Page 20 of The Mafia's Desire

“Why do I have to sleep with you?” she asked.

“Because this is where you belong, and it’s time you got used to it. Nothing needs to happen, but you have to get used to me.”

He lay his jacket and shirt over one of the chairs and toed his shoes and socks off before unsnapping his pants and pulling them off.

He loved how her eyes widened and darkened with what he guessed was desire. He wasn’t certain until he caught sight of the pulse on her neck and the flush of her skin.

****

She stared as his fingers unbuttoned his shirt. She couldn’t pull her gaze away from his hands. His long, strong-looking fingers released one at a time, and it seemed to take forever. When the fabric separated and she could see his skin, saliva pooled in her mouth.

Ethan laid his shirt over a chair.

Her gaze ran over his chest and arms. He had so many big muscles that his veins protruded over his chest, but mainly down his arms and hands. He had next to no chest hair, and his skin was dark-complected like the other men in the family. Her gaze traveled up to his face, where he sported a trimmed mustache and beard. His eyes were dark and sometimes looked black, but she’d seen a dark brown in the right light.

It took her a moment to figure out he was standing there patiently with his arms at his sides, watching her stare at him. Oh, God, she’d never been so embarrassed, and she could feel a blush heat and redden her face.

Ethan smiled. “Don’t be embarrassed. I love your eyes on me.”

It didn’t help until she pulled her gaze from him and looked down at her hands in her lap. She looked up again when he held out the shirt he’d been wearing.

“Let’s put this on you.”

“I’ve got a nightgown in the other room,” she said.

“I know, but I want you in something of mine.”

She sighed and reached for it, but he pulled back out of her reach.

“What?”

“Take off your clothes,” he said.

“In front of you?”

“Yes. You’ve been pretty much naked around me before, and you need to get used to it because when we’re in our room back at the house, I’ll have you walking around naked.”

She took a step back. “No. I can’t.”

He took a step toward her and grasped her upper arm. “You can and you will.”

God, the thought of it made her stomach tighten in anxiety. She shook her head and then gritted her teeth when he smiled and nodded.

She tried to slap his hand away, but he just brought her closer until her chest banged into his.

Sara stared up at him. He was so damn big, and standing against him made their height difference very noticeable. The top of her head came up to his collarbone. God, he could hurt her so easily.

“Don’t,” he said.

Her eyes widened. “W… what?”

“Don’t ever be afraid of me.”

“It’s hard not to be. You’re twice my size. You could hurt me without even trying.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and held her tighter against his chest. “I know how small you are, and I love it. I also know my strength and will never use it against you.”

She swallowed. For some reason, she believed him. Maybe it was the sincere look in his eyes or the conviction in the tone of his voice.

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