Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“That feels good.”
I wanted to make him feel good. Because he was my friend. And he’d been so kind. And also ... because I liked touching him.
My thumbs dug into the back of his neck, and he groaned. His skin was hot under his T-shirt, and I longed to feel his bare skin. Instead, I slid my hands down his biceps, rubbing and squeezing. His muscles weren’t as large as Massimo’s and Carmine’s, but they were definitely defined. It was kind of amazing that a man like him didn’t have a girlfriend. Then again, even though his life was less restricted than mine, he didn’t exactly lead a normal existence either.
“Thank you.” Stefano caught one of my hands and pulled it to his mouth, kissing it lightly. It was a strangely romantic gesture.
Leaning forward, I let my hair settle over his shoulder, my cheek near his. “Anytime.”
“You may regret that offer,” he said, and that word hung between us. We both knew about Massimo’s offer ... but would either of us do anything about it?
And the answer was ... yes. Stefano tilted his head toward mine, his skin touching my cheek. He was so near that I could smell the scent of his cologne, which I couldn’t identify, but it pleased me nonetheless.
I twisted toward him and he leaned his head back, angling his mouth to fit over mine. The position was awkward—I had to rest my hand on the back of his chair for support—but I didn’t care. The feeling of his lips on mine was perfect. Like something I’d been waiting to do my whole life.
Despite the position, I relaxed into his kiss. It felt right. It felt good. That man—that boy, really—who’d been the first one to kiss me hadn’t known what he was doing. Neither had I. And Massimo’s kiss had been brief. A tease of more to come, perhaps. But this was a real kiss.
Stefano took his time, caressing my lips with his own. He wrapped an arm around my waist, and I leaned in more, giving him more access. Allowing the sensations to radiate throughout my body.
I wanted more ... I wanted to touch and stroke him, but I didn’t know how to get there from here. But something told me we would. Someday. And for now, this was enough. More than I ever thought I’d get, in fact.
When I was little, I thought that kissing was something a woman had to do. Now I was finding out that it could become something a woman wants to do.
At last, I pulled away, the strain from the uncomfortable position getting to me. Stefano’s eyes opened and he smiled. There was satisfaction there. And desire. But no pressure. I couldn’t imagine him ever making me feel pressured.
I licked my lips, tasting where he’d been. Then I gave him a soft smile. “Um, will all the people who play your game get an intimate bonus round like that?”
He grinned. “Only you.”
“You’d sell a whole lot more if they did,” I said. “But I’m glad it’s only me.”
16
LEILA
The rest of that day, I couldn’t help thinking about Stefano’s kiss. As I lay in bed, I was restless, trying to find a good position. The weird thing was that if I’d been up in the little playroom, I bet I would have slept like a baby. There was less pressure up there. It was like the tiny room kept intrusive thoughts at bay.
Then I wondered what Stefano’s bed was like. I’d still never seen his room. But even with the deal Massimo offered me, that kind of thinking felt dangerous.
Breakfast was quiet, but not quite as awkward as yesterday’s. But as I ate the cream of wheat that Jana had made, a favorite of mine, my thoughts turned from Stefano to Carmine.
I still felt bad about what had happened at the restaurant. He’d taken time out of his day to treat me to a nice outing, and I’d repaid him by disappearing on him. I couldn’t help thinking of the disastrous way it had ended with a term I’d heard one of Massimo’s men use: clusterfuck. I’d never say it out loud, but it kept popping into my brain when I reflected on how that evening had ended.
Once Carmine had downed a large mug of coffee, he finished his steak and eggs pretty quickly. After he left, I shot a quick look at Stefano and Massimo and excused myself.
I followed after Carmine, trotting to keep up. He paused at the door, having heard my footsteps.
“Hi.” I skidded to a halt.
“Hi.”
“Um ... can I talk to you?”
He didn’t make a joke or point out that I was already speaking with him. He just raised an eyebrow. “I have to get to work.”
Disappointment filled me. I didn’t like things being strained between us, and that’s how it felt, at least on my side.