Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“I do. I need you more than I can express.” More tears coursed down her cheeks. “No one else would put up with my brand of crazy.”
“I like your crazy.”
“It likes you, old man.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “What did you say?”
“Old man,” she mouthed.
“You know the rules.”
“So you keep repeating. Maybe I need a reminder.”
I stepped closer until I was in front of her. Close enough to smell her. The light, alluring scent that clung to her skin that had nothing to do with the sugar she worked with.
“You sass off and call me that, you get fucked, Little Bee. Until I’ve had my fill. You’ve been warned.”
She tapped her foot. “And I’m waiting.”
I had her in my arms in a second.
Chapter Twenty-Six
BRIANNA
I was in his arms. Held tight to his chest. Encased in his warmth. His scent. I was home.
I gripped his neck, listening to his heartbeat under my ear. He carried me upstairs, his mouth pressing kisses to my head repeatedly. He lowered me to the bed, hovering over me. “You were supposed to stay away, Little Bee.”
“I couldn’t.”
“I can’t give you up again.”
“Then don’t.”
“I love you. I fucking love you so much, I have no idea how to deal with it.”
I cupped his face. “I love you too. We’ll figure it out. Promise me we’ll do it together.”
“Always. I’ll never let you go.”
“Stop worrying about what could happen and instead enjoy what we have now,” I urged. “Be with me. Here. Now.”
I could see his emotions. They poured from his liquid gold gaze. They dripped inside me, bringing me back to life.
He was struggling. I could see it. He had no idea how to cope with everything. That was what I’d counted on. The reason I’d come.
“I will. I’ll try, Bee. But I need you to help me.”
“I will. I’m not leaving. No matter what you do.”
He shook his head and kissed me. “Good. Now, where is my cat?”
“They wouldn’t let me bring her on the plane. I wasn’t sure how she’d react to being under it. Carolina is keeping her.”
“We’ll go get her next week. We can get your stuff, and I’m going to marry you.”
“I don’t recall you asking.”
“I’m not asking. I’m telling you. Next week, we’re getting married.”
“What if I want to get married here?”
“We can do that too. But I want Paolo there. We’ll get married at his house.”
“Is this how it’s going to be now? You giving orders and me just going along?”
He laughed. “I doubt it, but I’m going to try.”
“If you marry me, you can’t send me away again.”
“I’m never letting you go. I had to protect you, and it was the only way I knew how.”
“I’m safer when I’m with you. It’s the safest place in the world.”
“I know.”
Our eyes met and held. The space around us grew hotter, the air pulsating between us. The desire only Dante could make me feel rose and twisted through my body. He was waiting. Wanting me to direct him. I lifted my hand, tracing the lobe of his ear. He shivered at my touch.
“You going to do it, Dante?”
“Do it?” he repeated, his voice low.
I smiled and let my arms fall over my head. “Go on, old man. Fuck me.”
With a roar, he was on me. His body pressing mine into the mattress. He covered my mouth, kissing me, the action almost bruising in its intensity. He dominated the kiss, ravishing my mouth and my neck with his tongue, lips, and teeth. He muttered and cursed, yanking off my clothes, tearing at his own until we were skin to skin, my soft melting into his hard, his erection pressed between us. He lavished my body with kisses, praises, and caresses. Everywhere he touched left a trail of fire that made me want more. Need closer, beg louder.
When he slammed into me, I swore I saw stars. He rode me like a stallion, hard and fast, not giving an inch. Taking everything I had. Claiming every inch of me. The headboard slammed into the wall over and over, the noise loud. I knocked the lamp off the bedside table, trying to find purchase somewhere. He gripped the pillow so hard, it tore, the material rending like a broken zipper. I was certain the glass in the windows rattled. Finally, I succumbed to the fire building inside, and I came around him, crying and sobbing his name.
He held me tight, groaning through his release. Trembling and spasming until the pleasure passed. Even then, he kept me close, lying down and pulling me to his chest.
“You’ll be here when I wake up,” he instructed. “We’re going to do that again.”
I was too exhausted to argue. I wasn’t sure I would survive another go-round with him.
“Not sure that is good for your heart. We shouldn’t test it,” I said primly.