Page 94 of My Sweetest Temptation

“Kiss me, Winter,” he growled, desire thick in his voice.

I shook my head.

He bit my lower lip, the unexpected pressure causing my breath to hitch, and before I knew it, his tongue was plunging into my mouth, devouring me with an urgency that left me breathless. He kissed me like I was the sweetest temptation, the last candy bar on the shelf. His hand remained firm around my neck, grounding me, and when he finally pulled away, he kissed me once more, gently this time, eliciting a soft sigh from my lips.

“I love kissing you,” he confessed, his voice low and almost pained, as if admitting it was a burden he couldn’t bear. “I can’t get enough, and it’s pissing me off.” He slammed his hand against the shower wall.

“Then stop kissing me,” I managed to say, my heart racing in my chest, threatening to burst like a pinata.

He held my gaze, his eyes searching mine, as silence stretched between us like a taut string ready to snap. “I can’t. And I won’t,” he declared, a fierce determination underlying his words.

“Then I don’t know what to tell you,” I said.

Time seemed to freeze as we locked eyes, the room fading into a blur. Finally, he broke the spell, stepping back and shutting off the water. He began to turn away but paused, glancing over his shoulder. “You can take a shower. I’ll have fresh clothes out for you. Then come down for breakfast.” His tone was firm, but I also sensed a tenderness that tugged at my heart.

I hesitated, suddenly aware of my lack of essentials. “I don’t have body wash, shampoo, or a toothbrush,” I admitted.

He pointed to the bottles arranged neatly behind me. I caught sight of a woman’s body wash and shampoo in my favorite floral scent, a brand I’d always loved. “How did you?—”

“There’s a brand-new toothbrush on the counter,” he interrupted. “Come down after, and don’t piss me off, Winter. You can’t escape me.”

With that, he strode out, leaving me in a whirl of confusion and longing.

What the hell just happened?

I leaned against the cool tiles, my mind grappling with the intensity of what we’d just shared. I could still feel the ghost of his lips on mine, the promise of something deeper and dangerous lingering in the air.

I gently closed the door behind me and paused for a moment, listening intently to the sound of the shower turning back on.

I looked down at Demon, who patiently waited at my feet. “Stay here with her, okay? Once she’s done, bring her down to the kitchen,” I instructed him, giving him a reassuring pat on the head.

I couldn’t help but smile at recalling the look on Winter’s face when she spotted her favorite body wash and shampoo in the shower. I had even laid out clean clothes for her, a small gesture that I hoped would make her feel at home.

After Luca had done some digging in her background, I wanted to learn all the little things that made her who she was, including her favorite foods, TV shows, movies, music, and even her go-to perfume. I’d had my stylist bring in a whole rack of clothes in her size, plus a selection of shoes. I meant it when I said I wanted her to move into my home; it was more than just a desire—it was a plan to protect her.

What she didn’t know was that one of the spare rooms was meant for her. I envisioned a future where she would eventually be in my bed, but for now, she would have her own space under my roof, with my rules.

I changed in my room, slipping into a pair of black slacks and a dark blue dress shirt. I could still feel her body pressing against me in the shower, the warmth of her skin so intoxicating that I felt like I was on the verge of losing control. I didn’t want to hurt her, so I took a step back, reminding myself to be careful with her. I wasn’t exaggerating when I told her how much I loved kissing her. She was beginning to feel like an addiction I didn’t want to kick.

I made my way out of my room and glanced into hers. She was still in the shower, and I took the opportunity to head downstairs. I snapped my cufflinks in place and walked into the kitchen, where Matteo and Lo were sitting at the table, and Luca was leaning back against the counter.

“Morning,” I said, striding toward the counter, the familiar aroma of coffee drawing me in. I reached for the pot, pouring myself a steaming cup, but no one responded, which wasn’t normal.

I turned around to face them. I took a sip and noticed their expressions.

“What’s going on?” I looked at each of them, waiting for a response.

“Another shipment was hit,” Luca said. “This time in Arizona.”

I froze.

“It’s closer to the border, which means if we get hit again, we will likely lose our shipment before it leaves Mexico.”

Matteo shifted in his chair, his hands clasped tightly on the table. “They hit us at the drop-off. Took the whole damn thing.”

“All?” I echoed. “How the hell did they know where it was?”

Luca tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table. “They left another note,” he said. “Whoever this prick is, he’s got eyes everywhere.”

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