Page 57 of Out of Control

Sofia

“At some point, I probably need to take you home,” Rossi says as he wraps the towel around his waist and walks out of the bathroom toward me.

“Probably. Unless you want to do something else.”

“I have stamina, Bellissima, but even a man in his prime has to have a recovery period now and again.”

I laugh and roll my eyes. “No. I mean . . . never mind.”

“No. Tell me.” He gently fists my hair and forces me to look up at him.

“It was a stupid thought. It’s imposing. It’s—”

“Keep the wishy-washy for your family, Sofia. When you’re with me, you ask for what you want. That’s the only way to get it.”

Why does shit like that turn me on?

I meet his eyes. “I like this Rossi. My Ollie. The one I’ve gotten to know today, and want to get to know him better. That’s all.”

“What if I had plans today?”

“Then I could do them with you.”

“Really? Just like that? You go from telling me not in a million years to hey, let’s hang out?”

I shrug. It does sound stupid. “I was always going to cave.”

“I know.”

I scoff. “Whatever.”

“You were. I was. There’s something here between us that’s . . . undeniable.”

And that feels out of control. “I know. I just . . . maybe I didn’t want it to go away just yet.” I blush with the admission but after everything we’ve done to each other over the past few hours, that should be the least of things I blush about.

“So . . . what? If I had things to do out on the town, you were going to go with me? Let it be known we were hanging out together?” he asks as he turns to his closet to grab a shirt, but there’s something in his voice that I can’t quite pinpoint. An emotion that’s being held back.

“I—uh . . .” I didn’t think about that. “We could watch a movie. Order takeaway. Let me cook for you. Sit in the jacuzzi on your deck and . . . never mind.”

“What did I say to you? I don’t do never minds.” He meets my eyes. “What is it?”

“I’ve had a great time with you. I don’t want it to end. But at the same time, I can’t exactly have you drop me off at my place and kiss me goodbye out front.”

“Who said I was going to kiss you goodbye?” Rossi asks, giving me a glimpse of the man I see in the paddock. The cold heart. The guarded man.

I open my mouth and close it then make a ridiculous sound in response. I struggle with how to say anything when I feel like I was blindsided.

But isn’t that just how I made him feel? Like I can fuck him in private but I can’t acknowledge him in public?

“Touché,” I finally say.

“That wasn’t my intent, Sofia. I don’t say things to hurt you. I told you all along I’d respect your wishes, and I’m trying really fucking hard to, but it’s difficult when I don’t know what game it is you’re playing.”

“I’m not playing any games.”

He moves to hang his towel up. “So then what are you saying?”

“I like whatever this is. I want to do whatever this is again. Spending time with you. Having sex with you. Getting to know you. But it’s probably not the best decision right now to be public with it.”