Page 36 of Devil's Tulip

“Fuck, this is all more organized than we thought. I’m going to do some follow-ups here. Send me as many details as you have.”

“Of course. And about the patent thief—I have a name.”

“Good. Get him and throw him in the basement. I’ll deal with him when I’m back in the city.”

I end the call and lean back, rolling my stiff neck. There’s a mountain of shit waiting for me in Manhattan, things that really shouldn’t be left for another day. But the thought of taking Gianna back to the city…

Ihateit.

I sigh. I need to get a hold of myself. What the hell has she done to me?

Three more days, I promise myself.Just three more days with her, and I’ll take her back to the city.

I get to my feet, running a palm over my scalp as I make my way towards the door. I’m fucking starving. Hopefully, she’s still in the dining room.

My heart stirs at the thought of those fiery eyes flashing at me, and I shove that shit down.

But the second I open the door, I freeze.

Chest to hair, I nearly collide with the very thing that’s been unraveling me from the inside out.

She jumps back, a quick breath hitching, but recovers fast. Her chin tilts up—and just like that, those fiery eyes I was just trying to ignore burn right into mine. But…

My brain goes blank, mouth slackening as I stare at her. I’ve already accepted that she’s gorgeous—hell, the secret pictures I have stashed are more than enough evidence—butfuck me, right fucking now, she looks like a slice of heaven come down to tempt me.

She’s done something to her face. Her lids shimmer, making her whiskey eyes glow like firelight dancing on water. Her lips—full, glossy—look almost sinful.

“Gianna.”

Her name is barely a breath as I step closer, fingers reaching, brushing over the silky strands framing her beautiful face.

Soft. Like liquid slipping through my fingers. Her long lashes flutter, and that tiny movementruinsme.

Before I can even process it, I’m backing her up. Step by step, until she’s pinned against the wall, my body caging hers in. My head drops heavily towards her, my nose dragging through her hair, down to the delicate skin of her face.

She smells—Jesus Christ. I don’t even have words for it.

I groan, dipping lower, settling into the crook of her neck. My mouth waters, my head swims like I’ve downed the strongest whiskey in the world, and I don’t want to sober up. No woman has ever affected me like this before.

Then my tongue flicks out—just a taste, just a single swipe over the soft hollow of her throat where her pulse is pounding frantically. It’s heaven. With a sharp, underlying bite of something hotter, something that burns. She jerks, a breathy sound spilling from her lips, and the last of my rationality shatters, giving way to the primitive desire of my hardening cock.

I sink my teeth into her flesh and she moans, arching her neck for me. Fuck, fuck, fuck. My mouth drags up her neck, messy, desperate. No finesse. Just the raw, clawing urge to consume her whole.

Her lips part before I even reach them, like she’s been waiting for me, and when I finally,finallycrash into her?—

It’s over.

I dive in.

And I drown.

12

GIANNA

I moan in surprise as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, the rough sensation of the soft muscle dragging up the roof so hot it sends goosebumps all over my body. My core clenches, liquid warmth pooling between my thighs.

I don’t hold back.

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