Page 41 of Triplets for the Mafia Prince

I have an urge to melt into him, needing his strength and warmth. But I hold back. I need his protection, but I don’t have to hand over all of myself to him. I can’t give him any more power than he already has. It makes me wonder how much he’s already been manipulating me for my compliance.

“Earlier… when you kissed me… and just now, when you said I'm yours. Why did you do that?”

His brows knit together. “Why did you kiss me in the kitchen?”

My cheeks flush hot as Nic turns my question back on me. Kissing him had been impulsive, driven by a desire I'd never felt before.

Nic's fingers gently tilt my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. "It's probably the same reason. You wanted to. Just like I wanted to." His thumb brushes my lower lip, sending shivers down my spine. "Like I want to now."

My heart pounds so hard. I'm caught between desire and fear, wanting to give in but terrified of what it might mean.

Nic's eyes search mine, patient but hungry. "Can I?"

It’s not a conscious thought when I nod. Clearly, my brain has short circuited and with it, common sense has disappeared. All that’s left is need… a need to feel safe, warm… desired.

Nic leans in slowly, like he’s giving me time to change my mind. But I don't want to. I want this, want him, more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.

Nic's lips brush over mine again, and this time, I don't resist. The kiss is soft at first, tentative. I lean into him, my body responding with those new sensations I felt in the kitchen. It’s sweet and frustrating at the same time.

His tongue slides over the seam of my mouth, parting my lips. I open to him, and the kiss deepens, sending warmth through me. It starts in my chest and radiates outward, making my skin tingle, my heart race, and liquid heat pool in my center.

Nic's arms encircle me, pulling me closer, and I melt against him. The way Nic holds me, the gentle yet insistent pressure of his lips, makes me feel cherished. Desired. In the back of my mind, a warning tries to sound, but I don’t heed it. For the first time in my life, I feel like someone sees me as more than just a pawn in some larger game.

My hands find their way to Nic's shoulders, gripping the fabric of his shirt. I'm not sure whether I'm steadying myself or trying to pull him even closer. Maybe both. The world around usfades away, and all I can focus on is the sensation of his lips on mine, the warmth of his body pressed against me.

A small moan escapes me. Nic responds by deepening the kiss further, one hand tangling in my hair while the other rests at the small of my back. It's intoxicating, and I surrender to the feeling completely.

As we continue kissing, Nic's hands slowly make their way along my body. I gasp into his mouth as they graze the outsides of my breasts. My nipples tingle and harden. The feel of his hands on me is almost too much to bear. I've never been touched like this before.

Just as I feel like I’m floating in a haze of bliss, he pulls away. His eyes are dark and hungry, and it sends a delicious thrill through me to know he’s just as affected as I am.

“We should stop,” he says, his voice heavy with reluctance.

I frown at his words, not understanding. "Why?"

“You should wait for the right person."

His words sting. It reminds me that he said I was his but then told me he could give me freedom. Which is it?

I know which it is. He’s not interested in long-term relationships. When he said I was his, he probably just meant to protect. I should be happy that he’s willing to do that and then help me escape the confines of Mafia life.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t take advantage of this moment. “I may not live long enough to find the right person.”

“You will?—”

“You don’t know that. When the snow is done… when we have to leave, we don’t know what will happen. I want to know what it feels like to be with a man who makes me feel… when it’s not a chore I have to endure.”

His lips twitch upward like he’s amused by my comment. “Fucking shouldn’t be a chore. Have you ever had an orgasm?”

Heat flushes my cheeks, embarrassed by the intimate topic. “You know I've never been with a man." That’s part of what makes me so valuable.

Nic's eyes linger on mine. "Have you ever touched yourself?"

I shake my head, unable to meet his intense gaze. His hand moves on my lower back, his touch warm and reassuring.

“It's okay. There's nothing wrong with wanting to experience pleasure."

“If I thought that, I wouldn’t be embarrassing myself by suggesting that you and I…” I can’t bring myself to finish the thought. I’m mortified that I’m having to throw myself at him.

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