“I’m only eight years younger than you, you know?” She asked, rolling her eyes. “I don’t think we’re putting you in adult diapers quite yet.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Not a great image.”
She bit her lip, her eyes twinkling. “I’d still think you were hot. I mean, you do it for me. What can I say?”
Laughing, I pressed a sweet kiss to her forehead. “Well, you do it for me too. It should be illegal how many times a day I think about kissing you...and touching you...and fucking you,” I finished, loving the flare of desire in her eyes.
Her gaze lowered as she ran a fingernail over my pec. “Who is Scarlett?”
Sighing, I slid my fingers under her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. “She’s someone from my past who doesn’t hold a candle to you. I haven’t been with her that way in a long time, and I have no interest in being with anyone else but you. It would honestly be easier if I did, but for better or worse, you’re all I think about, princess. And that’s the God’s honest truth.”
Her smile was adorable as she nodded. “Okay. I believe you. And if that’s the case, what are we going to do about it? I only want to be with you too.”
Releasing a deep breath, I shook my head. “I have no fucking idea.”
Laughing, she rested her cheek on my chest and cuddled against me. “Me either. Let’s table it for now. I have to be home for dinner in a few minutes or Mom will wonder where I am.” Lifting her head, a pleading light entered her eyes. “Please come to dinner. I want to spend more time with you.”
My fingers caressed her cheek as I wondered if she knew how deeply she had me wrapped around her little finger. “Okay.”
“Good boy.” She patted my chest before resting her cheek there again. “Now, let’s cuddle for a few minutes before I have to leave.”
“Any other orders I need to follow?” I asked sarcastically as she playfully swatted my chest.
“That’s it for now, but you’lldefinitelyknow when I have more.”
Unable to control my grin, I tightened my arms around her and held her until I had to let her go.
Chapter 22
Alexis
Iheaded home wearing a goofy perma-grin as I trailed through the back yard, clutching my coat against the cold. I was no longer a virgin, and damn, it had been worth the wait.
I’d had the opportunity to have sex in college with several guys over my three years there, but I’d always held back for some reason. None of them seemed to get me, and I’d wanted to wait until I found the right person who would make it special.
My grin deepened as I thought of how sweet Nick had been as we cuddled afterward. Never would I have imagined the huge, tattooed mobster I met all those weeks ago—who infuriated me by destroying my phone—could be the same guy who held me so tenderly. But they were one and the same, and I recognized that Nick had often been misunderstood in his life, as well.
We were both complex people with introvert tendencies and obstacles that made us seem different to others who didn’t take the time to get to know us. But with each other, there was a shared comprehension of what we both needed because we’d both been ostracized in similar ways.
I’d rarely felt comfortable with anyone besides Mom, and Nick was one of the only people I felt I could truly be myself with. Mytrust in Michael was growing, and I liked him immensely, but my relationship with Nick was on another level. Deep in my heart, I knew I’d waited for theexactright person to share my first time with, and I couldn’t wait to make love to him again.
I opened the back door and met a smiling Carmen, who was stirring sauce in a large pot.
“Hello, querida. Were you taking a walk out back?”
“Uh...yeah,” I said, glancing around the room. “Where are Mom and Leticia?”
“Leticia is watering the plants in the greenroom, and your mother is cleaning the new gun Michael bought her.”
“Super weird statement,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “If you’d told me my mom would be taking shooting lessons from Michael Caruso a year ago, I would’ve said you were insane.”
“And yet, here we are,” Carmen said in her slight Spanish lilt. “And how is Nick doing today?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I didn’t see him. I was just getting some fresh air in the back yard.”
“My darling, breathing fresh air does not muss your hair or make your lips swell like they’ve been kissed.” Her dark eyes sparkled as she stirred.
“Please don’t say anything,” I whispered, knowing I was busted. “We’re just starting to figure things out and I don’t want to ruin it.”
