“My grandmother passed away last year.”
“I remember. We went to the funeral.”
I nod and recall seeing her at the church. “Her house has been sitting pretty much empty since she died. I went through a lot of stuff because I was trying to find Elena, which is another story. But aside from that, there’s ten thousand square feet and sixty year’s-worth of shit to sort through.”
“And someone broke in.”
“Yeah. We shouldn’t have left it that long. Rocco’s gonna stay there for a while.”
“It was probably a professional. Someone who staked it out and knew that it was empty.”
“Most likely,” I agree and push my finger into the waistband of her jeans. “Now, let’s forget about the goings-on more than an ocean away.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Chapter 14
~Nadia~
“I want to be with you,” he murmurs as those talented lips take a slow journey down my neck to my shoulder. His hands skim down my arms, over my naked torso, and down to my ass, still covered in denim.
He squeezes, and my core clenches in response. But before I can say anything, his hands grip my thighs, and he lifts me like I weigh nothing. I wrap my legs around his waist, and he carries me to the dining room table.
“I want to kiss you.” He unfastens my jeans, and I lift my ass so he can guide them over my hips and down my legs.
The underwear follows, and I’m left lying naked and spread wide for him.
I expect him to dive right in, wrap his lips around me and take me for one hell of a ride.
But to my surprise, that’s not what he does at all.
His fingertips barely brush my skin, sending goosebumps all over me.
“You’re so fucking soft,” he whispers before kissing my inner thigh. “So damn responsive. God, you’re getting wetter by the second.”
“Come on, Carmine. You’re killing me here.”
He just shakes his head and continues taunting me, teasing me. His touch is gentle, his kisses wet and carefully placed over my already heated skin.
I arch my back, wanting nothing more than to have him fuck me hard on this table. What’s with the gentle shit?
Sex is impatient. Fast and dirty.
It’s not this.
“Carmine,” I breathe when his fingers brush over my most intimate lips. “Jesus, don’t be such a tease.”
He chuckles and licks up my stomach to my navel and then farther to the underside of my small breasts.
Who knew that little spot was so damn sensitive?
“You’re killing me.”
“Just relax,” he croons. His voice is thick and sounds like melted chocolate. Full of lazy lust and affection, and it does something to me.
Something I don’t recognize—or particularly feel comfortable with.
My throat closes, and my core clenches when his lips drag up over one already perky nipple. I don’t know what this is. My already raw emotions are even more on the surface, and I don’t like it. I don’t want to feel vulnerable with him.
“Damn it, Carmine, you’re going too slow. Just fuck me already!”
He stills, pulls his hands back, and raises his head to look down at me. “That’s not what I’m doing here, Nadia.”
“What are you doing?”
My breasts rise and fall with my breaths, coming faster now. What is all of this emotion?
“I don’t have to spell it out for you.”
“Yeah, I think you do. You have me tied in knots here. Just do it already. What’s wrong with you?”
His eyes narrow, and if I’m not mistaken, he looks hurt. But before I can say anything, he quickly unfastens his slacks and pushes into me, hard.
“Is this what you want?” he demands and then slams into me again. And again. “You just want me to fuck you?”
I grip onto the edge of the table and hold on tight, but he suddenly stops and swears under his breath.
“Goddamn it.”
“Carmine.”
“Just give me a second.” He shakes his head, and I can see despair there. Confusion. So, I sit up and take his face in my hands. “A few months ago, I would have simply fucked you until you walked wrong and been content with that. But that’s not where we are anymore, Nadia.”
I frown as he kisses the palm of my hand. “Carmine, we’re enjoying each other. Having a good time together.”
“Yeah, we are, but it’s more than that. And if you say it’s not, that you don’t have any feelings for me beyond that, you’re lying.”
I bite my lip and feel my eyes fill. And that just pisses me off.
“Don’t cry, baby.”
“I’m not.” I clear my throat.
“I can’t just fuck you and then go on with my day. Not anymore. I feel more than that, and I’ll be damned if I continue denying it—if that’s what you’re asking me to do.”
“I don’t know what I’m asking.”
“Why is this so hard for you?” He brushes his thumb over my lower lip, his eyes following the movement.