Page 32 of Sinful Desires

Soon, Mom.If I were a spiritual man, I might have believed she’d sent that woman and her son to me as a sign today, reminding me what this was about and why it mattered. How completely miserable and hopeless she had felt for so very long and how it had all trickled down onto me.

My phone buzzed halfway over the Brooklyn Bridge. A text from Aria.

Aria:How about we relieve some stress with a movie tonight? 8:00, home theater. I’ll start without you, so don’t be late.

Yes, sweet little Aria. Crave my presence. Come up with reasons for us to spend time together.The Manhattan skyline spread out before me on the other side of the bridge when I looked up from the message, and I smiled with satisfaction. One day, I would own this town.

For now, I would settle for owning Aria’s body for the short time we were still together. I would make these last days count.

Me:Careful, or I’ll have to ravish you before the movie’s over. You know it drives me crazy when you get all demanding.

13

ARIA

It was five minutes to eight. A large bowl of popcorn sat between two of the deep, plush seats in our home theater. We had spent so many happy hours here, Valentina and I, sometimes with our friends, sometimes with Mom and Dad. We used to curl up under blankets, sometimes covering our faces if the scene was too scary. Horror movies had always scared the hell out of me when I was a kid, but somehow, it wasn’t as bad when I knew I was right down the hall from my bedroom. I was safe.

Was I safe tonight? Debatable. Obviously, it was a waste of time to tell myself this was wrong, that we shouldn’t spend time together this way. Somewhere, when I wasn’t paying attention, I had stopped caring about that.

It’s probably because I started caring too much about him. This would’ve been so much easier if there hadn’t been the chance to get to know him. It was always harder to hate someone I knew.

It didn’t hurt that he was an expert at making me come until my ears rang, and I forgot how to speak.

I settled in, confident he would join me, and he didn’t disappoint. The door opened behind me, leaving me holding my breath, staring up at the screen where the Blu-ray menu for the movie I had chosen was displayed.

“Fuck.” Was that admiration in Miles’s voice as he approached, passing two rows of seats before reaching mine? “Why go out in public at all? You have everything you need right here under this roof.”

He had a point. “It was something Dad put together for Valentina and me,” I explained, patting the seat on the other side of the popcorn bucket. “We always had the coolest sleepovers.”

“No doubt.” The strange, unsettling anger that had seemed to grip him earlier at the carnival was nowhere in sight. Grinning affably, he dropped into his seat, now wearing a sweater and jeans with only socks on his feet. This might have been the most casual I had ever seen him. Well, not counting the time we were naked together.

“Oh, I forgot. Are you thirsty?” I hopped up and scooted over to the mini refrigerator in the corner. “There’s Coke, root beer, Dr. Pepper.”

“I’ll have a Coke,” he decided. “I still can’t get over how nice this is. Your father spared no expense on you two.”

“Mom always worried he was spoiling us,” I confessed, bringing him a soda and settling down with one of my own. “She didn’t grow up this way. She kept us grounded.” He grunted softly but offered no reply. I probably seemed like the least grounded person who ever lived.

“Have you ever seenCitizen Kane?” I asked, picking up the remote. “And if not, would you mind watching it now? It’s probably my favorite movie.”

“I’ve never had the pleasure,” he admitted. “Though it’s always been on my list of films I would like to check out. There has to be a reason it’s so highly regarded, I imagine.”

I clapped my hands gleefully before remembering whose presence I was in. “Don’t laugh at me,” I warned when his lips twitched as if he was about to do just that. “Sorry, I get excited when I have the chance to introduce people to something I love.”

His smile was genuine. “That’s very nice. I look forward to the film.” He took a handful of popcorn and tossed a few pieces into his mouth, grunting in approval. “Shit, this is good.”

“I aim to please.” His eyes held mine as I pushed play on the remote.

Sitting next to him, every nerve on edge, I couldn't ignore his nearness and the electric touch of his fingers grazing mine as we both reached for the popcorn bucket at the exact same time. The tension between us was palpable, heightened by the soft gasps and murmurs he made in response to the twists of the plot. I was determined to keep my eyes glued to the screen, but damn, it was a struggle with that pull toward him.

Every so often, I’d glance his way. There was nothing as gratifying as watching somebody enjoy something I loved. After a while, he noticed, his gaze locking onto mine.

I didn’t stand a chance against him. All it took was the sight of those gold-flecked orbs to light a fire in my core. Something wicked sizzled through me like a lightning bolt, and I slid out of my seat before there was time to talk myself out of it.

“What are you doing?” he asked, amused, as I lowered myself to my knees. I gave him a quick glance, sliding my hands under the hem of his sweater to unbutton his jeans.

Why use words when actions get the point across?

He watched my every move, completely still and almost holding his breath when I lowered his zipper. What was I doing? Anybody could come in if they heard the movie playing and wanted to join us. He had no reason to lock the door when he came in.

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