Her dark eyes search my face. I don't know what she's looking for, but whatever it is, she must find it. Because the next thing I know, she lowers herself onto my lap. She fists my shirt, pulling me close before crushing her lips to mine. Her tongue plunges through my lips, her hands lost in my hair as it coils around mine.
The kiss is different from before. When I kissed her on the bridge, she melted in my arms. When I kissed her after Moretti's, she let go of all control. But this? This is her taking. Claiming. Like she's done waiting for me to make the moves.
Fuck, it's hot.
I let her lead. She presses herself tight against me, straddling my lap, never breaking the kiss. It only deepens with each passing second.
She pulls back just enough to yank her blouse over her head. “I've been thinking about this all day.”
I run my fingers up and down the sides of her torso. “You were in a meeting with capos.”
“Yeah. I was in a meeting with capos thinking aboutthis.”She reaches behind her, unhooks her bra, then tosses it to the floor. “You have a problem with that?”
I stare at her. This confident, powerful woman who just decimated a room full of made men is now sitting half-naked in my lap with fire in her eyes.
My cock strains against my pants, anxious to get in on the action. “No problem,” I manage to croak out. “No problem at all.”
She grins. It's wicked and dangerous. Good Christ, I'm so fucking gone for this woman.
She pushes my shirt up and pulls it over my head. Then she stares at my tattoos and drags her nails over every swirl of ink covering my chest before leaning in to trail her lips down the side of my neck.
“I keep thinking about what you said in the car,” she murmurs against my ear. Her lips trace over my collarbone next. “That I was incredible.” Her voice hums against my prickled skin. Sparks of lust flare deep in my groin.
“You were.” I lean forward, bringing my mouth to her breasts, nipping and suckling each nipple.
She lets out a hiss of breath. “Say it again.”
Something in her voice makes me pull back. I stare at her flushed cheeks; her dark eyes flickering with need and want. But there's something vulnerable underneath the heat. Like she needs to hear it. Really needs it.
So I give it to her.
“You were incredible,” I say it slower this time and watch her face as the words sink in. “The way you handled Riccardo. The way you commanded that room. Every single person at that table knew they were looking at someone who could destroy them.”
Her breath catches. Her hips roll against me, just slightly, like she can't help herself.
I file that away, then keep talking.
“You're brilliant.” I kiss her jaw. “Powerful.” Her neck. “Sexy as hell.” Her earlobe. “And watching you put Riccardo in his place was the hottest thing I've ever seen.”
She makes a sound… a half moan, half whimper… and grinds down against my cock.
“More,” she breathes. “Tell me more.”
I flip us so she's underneath me on the couch. She gasps at the sudden shift, but her legs wrap around my waist immediately, drawing me close. I shove her skirt up to her hips and pull her panties aside.
"You're everything, you know that?" I slide my fingers into her pussy and her hips buck, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. “Smart. Strong. Stubborn as hell.” I lower my head and kiss her stomach, just above her hip bone, driving my fingers deep. She clenches, crying out as she thrusts against my hand. “You don't let anyone push you around. You don't back down. You make me want to be better just so I can deserve you.”
“You—” She arches her back toward me, her eyes glittering with pent-up hunger. “You already deserve?—”
“No. Not yet,” I say. “But I'm working on it.”
I take my time with her. I explore her body with my hands and my mouth, learn what makes her moan, what makes her gasp, what makes her scream my name. And through all of it, I talk. Tell her how beautiful she is, how good she tastes, how perfect she feels. Every word pulls another reaction out of her, builds her higher, and drives her absolutely fucking crazy with need.
“Lochlan, oh my God—” she gasps, bucking her hips against my mouth as her juices explode on my tongue. “Please…”
“Please what?”
“Please fuck me.”
