Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“You don’t need to rush.”
“I mean, I need a job if I’m going to pay rent.”
I pause and pull her close. I stoop down and kiss her softly. “You don’t have to pay me rent.”
“I’m not living with you forever, remember? This is supposed to just be until we find Tommy and I’m not in danger anymore.”
“What if it’s for longer?” I tilt my head, studying her reaction. She chews her lip, but doesn’t seem upset. “You could stay, if you wanted.”
“And what would that mean for us?” She presses her palms against my chest. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“Let’s stop pretending like this isn’t something.” I brush my hand against her cheek and kiss her. “I want you all to myself, Claudia. So yes, I’m asking you to move in, and I’m telling you that we’re together.”
She struggles not to smile and it’s the sexiest goddamn thing I’ve ever seen in my life. “I guess I could make that work.”
I let out a soft growl. “Don’t play around right now.”
“Fine. Okay. We’re together.”
“And you’re moving in with me.”
“We’ll see.” She’s grinning openly, and now I know she’s fucking with me for fun. “You’ll have to earn it.”
“I think I know how I can start.” I grab her hand and drag her back to my place. She laughs, hurrying to keep up, but we get intercepted on our way to fucking like crazed, sex-addicted maniacs by my mother.
Which really dampens the sexual tension.
“There you two are. I was just knocking on the door.” My mother breezes over like a willow tree. She’s got gray-and-brown hair, grayer these days, kept long and tied back. She favors loose skirts, loose tops, and generally has a wholesome aging hippie vibe these days, though I remember when we were younger and she ran the household like a Prussian general. Time and age softened her up.
“It’s really nice to finally meet you,” Claudia says, shaking my mother’s hand.
“I planned on bringing her around, but the timing never seemed right.” I feel guilty for keeping Claudia to myself, except I’m still coming to grips with our relationship and I haven’t wanted to expose her to the madness that is my full extended family.
“The timing’s great right now then. Don’t worry, I’m not going to keep you two long, it’s just that Elena told me you had a houseguest and I wanted to introduce myself.” Mom beams at Claudia. “Please, call me Freddie. You’ll have to have dinner with everyone this weekend so you can meet Angelo’s father.”
I think of quiet, surly Dad, thinner than he’s ever been, a ghost of the man he once was. A part of me doesn’t want him anywhere near Claudia, but I have to admit, he’s been better lately. Shorter, kinder, like he’s trying to make up for being a prick most of his life.
“We’ll be there,” I say, a little reluctant.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, even if Angelo tries to bail.” Claudia rubs my shoulder, and I can tell that line impresses my mother.
“Wonderful. Well, I’ll let you two go, but stop by anytime. I’m right over there.” She points to her house before heading off again, breezing down the block and waving to all the guards. They wave back, infatuated.
“She seems nice,” Claudia says. We’re moving to my house, and I tug her close to my side.
“Nice is a little too simple a word, but yes, my mother is okay.”
“I’m fine with this, you know.” She pauses once we’re on my porch, before we head inside. “I don’t mind that you haven’t introduced me yet. I mean, we just agreed that this is a thing two minutes ago, but I get it. When you’re ready, I’m ready.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss her, and all thoughts of my parents and sisters and brothers get obliterated. Claudia’s taste floods my mouth, and I kick open the door and drag her inside.
“You know what?” I slam it closed behind us and lock it. “I have nothing to do for the rest of the day.”
“Oh, really?” She walks to the steps, hips swaying, and pulls off her top, letting it fall. I stare, heart racing, as she ascends the steps. “How are we going to fill the time?”
Her bra unhooks and drops. I stare at her sexy as hell back and catch glimpses of her breasts and her hard, pink nipples, and my cock’s raging against my pants. She stops at the top and looks back at me, smiling and beautiful, cheeks red, one arm covering her chest.
“I have ideas,” I say, going after her.
“Good ideas?”
“No, baby. Very bad ideas. Disturbing, disgusting, filthy ideas.”
“Even better.” She hurries into my bedroom, and I chase after.
Chapter 37
Claudia
Iforget about the outside world for a while and let Angelo take control.