Page 109 of To the Chase

My ears burned. “Sometimes. I tried to resist, but I got hooked on seeing you, even if from afar. And every time I did, the fog stayed gone longer and longer.”

She traced the shell of my ear, a soft smile curling her lips. “I’m glad I could do that for you.”

“I’m glad I didn’t scare you.”

“Never. I was never afraid of you. That might mean I’m a little unhinged, but that’s okay. We can be unhinged together.”

“You think I’m unhinged?”

Her brows rose, wrinkling her forehead. “I don’t think designing an entire app to keep in touch with me, buying my dream house, and following me in your limo is exactly normal.” Her smile kissed mine. “Luckily, I find normal boring as hell. You picked the right girl to get obsessed with.”

I caught her mouth, kissing her hard and deep. I wasn’t sure if I’d picked her or she’d lured me in like a siren, but here I was, devoted, with no plans of ever giving her up.

“It might’ve started as an obsession.” I slid my fingers through the side of her hair. “But as I got to know you, I fell in love with you too.”

“You love me?” she squeaked.

“I do. That’s how I know we’ll work. I’ve never loved another woman, and I don’t have it in me to do it again. You’re it for me, Bea. In order for this to end, you’ll have to be the one to leave me, and I intend to keep you so happy, you’ll never want to.”

Her lips parted as she stared at me. “It’s far too soon to make those kinds of declarations.”

“It’s been two years.”

“But”—she licked her lips—“can we rewind, just a little? I’m still catching up with us being back together, and you’re talking about lifetimes.”

“I’m done. No more talk about loving you until I take my last breath.”

“Tore!” She shoved me away, giggling. “Stop it. I need more time.”

“All right. I’m not so set in my ways I can't compromise. We’ll spend the weekend as boyfriend and girlfriend,thenwe’ll discuss our future.”

She mimed strangling me. “I take back all the ‘good boys’ I gave you. You’re a bad, bad man.”

I caught her and buried my face in her neck, my teeth scraping her skin. “Nope. That isn’t going to happen. I’myourgood boy. Say it.”

My teeth dug into her flesh, making her scream and writhe. “No, I won’t do it!” Between screams, she giggled and slapped at myarms banded around her. “You’re so bad, Salvatore Gallo. The absolute worst.”

“I’ll show you my worst.”

I bit a path along her shoulder then licked every spot I’d marked. She squirmed and laughed, doing a piss-poor job of fighting me off her. My cock plumped up as her body flailed against mine. Rolling her onto her back, I rocked against her damp panties, and she arched and bucked, drawing me against her heat.

“Sal,” she breathed.

“Bea,” I answered, reaching between us to tug her panties to the side. “Say it or I’m going to fuck you right now.”

Her lips rolled over her teeth, and she shook her head. Her legs parted just a little more.

“You’re in for it,” I growled, yanking my underwear down. “I’ll show you how bad I am.”

I plunged into her in one hard thrust.

Right where I belonged.

The last thing I wanted to do was stumble home at midnight, but Bea understood I couldn’t spend the night without some preplanning. And since I’d left my phone at home, I couldn’t exactly ask my father to stay in the main house with the kids.

As far as I was concerned, tonight would be the first and last time I fucked Bea and left her after. We’d have to be careful for a while around the kids, but leaving her sated and alone in her bed had gone against every fiber of my being.

Myfather was waiting for me in the living room, a smug grin sliding across his face when he laid eyes on me.