Page 71 of Where We Fall

I scowl at him and mouthfuck you.He just smiles proudly. I know what he’ll tell me. It’s nothing I wouldn’t do to him. And the truth is, he’s right. But still,fuck himright now.

“You’re telling me a client threatened not to do business with you because of Marcus’s personal life based on one woman?” Pa’s hand hits the table.

Gabe and Luke nod their heads.

“He sounds like a real piece of work. Probably has a small dick,” Pa says.

Lexi chokes on her wine as some dribbles down her chin.

As she chokes, I hit her back.

“You, okay?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she says, grabbing her napkin and cleaning herself up. “I like you, Joe.”

“I only speak the truth. There’s no way a man that worries about something so stupid is packing downstairs.”

“Gabriel and Lucas Giannelli,” Ma says. “Are you telling me that you made your brother stoop that low and pretend to be with someone all to impress that snake? You two should be ashamed of yourselves.”

“What about Mia?” Gabe whines.

I love when Ma steps in, and you see twelve-year-old Gabe come out. Our parents are the only ones who can make the grown-ass man shake in his boots.

“Don’t worry about Mia. I know it was one of the two of you who thought of that.”

“I think what you guys are missing here is that it was that plan that brought these two together?” Luke says as he points to me and Lexi.

The table falls silent. That’s not a lie. It was. When Gabe and Luke realize nobody has a comeback for that, they high-five each other.

“Oh my gosh. I love being a part of this,” Lexi whispers to me after Sienna asks another random question and changes the subject. “Your brothers are so different at your parents’ house. It’s hilarious to see them like this.”

“They aren’t as suave as they try to be at the office.”

The rest of the night is casual as everybody intermingles.

When we return to my place, Lexi starts to take off her jacket and walk into the house, but I grab her and bring our mouths together.

Tonight was perfect. The feeling of leaving Sunday night dinner with someone was foreign, but I felt more complete than I ever had before.

I kiss her slowly and lazily. I cup her face and move it to the side so I have better access to slide my tongue inside.

She lets out a soft moan, and it’s my undoing.

I pick her up and walk her straight to my bedroom. I lay her on my bed and turn on the lamp on my nightstand. She looks perfect as she lies patiently waiting for me.

Looking into her eyes, I reach behind me and pull my shirt over my head. I love watching her squirm as she watches me. The more clothes I get rid of, the more impatient she seems.

Once I rid myself of my boxers, I reach for her jeans and slowly pull them down her slender legs.

I climb onto the bed and kneel in front of her so I can maneuver her top off her. We never stop looking into the other’s eyes the entire time. Once we are both naked, I still feel no need to rush this moment together.

I glide my fingers down her body, starting from her neck all the way down to her thigh. Her breaths and the way she moves her body under my touch tell me how affected she is.

My fingers sweep back up her body, then trace gently around her breasts, never touching her nipples. I continue this all over her body, watching her break out in goosebumps.

When I’m ready, I lean down and softly take a nipple into my mouth. I suck on it gently, then move to the other.

Kissing my way back up her neck, I find her lips again, then move in between her legs.

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