AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I pat him once on his good arm before stepping past him. He’s not in good enough shape to be working his usual collection rounds, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to bench him. Now that Arin and Felicia are here, I figure Johnny might appreciate being placed on guard duty. It certainly beats sitting around with nothing to do. Men like us aren’t built to do that.
My apartment is silent and cold, the only light coming from the dim silver glow of the moon through the crack in the curtains. Evidence of their earlier pizza party can be found in my kitchen, several cardboard boxes stacked high on the kitchen counter. There are a few errant toys strewn about in the living room and two sets of footprints on my leather couch. It’s pretty obvious who they belong to.
I swear to God I’m going to kill Elio one day.
My skin prickles. It’s strange, knowing I’m no longer the only one who calls this place home. Carefully, I stride down the hall towards the child’s room.
No, notthe child. Felicia.
Mydaughter.
For a moment, I debate whether I should peek inside. She’s probably fast asleep, but curiosity simmers in my chest. I open the door a crack but remain on my side of the hall. There’s a star-shaped night light on, filling the room with the soft warm glow of white. Felicia is fast asleep, bundled up in her new sheets.
The longer I stare, the more amazed I become. She has my nose, my lips, my dark hair. It’s baffling that I didn’t realize sooner. Felicia has the face of an angel, snoring softly as she dreams. I can’t describe the sensation stirring in my stomach, nor the pull in my heart as I watch her sleep. She’s just so…small. Small and adorable and precious.
My throat tightens, anxiety clawing at my spine. I brought her and her mother here to protect them, but what if I can’t?
I push the thoughts from my mind, closing the door to leave Felicia to her dreams.
Arin’s room is right across the hall. Knowing she’s just on the other side sends me spiraling. She’s probably asleep, too. I shouldn’t disturb her.
And yet.
I’ve been fighting this craving for days. Ever since I tasted her lips, found myself between her pretty legs, I’ve been hungry to have her all over again. No matter how hard I try to stay away, I come right back to her. My fingers itch to touch her, my skin burns to have her touchme.
I open her door slowly and take a step inside.
Her bed is empty.
Before I have the chance to worry, I hear the rhythmic thrum of a sewing machine. There’s a light on just past her walk-in closet, the door to her safe room turned fashion studio slightly ajar.
I find her busy at work, sewing two pieces of cloth together. She’s only been here a day, but she’s made full use of the space like she’s been here for years. Fresh designs drawn by hand are taped to the wall. Scraps of fabric lie about in organized piles, a new dress already taking shape on one of the dress forms I had Elio purchase for her. I told him to spare no expense when it came to creating this space for Arin, and I’m glad he followed through.
She’s mesmerizing to watch, in a world of her own. I don’t think she even knows what time it is. Arin’s got a pair of headphones in, listening to music on her phone as she hops off her stool and skips over to her dress form, pinning fabric in place. It’s shaping up nicely, a gorgeous bustier decorated with black lace and strategically placed straps. When I notice the matching see-through skirt that’s wrapped around the base of the mannequin, it occurs to me that she’s working on a lingerie set.
“Put it on for me,” I say.
Arin yelps, jumping in surprise. “Oh my God, don’t scare me like that!”
I tilt my chin toward the lingerie. “I want to see you in it.”
She licks her lips, her cheeks turning a cute dusting of pink. “Dominic…”
I pull over a chair and take a seat, the front of my pants already getting tight at the thought of Arin getting all dressed up for me. “Please?” I ask, barely recognizing how gruff I sound.
At first, I think she’s going to refuse my request, but then I see the fire in her eyes. There’s excitement behind those frosty grays, along with a dark hunger that matches my own.
“Since you asked so nicely,” she says with a wicked grin. “Turn around, signor. Let me put on a show for you.”
Chapter 17
Arin
Iknew he’d come.
Call it intuition or a sixth sense, but I knew. That’s why I started to make this lingerie set to my exact measurements, special just for him. I slip out of my clothes and put on the bustier and see-through mini skirt, relishing how soft the lace feels against my sensitive skin. Knowing that he’s waiting for me, eager to see me in an outfit I made for his eyes only has me unbelievably wet.
He wants to look at me, a realization that excites me to no end.
