Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
I frowned and then let out a long breath. “Leave the panties on the sink.”
“No way.” His face twisted in disgust. “And let the panties get dirty with whatever germs are—”
“Get out!”
He reached his hand to the side and grabbed a big blue towel.
Wait. I thought the hotel towels were rose-colored. Did he change the soap and towels? Or am I losing my mind?
He brought the towel over to me. “I heard you were looking for me last night. Here I am.”
I blinked.
“Now you have me, and you ask me to leave?”
I snatched the towel from him and quickly wrapped it around me. “You know damn well you should not be in my bathroom or—”
“Says who?”
“Me.”
“Unfortunately, I have decided that your space is my favorite place to be in when I yearn for peace. I like your energy.”
“You can like my energy outside of my bathroom, especially when I am naked and taking a shower.”
“Your being naked in the shower is the best time to be near you.” Giorgio handed me the blue panties. “Did you like the soap I bought for you?”
I widened my eyes and grabbed the panties. “So, you did change things in my bathroom?”
“Absolutely. The hotel’s toiletries, towels, and toilet paper were not sufficient enough for my lover.”
“Giorgio, you cannot come into my room and redecorate everything and. . .wait a minute. Did you say your lover?”
“You did not like the flowers?” That smirk left his face.
I swallowed. “Well. . .yes. . .I did like them.”
The smirk returned.
“But, hold on.” Now toweled up, I left the shower.
He didn’t move, forcing me to rub against his hard body.
A grunt left him. “Watching you shower has been the highlight of my year.”
I opened the door and hurried out of the bathroom. “Giorgio, I am not your lover—”
“You are.” He followed me into the room. “I wish you had a choice in the matter, but you do not.”
I spun around. “You cannot just tell me that I am your lover and—”
“I can.” Giorgio crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you going to pretend like you are not turned on by me?”
I stepped back.
“Go ahead and admit it, so we can get past any bullshit you are telling yourself.”
I sighed. “Yes. You turn me on, but you are with the French which makes everything extremally difficult.”
He quirked his brows. “How?”
“Giorgio, you know damned well the Brotherhood and Corsican tend to be sworn enemies, and it is only the Mouse that is keeping everyone from not killing each other. . .yet.”
“What does that have to with you and me?”
“Starting something with you would be very difficult for me—”
“It would not.” He unfolded his arms. “Especially, if you come over to the civilized side, and work for me.”
“I am not working for you.”
“I heard Emily went dark again.” Giorgio scowled. “And you were with her.”
“I was fine.”
“I doubt that. Emily is dangerous on her own. As this. . .dark entity, I do not like that you are around her—”
“You have no choice in the matter.”
He let out a long breath. “I want to protect you.”
I bit my lip.
“Surely, you can take care of yourself, Blue, but that does not mean that large parts of my heart and soul are not indebted to making sure you are safe.”
My body warmed. “Giorgio. . .thank you, but I plan to remain by Emily’s side. Not even her darkness can change that.”
He shook his head. “I do not like the idea of living in Russia.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Why would you be living in Russia?”
“You know why.” Giorgio closed the distance between us. “I like being in your space. If that means, moving to that cold, dirty country, then that is what I would do.”
I looked up at him. Shock filled me. “Giorgio, nothing is going to happen between us.”
“No?” He licked his lips.
Heat sparked in my core. “No.”
“I believe our first meeting was fate.”
“We fought on the ground.”
“And I loved every second of it.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Then, I chose to be by your side for the rest of the time in Italy. Together, we saved the little kid and helped King David deal with the atrocious matter of his ex.”
I swallowed.
“But. . .this. . .this feeling when I see you, this energy, this need, this hunger to be with you. . .” Giorgio frowned. “This was not a choice for me.”
I went speechless.
“Blue. . .falling for you has been beyond my control.”
My heart thudded hard in my chest.
Without warning, Giorgio’s mouth was on mine like a starved man battling desperate need. I gasped as my lips parted and he plunged his tongue inside my mouth, triggering my body to respond on its own accord. His mouth tasted like vanilla and honey.
Lusty tingles speared through me.
A low moan escaped me, and vibrated against his lips.