Page 20 of Unraveled

She hadn’t heard that before, either. Certainly not in the way he said it, like it was a compliment, as though he liked it, and not the slur that most used it for.

It didn’t sound bad coming from his mouth at all. It sounded rather beautiful. Or he made it sound that way.

It was only when his finger hooked the back of her choker, tugged hard enough to take her breath away for long enough to make her shudder, that she really understood what he had meant.

“Come,” Gian ordered in her ear.

She didn’t think she had a choice. She came as her choker broke, as the air and the relief crashed through her body at the same time.

He touched.

He demanded.

Her body reacted.

Cara awoke with a shiver. She wasn’t sure what had caused it, but the sensation had started in her toes and ended in her shoulders. She knew she wasn’t at home, given the white walls, white sheets, and fluffy white pillows.

White everywhere.

Then, his voice came. The same as it had been the night before. Dark, heady, commanding, pleased, rough, and sinful.

Like sex made in to a sound.

“I’m not going to be able to forget that,” Gian murmured.

Cara knew exactly why she shivered when he spoke, because she did it again at the same time his finger traced a soft, slow line from her lower back, up her spine, to the nape of her neck.

He touched her, and she reacted.

Simple as that.

“And there it is again,” he said, satisfaction curling his tone with a gruff edge. “It’s like you can’t help it, donna. I touch, you take a breath, and I can watch it race right down your skin.”

“Stop touching me, and I will help it.”

“I think that defeats the purpose, Cara. Besides, I quite like it.”

So did she.

That was part of the problem.

It was morning, the night had ended, and that meant it was time for Cara to get back to life. She had taken the night to do something stupid; something wild, crazy, and reckless.

“No, no,” Gian said, his fingers trailing pathways over her neck with gentle strokes. “I’m not sure what exactly turned you stiff, but knock it off. I like you where you are right now. You could at least stay for breakfast or coffee before you run off.”

“You are too smart for your own good.”

“I like to think of it as that I’m quick.”

“Whatever.” Cara rolled to her back, only to find a very naked and pleased Gian lying beside her, his head propped up on his hand. He didn’t hide his wandering gaze for a second, his eyes drifting down over her bare skin, her breasts, and then lower. “I still need to head out, Gian.”

He didn’t react to her statement.

“You look good in white.”

Cara laughed, earning her another one of his grins. “Are you going to keep deflecting what I say if it doesn’t fit what you want?”

“Will it get me what I want, dolcezza?”