Page 107 of Craving Danger

When he works on undoing the buttons of his dress shirt, I get glimpses of his chest.

I don’t even realize my mind’s growing quiet as I watch him undress.

When he drops his shirt on the floor, my eyes roam his muscled chest. The words ‘I will not kneel before anyone’ are tattooed across his pecks, and there are two interlinked stars over his heart.

My voice is soft as I ask, “What do the stars mean.”

“They’re for my parents.”

As he pulls down the zipper of his pants, my eyes lower to the six-pack carved into his skin, and even in my shocked and frazzled state, I can’t help but admire his body.

He’s pure muscle and golden skin.

Franco keeps his boxers on, and after he checks the temperature of the water, he takes my hand and pulls me into the shower.

The warm water quickly wets my hair as it rains down on me, and I let out a sigh of relief as it runs down my body.

“Your hand. The bandage will get wet,” Franco says. He takes hold of my hips and positions me so my left arm isn’t directly beneath the spray.

Feeling his hands on my skin, my eyes dart to his face and our eyes lock. The connection between us is so strong it forces the trauma to the back of my mind.

As I stare at him, every argument I’ve had with myself over the past three weeks feels stupid.

Suddenly, it doesn’t matter that he’s one of the heads of the Cosa Nostra. He’s shown me I’m safe with him.

He’s proven he loves me by being patient and supportive.

He loves me, and not in a destructive way.

He cares about my feelings.

The list grows longer and longer until the certainty that he’s the right man for me fills every part of my heart and soul.

“Are you okay?” he asks when I just keep staring at him.

Nodding, I place my hand on his chest while I push myself up on my tiptoes.

Just as I’m about to kiss him, he says, “You’re just been through hell, baby.”

“Keep still so I can kiss you,” I demand.

The corner of his mouth twitches, but his eyes are still filled with worry.

“I want this,” I whisper against his lips.

He lowers his head so I don’t have to stand on my toes, and I wrap my right arm around his neck.

With our breaths mingling, I say, “I’ve made my decision.”

His eyes search mine for the answer. “Yeah?”

“I want a relationship with you.” Slowly, a smile forms on my face. “I want my mystery man.”

Relief fills his eyes, and his arms wrap around me.

“And I want you, Mr. Vitale.”

My words make his eyes darken with emotion, and seeing how much my words affect him, I add, “I want all of you.”

---