Page 50 of Quake

“Words, sweetheart,” he says, his voice rough.

“Yes,” I answer, moving my hands up his chest to grip his shoulders. “I want you.”

His tongue darts out to lick his lips, and I watch intently as his Adam’s apple bobs against the tattooed skin of his throat. Gianni’seyes clench shut, and when they open again,he looks ravenous. His hands find my ass, gripping me firmly as he hoists me up his body.

My legs wind around his hips, and I feel his thick length hardening under me. An involuntary moan slips past my lips. Gianni holds me up, kicking the door closed behind him as he saunters over to my bed, taking a seat on the edge. He holds me in his lap, his grip never loosening as he burrows his face in my neck, sucking in a sharp inhale.

The dusting of a five-o’clock shadow along his jaw teases my overheated skin, and I find myself clutching him to me, rocking my hips against his lap as I seek the friction I can’t help but want.

“God, woman.” His hands move to my hips, fingers digging into my skin almost painfully. The bite of pressure causes heat to coil inside me. “I want to make it known that this isnotwhat I came here for,” he grits out.

I loosen my grip on him, pulling away to look him in the face as I tease him. “I know, silly. I was the one that askedyouto come over.” But I realize my mistake the moment his lips press tightly together and his shoulders slump. I rush to correct his assumption, never wanting him to feel used or unwanted in any capacity.

Tyler made me feel like that for the majority of our relationship, and I’d never knowingly do that to someone else.

“I didn’t invite you over for this either, by the way. I just wanted to hang out with you,” I tell him, keeping my eyes locked on his so he,hopefully,knows I mean it.

He breaks the eye contact, his neck flushing as frustration flashes across his face, his brows notching together.

Running a hand over his neck and up to cup his cheek, I watch as his body responds to my touch. My eyes flit across his face,taking in the softening of each of his features as my words start to sink in past the armor he’s put up. “But,” I run my thumb across his full bottom lip, “I really do like you, and I haven’t got much experience, but if you’d like to have some fun with me, I’d be interested in that.”

“If you’re okay with it, of course,” I add as nerves ripple through my stomach.

His eyes flare with heat, but his next words stun me. “What do you mean you haven’t got much experience? Weren’t you with that dickhead forsix years?”

My cheeks heat with embarrassment, and now it’smewho’s averting my gaze. “Yeah, but he didn’t want me, and I’m not sure when it happened, but eventually, I stopped wanting him too. Besides…” I frown at the memories this conversation is dredging up. “There’s a lot that he refused to try. He said the things I suggested were too dirty, and, well, I stopped asking after a while. My ego can only take so much.”

Like talking about my lack of experience and how undesirable my ex found me with the sexiest man on the planet. That is most definitely at the top of the list of things that have hurt my ego in the last decade.

He lifts his hand, running his thumb across my cheekbone in a featherlight caress that sends goosebumps through me. “I haven’t been with anyone in years, haven’t had any desire to, but you? I find you invading my every thought. So, if you’d like to explore some of these ‘dirty’ acts you speak of, I’d be more than happy to act as your distraction. And for my sake, I hope they’re positivelyfilthy.”

I suck my lower lip between my teeth, unaware that my body has started rocking over him again, until his hands grind my movements to a shrieking halt.

As much as his words turn me on, they also tear me in two.He thinks I’d only want him as a distraction?Maybe this really is too soon after my breakup, but I may never get this opportunity again. Gianni’s the kind of person who withdraws when they feel unwanted, and that became clear when I turned him down the first time.

I’m definitely not torn up about the end of my relationship, so there’s very little stopping me from taking what I want. Hell, I’m not even that angry about what happened with Tyler. Everything seems to be picking up for me, and I may as well grab life by the balls, so to speak.

“Okay,” I finally answer, apprehension lacing my next words. “But if there’s anything I suggest that you find too,” my cheeks heat furiously, “um, just too much, let me know.”

His lips curve in a small smirk. “Does this mean we get to pick a safe word?” he asks, one full brow quirked.

I’m seeing a side of this man that I’m nearly certain he doesn’t show anyone, and not only is that hot as hell, but I feelhonored.

“Sure. Your pick.”

He tsks at me. “Your kinks we’re fulfilling here, darling,yoursafe word.”

The way the word “darling” rolls off his tongue sends a shiver down my spine.

I think on this for a moment, and when the word comes to me, it’s like a fucking lightbulb goes off in my head! “I have it!”

“Do tell.” A smile tugs at his lips.

“Meatball.”

He releases a choked laugh that lights a blazing path through my chest. “Well, I sincerely fucking hope you won’t be calling that out in bed,” he says, shaking his head with a slight smile that wrinkles the corners of his mouth.

“Well, isn’t that kind of the point? You only say it when absolutely necessary.” I roll my eyes playfully, as if I’ve ever used a safe word, let alone had one.

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