Page 57 of King Of Order

We sat at my small table, where the scent of basil and rosemary filled the air. I smiled as I witnessed him take his first bite.

‘This is incredible,’ he rasped in that hoarse timbre of his, with a fork paused mid-air. ‘You made this?’

I laughed, warmth spreading through me at the compliment. ‘Si, but it’s nothing fancy. Just some herbs and lemons from my backyard.’

He arched a brow, impressed, his pale blue eyes lighting up as he nodded. ‘You grew all this?’

I nodded. ‘My mother taught me how to garden when I was younger. It’s something we used to do together. She’d wake me up early on Saturday mornings, and we’d spend hours planting and pruning. Before she -.’

My voice trailed off, the memories both sweet and heavy.

I stood up to gather the dishes, trying to push back the emotion inside me.

Rio was beside me with no warning, his sinewed hand covering mine as I gripped a plate. I froze, hesitating to speak or even look at him.

Without a word, he took the dish from me, set it aside, and then turned me toward him. His arms came around me, pulling me close, and before I was able to resist, I sank into him.

I pressed my face into his chest, breathing him in.

He smelled like the outside—like fresh air and sunshine—and I let myself get lost in that scent, in the comfort of his warmth. His hands rubbed gentle circles over my back, soothing and grounding me.

I clung to him harder.

I needed this. Someone to hold me, to remind me I wasn’t alone. His embrace was strong but tender, and the walls around my soul began to crack just a little.

After a few minutes, I pulled back, embarrassed.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—’

‘Don’t apologize,bella,’ Rio growled, his finger trailing down my cheek. ‘You don’t have to explain.’

Our eyes met, the air charged with something more than comfort and friendship.

His hand lingered on my face, and my pulse quickened, a new kind of heat spreading through me.

His gaze dropped to my mouth, and my breath hitched.

Without restraint, I leaned in and kissed him.

It was soft at first, a gentle press of lips.

I half-expected him to pull away, but he didn’t. Instead, he returned the kiss, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

The kiss deepened, and a fire ignited in my chest, spreading through my veins and making my head spin.

Dio, he tasted like wine, warmth, and everything I never realized I craved.

In moments, he had me against the countertop, his mouth trailing down my nape to my upper torso.

His eyes sliced to mine as he arched a brow in question.

I stared down at my gaping tee and heaving tits, nodding.

He growled as he lifted a corner of my shirt, whipped down my lacy bra, and latched.

I had to throw my hands around his shoulders to keep from buckling to my knees.

This man was a master at nipples.

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