Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38835 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
His hands bracketed my hips, steadying me. He applied firm pressure, directing me to turn so that he could inspect my backside. Rough callouses skimmed over my bare legs, making my flesh crackle with little sparks of awareness.
He cupped my bottom, squeezing lightly. I went up onto my toes as pleasure arced through me, my core contracting in need.
A low, masculine sound reverberated through the bathroom, and he nipped at the curve of my butt. Not hard enough to mark me; just enough to keep me on edge for him.
He stood and turned me around so that I was facing him once again. I stared up into his perfect features, which were drawn tight into an almost feral mask. He was looking at the bruises that were forming on my upper arms, where his enemies had dragged me away from him.
I reached for him, erasing the tension from his jaw with a brush of my fingertips. His glittering gaze snapped back to mine. The striations of golden fire that shot through the pale blue of his irises practically glowed: a sensual flame. My head tipped back, and I offered my lips to him.
Instead of claiming my mouth, he pressed a sweet kiss to my forehead, as though soothing the place where his enemies had struck me. I didn’t experience so much as a flicker of pain. My full focus was on Massimo: his heat, his scent, his tender touch.
He stepped away briefly to turn on the shower. In the seconds it took for the water to warm, the absence of his heat made my skin pebble with a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature; my entire body was attuned to him, and I craved his nearness.
In the aftermath of the violence and terror I’d suffered when I’d been attacked, I needed Massimo more than ever. That keen neediness should alarm me, but I was too desperate for him to care. In my new, dangerous world, his strong arms would shield me from harm. Instinctively, I knew deep in my soul that staying close to him was imperative for my survival.
His intense focus on me was almost fanatical, bordering on obsession. I didn’t fully understand his fascination with me—no one had ever paid much attention to me—but I was addicted to it.
For the first time in my life, someone truly saw me. His shining eyes cut deep, as though he could peer into my thoughts, my secrets. No one had bothered to look at me like that before. Not my family, not even George.
His big hand enveloped mine, and he gently led me into the shower. The warm spray pinged over my sensitized skin, chasing the last chill of lingering fear away.
Nothing could hurt me here. No one would touch me as long as I was with Massimo.
I took in his powerful form, my greedy gaze raking over his muscular body.
All mine. The possessive thought gripped my mind with sharp claws, sinking deep. This stunning man belonged to me, and I craved to stake my claim over him.
I pumped a generous amount of body wash into my hand from the dispenser on the wall and worked it into a lather. Under different circumstances, my boldness would’ve shocked me, but I was too drunk on our connection to worry about it. Any shyness or hesitancy had melted away, soothed by his masterful, proprietary touch. My need for him was too keen for embarrassment or uncertainty.
My hands settled over his corded arms, and nothing had ever felt so right. He was solid and powerful, his bulging muscles flexing beneath my grasping fingers. I wasn’t gentle; I was hungry for more, on the edge of desperation to feel every inch of his gorgeous body.
“Evelyn…” he groaned my name as I caressed him, washing the violence from his skin.
The raw desire in his tone made my core contract with need, and slickness that wasn’t water gathered between my legs.
He began touching me too, washing me gingerly as though I was made of glass. I loved when he handled me with firm dominance, but this tender care made my heart squeeze. He looked at me like I was something precious, a treasure that he coveted.
I explored him with equal reverence, pressing my lips to his chest with soft kisses that were almost worshipful. My dark savior had come to my rescue once again. He’d protected me, and now he was comforting me. He was intent on making sure I was unharmed. He’d already visually assessed me, but his hands roved over me, silky from the slick soap. The glide was decadent, and when he claimed my lips, I moaned into his mouth.
His erection pressed into my belly, hard and insistent. My carnal hunger for him kept my shyness at bay, and I touched his shaft with greedy fingers. He growled against me, and his teeth nipped at my lips. I gasped and arched toward him, tipping my head back so that he could deepen the kiss. I grasped his cock, my fingers unable to fully close around his impressive girth. I shuddered as a wave of pure lust rolled through me, and my tongue tangled with his. I tasted his low rumble, reveling in the vibration that seemed to reach deep into my core. My clit pulsed, and I pressed my sex against his corded thigh, seeking stimulation.