Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 107265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
As I lather my hair, the glass door swings open. I hadn’t heard him come in, but here he is, naked and stepping into the shower.
I move a step back, giving him room, and then he closes the door, encasing us in the steam.
I can feel him hardening beside me, and I have to admit I’m happy about it because when I woke up this morning, he was gone, and I miss waking up to his teasing my body.
“Did you have a good workout?” I ask him.
His eyes appear darker than normal, hungry with lust.
“You really wanna talk about my workout . . .?” he drawls.
“No, not really.”
“Then what is it you want, Viviana? You’ll have to tell me in order for me to give it to you.”
“Your mouth.”
He leans in and kisses me.
A hungry kiss that tells me he missed our morning session as much as I did.
“What else?”
“Your hands.”
He reaches out and starts to touch me. His hands wrap softly around my throat, then down the hollow of my neck, down between my breasts.
“Here?” he asks, smirk present.
I shake my head.
“Here?” His fingers trace a line around my belly button.
I shake my head again.
His hands lower, tracing across my hip bones.
He stops his movements. “Here?”
Too worked up to care, I grab him and thrust his hand between my thighs.
“There,” I scream above the water, and he laughs. A loud and boisterous one.
One that is only for my ears.
And I love it.
I love every minute of it.
After we take the longest shower in history, we both leave the bathroom dressed and completely satisfied.
He’s dressed in a more formal outfit than I’m used to. A gray sport jacket, white button-down, and slacks.
If I hadn’t just been completely wrecked by him in the shower, I would ask for round two, so instead, I cock my head. “Where’re you off to?”
“I have a meeting in Albany.”
“You’re going all the way to Albany?”
My heart starts to pound that I won’t see him for a few days. I am also concerned about what his business is about. If it has something to do with Dad.
“Just for a few hours. I’m flying up to talk to the governor about some business.”
“I’ll miss you,” I say, my voice weaker than I want it to be.
“I’ll be back for dinner . . . and dessert.”
I knew this day was coming. Again, I don’t expect we were going to be alone forever, but still, it bothers me.
What am I going to do?
Should I ask about getting a job again?
I can’t imagine the timing is any better. He’s still at war.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
I sometimes forget that he can read me so well.
“I was just wondering what I was going to do.”
“Would you like me to call Giana over?”
“I’d rather try to see if Julia will see me.”
“Has she called you?”
“No,” I admit.
“Then why bother?”
“She means a lot to me. She’s my family.”
He watches me for a moment before nodding his head.
“Call her, then. If she answers, if she says yes, I’ll have Luka arrange it.”
“I can go to the city?”
“I would rather her come here. Where I know you are safe.”
“Okay. Thank you.” I lean on my tiptoes and kiss his lips. Once he’s gone, I fish out my phone from where I placed it a few days ago.
I haven’t used my phone this past week.
Not wanting anything to tarnish it.
I check to see if I have any missed calls.
There is nothing.
Not even a text message.
It’s a sobering feeling to know no one misses you.
At least I have Matteo.
My thoughts shock me.
How did that happen so fast?
How is it in the course of only a few weeks this man has burrowed himself inside me?
Despite all my efforts, I realize I’m freaking falling for him.
This isn’t good.
I pick up the phone and dial Julia. I’m hoping she answers, praying more like it.
The phone rings once, twice, and on the third ring, I hear her voice.
“Hello.” It’s hard to hear her. She’s speaking low, or maybe her mouth is far from the phone.
“Hey, Jules.” She doesn’t say anything. She stays quiet. “I know you’re mad at me, but I’m sorry. Believe it or not, I wanted to tell you, but there were things beyond my control.”
“I know.”
“You know? Yes . . . Jonathan heard your father speaking.” Jonathan, her twin brother, works for my father. I’m actually surprised he has said anything about me that could help me. He hates everything about me.
Not an unfounded hate.
He actually hates everyone in my family.
I’m shocked he even works for my father, but I guess even he couldn’t turn down a cushy job in the governor’s office. Couple that with the complete makeover he apparently decided to give himself and no part of him is recognizable from the little boy I used to play with as a girl.