Page 26 of The Last Call
Trapped.
My arm’s pinned against my stomach, and I can’t rear my leg back to kick out. I push up and swing my fist before I open my eyes. My other hand reaching for my gun only to rub across slick fabric under the pillow rather than cold metal. Fuck!
Shaking loose from the nightmare engulfing me, I shove against what confines me. A blanket. She covered me with a goddamn fucking blanket. Tucking me in like a fucking baby.
Once the adrenaline pumping through me slows, I smile. She takes care of me. As much as she wants to pretend she hates me and probably wishes I was dead, she still swaddles me to make sure I’m warm. Which I am. And, not just because of the comforter.
I grab my phone. Now lying on the nightstand rather than the glider where I left it. My piccolo leone doesn’t cover her tracks well. That’s all right though. I don’t have anything to hide from her just like she can’t conceal herself from me. Swiping across the screen, past a message from Giada that Nonna is resting too, until I get to the cameras, I find her working out. Sexy as fuck squatting with a fierce expression on her face. No wonder she has such a fantastic ass with the heavy weight load and flurry of reps she knocks out. My girl really is tough.
After a quick detour to the bathroom to piss and brush my teeth, I pull on some running shorts. Might as well get in a quick workout too. Both kinds, since she’s here now.
Her pace has slowed once I reach the doorway, and I lean against the frame enjoying her smooth descent, hips parallel to the floor, and then a rapid push upward. The muscles in her thighs and glutes squeezing taut under her skimpy shorts. After about ten times, she pauses, blowing out a long breath, and attempts to lift the bar spanning her narrow shoulders off her back. Fatigued, her biceps shake and she struggles and fails to get an upward motion. Trapped with fifty pounds under her palms. I fucking hate the panic blooming on her face. This is why you never exercise alone.
“I’ll help you if you’ll allow me to.”
Her eyes fly to the mirror and meet mine. So engrossed in maintaining her form she never realized she was being watched. Suspicious from my chivalrous offer, indecision frowns her face. She’d probably rather be hit than be helped. Although she’s smart enough to know she can’t be stubborn now. After a beat, she nods. Swift and terse, but still in agreement.
“Good.” I step forward but instead of curling my hands around the bar, I run a finger down her spine. Feather light and leisurely from the base of her graceful neck to the waistband of her shorts. Despising the sports bra that keeps inches of her smooth skin from under my fingertip. “You’re beautiful tiny lion.”
“You’re an asshole.” Rage floods her voice. Her gaze locked with mine in a battle she won’t win. “I thought you were going to help me?”
“I am.” I can’t stop from licking my lips from the magnificent feast standing in front of me. Under my absolute mercy. Bound to my control from her own self-created restraints. “I want to help you know how good I can make you feel.”
I stroke down her slender thighs. Loving the sharp gasp between her parted lips and the buck of her hips under my palms. I rub my thumbs over the protruding bones on each side, and uncontrollable shock waves roll through her. “You’re very sensitive here aren’t you?”
“Julius…”
She feigns anger. A warning in her tone without any power behind her threat. Yet lust bubbles under the surface too.
“What other secrets does your lovely body hold?” I frame the cradle of her pelvis where my son will soon grow, and she leans into my hands. Delicate fingers grip the metal bar across her back even tighter. Damn thing interfering my complete domination of her. Yet also preventing her from fighting against something I know she wants. “I’m going to fucking love finding all of them.”
Incapable of controlling myself, I glide my hands around her waist and trail up the faint indent on her stomach separating her toned abs. A fierce groan erupts in my throat from her body trembling under my touch. The budded nipples straining against the thick purple fabric covering her luscious tits. The scent of her desire mingling with the citrus infused breeze blowing across us. A perfect sweet and tart combination just like us. I growl in her small ear. “Tell me to stop. Tell me you don’t want this.”
Her eyes squeeze shut, and she shakes her head. Her ponytail swinging furiously across the silver rod from her force. “I shouldn’t want you.”
I take her indignant breathless whisper as approval to proceed and welcome the sharp intake of breath when I fist the hem of her black nylon shorts and yank down the slick fabric. Surprised and silent, she remains mute as they plunge down her shaking legs to puddle at her bare feet. Her gaze stares at me in the mirror while my focus remains on her gorgeous pussy. All my self-restraint vanishes from the proof of her desire glistening on the shiny rosy lips.
Only a fucking nuclear bomb could keep me from dragging my fingertip along the smooth skin, flooding my palm with her juices when I cup her mound. I promised myself the first time I fuck her I’d be slow and gentle but fuck if I can’t keep that promise. Separating her labia, it’s my turn to be shocked. The treasure of her pussy is literally fucking real—a tiny diamond encrusted on a small gold hoop dangles from her engorged clit. Fucking hell. I can hardly suck oxygen into my lungs with all the blood in my body racing to my greedy cock. “Damn angel you make me crazy.”
“You make me weak.”
Poised as a question rather than an accusation, uncertainty wobbles in her soft voice while I stroke her. Doubt swirls in her exquisite emerald eyes as I caress her. Seeking reassurance. Desperate for the security and protection I promised her. And, I’m more than happy to give her.
I circle my thumb around the lustrous metal. Relishing her pussy contracting from the attention. “Believe me tiny lion, there isnothingweak about asking for what you want. Whether it’s given to you willingly, or if you have to take it.”
My encouragement seems to bolster her confidence and her shoulders lift in spite of the burden weighing on them.
“I want to see Mack. I need proof that he’s really okay.”
I’m getting ready to fuck her and she’s talking about another man? What in the fucking hell? She’s damn brave, I’ll give her that. Well aware of the response she’ll receive by intentionally erecting this barrier between us. Proving she’s not ready. Not by a long shot if any of her thoughts are about anyone but me or anything but my cock buried balls deep inside her pussy. Ruining my plans for both of us. “Fine. We’ll finish up here and I’ll prove to you yet again that I’m a man of my word.”
I can’t hide the irritation in my voice or my touch that we’re having this same damn argument again.
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re always honest. A real saint who never, ever lies.”
“Exactly.”
She laughs until she remembers that she’s mad at me.
