Page 45 of Third Degree

He dipped down, and I tasted the gin on his lips as he pressed them to mine. I quickly succumbed to him, letting the waves of the ocean rock us. Wrapping my hands around his neck, he lifted me up so that my legs wrapped around his waist.

I deepened the kiss, darting my tongue into his mouth. I may have been inexperienced in this department, but I was older this time. I had done the research I needed to know how to get exactly what I wanted.

Our mouths were fucking. Our tongues lapped each other up. Our chests pressed tight together as if we couldn’t get enough of each other.

“Gianna,” Elio growled between kisses.

He carried me, still wrapped around his waist, back toward the beach. He set me on my feet and grabbed my hand.

“Why did you stop?” I asked as we treaded out of the water.

“Because if I continued, there would be no turning back. You are fucking irresistible, and feeling you naked against my chest, your wet heat pulsating against me, I know for a fact I would not be able to stop.”

I pulled against his hand, stopping right at the shoreline, completely naked in the night.

“Then don’t stop.”

He turned around to look at me in a brooding sort of way, and I inhaled quickly. I finally got to see him in his complete rawness. He was so much stronger and bigger than when I met him years ago.

But what surprised me the most was how hard and throbbing he was. Shit, just looking at him sent a thrill down my spine.

His laughter broke my intense stare. “Amore, it’s rude to stare for too long.”

“You can’t even see me in the darkness,” I quipped, trying to deflect but knowing damn well my mouth was hanging agape.

His booming laughter echoed in the darkness and then he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him.“I cannot risk this, amore. I want to be with you forever, not just for tonight, so until we find a way to be with each other again”—he pulled me tight against his body, wrapping me in a towel—“I can’t take the chance.”

Then, like a magic trick, Elio reached for another towel that had seemingly materialized on the sand and casually wrapped it around his waist. His eyes locked onto mine, a mix of anticipation and intensity swirling within them.

“But promise me this,” he pleaded, his voice carrying a hint of longing and urgency, “when the time comes for us to be truly together, let it be more than just a fleeting moment. Let it be an experience of such magnificence that it leaves an indelible mark on both of our souls. Promise me that you’ll be mine, now and forever.”

“I promise.” I pushed up against him once more and gave him a kiss. He groaned deeply from within.

“Where did these towels come from?”

And once more, his laughter filled the air, a melodious sound that resonated deep within me. “Amore, I have men stationed everywhere,” he confessed, his voice laced with amusement. “Before you took that exhilarating leap into the ocean, I discreetly instructed one of them to bring us a couple of towels.”

My eyes narrowed playfully as I gazed at him, a mixture of curiosity and desire swirling within me.

“No,” he replied firmly, reading my mind, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “No one will have the privilege of seeing you naked except for me. I will go to great lengths to protect that exclusive privilege.”

His confession made me weak in the knees. There was something so sexy about a confident man who knew what they were doing. I think that, ultimately, it’s the reason why I was initially so attracted to Elio, too.

“Shall we go back to the house?”

I nodded, and he led me back to the little blue home where the garden lights were now twinkling in the night sky. Shaking the sandy towel right outside the door, I peered at him, biting my lip.

“Are we going back to San Diego tonight?” I asked.

“I thought maybe we could stay here tonight.” He quickly added, “I have a guest room.”

I dropped the towel once I got into the house and pressed my body against his once again. “Can I sleep with you? In your bed?”

“I was hoping you would say that.” He picked me up once more, and I yelped as I felt his towel and our clothes drop to the floor.

“Where are we going?” I demanded joyfully.

“I cannot have this sand in my bed. Let’s go rinse it off.” He carriedme toward the bathroom before lowering me carefullybeside a massive walk-in shower that could fit an entire football team.

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