gesture, not even on my breasts but near my heart, but it makes my breath come fast.
“That’s a really weird and presumptive thing to say.”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” His hand moves up my neck toward my cheek. I let him touch me. I move a little closer, wanting him to touch me more, thrilling at the danger and the promise.
We’re dangling, suspended, still in the maybe-maybe-not. I’m not sure I want this and he’s not sure if I’m going to run screaming. I know he’ll fuck me senseless if I let him. And I know I’ll love it if I do.
Only I’m as terrified as I am excited.
I want to stay in this moment. It’s this exact feeling I’m always searching for. A break from the normal. A deep scar in the skin of my life. These moments are so rare and they don’t come around that often, and I’m afraid that once it’s over, I’ll be finished. No more excitement for me. Back to family, expectations, and a future already written down in memos and codified in contracts.
Stefano’s on the outside of all that. He’s dangerous and beautiful. This is a man who hurts people, apparently for fun.
He saved my life when he really didn’t have to get involved.
Now I’m in his beautiful apartment, afraid of where this is headed, but wanting it more than I’ve ever wanted in my life.
“Tell you what,” I whisper, barely audible over my own hammering heart. “Let’s make a deal. If you answer a question completely honestly, I’ll let you do what you really want to do.”
He licks his lips. “What do I want to do, baby?”
I’ve never been called baby before. I always thought I’d hate it, but not coming from Stefano.
From him it’s like a promise. Like he’ll take care of me. Give me things. Make me feel.
“You want to kiss me.”
He nods slowly. “Yes, I do. Ask your question.”
I take a long drink of wine. My glass is almost empty. “Why do you fight at the warehouse? It doesn’t look like you need the money and I’ve never heard of you before. So why did you compete tonight?”
His lips stretch into a vicious smile. It’s the kind of look that could tear me in half if I weren’t already gutted. He leans in close, invading all my personal space, crushing any chance of escape.
“You really want to know?” His thumb brushes my cheek. “I get in that ring, break my knuckles, and bleed, all for fun.”
I drag in a breath as his hand slips into my hair, takes a tight grip, and he crushes his mouth to mine.
Chapter 3
Charlie
I’m done. It’s over. I’m screwed.
There’s no coming back from this.
Stefano kisses me and I drown in his mouth. His taste floods my tongue, a mix of mint and wine, heaven and hell, so good it feels like my knees might collapse.
His tongue slides across mine and his grip in my hair tugs slightly. I gasp into his mouth, moaning as I press into him, wanting to seal our mouths together tighter. His lips are honey, and the slight purr in the back of his throat sends my skull to another planet. I’m dizzy with need, desire pooling in my core, pure animal want rolling down my spine. I can’t stop even if I wanted to. There’s nothing more important than feeling this man, this monster, this everything I’m supposed to hate but only desperately have to feel right now.
It’s the kind of kiss that ruins a girl.
The sort of kiss that doesn’t promise, doesn’t hint, doesn’t tease. It’s a kiss that exists for itself. A kiss that’s the beginning of something. It’s an ending too, or at least the first step toward one. It’s a dance, the roar of an engine, the scream of a jet taking flight.
I never imagined I’d have a kiss like this.
I was raised to want what’s proper. A good man from a nice family. Preferably a family with huge wealth.