Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
It was the first date we never got.
We held hands in silence. He held me close and my heart ached when placed his lips against my temple, just because.
As ridiculous as it sounds, it frightened me to see him like this, to be here with him like this. It was easier to call him a beast when I believed he wasn’t human. I had seen this man at his worst. But now, things were different. I had learned Ettore could be sweet when you weren’t threatening his life. He was affectionate in a way that surprised me. And, much like me, he was bound by duty.
Conflicted, I silently worked through my thoughts and feelings. And, as it were, I came to the shocking conclusion that despite everything we had done to hurt each other, we were all the other had. And I was dangerously close to falling in love with my husband.
After kissing for what seemed like hours, I pulled away to look directly into his hooded gaze when I said the words he knew was coming. “I want to come home.”
The long pause answered me long before he did.
He searched my face and when he reached out to me, I closed my eyes. He gently placed the stray lock of hair behind me ear and leant in. He pressed his warm, full lips to my cheek and let the kiss linger. And then, he said something that kickstarted my heart. “Soon.”
Oh my God.
Soon.
Soon.
That small word was a huge contrast to ‘No,’ and marginally better than ‘Not yet.’ And even thought I did my best not to show it, I could tell he sensed my elation. I knew it for certain when he laid back, flat on the carpet with his arms folded behind his head, looked up at the ceiling and said, “I want your mouth on me.” My stomach flip-flopped when his eyes darkened and he uttered the crude words out loud. “Suck my cock.”
Goddamn it.
I would never admit it out loud, but I loved it when he ordered me around like that.
Not sure what that said about me.
I did as he demanded. I took his semi-hard dick out of his pants, doubled over and sucked it into my mouth. I licked and jerked and spat and slurped. I worshipped him, and when he held my head down, my throat contracted around him, and his hiss and moan made me feel so goddamn adored.
He fucked my mouth then came with a shudder and grunt, and when he spurt across my tongue, I swallowed his salty offering eagerly.
I was desperate to please him.
Things were changing. I could feel it.
So, when I woke the next morning, alone but content, I happily jumped out of bed. I brushed my teeth then slid into the shower, humming to a song I’d forgotten the words to. I dressed quickly, slipping on a pair of cream-colored satin panties and a matching bra before working the distressed jeans over my legs and buttoning up the sheer white blouse. I tied my hair into a high ponytail, applied ChapStick to my kiss swollen lips then exited the bathroom with a small smile that had a shorter lifespan than a fly.
All of the drawers were open. All of them lay empty. And movement in the hall garnered my attention. Marco was carrying two suitcases down the stairs and I fell into a full-fledged panic.
What the fuck?
My throat tightened and my knees shook. I lifted a hand to the wall and spoke through a croak, “What is this?”
Everything was going so well. I didn’t understand.
Careful not to fall head first down the stairs, I called after Marco, “What is this? Where am I going?”
No.
He’s finally doing it. You goddamn fool. A few kisses and you fell for it.
No, no, no.
He played you, and you fell for him.
Shit. It was happening. He was finally getting rid of me.
My eyes widened in fear. “What did I do?” But Marco just kept walking. “Talk to me. What did I do?” I watched him take the suitcases down to the foyer and, without stopping, he moved to walk them right out of the front door. My heart was in my throat and I was on the verge of tears when I cried out a rattled, “Marco, please. What did I do?”
Without a second thought, I rushed down what was left of the stairs and followed him out. And when I saw where Marco was taking my suitcases, barefoot, I skidded to a halt.
“What’s all the commotion?” Ettore stood on the path, peering down at me with a knowing look. A single brow rose when he uttered with feigned disinterest, “I thought you wanted to come home.”
Oh my God.
My heartbeat thumped in my chest.
Oh my God.
My lips trembled as I took off, running at him. I jumped and he caught me, holding me to him. I wrapped my legs around his middle, threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tight as I sniffled loudly. Ettore pulled back to look at me. He cupped my cheek, brought his face to mine and kissed me lovingly through my tears. Overwhelmed, I both laughed and cried, and when we separated, Tor used his free hand to gently wipe away the wetness from my cheeks.