Page 12 of Maid For The Mafia Informant

It’s like I never let off any steam at all. Like I have a full tank again and there’s only one place I want it emptied next time.

“You can trust her, Slade. We picked her especially. I only wished you’d trust me so much,” he says, narrowing his eyes.

“And that district attorney, supposedly working on the evidence I’ve supplied to make the whole case? Pfft!” I spit. I can’t help it.

“If the De Falco’s knew where you were, what you were doing? Don’t you think they would’ve tried something by now?” he asks, and I have to admit he’s right.

“I know you don’t like Daniella Fellini, you two never got along during those cases where you were the one who was getting those big families off scott free. What makes her so different now?” Partridge asks, coming closer, his eyes wide with a question he doesn’t need to ask me.

“She was bought. That’s the difference, now. It’s what I try to keep telling you all,” I murmur, shielding myself with the window, even more, still trying to keep my front hidden from him.

“How many times do I have to tell ya, Ben? Don’t stand by the windows,” he exclaims. “They can take a tank round, but why invite trouble?” he asks again, running his hands through his hair before fumbling for a cigarette.

“No smoking,” I remind him dryly, and he scowls, turning his own back to me before strutting out.

“You’re welcome!” he calls out loudly before slamming the door shut behind him.

A half minute later, I watch him, down in the street, one foot on the fender of the car he came in, puffing furiously before he looks up.

I wonder just how much he knows.

Just how much he knows I know before none of it matters I realize the sweetest moment I’ve had in days.

I’m alone in this place with Sophie again.

I don’t feel wary now that we’re alone. She’s seen me at my worst… or my best, whichever you’d choose it.

Going into the bedroom, I see her bent over again, fitting fresh sheets to the bed, jumping up with a start as she sees me in the mirror watching her.

Her eyes stray to my groin, and I shrug. But my eyes soften onto hers as I take a step forward.

“I’m sorry about before, Sophie. It was…”

“Too much?” she asks, biting her lip as her eyes stray down again, her lips twitching before she turns away busying herself with the bed again.

Our bed.

“I meant every word,” I tell her. “I know I’m probably twice your age, but this is what you do to me Sophie, and I know there’s something going on inside you too when you look at me,” I say, challenging her, hoping for a positive response.

“What makes you say that?” she asks, clutching a sheet closer to her chest, turning her body away from me like I did just now with Partridge like she’s hiding her own arousal from me.

But I can sense it from her, she’s trembling again, with the same excitement I saw in the bathroom hours ago.

“I just know,” I tell her sternly. “But I want you to know… I want you to know I’m real. Genuine. I want you, Sophie. I want you so bad. I need you,” I hear myself tell her, almost sounding like a confession.

“How could you possibly want me?” she asks. “Want this…” she murmurs, dropping the sheet and looking down at herself, feeling down on herself again.

I’m over to her in three steps, clutching her forearms with both hands, my face an inch from hers.

“Because I just do, Sophie. I want you, and I trust you. I need someone in this life and I just know you’re it. Tell me you don’t feel the same way and I promise I’ll never mention it again,” I demand.

She makes that small sound I’ve longed to hear again, and I move her closer to me, she looks away as if she has to think, but I know from the pounding of her heart in her chest against mine that I’ve told her the truth. That she feels the same way.

“Just better not be lying,” is all she can manage, my face moving closer to hers as I watch her sweet, sweet lips part for me. Ready for me to finally kiss her.

I groan involuntarily, feeling her breath so close I can taste it.

“Why didn’t you kiss me, before?” she asks huskily, her lower lip barely touching mine.

“Because when I do, I know I won’t be able to stop,” I tell her. “Not for a million years.”Chapter SevenSophieIt’s all happened so quickly, but on the other hand, nowhere near as quickly as I’d like.

I can feel his mouth, hot and about to press against mine, when the snapping sound of the door’s electronic lock makes me jump, practically leaping a foot back from Ben.

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