Page 26 of Saving His Sunshine

I nod, my eyes watery. “They’re our parents in every way that matters. They’ve been good to us—really good, Alessandro. But we all struggle in our own ways with what we went through. Um, I guess I’ve always been afraid to let people get too close because of it.”

He’s quiet for a minute. “If your own parents didn’t want you, why would anyone else, is that it, Sunshine?”

I bob my head, my throat tight.

“Look at me, Heidi.”

I resist the command, not sure I’m ready to face him yet. But he’s determined to make me see him, to make me face him. He turns my face, his hand gentle but firm, until my eyes meet his.

“Your biological parents didn’t deserve you,” he says, his voice low and heated. “You were a miracle then, and you’re just as much a miracle now. Anyone lucky enough to spend five minutes standing in front of you knows that much, baby. God knows I do.”

“Alessandro,” I whisper.

“I want you because you’re perfect in every way,” he says, his tone vibrating with a quiet intensity that steals my breath. “I want you because I spend every waking minute thinking about you—about your smile, about those dimples, about the sassy things you say, and how I can make your life even one iota better. How you make my life better just by being in it. I want you because the thought of not having you is, literally, the worst fucking thing I can imagine, Sunshine.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I want you. Every perfect inch of you. And there isn’t a chance in hell that I’m giving even a tiny piece of you back.”

I sob his name, practically throwing myself into his arms as tears pour down my face.

He catches me, dragging me onto his lap. His lips crash against mine, his kiss wild and fierce before he eases off to brush tearsfrom my cheeks. “Thank you for trusting me with your story, angel.”

“Please be patient with me, Alessandro,” I plead quietly in response. “I want this so freaking bad, but I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m so afraid I’m going to mess it up.”

His lips curve into a soft smile. “You can’t mess it up, Heidi. There are no rules.” He seems to think better of it as soon as he says it. “Actually, I take that back. There is one rule.”

“What?” I ask, my heart in my throat.

“No more making me come looking for your sexy ass when I get off at night,” he growls, his eyes narrowed on me. “I expect to find you in this bed where you belong.”

“Alessandro, we can’t just—”

He silences me with his lips against mine. “We can do whatever the fuck we want, angel,” he growls against my lips. “No rules, remember?”

“You just made a rule,” I remind him.

He growls playfully, making me giggle.

“Fuck, I love that sound.” He kisses me again and then again, running his hands up and down my sides.

“I love that,” I hum, melting into him.

“What?”

“The way you touch me.” I look up at him through my lashes. “The way you look at me. I’ve always been a big girl, but you make me feel beautiful.”

“I make you feel beautiful?” He cocks a brow. “Baby, you haven’t looked in a mirror lately if you don’t feel that way every goddamn day.” He grabs my hand, placing it over his groin. “I’ve been this fucking hard since you opened the door in that damn apron.”

I wrap my hand around him through his pants, unable to help myself. He’s so damn hard.

He growls my name, his head falling back. His heated eyes meet mine as he bucks into my hand.

“Alessandro?” I push against his chest. “I’m feeling very brave.”

“Oh, yeah?” His dimples pop out, a lazy grin spreading across his face. “How brave, Sunshine?”

“Lay back, and I’ll show you.”

He doesn’t waste any time obeying. He stretches out on his back, his hands interlaced behind his head, a smirk on his face. God, he’s gorgeous.

I sit up on my heels, staring down at him with the tip of my tongue caught between my teeth, trying to decide where to start.

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