Page 11 of Suck

Only about two seconds pass before an inferno blazes hot enough to lick my skin but the time and the image feels surreal. Almost as much as the fact that I slept with the most stunning man I’ve ever seen, and he stares back at me like he’s hungry for me again. Which is idiotic and unrealistic. My lack of sleep and slight hangover play tricks with my brain and my heart for how unlikely his desire for me must be. “I guess I should go then.”

I point to the door like an idiot but my feet stay glued to the slate. Hoping he’ll think I’m not a complete moron. Hoping he’ll stop me. Hoping he’ll ask me to stay a little longer...maybe for breakfast.

“Or you could stay the week.”

Okay, that’s way more than breakfast. “The week?”

Yes, I squeak like a teenage girl. Shock always steals my voice, and I blush under his gaze. My embarrassment makes him grin again. Even more magnificent than last night. “You have a beautiful smile.”

Now he’s the one who seems surprised and slowly nods.

“I guess I rarely find reason to, but somehow you make me want to do it more.”

Wow. How do I even respond to that? “Okay.”

Smooth Macy. Real smooth. “I mean, I’m glad.”

“Me too.”

He steps closer. Slow yet determined, and my body actually jolts with unfamiliar yet exhilarating excitement when he slides his thick arm around my waist. Just like how he spooned with me all night and my heart kicks up the beat.

“Let’s talk about your honeymoon while we cook.”

Now I’m confused. “No wedding usually means no honeymoon, and I definitely don’t want to go alone.”

“You’re not going anywhere alone. I have a business trip planned, and I’d like you to accompany me.”

Holy shit. He wants to go away with me. That’s wrong though, right? I shake my head. Forcing myself to say what I think I should rather than what I want. “That’s so generous but I can’t.”

“It’s not generous at all.”

Okay, now I really am puzzled.

“We’ll have fun together. Especially with more nights like last night.”

My cheeks may explode with embarrassment from the reminder but my nipples harden just the same from his insinuation. From his enormous hand caressing my back. His sweet cinnamon breath flitting across my skin.

“You don’t have any place else you need to be, do you?”

I don’t answer. I don’t have to. We both know what I would be doing right now if I hadn’t been dumped and he wasn’t my knight in shining armor.

“You might as well spend the time with me.”

Forced to quit my job and drop out of school, I prepared myself to revolve my life around Antonio and his demands. Although I’m well aware he never planned to make the same sacrifices for me. No one ever doubted that I would be the good little mafia wife who does what her husband wants—keep her mouth shut and her legs open. And, just like always I was going to go along with what was expected rather than what I wanted.

Bitterness I hate curdles in my stomach, and I focus on Reece’s bare feet as he guides me inside. He walks with the same assurance he imbues in his voice and demeanor. Powerful and demanding, yet he doesn’t feel as suffocating as my previous fiancé. Maybe it’s wishful thinking. Or, maybe it’s true.

“I have a meeting to take care of in Caracas and thought we could enjoy a few days at my home in the Cayman Islands afterward.”

I guess I look doubtful regarding the location, when it’s really the entire idea of the trip itself that terrifies me, and he shakes his head as he leads me to the first stool tucked under an enormous island where he has peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms corralled on a cutting board next to a package wrapped in thick white butcher paper.

“Or, anyplace you want angel.”

No longer any doubt. My pulse races with joy from the realization. He changes for me, not the other way around. Not asking me to be different or not myself. The feeling is foreign and amazing. “No, it’s fine. They’re both fine.”

And, I just agreed to go on vacation with him. What the hell am I doing?

Making him happy I guess, judging from the pleasure softening his face. Making me happy too. So happy I reach over and grab the paring knife and start chopping onions while he opens up a refrigerator bigger than my apartment bathroom and takes out a carton of orange juice.

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