Page 108 of Carnal

"Nope. So don't make it an issue," I order.

She stares at me.

I tug her onto my lap. "I'd tell you if you had anything to worry about, so don't freak out."

"I'm not," she claims.

I grunt. "Yeah, right. You're two steps from having a mini panic attack."

Her lips curl. "Am I that predictable?"

"Totally."

She groans and covers her face with her fingers. She peeks through them and winces. "Sorry."

I remove her hands and kiss her then mumble, "You know what's awesome?"

"What?"

I grin. "I get to stay at your place, and I don't have to lie about it."

Her face falls. "I'm sorry. I-I wish I could get over my fears about telling Dante."

I hold my breath, studying her.

She nervously asks, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

I take another minute to collect my thoughts and reveal, "Pina, I don't want to hide forever."

"I know. I don't, either. I swear," she claims.

I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Then tell me you're closer to coming to terms with this."

"I am. I promise," she pledges.

I have a nagging feeling that she'll never tell Dante about us. Yet, this is the first time she's admitted she's considering it. So I cut her some slack and state, "Good. As long as we get there sometime soon."

She smiles, but I don't miss the fear in her eyes.

A sharp stab pierces into my heart. I rise with her in my arms and walk toward the bedroom, announcing, "We have some equipment to test out."

"Oh?" she questions, biting her lower lip.

I toss her on the bed, shut the door, then attach the bug to the bottom of the mattress. I open an app on my phone and put it in front of her face. "You know what this is?"

"No."

"It's how I can record everything said on this plane."

Her face turns red. She gets on her knees and slides her palms on my chest. She smirks. "And is there something in particular you want to hear?"

I sniff hard, shaking my head.

"No?"

"No, baby girl." I lean into her ear, lick her lobe, and assert, "You're the one who needs to hear it."

"What's that?"

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