Page 13 of Always Mine
“And what or who did you need a distraction from?”
“You got your one question. My turn. Why is he calling you the Big Boss?”
“Borrring.” He puts his face closer to mine and draws out the word with a smirk.
I shake my head and smile playfully. “You’re ridiculous.”
“An acquaintance turned friend pitched the investment opportunity to me about six months ago. He’s a savvy businessman and owns a few successful businesses in Manhattan and Europe. I jumped at the chance to get in on this because I believed in what Joey wanted to create. Besides, I’m not getting any younger, so I want to start building for the future, too.” The conviction in his voice and the steely look on his face make that statement feel laced with so much more than he’s letting on. “So here we are.”
I want to know the “more” of it. Like who this acquaintance is and if this future he speaks of includes a special someone.Includes me,chimes in that voice from deep within. I shake off the thought. I know I have been gone for a while but as far as my sleuthing can tell, Marco has kept his friendship group small—my brothers and a few guys from the security firm.
He’s never trusted people easily, and ironically Mr. Popular doesn’t give two shits about being popular. His smooth voice cuts through my whirring thoughts.
“Now, next question, Kitten. Craziest thing you did in college?”
“Got tipsy and let the hockey team take body shots from my belly button. It’s how I met Aiden. You could say he gave me a taste of what his tongue could do, and I was sold.”
His eyes darken and his jaw clenches, hooking me the reaction I was looking for when I tossed out that tidbit like bait.
“Oh, so that’s your test for choosing your next boyfriend, huh? Find out how talented he is with his tongue?”
“Is that your question?”
“Sure,” is all he says as he reclines back into the booth and spreads his arms along the top and extends his legs under the table, so his knees brush mine. One word. One touch. Yet it all feels so charged. Especially with the way his gaze is zeroed on my lips.
“Well, it’s important to know if a man knows how to use his tongue.”
“Hmmm…true. That’s why he wasn’t enough for you, Kitten. He was a boy. Not a man. Once you’ve had a man’s tongue on you—in you—you’ll know the difference.”
“Is that a promise? I’m beginning to wonder if you’re doing something wrong. No shortage of girls. But no girlfriends,Mr. New York’s Most Eligible Playboy,”I clap back, citing one of those silly online lists he was featured in a while ago with a picture of him looking stupidly sexy, with an equally gorgeous date on his arm.
“Is that your question? Or just letting me know you’ve been keeping tabs on me,” he retorts. “It was an old picture, for the record.”
“No, I have a better question. One for old time’s sake,” I say, pulling my bottom lip into my mouth before slowly letting it go. “Kill? Marry? Fuck?”
“I did always love this question. But, seeing as how you assured me, you’re all grown up now, let’s up the ante.” A wicked grinforms on his kissable lips as he leans over the table so we’re almost nose to nose.
“Pussy. Ass. Mouth?” he whispers.
I don’t get a chance to answer because an absolute feast arrives. Pizza with prawns, pasta arrabiata, arancini balls and an arugula salad. All my favorites.
“Yum! Good picks,” I say flicking my eyes to Marco, who looks a little bashful, but he’s quick to add, “A man always remembers to feed his girl her favorites. Non-negotiable.”
“Hangry doesn’t look good on me.”
“Oh, I remember, Kitten,” he says with a throaty chuckle. “Let’s eat. My phone has been vibrating off the hook in my pocket. No doubt it’s your brother checking in on our ETA.”
We fall into a natural conversation, filling in the gaps time and distance have created and laughing at old memories that held me through the hard days. By the time we’re sharing three scoops of delicious gelato, I realize the man in front of me has made me feel much the same way: gooey and wickedly good. I can’t decide if I should indulge or if too much of a good thing is bad for me. He shoots off a quick text before standing and coming around to me, holding his hand out for me to take. I place my hand in his and look up at him, unable to stop the coy smile tugging at my lips. “To answer your question from before, I say why choose when you can have them all filled?”
Tugging me to my feet, and bringing me flush to his chest, he whispers in my ear, “When you’re strung out from pleasure and begging for my mercy, don’t forget it was you who chose the trifecta.”
Then, acting like he didn’t just scorch me with his words, he places a chaste kiss on my cheek and shoots me a boyish wink. “C’mon, Kitten. Let’s ride.”
Chapter nine
Happy New Year
Marco