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“Yes, it does!” I stepped forward, poking him in the chest. “You’re too important to run away and hide, but I’m not! That’s what you’re saying.”
“You don’t understand! I need you to be safe. If this guy so much asbreathesin your direction, Stefania, I’ll fucking kill him!”
I stared at him. “That’s not fair! You can’t say stuff like that when I’m mad and upset, because now I’m turned on! Which makes it really hard to stay mad and upset!”
He stared straight back at me, processing my words. Then his shoulders slumped as the anger and frustration drained out of him. The way his dimple flashed when he smiled at me absolutely did me in. “Christ, you turn me inside out.” He opened his arms, and I went to him, slipping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his shoulder. I closed my eyes and let out a shuddering sigh.
We held each other for a few long moments, then Grayson tilted my head up and brushed a tender kiss across my lips. “You have no idea how important you are to me.”
Yeah, so that set off a strange, sort of aching feeling that scared the crap out of me. I didn’t do fear well. Like, at all. So I deflected. Smiling, I put my hands on his shoulders and boosted up, wrapping my legs around him. “How about you show me?”
He kissed me and I melted into it, sliding my arms around his neck, tangling my tongue with his while he carried me to the bed.He stood at the edge and dumped me on the mattress, smiling when I giggled. Reaching up, I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled so that he fell on top of me.
His smile faded and he pulled me close, slipping his fingers into my hair and slanting his mouth across mine. Jesus, his kiss was like a drug, making me all weak and pliable. I was well and truly hooked. I ran my hands over his chest, feeling the muscles beneath his shirt, and he made a low sound in his throat when I undid the rest of the buttons.
Grayson’s hands roamed over my body, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. He cupped my breasts, teasing my nipples through the thin fabric of my shirt. I arched my back, pressing myself into his touch. He broke our kiss, trailing his lips down my neck and across my collarbone. I let out a soft moan as he nipped at my skin, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core.
I reached down and fumbled with the button of his pants, desperate to feel him against me. He helped me, sliding them off and kicking them to the side. I ran my hands over his thighs, feeling the muscles tense beneath my touch. Then he returned the favor, helping me remove all of my clothes until I could finally press my bare skin against his.
Hunger swirled in his eyes when he looked at me and I felt the answering ache. He lowered his head, taking one of my nipples into his mouth. I gasped, my back arching off the bed as he teased and sucked.
Sliding my hand down his abs, I wrapped my hand around him. God, he was so big, so hard. I stroked him slowly, savoring the feel of him in my hand. “Kiss me.”
He did, sliding his hand down my body, dipping between my legs. I swear, the low growl he let out when he felt how wet I was almost made me come.
His fingers teased my clit, sending waves of pleasure crashing through me.
“Open your eyes, Stefania.”
I did, digging my fingers into his shoulders when he pushed a finger inside me, curling it up to hit that sweet spot. “Jesus Christ,” I gasped, my body trembling as he worked me closer and closer to the edge. “Stop.”
He did, frowning at me as he pulled his hand away.
I smiled, brushing my fingers through his hair. “I knew you were about to make me come.”
“Yeah, that was the plan.”
“I want you inside me.”
“As you wish.” Covering my body with his, he pressed light, fluttery kisses along my collarbone, up my neck. Such a small touch, but somehow so, so hot. Then he found my lips, kissing me deeply as he pushed inside me, filling me completely. I let out a low moan, my body stretching to accommodate him.
With his eyes on mine, he started moving with agonizing slowness, just a light flexing of his hips. Dragging out the pleasure for both of us. I shifted, raising my legs higher, taking him deeper. “Oh god.”
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as he captured my lips in a slow, sweet kiss. I could feel the tension building inside me, my body coiling tighter and tighter. All ittook was Grayson reaching between us, teasing my clit as he moved inside me and I was done for. I clung to him as I broke apart in his arms, burying my face in his neck when he followed me over the edge.
We lay there, tangled together, our breathing slowly returning to normal. Grayson pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, and I snuggled closer, smiling when his arms tightened around me.
Did I love the sound of his heart beating against my ear? Yes, I sure did. I pressed a kiss to his chest. “I’m sorry for before. It’s just...it fucking sucks that with one fleeting, stolen moment, my whole life is turned upside down. It’s too much.”
He ran his fingers gently through my hair. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have dumped it on you like that. It wasn’t fair. But I got those files on you and I freaked out, I guess. I didn’t really expect him to get close to you.”
“It’s okay. I understand why you’re worried. But I can’t just disappear. I have a life, a band, friends... I can’t just leave all of that behind.”
He was quiet for long enough that I thought he wasn’t going to say anything. Until, “I accept that you can’t go into hiding. Will you at least allow me to hire protection for you?”
My instant reaction was fuck no, but he’d compromised, so I guess I could, too. “How would that work?”
“I can make it as discreet as possible. But it would be twenty-four seven.”