And while I’m not about to sleep with him, because that’s something I will have to work up to, I am ready to move our relationship out of the friend zone. The thought scares me, but I’m excited too.
I want to try with him.
No other man has ever made me feel the way Alesso does, and I want to experience new firsts with him.
“You doing okay over there, sis?” a drunken, giggly Sierra asks as the elevator doors close to take us up to the highest levels of the building.
“I’m peachy.” I shoot her a smile, and she winks as she notices how close I’m standing to Alesso and how we are still holding hands. “How about you?”
“I’m a little teeny-tiny bit drunk,” she slurs, giggling again.
“No shit, Sherlock.” Ben draws her in closer, pressing kisses to the top of her head. It never ceases to amaze me to see him like this. If someone saw Don Mazzone with my sister, they’d never believe he’s the same man who runs a multimillion-dollar enterprise and commands the mafia underworld like the badass boss he is.
“Remind me why we didn’t get Rowan to sleep in Ciro’s apartment?” she says, grabbing handfuls of his butt, uncaring who sees. I wonder if, one day, I’ll be carefree enough to make grabby hands at my man.
“Because we both know you can’t bear to be parted from our little prince for any length of time.” Ben purposely removes her hands from his ass as Leo chuckles.
“True, but I really need to get our kink on.” Sierra’s hands return to her husband’s butt as she peers up at him with puppy-dog eyes. “We can be quiet.”
“Nope.” Natalia waggles her finger in Sierra’s face. “I do not want to hear any kinky times you have with my brother. Certainly not up close and personal. You’ll just have to control yourselves.”
“You’re a spoilsport,” Sierra slurs, but there’s no malice in her tone. She wraps her arms around Ben’s back, snuggling into him as she closes her eyes. Alesso squeezes my hand, and when I look up at him, there is no disguising the blatant desire on his face.
Knots of anticipation coil in my gut, and I discreetly squeeze my thighs together.
“Don’t worry, sis,” Ben says, holding his wife upright. “This one will be passed out stone-cold and snoring within the next five minutes.”
“Will not,” Sierra sleepily protests, fighting to keep her eyes open. “And I don’t snore.”
We all laugh as the elevator pings when it reaches our level. We make hasty goodbyes and walk side by side, with Leo, along the corridor toward the guys’ apartments. Leo ducks into his place, and we continue toward Alesso’s apartment, the sexual tension ratcheting up a few levels the closer we get to his door. Blood rushes to my nether regions when he pins me with a searing look while he fumbles with his wallet, eventually extracting his key card.
Butterflies are going crazy in my chest and swooping into my belly as he leads me by the hand into his place. Nario is sprawled across the couch, guffawing at something on the TV. The coffee table in front of him is littered with cups and candy wrappers, and he has truly been making himself at home.
“Out,” Alesso says in a commanding tone, switching the TV off.
Nario arches a brow, his all-seeing gaze looking at me and our conjoined hands. A sleazy grin slips over his mouth. “It’s like that I see.”
“Mind your own business.” Alesso’s tone is a little harsh.
“Thanks for watching the kids,” I softly say. “I really appreciate it.”
Nario pulls himself upright, slipping his feet into his unlaced shoes. “They’re good kids. Not a peep out of them all night.”
That’s a relief. Romeo hasn’t had a nightmare in weeks, thank God, but I was worried the change of environment might unsettle him. Both Elisa and Romeo are doing great in therapy, and I can see it’s clearly helping. My therapy is still a work in progress, but I’m glad I decided to pursue it for all of us. I think we would all continue to struggle otherwise.
“Thanks, man.” Alesso slaps him on the back, looking a little apologetic. “You can see yourself out.”
Nario chuckles, waggling his brows at his colleague, before he saunters along the hallway, whistling low under his breath. Alesso and I stand in the middle of the living room, staring at one another as we wait for Ben’s bodyguard to leave the apartment. My chest heaves as adrenaline surges through my body the longer we stare at one another.
It seems to take forever for the audible sound of the door closing to prick our ears, but I’m sure it was only seconds. Expectation is rife in the air as we stand frozen to the spot, devouring one another with our eyes. It takes me a few seconds to realize he is waiting for my cue, and although I’m nervous, that is exactly what I need to know this is right. Summoning bravery from some long-buried place, I bridge the gap between us, press my body against his, and wind my arms around his neck.
Then we move like magnets. Heads tilting at the perfect angles and faces moving closer until our lips meet, and I fall into his arms. The feel of his mouth moving against mine is heavenly, and I easily get lost in our kiss. He holds me close, while still maintaining a little distance between us, as we kiss, but it’s not enough. My core pulses with need as our kissing grows more heated, and it feels like I’ll explode if he doesn’t touch me. The thought shocks me as much as it exhilarates me. I groan into his mouth as his tongue tangles with mine, and it feels like every inch of my skin is on fire. “Alesso,” I purr into his mouth. “Please.” I grip the back of his shirt, grinding my hips against his, shivering when his throbbing erection pushes against me.
“What do you need, Rena?” he asks, planting a slew of drugging kisses along my neck. “You’re in control. You tell me.”
I arch my head back, clinging to his strong biceps as he worships my neck, and the most delicious tremors skate over my skin. The sensations he’s coaxing from my body are wholly new, and I could get addicted to this feeling. The only thoughts in my head are how he’s making me feel, and I never want this to end. “Touch me,” I whisper, thrusting my pelvis at him. “Please touch me.”
He straightens us up, pulling his mouth away and tilting my chin up with his fingers. His hungry eyes bore into mine. “We don’t have to rush, Rena. We can take things slow. I’m perfectly happy kissing you, so don’t feel you need to move faster than you’re ready.”
