Page 22

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

ADALYN

T he next day was a tiring one.

We got up early that morning to take the jet back to Chicago, leaving Catania airport shortly before ten. The thirteen hours or so on the plane journey back had dragged, much like our flight to Sicily the week before. However, unlike before, Marco and I were now sitting next to each other, engaged in jovial conversation with Jesse. Even when we weren’t talking amongst each other, Marco would hold my hand or give it the occasional squeeze.

It was striking how quickly things had changed between us in the space of one short week.

When we had pulled up to the familiar sandstone walls of home that evening, it was just past midnight.

The men disappeared and I headed to bed, collapsing in a heap with only an oversized t-shirt for pajamas. I passed out within minutes and scarcely registered it when a familiar presence enveloped me that night and stayed until the early hours of the morning.

Unsurprisingly, Marco was working in his study much of the following day. Suit after suit filtered through the house as an endless swarm of Cosa Nostra dealings and family meetings ensued. Clearly, there was a lot to catch up on from the week we had been away.

By the time the last of the men had left, it had gone nine o’clock in the evening and I was in the cinema room watching Bridesmaids , resigned to spending the evening alone. Not even Jesse was around for company.

“What are you watching?” Marco’s voice echoed from behind me.

I squawked like a crow and jumped clean off my seat in fright.

Very attractive, I internally scolded.

“Jesus, Marco!” I clutched at my chest. Turning to scowl at him. “You scared me!”

“ Finally .” A boyish, crooked smile pulled at his lips, but his eyes quickly drifted to the screen behind me to where all hell was breaking loose. “Shitting in a sink…what the hell is this?”

I chuckled and resumed my seat as he descended the steps.

“Bridesmaids. It’s the best.” I answered simply. “I didn’t think you knew there was a cinema room in your house.”

To be honest, I never really saw him doing anything that didn’t include working. Let alone him sitting watching a movie .

He just smiled and took a seat beside me.

After a few minutes of watching the scene on screen unfold, he grew bored and picked up the nearby remote, hitting pause.

“Hey!” I protested.

His darkening smile was all the warning I got before he closed the short distance between us.

His lips trapped mine in a rough, consuming kiss and I fell backward with the force of his body as it tumbled into mine. His arms quickly found my waist and wrapped around me, picking me up from the recliner. I didn’t know what he was doing until I felt the soft carpet press against my back and the hard plains of his chest moving in alignment with mine.

When our lips parted, his stormy eyes sent a wave of heat across my skin and a pulse straight to the sensitive bud between my legs. His head sunk to my neck, sucking on my skin as if it tasted as magnificent as his favorite bourbon. When his lips traipsed back to mine, all I could think about was how hungry I was for more .

He pulled my crop top up and over my head swiftly, and I hesitated.

“Wait,” I said, breaking away, poorly trying to push him back a few inches. “Wait. I want to try something.”

He sighed and relented, moving back and leaning on an arm to look down at me, his eyes suddenly alight with excitement and curiosity.

“What do you have in mind, Ada?” His voice was all sin and sex.

I didn’t have the courage to voice what I had in mind. My own inexperience constricting my throat and immobilizing my tongue. Instead of saying the words, I pushed gently on his shoulder. Understanding my unspoken meaning, he rolled onto his back, allowing me to straddle his hips as our gaze locked with punishing intensity.

Feeling myself beginning to crumble under the scrutiny of his gaze and the nervousness of what I was about to do, I tucked my head into his neck and started trailing kisses down to his collar bone. My fingers worked to unbutton his black dress shirt, revealing a sliver of hard chest and defined stomach. My lips followed the path of my hands downward, until they ran out of skin and found his belt buckle instead.

Without allowing myself even a second to think about what I was doing, I pulled the leather loose and began working on the clasp of his trousers. I felt him tense beneath me, his muscles growing still.

My hands shook with uncertainty as I strained the material down to his thighs revealing his erection, thick and hard as it stretched against his grey boxers.

God, I want to please this man.

I licked my lips and rubbed against the fabric. I could feel his barely contained desire. The warmth of his arousal.

“Take it out.” Marco ordered.

I didn’t take it as a harsh command though, my body very much liking his roughness…It knew it meant he was struggling to stay in control of himself.

I pulled his briefs down and wrapped my hand around his length. Marco immediately hissed at the contact, and it spurred me on.

His skin was surprisingly soft, almost velvet like, yet hard and hot all at the same time.

My mouth watered, and I tentatively reached my tongue out and flicked it against the tip. Feeling him grow instantly harder in my hand, I guided my tongue over him. Licking him from the base to the tip.

I looked up at him and his half-lidded eyes told me he was enjoying it. Satisfied I was doing it right, I decided to take the next step.

Still meeting his eyes, I took as much of him into my mouth as I could and sucked. Hard.

“Fuck.” He groaned, his eyes closing and his breath catching on his curse.

Seeing the pleasure erupt on his face, I pushed him in further and my eyes watered as his head hit the back of my throat. He still wasn’t all the way in though, so I moved him out a few inches, only to push more of him in again. Once, twice. Over and over. His soft grunts grew into pants with each motion, his hand curling into my hair.

After a few more sucks, Marco pushed me away gently and pulled himself out.

“You got to stop.” Marco growled.

Anxiety flooded my system. Did I do something wrong?

“Why?”

“Because I can’t fuck you if I come right now,” he said gruffly, meeting me with hazy, lust filled eyes.

“Oh.” A tentative, triumphant smile stretched across my face.

He was going to come. That thought brought with it a wave of satisfaction.

I kissed my way back up his body and found his lips. The second I reached them his hands delved into my shorts, yanking down the black nylon and the panties I was wearing. I stood a moment to slide them off, while he pulled the rest of his clothes off simultaneously.

Free from the remainder of our clothes, I straddled his hips once again and ground down on him. I groaned when I felt him slide into me. He was so large and warm, filling me to the brim until I couldn’t think anything or breathe anything but Marco . He let out a hiss as I began moving against him, controlling the rhythm and pushing him deeper with each languid roll of the hips.

One of his rough hands found their way to my breast, squeezing and palming at the skin while the other rubbed at the sensitive spot between my thighs. I sighed with pleasure, letting my head fall back as I became lost in his touch.

The second my sighs turned into whimpers, Marco’s restraint seemed to snap.

Quicker than I thought possible, he rolled us so I was once again on my back beneath him. He slammed into me causing punishing pleasure to erupt in my lower stomach. He pumped into me hard . His torturous tempo turning the white-hot friction of our skin into sparks of sizzling fire.

“That’s right. Come for me baby. I want to feel it.” Marco commanded.

A moan erupted from deep in my chest and I came undone in his arms. My nails dug into his back as my body began writhing and flushing against him.

“Good girl.” He praised.

His strokes grew slower and deeper as my body cooled. He was so deep now I could feel him in the pit of my belly.

“Now I want to see that ass of yours.” He muttered.

He pulled out of me completely and spun me over, as if I weighed no more than a bag of flour, propping me up so I was on all fours.

If I wasn’t still riding the languid high of my orgasm, I would have been embarrassed by how exposed I was to his gaze. Instead, I found myself docile and obedient, the last of my dignity having apparently packed itself up and shipped itself off. Figures.

He thrust his length back into me, resuming his agonizing pace and sending sparks dancing across my skin.

Just as I felt pressure inside me starting to build again, Marco began to caress a different area of my body. His fingers delicately exploring as his thrusts slowed and then stilled. His breathing suddenly turned ragged, and a shiver ran through him as the very tip of his finger slid tentatively inside me there .

“Marco,” I gasped, becoming flustered and overwhelmed by the new sensation.

“Tell me to stop and I will,” He muttered, his voice gravelly and hoarse.

I didn’t.

His finger sunk deeper and I sucked in a small breath, feeling so full and overcome with the different sensation that I could hardly think to breathe. He was everywhere, all at once. It was so dirty, so possessive, so Marco .

“Your ass is so tight.” He grunted, struggling to restrain himself.

His hips began moving again, slower and deeper than before, allowing me to adjust to the feeling. It wasn’t long before pleasure like I had never experienced began to build to an excruciating degree.

All-consuming euphoria pulsed and vibrated within me. My nails dug into the carpet as I screamed, falling into blissful oblivion. Marco’s own groan of ecstasy came not a second later, his body trembling and tensing as he too found his release.

We collapsed to the floor in a mess of discarded clothing and shaky limbs. Our heavy pants and racing heartbeats the only noise amongst the silence.

“Good thing we are in a room with soundproof walls,” I muttered, completely spent.

He chuckled softly. “A happy coincidence.”

It took another few minutes or so before our breathing began to slow, my heart rate gradually returning to normal.

Marco’s voice broke the silence.

“I have to leave in an hour.”

I watched as he slowly sat up and reached for his trousers and I was suddenly grateful he had turned his back to me so he couldn’t see the dejection or disappointment lining my face.

“How long will you be gone?” I asked sitting upright, pulling my clothes toward me.

“A few days maybe.” He rose to his feet, pulling on the black material and doing up his belt.

I watched on as a pang of sadness hit me in the chest. We had grown so close over the last two weeks, would distance change everything that had happened between us?

He reached down to caress the side of my face with a hand, almost as if he could see the concern in my expression and he wanted to dispel it in some way.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, baby.” He flashed me his dazzling boyish smile before planting a soft kiss to my lips.

Over the next few days, life in Chicago returned to its normal routine. I hated to admit it, but the city was really starting to grow on me, and now that I had finished buying decorations for my room, it had started to feel like home. I went back to work when Monday rolled around and was happy to see the familiar face of Keeley, my assistant, as I walked out of the elevator that morning. Apparently, there was a lot of office gossip I had missed in the week I was away.

On Tuesday evening, Jesse came and joined me for dinner as I sat in the kitchen and we ate Lucia’s homemade ravioli, which was hands-down the best thing I had ever tasted.

“So, what’s going on with you and Marco?” Jesse asked after a brief pause in the conversation.

I wasn’t sure how to answer him, so I tried being as vague as possible, knowing that he most definitely knew more than he was letting on. He just wanted to hear it from me.

“We… Um, Well…”

“Fuck?” He offered and then scoffed. “Well clearly!”

I chuckled darkly. “Well, yes that .” I let out a sigh. “But that’s all it is Jess.”

“I don’t know about that.” He said, shooting me a skeptical look. “You seem pretty cozy to me.”

My heart fluttered. The idea that we looked like a couple to anyone on the outside made a small smile stretch across my face. I speared another piece of ravioli and popped it into my mouth to cover it up.

“Have you even talked about what’s going on between you two?” He questioned, undeterred by my silence.

“No, we haven’t.” I sighed, “But I’m not sure I want to anyway. I’m enjoying whatever this is between us, and I don’t want to ruin it.”

“Why do you think it would ruin it?” Jesse asked and I rolled my eyes.

“Oh, come on Jess. I’m not na?ve. I know that none of this can last.” I could see he was about to ask ‘why?’ so I continued, “He’s a Don , Jess. And I am only one person… I’m not enough for someone like him. If you could have anyone in the continental US and Sicily, why settle for a Mannino like me?” I shrugged my shoulder, pretending like the words didn’t pierce a hole straight through my chest.

He gave me a peculiar look for a few seconds. His dark eyes roaming my face as if trying to examine whether I really believed the words I’d spoken.

“Seriously?” He cocked a brow at me, taking a deep swig of his beer.

“I’m not stupid. I know that what we have is just temporary and I’m okay with that.”

He shook his head in disbelief. His troubled eyes indicated there was more that he wanted to say, but he didn’t elaborate any further and we didn’t broach the subject again the rest of evening.

By the time Wednesday rolled around, I was becoming restless. I couldn’t help but worry about where Marco was or whether he was safe. No news was good news, but it didn’t help the unease and anticipation that compounded me as the days wore on.

My feelings toward the Don were burning stronger than ever despite the distance between us. It was exhilarating, unnerving and exciting. It was just like how I imagined falling would feel like.

The only problem was, inevitably, one day I was going to hit the bottom.

I closed my office door and strolled down the hall toward the elevator bank, looking around in the hopes of finding Jesse loitering somewhere amongst the many rooms.

The clock had already hit five thirty, and yet my best friend was suspiciously absent from my office. He’d driven me to work that morning and disappeared soon after we arrived, informing me about some update meeting he needed to have with the casino’s security. But that was hours ago now, and I hadn’t seen him since.

Alonso and Tom straightened as I approached the foyer, walking straight toward their corner of the space. It didn’t matter what I was doing or where I was going, these two men were like my silent shadows.

“Alonso, where’s Jesse?” I asked, coming to a stop beside the men.

Alonso fought against a smile as he turned to face me. “I think he’s somewhat occupied at the moment, Miss Adalyn.”

“Occupied?” I raised my brow and Tom snickered. “Well, whatever he’s doing tell him we should have left thirty minutes ago.”

“I’d love to, Ma’am, but he’s not answering his radio right now.” Alonso smirked.

“Well, is he alright? If he’s not answering his radio…”

“ Oh, he’s definitely alright.” Tom grinned and both men shared a look.

“Then can you go and get him? I’m dead tired and?—”

Alonso started laughing and Tom grimaced. “Ugh…polite pass.”

Right, what is so damn funny?

I sighed, “What the fuck is going on, Boys?”

“Uh…” Alonso scratched his chin but otherwise didn’t continue. Well, that was a fucking first.

“If one of you doesn’t start telling me what’s going on right no?—”

“Okay, okay!” Tom interrupted, lifting his hands up placatingly before pressing a finger to his lips, silently telling me to keep my voice down.

He motioned for me to follow him down one of the hallways off the foyer, silently stopping before a bathroom door.

What in the?—

“Oh, fuck . Yeah. Just like that.”

I jolted back from the door, staring incredulously at the dark wood that did little to stifle the moaning and panting of its occupants. Tom was soundlessly laughing at my side, and I smacked him on the arm.

“Yes, yes, yes.” A female chanted from the other side.

Oh, God…that was Keeley .

“Fuck, yes. That’s it. That’s i?—”

“Jesse Alessio Mancini, get your fucking cock out of my assistant. It’s home time!” I yelled through the door, pounding my fist against the wood.

Tom’s laughter exploded out of him just as my own chuckle tumbled from my lips, unable to keep a straight face.

I heard Jesse curse quietly. “I’m a little busy right now, Bandit!”

“You’re supposed to be my ride home.” I pointed out, but my voice, sadly, wasn’t as stern as I’d hoped.

“I’m giving someone else a ride at the moment. Find your own way home!”

Well, that’s fucking gross.

“You’re fucking sick, Jess!”

I heard him laugh, but then sounds I really didn’t want to hear started floating back through the door. I quickly walked the distance back to the elevators with Tom lagging behind.

“You’re both perverts.” I scolded the men as we all stepped into the elevator, heading down to reception. “But I would appreciate a lift home, so I forgive you both.”

They both snickered and led the way out of the building toward the lot out front. The armored SUV was more than a little ostentatious as it glinted in the sunlight. A blight against the relatively mundane landscape of cars that surrounded it.

Alonso held one of the rear doors open for me and I climbed in as both men took their seats with Tom taking the wheel.

I flicked open my purse and pulled out my phone from one of the interior pockets. I quickly typed off a message but hesitated a moment.

Just do it!

I took a heavy sigh and pressed ‘send’.

Me: I miss you.

The car slowly started pulling out of the parking lot and I focused on the movement of the vehicle instead of my heart- rate as it thundered in my ears. Would he even respond to my message? Or would it make him run for the hills?

Panic had me suddenly second-guessing myself and I started furiously trying to figure out how to unsend the message.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

The phone dinged in my hand.

Marco: Miss you too. B home soon x

Relief so intense had me collapsing back into the seat.

He didn’t run for the hills.

I smiled at the thought and settled in for the ride back home.

I glanced out the window as we stopped at an intersection, my eyes drifting over to homeless people that loitered on the corner. They were always there but…today there was a new face among them. Jimmy .

A pang of sadness hit me in the chest.

Jimmy was a regular at Diamond City. He was always playing the slot machine in the corner of the main floor with a small smile on his face. I’d spoken to him just yesterday on my way out of the staff room.

It’s an addiction for him , I realized.

The traffic light ahead of us blinked green and the car started moving again, pulling us away from the misfortune of those on the sidewalk.

“Excellent, then that’s it for today. Thank you all.” I dismissed, flipping my leather folder shut.

The monthly interdepartmental meeting always took up the better half of my morning, but I didn’t mind it. I had considered it a great honor when Jon had entrusted me to start running them without his oversight. It felt like I had finally found my place in the world of business, and I was sure as shit not going to blow it now. Marco was the first person to have ever given me a role within the family business and I was determined he wasn’t going to regret it.

Regret me .

I collected my mug and the few other items I had brought into the meeting room with me, smiling at each person as they steadily filtered out of the conference room doors.

“Miss Rossi, here are the numbers you requested.” Derrek, the Culinary Director, said as he approached. He wore a nervous smile as he extended a manilla folder in my direction.

“Great work, thank you.” I nodded, retrieving it as he continued out the door.

I flicked through the paperwork a moment, scanning my eyes over the casino’s food waste output and reviewing all the numbers over the last quarter.

Perfect .

I didn’t linger in the deserted conference room any longer, keen to start pulling apart the documents in my hand in the privacy of my own office. I tucked the folder under my arm and collected my mug and other items too as I headed out.

The elevator bank was quiet now, the last of the staff having drifted through the closing doors. I was grateful for it; talking for the better part of three whole hours had proven exhausting and another coffee was fast becoming necessary.

After another minute or so, the elevator doors slid open again and I stepped inside. Pulling out my phone, I fired off a quick message as I slowly started ascending the levels to my floor.

Me: When will you b back today?

Marco had called last night after I’d got back from work, and we’d spent an hour or so talking on the phone. He’d been in New York all week lining up deals and attending meetings, but he’d promised to be home today in time for the weekend…and I was more than a little impatient to see him.

The elevator dinged as the doors opened on my floor and I stepped out into the foyer, noting the familiar smell of sandalwood and wild Lilies that greeted me. Our in-house florist never ceased to amaze me with her ornate, decedent displays. I’d made a good choice in hiring her for the place.

Keeley’s desk was empty as I rounded the corner, though that wasn’t unusual given the time. She always popped out about midday to get us some lunch from the kitchen or a coffee. She was good like that…when she wasn’t fucking my security guys.

Fresh out of hands, I used my butt to push open the door to my office…and all but screamed when I realized that I wasn’t alone in the room.

“Ada.”

He was as handsome as ever, sitting at my desk as if he owned the space…which I suppose he technically did.

Marco’s coal dress shirt was rolled to the elbows, exaggerating the intricate black artwork that decorated each arm. His midnight hair was perfect, precisely shaven at the sides and worn in his customary way.

God he really is beautiful.

As if he could guess what I was thinking, his sensuous lips stretched into that boyish smile I loved so much.

Fighting a smile of my own, I languidly crossed the room to the desk, depositing my items. Marco’s dark eyes tracked the movement and continued watching as I rounded the polished glass to stand beside him. He turned the chair around to face me, leaning back against the leather as if I was the most interesting show on earth.

We were close enough now that his spicy sent hit my nose and white-hot arousal dripped into my blood.

With deliberate slowness, I stepped between his parted knees and bent at the hip to place a gentle kiss on his lips.

His eyes smoldered as I pulled away, continuing to watch me as I straightened. I caressed the back of his neck with my fingers, my hand coming to rest against his chest.

“How was your flight?” I asked, distracted by looking over every inch of his handsome face, silently inspecting him for injuries.

“Long.”

Marco’s touch found its way to the backs of my thighs as he spoke. The heavy warmth of his hands seeping through the tight fabric of my skirt.

My gaze clashed with his, “I’m happy you’re home.”

He smiled sweetly. “Me too.”

The hands that were resting against my thighs pulled me closer and I stumbled forwards, catching myself against his shoulders. My hands splaying against muscle. Our faces were now millimeters away from each other and he didn’t hesitate in bridging the gap.

The kiss was consuming. Branding me as his right to my core.

I parted my lips and moaned as his tongue tasted me, swirling and searching for my own. I sucked on it, my hands twining in his hair and forcing his face impossibly closer. The limited contact between us was by no means enough after a week spent away.

Marco’s hands slid to my ass and squeezed.

I groaned into him, sucking on his lip and matching his bruising kiss with one of my own. Our lips molded together, a tangle of teeth, tongue, and warmth as we both fought to gain the upper hand.

My tight skirt loosened, and my breath caught in my throat.

“Marco…” My objection was a mere whisper. “Someone could see.”

He didn’t stop though, swiftly tugging on the material until it hit the floor.

“Do you really think I would let anyone see what’s mine?” His words were rough and grated somewhere low in my stomach.

I didn’t get a chance to answer him, my breath sucked out of me the moment his tongue flicked against the sensitive skin below my ear. I sighed and my fingers trailed their way down his neck, finding the collar of his shirt and swiftly undoing the tie and buttons until I could trace my fingers across his bare chest. He shivered at the touch, discarding the shirt entirely before he mirrored the action with my own, my bra quickly following.

His warm breath fanned my neck. “Bend over the desk.”

I didn’t hesitate.

I stepped over the puddle of material on the floor and planted my hands on the desk before me, acutely aware that I was covered by no more than panties and heels.

He has a thing for heels…

I didn’t linger on the thought long as I felt him rise behind me. The hard muscle of toned thighs pressing against me, pushing me further onto the desk until my chest and stomach were flat against the cold surface, my head lying to the side.

“Good girl.” He praised.

Marco’s hands quickly found the straps at my hips and slid my panties downwards. Cool air brushed my sensitive skin as I ached and burned for him.

“Marco—” I began.

A quick smack on my ass had whatever words I was about to say dying in my throat. Tingles erupted across my skin, dancing their way to areas of my body I had never anticipated I could welcome a rougher touch. Arousal pooled low in my stomach.

“Hmm…you like that, don’t you?” Marco’s voice was husky and oh god , sexy as fucking hell.

Another smack landed on my skin, and I moaned this time, the feeling indescribably intense. Intoxicating .

His hands latched onto my ass, spreading my cheeks wide and exposing all of me to his gaze. I flushed and quivered, feeling more exposed in that moment than I had ever felt in my life. I was vulnerable, and defenseless and insecure…

What if he doesn’t ? —

“ Fuck .” He cursed, kissing the crease where my thigh met my ass. “You’re always beautiful, Ada, but seeing you like this…you’re fucking captivating.”

My whole body melted. His words suffocating the anxious voice in my head that told me I wasn’t good enough. That I wasn’t beautiful enough. Strong enough. Capable enough for someone like him. Without knowing it, Marco’s words had soothed that part of myself that had always lingered in the shadows, dispersing it in an instant.

I could be exactly who I was with Marco. He wanted me exactly as I was. Physically, mentally. All of it. All of me.

His face descended on me, his tongue tracing my folds as his shoulders hooked the front of my legs allowing him to press closer. I sighed and moaned, my legs shaking with every new swirl of his tongue as he tasted me. When his tongue dove inside, I shuddered with unparalleled pleasure. The feeling growing and swelling with each touch of his skin, brush of his lips, and sigh from his throat.

It was over too soon, cold air brushing my skin as he retreated and came up to standing. I watched out the corner of my eye as his heavy-lidded gaze stayed locked on my body. The tattoos on his chest and arms rippled and pulsed as he wove a strip of black fabric expertly between his hands. His tie.

Watching his expression darken, I could already tell what his next move was going to be.

“Put your hands behind your back.” Came his soft order.

I immediately complied, moving my hands until they rested lowly on my hips. He gathered them in one of his as smooth, soft material looped around each of my wrists. It tightened, but not enough to feel restrictive.

“Have you ever been tied up like this before?” Marco asked, and I could hear his breathing was heavier than normal.

“No.” Came my simple reply.

“If you want me to stop, just tell me.”

I nodded, my words failing me as I felt him press up against me once more.

It was all the warning I got before his thick length pushed inside with a hard thrust of his hips. I cried out, overcome by the fullness and struggling to breathe around the blissful burn of pleasure that set my body alight. He retreated slightly, only to drive into me harder. Deeper .

“That’s right, baby. Relax. You can take more.” He murmured, one hand stroking my butt while the other latched onto the tie at my wrists, holding me firm.

Shit, that still isn’t all of him?

I forced myself to relax, to become pliable under his capable hands.

He wasn’t going to hurt me or give me more than I could handle…hadn’t eight months in his home already proven that?

The second I melted, surrendering to him completely, he plunged into me again and I screamed. A tangle of the sweetest pain and ecstasy danced at my nerves until I was a writhing, panting mess beneath him. He set a brutal pace, slamming into me over and over until I couldn’t help but tumble over the edge.

My climax was hard and fast.

Marco’s curse rumbled deep in his chest as he felt me tighten around him. He slowed and one look at his face told me he was dangerously close to plummeting himself but was fighting it. A thin sheen of sweat lined his dark brow.

His eyes found mine then and he leaned down, placing a kiss to my back as he made quick work of untying me. My body was heavy and slow as he helped pull me upright and turn me around, planting a warm and consuming kiss to my lips the moment I faced him. Our tongues messily collided, and I sucked on him, needing him closer.

He understood my unspoken words and lifted me onto the desk, spreading my legs as he lined himself up with my entrance. He thrust back inside me with a deliberate and intoxicating slowness this time. A growl resonating from his throat as he pushed himself in, inch by delicious inch. His eyes half-closed as he fully seated himself.

Marco paused there a moment, allowing me to adjust to the new angle before he retreated. Pushing back in only a second later and pressing a hand gently to my stomach so I would lie back. My hands slipped and slid across the papers behind me, scattering them to the floor as I moved. His hand promptly hooked behind my knee, pushing it into the air and exposing me to his gaze.

Once again, I was exposed to him, but I didn’t care in the slightest this time. Watching Marco’s face contort in pleasure as he rocked into me relentlessly was the most electrifying feeling I could ever imagine. The way his eyes surveyed me like I was the most beautiful person on the planet, like I was enough for him, was so erotic. So, mesmerizing . I was fast becoming consumed by my feelings for the man, and I didn’t care enough to stop it.

I wanted him. Needed him.

“Rub yourself for me,” he ordered, his voice gravelly and hoarse.

I let my fingers trail down my body until they found sensitive flesh, slowly swirling around the bud at the apex of my thighs.

Marco’s gaze flashed between tracking the movement and watching my expression, and I moaned. The feeling too intense. The fact that he was watching me as I played with myself…it was too hot. When his hand squeezed my breast, I came.

Hard .

I cried out as my body jerked violently. My core pulsed around him as my body flushed red hot. Marco’s movements became less succinct in response, and I could tell that he was only moments away from finding his own release.

“Look at me,” I whispered.

He did.

His dark, heavy eyes sliced to mine with an unrestrained desire that had my body instantly craving him again. He pumped once, twice… His groan was powerful, reverberating deep into the pit of my stomach as his eyes stayed locked to mine.

It was the most intense and arousing thing I had ever experienced. Changing me in ways I couldn’t even fully comprehend in that moment.

He quivered and dropped my leg to the side, collapsing on top of me with a deep, satisfied sigh.

“I missed you,” he murmured softly.

I fought to catch my breath. “I missed you, too.”