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“Would you keep her from me forever?” A tremor of fear seizes my dad’s voice.

Elio frowns. “I think this call has served its purpose. Good night, Cosimo.” He closes the laptop, ending the call. I want to tell him I have the same questions as my dad, but I don’t think that will go over well right now. Plus, I suspect he doesn’t have any more answers than we do.

“Thank you. I know you and others may not understand my choices regarding my dad. We’ve weathered a lot of storms together, and he means the world to me.”

He leans back against the padded headboard. “I think I’m starting to understand.”

I scoot a tiny bit closer. I want to show him my appreciation—for the call and for everything—but I’m not sure how. I rest my hand on his rock-hard thigh. Beneath the dusting of dark hair, the scars decorating his skin draw my attention. I trace one with my finger the same way I’ve traced mine in the past.

“So many scars. How did you get them?” I ask quietly.

“Most of them came from learning to fight. My teacher’s methods were effective but harsh.” He lifts me over him until I’m straddling those thick thighs. My gaze flits from his down to the rolling hills and valleys of his muscular torso.

I can feel his eyes devour me as I trail my fingers down the middle of his chest through his smattering of hair and along the soft ridges of his abs. He’s past the stage of lean, sinewy muscle. Every part of him is honed and solid with maturity. If this man ran at a wall, he wouldn’t bounce off; he’d barrel straight through. He’s a seasoned locomotive to a younger man’s pickup truck—reliable, powerful, and humble. His body is a tool rather than a prop, and I adore every inch of it.

When my hand lowers to the edge of his boxer briefs, his swollen cock twitches with awareness.

I’m overcome with the need to taste him. To feel his body quake at my touch the way he did for me. My gaze rises to his again, this time with a heady dose of lust swirling in their depths. His chest expands on a hasty breath when our eyes meet. I keep my gaze glued to his while my hand lowers the waistband of his boxer briefs, relishing the way he fixates on my every movement.

Finally, I allow my gaze to drop to his throbbing cock, lined with thick veins and the heart-shaped head an ardent red. I take him in my hand to fully appreciate his masculine prowess.

He hisses at my touch, his abs flexing and straining.

Hearing how intensely a simple touch affects him brings a devious grin to my face. I lower myself down his legs until my face is level with his cock, keeping my hooded eyes lifted to his the entire time.

He goes so perfectly still that I’m pretty sure he quit breathing.

I part my lips.

His body shudders.

Like a kitten lapping at milk, I give the head a curious lick, relishing the way his entire body contracts at my touch. I’ve never done this before, yet he makes me feel like a sexual siren. Like anything I do will bring him to his proverbial knees.

It makes me want more.

I want to see this fierce, battle-worn man drop all his shields for me. And for once, I want him to know what it is to be cared for because I think it’s been a very long time since he’s known that feeling.

I draw him into my mouth and roll my tongue all the way around him. It’s a tight fit, but worth the aching jaw when he hisses a curse.

He brings his hand to my hair, reverent and encouraging. “Take in more of me, Ees. I know you can do it.”

Wanting to please him, I flatten my tongue and push him deeper. He only goes so far before my gag reflex kicks in. It frustrates me to no end. I want to do this, but my body is fighting me. I try to relax and slowly coax him toward the back of my throat, but it’s no use. I gag again.

“You don’t need to swallow me on the first try. We’ll have plenty of time to get there. It’s not that important, anyway. Here, hold your fist here … good, now squeeze a little more and move your fist with your mouth like this.” He guides my hand and head in a rhythm that feels surprisingly natural.

“Ah, fuck, baby. You may be a little too good at that.” His head drops back but only for a second. He likes to keep his eyes on me, watching me devour his dick.

I stop for a second to lick the full length of him, then dive back in for more. He doesn’t let me go for long, though. He tugs gently on my hair, coaxing me off him, then scoots us down the bed until he’s lying flat.

“Come closer.”

I crawl up his body.

As soon as I’m within reach, he rips open my pajama top, sending buttons flying.

“You have an unnatural obsession with ripping my clothing,” I tease him.

“You’re lucky I let you wear any clothes at all.” He gives my ass a light smack. “Now, turn around and face the other way.”