Page 22 of The Last Call
“It’s fine.” This is why I love my lion. Her strength as fierce as her sweetness. She knows when to battle and when to back down. “I know.”
Grandmother watches between us, unhappy about the sudden shift in our demeanors. Which I hate more than I can stand. But I can’t pretend when it comes to my lost twin. “Let’s get some sleep.”
I brush a kiss on Nonna’s cheek. Hoping to reassure her that I’m fine. We’re fine. Everything’s fine. “Let Giada clean up.”
I don’t believe her nod of agreement for a second. She’ll kick the lady out as soon as I reach the steps. But I’m too tired to argue and Syd looks almost as weary as I feel. Proven by her declination to protest my arm wrapping around her waist and ushering her back upstairs.
The truce budding between us dissolves once we step inside my bedroom. All of the amicability evaporating as her protective shield returns. Thicker and more solid than ever. Suspicious of me and my intentions. Which are even more dirty and delicious than she imagines.
“I don’t want you in my bed.”
Her plump mouth lies. Conflicting with the lust flashing in her gorgeous eyes now that we’re alone together with so much damn temptation surrounding us. “It’s my bed.”
I stalk toward her, fucking loving her stumbling backward and bumping into the mattress. She stiffens her breathtaking body to keep from falling. To show her courage. To prove her resistance.
Which I believe—I fucking know—I will overcome. “And you’ll be wherever I put you.”
Fear spikes in her expression. And as much as I like that too because sometimes I truly am a sick bastard, I restrain myself. We have plenty of time for fun and games later. “Where I want you now is the shower. You stink from your little escapade earlier.”
Now she’s the one to fucking surprise me from her laugh. Damn she must be tired. But I can’t lie I love the sound. Refreshing for her to be relaxed enough to let go a little bit.
“So is this how you take care…” Her small fingers turn into air quotes, and I can’t help but chuckle at her sarcastic tone. “…of me? By insulting me and then treating me like a child who needs a hot bath and long nap? Is that your kink Julius? You want to be my Daddy and me to be your little girl?” Her gaze flits across the dresser. “You have hair bows and teddy bears hidden away in here?”
Fuck if that doesn’t gross me out and piss me off. “I don’t fuck kids—real or pretend. I may be a lot of shitty things, but being a fucking pervert isn’t one of them.”
The grin slides away. Not that either of us was that humored to begin with.
“Then what? What turns you on? Do you want me to call you Master? Sir? God?”
I shake my head from her smart aleck attempt at sass. Well aware the bullshit games she used to play with her clients, and I’m not interested. What we have is real. No imagination required for our sex life to be amazing. “If a man has to force a woman to call him something, he really doesn’t have any power at all, does he?”
Surprise lines her face from the response I guess she wasn’t expecting. Doubt clouding her expression. “They seem to think so.”
“Then they are wrong.”
She shrugs from my definitive tone. Pretending indifference although I’ve finally made her realize how dominance should really work.
“Maybe so.”
Always so unwilling to agree with me.
“So what do you want Julius. What’s your fantasy?”
Electricity bolts through my cock from my name on her lips. You, piccolo leone. “My fantasy, huh?” I give her my sexiest grin as I absently stroke my chin. Feigning deep thought and consideration since she seems so intrigued. Completely obvious she’s eager to discover what pleases me in bed so she can be the one to give me what I desire. “I want to wake up the next morning and not have to figure out how to get rid of the woman lying beside me without having to speak directly to her.”
To my surprise, she laughs again. Not at all shocked. Her eyes rolling so hard it looks like it hurts her forehead. “Classy.”
“I’m kidding.”
Well, not really but I have to at least make an effort to sound chivalrous. Of course, she doesn’t buy my attempt to redeem myself at all. Shaking her head with her own knowing smirk.
“No you’re not.”
I shrug. Might as well tell the truth so she recognizes why I chose her. “I want a woman who talks as well as she fucks. You know, someone I can actually have an intelligent conversation with outside of the bedroom. Whose brain can comprehend something beyond just shopping and lattes.”
“Well I’ve seen the women you’ve gone out with. Probably would help to raise your standards a bit.”
Fuck yes. I knew it. “So you’ve checked me out then.”
