Rae let out an exasperated huff, crossed the distance, and placed her palm over my erection. She squeezed once and then began to rub.
“Please, Nico,” she breathed.
Anything—anything for this woman. “You’re killing me.”
She raised her palms and gave me a mischievous smirk. “Can’t have that.”
Put it back.“I’ll get you the cayenne. Anything else?”
Rae scrunched up her lips. “You’re Italian.”
“Thanks for noticing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Do you have grappa?”
“You’re putting grappa in the margaritas?” I went to the cupboards, pulled out both the spice and the liquor, and handed them to her. “Is this a science experiment or have you made it before?”
“We had it for Easter, actually.” She took the ingredients. “The carrot juice sweetens it, but it also makes the tequila more earthy. You’ll like it.”
I already knew I would. She made it.
But there was something else my brain fixated on. “Who’s we?”
“Oh,” she laughed. “Just me and some friends. There was a group of us miscreants back in Cobbsville.”
Cobbsville, Georgia…. I suddenly wanted to go there. To see her hometown, to see Rae in her element. She had a whole life there. A history. Did it call to her? Did she ever think of going back?
I asked her before I could stop myself.
Rae sighed and began to stir the cocktail. “No, that life is over.”
“Is it?” I was a glutton for punishment.
Rae plunked ice in the tumbler, poured some of the margarita into the glass, and brought it to me. “I’ve started over, Nico.”
Thank fuck.That meant I had a chance to keep her here. To prove to her this was where she belonged—with me.
Rae lifted the glass to my lips, and I took a sip.
The spicy flavor invaded my senses. I swallowed, pleasantly surprised how the sweet melded with the heat.
“That’s delicious,” I breathed.
Rae’s smile set my heart galloping. I reached for her, pulling her flush with my body. “More.”
She tipped the glass up. This time, I didn’t swallow. I bent over her, pressing my lips to hers. There was a moment of hesitation, but when she opened, I gave her the cocktail straight from my mouth.
Her sharp inhale was a delicious note to the primal exchange. The moment she swallowed, I lifted her in my arms, ready to haul her to the bedroom.
The door opened. Two voices called out in greeting.
Cavolo.They were early.
Rae gasped and wriggled. I held her tight, turning to greet our guests. My fingers squeezed her hip in a possessive promise to continue this later.
“Rae, I want you to meet my mother and sister, Donatella and Tiziana Grimaldi,” I said, enjoying the way my girl’s cheeks went beet red.
My mother’s eyes twinkled, while my sister flat out laughed.
