Page 82 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

“Oh, the ‘pineapple pizza purists’,” Angelo said, rolling his eyes dramatically. “They act like it’s the eighth wonder of the world.”

“Right? And then there’s the whole ‘sweet and savory’ argument,” Allison added, making exaggerated air quotes. “I’m sorry, but my taste buds aren’t buying it.”

Angelo wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “You know, I think we just solved the greatest mystery of all time.”

“What’s that?” Allison asked, her eyebrows raised and her jade eyes shining with curiosity and the alcohol she had consumed.

“The reason why we haven’t achieved world peace yet,” Angelo declared. “It’s all because of pineapple on pizza. If we could just agree to ban it, imagine the harmony!”

Allison burst out laughing again. “You might be onto something. No more pineapple wars!”

Angelo’s laughter faded into a slow, deliberate smile as their eyes met and held, the atmosphere changing into a different kind of charge.

“You know,” he said, his voice thick with intent, “I think I could talk to you about anything and everything, forever.”

Allison’s pulse quickened against his hand, as he held her wrist loosely. “Oh yeah?” she asked, her voice a low, seductive purr. “And what would you start with?”

His cock jumped at her low tone and his hand started moving. His fingertips grazed her skin as he stroked up her forearm.

“I’d start with how intoxicating your eyes are when you laugh.”

Allison’s cheeks flushed and Angelo’s gaze locked onto the gorgeous color.

“Funny,” she responded, her voice barely a whisper, “I was just thinking how magnetic your smile is.”

The air between them buzzed with a palpable tension. Angelo’s eyes darkened as he took a slow, deliberate breath.

“You know,” he said, his thumb tracing slow, sensual circles on the back of her hand, “I’ve never met anyone who made me laugh this much.”

“Me neither,” Allison breathed, her heart pounding. “And I’ve never met anyone who made me feel this… electrified. Like my skin is on fire, everywhere you look.”

The bar seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in a charged silence. Angelo leaned in, his gaze flicking to her lips and back to her eyes. “Allison,” he murmured, his voice low and rough. “Can I kiss you?”

Allison’s breath caught, her lips parting and his anticipation increased tenfold.

“Yes,” she whispered, her eyes closing as she tilted her head toward his.

He met his lips with hers in a deep, hungry kiss, the intensity of it sending a jolt of heat down his spine. Mouths moving in tandem, tongues stroking each other, breaths puffing in each other’s mouths. In a desperate move, he pulled her off her seat and onto his lap, balancing both of them on the barstool with a hope the busy bartender wouldn’t notice.

Angelo was burning from the inside out. He was lost in her, completely consumed by the taste of her lips, the scent of her skin, the feel of her body pressed so tightly against his. Every rational thought melted away, leaving only the raw, primal need to be closer, to feel more. His hands roamed over her back, pulling her impossibly closer, as if trying to fuse their bodies into one.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, gripping tightly as if afraid to let go, as if this moment would slip through her fingers like a dream. The world around him faded, the only thing that mattered was the way they fit together, the way their hearts pounded in unison, a wild rhythm that matched the urgency of their kiss.

Angelo’s pulse raced, his entire being thrumming with a need that was almost painful. He broke the kiss just enough to breathe, his forehead resting against hers, their breathsmingling in the small space between them. His voice was rough, barely a whisper. “I can’t get enough of you…”

His lips found hers again, slower this time, savoring the connection, but no less intense. The kiss deepened, and with it, the need that clawed at his insides. Angelo knew he was teetering on the edge of something unstoppable, something that would change everything. But right now, in this moment, nothing else mattered. All he wanted was her.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads stayed rest together, breaths mingling as they panted softly.

He reluctantly moved away, only to ask, “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Yeah,” she said, appearing to be in a trance as she moved back, her gaze tracing a line from his eyes to lustfully admire his lips.

He made quick work of their check, in too much of a hurry to get this woman all to himself to care that they’d both drank too much to be making any kind of decisions.

The walk to his hotel was a blur of stolen glances and electric touches, the anticipation building with every step. They got into the elevator, the small space amplifying the energy between them as Angelo placed a hand on the small of her back to guide her. As he pressed the button and the doors closed, he used that hand to pull her towards him, turning and pushing her against the wall.

His lips descended on hers in a searing kiss, his hands roaming her body as he pulled her even closer still, needing to touch her, to feel her everywhere. Stroke her silky skin, squeeze her lush thighs and hold her soft breasts. Allison’s hands traveled up his chest, tangling in his hair and her touch left flames in its path.

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