Page 24 of Carnival Master

“Ready to go, baby girl?” I extend my hand to her, and she hesitates momentarily before placing her palm in mine. I pull her to her feet and tug her close, her body fitting perfectly against my muscles. She looks up at me, green eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“I—” She swallows, searching my gaze. “I’m ready.”

I lead her away from the bright lights and noise of the carnival, back toward my trailer. The night is cool, and I wrap an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. She doesn’t pull away, instead nestling into my side. I can feel the tension radiating off her, a mix of nerves and desire.

“You know, I’ve thought about this moment a lot,” I murmur, my lips brushing her ear. “You, coming back to my place. Letting me show you how well I can care for that body.”

She shivers against me. “Oh yeah?” Her voice is breathy, and I can feel her soft breasts pressing against my chest.

“Oh, yeah.” I chuckle, a deep rumble in my chest. “I’ve imagined those thighs wrapped around my waist, your soft skin under my hands.” I pause outside the trailer, key in hand. “And don’t even get me started on that mouth.”

She bites her lip, glancing up at me. “Ty?—”

“You want to know what I’m going to do with that pretty little mouth of yours?” I tease, pressing even closer to her. Her breath quickens, and I can feel the pounding of her heart. I lean down, my lips ghosting over hers. “I’ll let you find out soon enough.”

I pull back, studying Sofia’s flushed face. This girl has me completely twisted up inside. When I first spotted her, I thought she’d be just another conquest—someone to chase, catch, and eventually discard. But there’s something different about her.

It could be how she challenges me, refusing to follow my usual tricks. Or how her genuine smile lights up her whole face when she lets her guard down like she did tonight over that damn funnel cake. How she fits against me feels right in a way I can’t explain.

And hell, watching her enjoy simple carnival food instead of her usual fancy fare did something to my chest that I was not ready to examine too closely. I’m playing a dangerous game here—she’s Jimmy Moretti’s daughter, engaged to another client, and completely off-limits. But standing here with her soft curves pressed against me, the sweet scent of her perfume mixing with powdered sugar, I’m already in too deep.

This isn’t just about getting her into my bed anymore. I want more. I want all of her—her sass, hersmile, those moments when she drops her rich-girl act and lets herself feel. And that terrifies me more than any business deal gone wrong ever could.

14

SOFIA

My heart hammers against my ribs when I enter Tyson’s trailer. The space feels smaller than I imagined, more intimate. His presence fills every corner.

“Come here, baby girl.” His voice wraps around me like velvet.

I cross my arms over my chest, suddenly hyper-aware of my curves. The ones Paulie says make me look fat.

Tyson’s fingers brush my chin, tilting my face up. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

“Nothing.” I try to sound confident, but my voice wavers.

“Bullshit.” His thumb traces my bottom lip. “You’re trembling.”

Heat floods my cheeks. I step back, putting space between us. “I just... I don’t understand why you want me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Look at you.” I gesture at his muscled frame, the tattoos visible beneath his rolled-up sleeves. “And I’m...” The words stick in my throat.

“You’re what?” His eyes darken.

“I’m not exactly model material.” I force a laugh that sounds hollow. “Paulie says-”

“Fuck what Paulie says!” He closes the distance between us, his hands settling on my hips. “That piece of shit wouldn’t know beauty if it slapped him in the face.”

I bite my lip, fighting the urge to pull away. “He says I need to lose weight.”

“Is that what this is about?” Tyson’s expression softens. His fingers trail up my sides, making me shiver. “Every curve of your body is perfect. You have no idea how crazy you make me.”

I shift under his intense gaze, my skin prickling with awareness. Deep down, I know I’m not fat - I’ve got curves, sure, and I’m no size zero, but that’s never bothered me until Paulie started his constant comments.

Tyson’s fingers trail down my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “You know what I’m going to do?”

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