Page 47 of Sweet Retribution

“I didn’t–”

“I’m not done.” I inch closer, still leaving a few feet between us. I watch his chest rise and fall with unsteady breaths. I’m getting to him. Good. “I’ve never had a friend. Never had anyone look out for me except my mother, and Sonny my bodyguard, but he was paid to do so. No one has ever spoken up for me, protected me, treated me like they... cared. My mother has been my constant, but with her brain damage, our relationship isn’t like it used to be.”

I swallow back my tears. I don’t have a plan or a direction for my rambling. I see a softening in Stone’s countenance. My intent is to make Stone feel better about himself, not to dwell on my past or get his pity.

I brush back a strand of hair that has fallen in my eyes, and reach for a strawberry as a distraction. “I miss my mother terribly, but I sleep well at night knowing she’s well cared for. These past two months... you’re a hard one to get to know, Stone.” I chuckle and bite into the strawberry.

I slide the bowl of berries and cream to him but he ignores it. I’ve adjusted to the dark room. The light from the moon and the clock on the oven illuminate the kitchen just enough to make out the details of Stone’s face, the lines of his body. I pick up another berry and dip it in the cream holding it in the ray from a moonbeam and stare at the beautiful contrast of bright red and pure white.

“I’ve enjoyed our friendship, as limited as it may be. Running with you, working out, the few times I’ve almost made you laugh.” I look up and catch the slight raise of his upper lip. “I’ve even enjoyed Sebastiana’s friendship. I’m not asking for a lot, Stone. Common courtesy, conversation, being treated like a human being. I don’t like it when you bark orders at me or treat me like an inconvenience. I’m pretty sure you have your reasons for doing so, and if you ever want to talk about what’s going on inside that head of yours, I’m all ears. No expectations.”

I bite into the strawberry giving him time to respond.

He doesn’t.

“I want to be your friend. I’m pretty sure you could use one as much as I can. I’m not asking or expecting anything more.”

Stone finally picks up a strawberry and slides it through the cream. Instead of bringing it to his mouth, he touches it to my lips.

“Eat.”

I pull back just enough so the cream doesn’t hit my lips. “You’re going to be bossy after everything I just said?”

“You’ll need your energy for everything I plan on doing to you.”

I open my mouth and gasp, and he takes advantage by putting the strawberry in it. I should be upset with his response to my talk, but I can’t help the tingles in my belly or the moisture between my legs.

I slowly chew on the strawberry as he puts the lids on the containers and stacks them in one hand. He puts his free hand on the small of my back and guides me through the kitchen and up the stairs. We stop in front of my open door.

“Someone’s been in here.” I’m not scared, but I am alarmed. As many times as Stone’s barged into my room, he and his men have respected my space.

“I was looking for you.”

“Oh.” The tingles sharpen. He didn’t come downstairs looking for a snack then. I look up into his steel blue eyes.

He leans down and whispers in my ear, “You’re my midnight snack.”

I swallow the lust and nod my understanding. He reaches around me and closes my bedroom door. I furrow my brow and glance behind us. We’re alone in the hallway, but I really hoped we could make love in my bed for once.

The intensity in Stone’s stare deepens, and his body stands tense and tight as if he’s nervous to make the next move, which is ridiculous for how Stone views sex.

“Come.”

“Right here? In the hall?” The joke slips out before I have time to think about it.

Stone’s brow lifts in shock. It takes a lot, and I mean alot, to elicit that kind of reaction from him. His mouth quirks as well, and I really think I can come right here and now.

My legs are jello, and he hasn’t even touched me yet. Only with his eyes. And his half-grin. God, that grin can get me to do anything he requests. Or hell, demands.

“I have a better place where you can scream my name and no one will hear.”

When I told myself to be honest with him, it wasn’t with the intention of having sex. In fact, I’d rather us talk than fool around. Stone leaves me standing in the hall and strodes down to his door, opening it, and waits for me to join him. There is no hiding his long, hard erection in those sweatpants.

I salivate. Literally salivate for him. He’s giving me the opportunity to back out, to tell him to go to hell. He isn’t pushing me into sex. It’s completely my choice. My feet start moving toward him. Even if my head wanted to turn him down, my body won’t. Can’t.

As soon as he shuts his bedroom door behind us, he has me pinned to the wall. “Fuck, Gina.” His mouth finds my neck, and I tip my head back to give him more access. His hands are on my breasts, squeezing, tweaking, lifting them up as he dips his head down and draws my nipple into his mouth through my shirt.

“Wait.” I put my hands to his chest and his head shoots up, worry etched around his eyes. It’s the worry that gets to me. I’m not stopping us, and the fact that he thinks I am, and that he does stop, makes me fall even deeper.

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