Page 45 of Under His Embrace

When I finally found him in the massive home gym in the mansion, I was thankful that no one else was working out with him. Among the many pieces of equipment and mirrored walls, he was building up a sweat on his own.

“Chloe.” He grinned around a strained expression as he set a bar with weights back on a rack. “Over here.”

I swallowed, nervous, and approached. “I see that.” Crossing my arms felt like a defensive posture, but I wanted the comfort of something like a hug.

Looking him up and down, I couldn’t help but smile. He was always so strong and ripped, oozing testosterone and masculinity. He was a buff gym junkie, but not with the bulkiness of someone who got so strong for the sake of looking good. His fitness was tied to his job. As a capo for Dante’s organization, Franco was expected to always be primed to fight, run, and defend.

This man would never fail to get a reaction out of me.

I stole this moment to look my fill. His sweaty hair, the blond tips dripping wet. His chiseled, lean features showing the tautness of his face. All the way down over the bulging muscles in his shoulders, those strong arms that held me so well.

I sighed at the sight of his hard pecs decorated with so many tattoos. Every ridge and dip of his abs, every slab of hardness defined and shiny under the glistening sheen of sweat.

“Chloe.” He grunted my name with that hit of a needy growl, and I swore I was aroused just like that. No matter the state of my mind and how anxious I was to talk to him, I was overwhelmed with immediate lust.

For him. Always for him. Something about this man called to me. His soul, the promise of his sexy body, his commanding grip.

“You keep looking at me like that, sweetheart, and I’m going to forget what I came here to do.”

He stalked toward me, his gaze predatory but playful.

I shook my head slightly, wrenching myself out of this haze of lust. “Me too.” I came here for something specific. I had to talk to him. I came here to talk about Caleb and break the news that he was a father.

But I overheard the guards near the kitchen when I grabbed my coffee. I didn’t know who the Giovannis were, but they were fighting someone in the Brooklyn area—where Caleb was with Ethan. I trusted that man to keep him safe. That reminder of Caleb, though, prompted me to get to it and tell Franco already.

“You don’t like the way I’m looking at you?” he teased, coming up to me and walking me back to the wall of mirrors.

“I really like the way you’re looking at me,” I replied before he kissed me so hard I grew dizzy.

“Like I want to eat you up?” he taunted, licking a path down my neck. He thrust my loose shorts down and slid his hand to my pussy.

“Oh, shit.” I gasped at the push of his fingers into my sex. The rough stroke and firm pressure were exactly what I needed and wanted with how quickly he turned me on like this.

“Like I want to drive my cock into your cunt?”

I moaned as I brought him back for a hard kiss.

“Like that?” he taunted, adding his thumb to rub at my clit.

“Fuck. Franco.” I caught my breath, or tried to. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“Hmm.” He sucked at my neck. “Then talk. Go ahead and see how long you can think while I do this.”

I whined, grabbing his forearm to slow him down. I was already overwhelmed with the need to come, but I strained to focus.

I told myself last night that I’d be greedy one last time and enjoy what he offered. Purely filthy, hot, and wild sex. That was supposed to be the last time I let my body betray me, the last time I would cave and give in to the pressure of wanting him so badly that I’d combust.

“Seriously,” I protested breathily between kisses. He was far stronger than me. If he wanted to move his arm, he would, but he humored me, letting me think that I could keep his hand in place as he continued to finger me.

He didn’t reply, kissing me again and groaning as he pinned me to the wall of mirrors. They had to be fogging up with the heat and moisture of him so sweaty and warming me up with the idea of sex.

“I want to talk to you.” I closed my eyes tighter, willing myself to resist him. It was so hard.Hewas hard. I felt the hardness of his erection prodding against me as he caged me against the wall.

“I’m always here for you. You can tell me anything.”

If he didn’t say that in such a seductive, panted whisper, it wouldn’t’ve hit harder. It would’ve sounded like a sincere claimthat I could believe in. Right now, it seemed that we were on the fast track to a hot, quick fuck.

“I want to talk to you about something important.”

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