Page 79 of Highball and Chain

“Go take a bath. I’ll make dinner.” He massaged my shoulders. The warmth of his hands spread through me and thawed my anger.

“I’m not hungry.” I closed my eyes and hung my head. As much as I wanted to be alone, his fingers were like magic.

“You’re so tense. Why don’t you lie down and let me work the knots out?”

“A massage is the oldest trick in the book for getting a woman to sleep with you.”

“Because it works.” He chuckled, continuing to rub the tension from my neck and shoulders. “Let’s go to bed.”

“I’m still pissed at you.”

“Angry sex is good sex.” He kissed the back of my neck, and I’m not talking about a peck or brush of lips. Enzo Marchionni nuzzled and licked and nibbled until I turned into a puddle of need.

“Is that right?” I breathed the words on a sigh.

Turning me to face him, he ripped the towel away and yanked me against his chest.

Part of me wanted to slap his smug face, but the other part needed the distraction from my mess of a life. I pulled the hem of his shirt up.

Enzo reached over his shoulder, tugged his T-shirt over his head, and threw it to the side. “You don’t believe me?”

“I’ll need some proof.” I raised on tiptoes.

“That can be arranged.” He slanted his mouth over mine and kissed me like a man staking his claim.

Fearing my legs wouldn’t hold me, I wrapped my arms around his waist and ran my nails up his back.

Each time he stepped forward, I stepped back, until we reached the bed. We’d come so close so many times. I’d had two months of foreplay to prepare for this, but my hands still trembled when I touched him. What if this changes things? What if I fall for him even more? What if he leaves?

Enzo whispered, “Shanna…”

Pushing the thoughts from my mind, I sucked his lower lip between my teeth and bit until he hissed. He pushed forward, but I wanted control this time. He’d called the shots long enough. I shifted our position, planted my hands on his chest, and shoved him onto the bed. “Take your pants off.”

Enzo chuckled. “Wouldn’t that have been easier before you pushed me down?”

I bit back a smile. If he wanted to tease, I could tease, too. I toyed with my breasts until my nipples hardened.

Enzo lost his pants in record time.

Straddling him, I rotated my hips until he pressed against my core. This man had the capacity to break me into a million pieces, and I’m not talking about an orgasm—though he could do that, too.

He lifted his hips to speed things along, but I pulled back.

I needed to flip the script, to do this differently, to remind myself this was sex with a friend, not a promise of more. “I’m in charge.”

“All right. What do you want me to do?” He grinned.

Now that’s a loaded question. I wanted him inside me more than I wanted my next breath, but the idea of having such a powerful man at my mercy sent my imagination running wild. “Lay on your back.”

“If you wanted to be on top…” He sprawled on the bed with his hands behind his head.

I crawled up his body, noting how he tensed when he thought I’d straddle his hips again.

I continued to move toward his head, and he furrowed his brow.

Coming to my knees, I positioned myself over his face. “Keep your hands at your side.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He laughed and licked my inner thigh.

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