A small laugh escapes. “Yes. That’s the one.”
She tips the pill into her mouth, chasing it down with water. "Bet you’ve been dying for years to have me this obedient."
I grin. "Took a bullet and a transplant, but hey, worth it."
She swats my hand with a giggle. “So romantic, really. You giving me drugs to make sure my body doesn’t reject you.”
"You say drugs. I say binding contract." I slide my hand along her thigh, slow and deliberate. "You were mine long before medicine caught up."
She gives me a mock glare. "Next, you’ll be microchipping me like a dog."
I grin against her temple. “Don’t tempt me. Could save me a lot of anxiety.”
Her hands smooth over the cotton t-shirt on my chest. “You’d just program it to shock me every time I argue with you.”
I laugh low and kiss the top of her head. “Don’t give me ideas. That sounds like it could be fun.”
She lifts a brow. "Next, you’ll be handing me a collar and lead."
I lean in, dropping my voice. "Only if you ask nicely." I dip my head, my lips brushing her ear, my voice a rumble against her skin. "Maybe we should write that in our wedding vows. Start with: Rose promises to take her meds and let Dan do whatever he wants…”
She shivers, pressing her thighs together as if she’s trying to contain the heat building between us. “Not sure I need a pill for that.”
I kiss a trail down her neck, whispering against her skin, “And in return, Dan promises to worship every inch of her… for life.” I slide my hand up her calf. “How are you feeling?”
“The same as I was five minutes ago—the last time you asked me. Only now I’m turned on.” She presses her lips to mine, slow and teasing, her brow arching with a look that says,wanna take this upstairs?
My blood heats, my body already answering for me as I search her face. "You sure you're feeling up to it?" Concern tightens my chest, even as my hands itch to climb between her thighs, even if its to pleasure her with my tongue like I did the night she came out of hospital, making her lie on the bed and not move.
She gives me a wicked grin, dragging her fingertips lazily down my chest.
"I'm a pillow princess, remember?" she teases. "You’re the one doing all the hard work. But if you need more time afteryoursurgery…" She lets the sentence hang in the air, all fake sweetness and wide eyes.
I narrow my gaze, a slow, dangerous smile pulling at my lips. "Fiore mio," I murmur, my voice dropping low as I lean in, "the only thing you need to worry about is whether you can handle me."
Her laugh bubbles out, soft and sexy, as she hooks her fingers in the collar of my t-shirt, dragging me closer. “I was made to handle you. Now take me upstairs before Angelos comes in wanting to play FIFA.”
I deepen the kiss, fingers skimming under the hem of her t-shirt, ready to lose myself in her.
Shouts from the kitchen interrupt the moment. Dom and Elio discussing something and raising their voices.
I flick Rose a glance. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Lifting her feet from my lap, I gently place them on the sofa as I rise.
Rose lowers her legs to the floor. “I’m coming.” She’s still pale, but there’s fire in her veins, stubborn as ever, as she breathes through her nose, rising from the sofa.
I open the kitchen door to find Elio standing there in a tailored black suit, casual as you like. “What’s all the commotion?”
He lifts his phone in greeting instead of his hand. “Call it a leaving gift.”
Rose tugs a cardigan over her chest. “Leaving gift?”
“As much as I’ve loved having your boyfriend and his brother here, I want my house back and if this is what you’re hanging around for, then I’ll gladly move things along.”
A smile curves my lips. “And here I thought we were finally getting on.”
Elio sniggers. “Yeah, like a house on fire.”
Rose rolls her eyes. “They’re family, Elio. Get used to it.”
