“Have the men take everything out of the boxes and remove them,” I tell Santino. “I’m heading to my room.”
“Okay. Get some rest,” he replies, already turning around to hand out orders.
I place my hand on Nina’s back and nudge her toward the stairs.
Suddenly, she pauses. “Wait. Go get the first aid kit.”
I shake my head. “You’re tired. It can wait.”
Her mouth sets in a stubborn line I haven’t seen before. “No, it can’t. You’re in pain.”
The idea of Nina tending to me is too good to pass up, and I quickly go to the kitchen.
When I return, I find her waiting where I left her, vigilantly watching the men as they move around the penthouse.
I place my hand on her back again, and she jerks before swinging to me. As soon as she sees I’m the one touching her, she visibly relaxes and begins to climb the stairs.
She feels safe with me.
The corner of my mouth lifts as we head to my bedroom, and when I shut the door behind us and switch on the light, dimmingit so it’s not too bright, my thoughts return to our conversation in the office.
I had no intention of telling her I’m in love, but one thing led to another, and now that the cat is out of the bag, I can’t say I regret it.
“Place her on my bed,” I murmur.
I watch as Nina lays Simi down before coming back to me to grab the first aid kit. “Sit. Do we have painkillers?” She instantly goes into nurse mode, her tone even bossy.
I like it.
Grinning like an idiot, I take a seat on the sofa that’s situated by the windows. “You’re the only painkiller I need.”
Her head snaps up, and her cheeks turn pink.
As I unbutton my shirt, my eyes remain locked with hers, and it could just be me, but just like last night, something shifts until it feels like every particle between us is vibrating.
Nina moves closer so she stands right in front of me, and when I take the shirt off, she leans in to help. Her hands feel perfect as they brush over my skin, and before she pulls back, she presses a kiss to my cheek and whispers, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,angelche moe.”
The way I say the endearment makes it clear it’s possessive and intimate, and I see the surprise on Nina’s face before she quickly schools her expression.
After that, she doesn’t make eye contact again and silently cleans my wounds before giving me a massage that, once again, leaves me with a hard-on.
When she’s finished, and I lean back against the sofa, I don’t hide my physical reaction to her. I want her to know that even when I’m turned on, she’s safe with me.
Nina notices instantly as she begins to gather the soiled gauze. When she scurries off to the bathroom, I get up and followher. As I shut the door so we can talk in private and Simi doesn’t wake up and overhear us, Nina’s eyes flit to my face.
“I’m attracted to you, and you just turned my body to jello with your magical hands. I’m going to get hard a lot around you. It’s normal.” I tilt my head, keeping hold of her gaze. “But I won’t do anything about it, so you don’t have to fear that part of me.”
She stares at me for a moment longer before whispering, “But you want to.”
“Yes, but there’s something else I want more.”
“What?”
“Well, actually two things. First, like I said last night, I want you to want me. I won’t touch you until you feel the same way about me and give your consent. Not because you feel it’s your duty, or that you want to please me. You have to be turned on by the thought of me touching you, of me taking you in my bed, not repulsed by it.”
“You don’t repulse me.”
