Page 86 of Memphis

“He messed up. He messed up big time, but I have to let him know I’m okay. Otherwise, he might end up doing something crazy.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re right.”

“So, what do you think? Text or call?”

“That’s up to you.”

“Text it is.” She looked down at her phone and grimaced. “I’m gonna need your charger.”

“Go ahead.”

She plugged it in, and tension rolled off her as she waited for it to come back on. Minutes later, the screen lit up, and she started forging her text. She typed and then erased several times before saying, “I’m sofuckingmad at him. I can’t believe that he stole from that man and lied to my face about it, and if that bullshit wasn’t enough, he got me kidnapped and almost sold to God knows who! How am I supposed to forgive him for that?”

“You don’t have to forgive shit. You don’t owe him a damn thing. All you gotta do is tell him you’re okay. And that’s it. Nothing more.”

She nodded, then grimaced as she pressed send on her message. Within seconds, her phone started to ring, but she didn’t answer. She simply silenced it and sent him a second message demanding that he not call again. I was proud of her. She’d been through a lot, and she was still standing strong.

When we got to her apartment, Antonia led me upstairs, and when we reached her door, she unlocked it and said, “Well, this is it.”

It was just a small one-bedroom apartment, but it suited her. There was a soft, worn-out couch on one wall and a large, wooden entertainment center filled with books and vinyl records on the other. There were photographs and various pieces of art scattered around the place, and the coffee table was cluttered with magazines and takeout menus.

I took a minute to check it all out before I told her, “It’s nice. It suits you, but I think my place suits you better.”

“You think so?”

“I do. You make that place feel like home.”

I have no idea who moved first, but the next thing I knew, her mouth pressed against mine. A light moan vibrated throughher chest when my tongue slid across her bottom lip with a lazy glide, and my hand gripped the back of her neck for better access as I delved deeper into her mouth. My tongue tangled with hers as she hooked a leg over mine, arching her hips towards me. Her hands slowly drifted down my chest, and when she reached the hem of my shirt, she looked at me with need in her eyes. “How do you do that?”

“Do what, baby?”

“Make me feel like everything’s going to be okay.”

“Because it is. I’m going to make sure of it.” Her eyes were locked on mine when I promised, “I’ll give you whatever you need.”

“You really mean that?”

“Yeah, babe. Just say the word.”

“Then, make me forget.” She took my hand in hers and led me to her bedroom. Once we’d reached the edge of the bed, she turned to face me, and her voice was strained as she whispered, “My father. Vittorio.All of it. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

I removed my cut and laid it across the chair, then quickly pulled my t-shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor. Before I’d had a chance to react, she reached for her own shirt and removed it, pitching it onto the floor next to mine. My hand dove into her hair, and I brought her mouth to mine, then kissed her hard, our tongues twisting and tasting each other with nothing but passion and desire.

Her mouth was warm and soft, and each swirl of her tongue made the blood rush to my cock. I lowered my mouth to her neck and ran my lips softly down the curve of her jaw down to her shoulder and whispered, “You’ve got no idea what you do to me.”

“Wes,” she rasped as she wound her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. Needing to feel her skin on mine, I trailed kisses down her collarbone as I slipped my hands behind her and unclasped her bra. Her fingers raked through my hair as Ilowered my mouth to her breast. Heavy breaths and low moans filled the room as I brushed my tongue against her nipple.

Her head fell back, and with her eyes closed, she mumbled, “I love having your mouth on me.”

“I’m just gettin’ started.”

After slipping off her socks, she removed her pants and panties, and a spark of hunger flashed through her eyes as she sprawled across the bed. My eyes drifted down her body, her delicious curves calling me, and I couldn’t wait a moment longer to have her. I kicked off my boots, then lowered myself down on the bed next to her. Goosebumps rose along her skin as I began tracing the slope of her breast with my fingertips. She was stunning, and she was mine—all mine.

My mouth moved to her neck, kissing and nipping gently at her soft skin before traveling to her collarbone and then her breast. I glided my tongue along her stomach and watched with satisfaction as her back arched off the bed, silently pleading for more. I continued trailing kisses here and there before settling myself between her legs.

I hovered over her, teasing her sensitive flesh with the heat of my breath. She arched her back and shifted her hips as I ran my tongue slightly across her center, teasing her, tormenting her as she squirmed beneath me.

Damn.

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