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"Nick," she continued.
"Yes?"
"I want to kiss you."
His stomach flipped over, and he had to clench his fists to stop himself from immediately reaching for her."You're hurt and you need to rest.You don't need a kiss."
Disappointment ran through her eyes."You said it was my decision."
"This isn't the right time.You've been through a lot, probably feeling a little buzz from the adrenaline.You're grateful to be alive.Kissing me seems like a good idea, but you're not thinking straight.You have a concussion."
"Wow, are you done yet?"she asked.
"I might be," he said, seeing the humor dancing in her eyes now."Too much?"
"You always try to do the right thing, don't you?"
"Not always."
"Oh, I think so.You have to pretend to be a lot of things you're not: dangerous, evil, uncaring, cold, ruthless…but you're none of those things.You're a good guy, Nick.It's okay to be that."
He sucked in a breath."To be honest, Isabella, I've lost track of who I really am.I've had to walk a lot of fine lines, and sometimes I don't know if I'm going too far into the dark side."
"I don't know who you are on the job, maybe more like the guy I first met.But the man I've gotten to know the past few days is impressive.And I really want to kiss him…if he'll let me."
"You're killing me."
"Not yet."
"Here's the thing, Isabella.I don't know if I want to stop with a kiss."
She met his gaze."Who said anything about stopping?I know what I want, Nick, and you're not taking advantage of me.If anything, I'm taking advantage of you.And it doesn't have to mean more than it is."
"What is it?"
She shrugged."Do you want to find out?"
He slid down the side of the bed and cupped her beautiful, slightly battered face with his hands.And then he lowered his head and kissed her.He wanted to go slow, to savor every second, but her mouth was too hot, too needy, too welcoming, and he couldn't get enough.
He pressed her back against the pillows as he ran his fingers through her hair, trapping her head for another kiss before sliding his lips down the beautiful curve of her neck.It was only the red, raised scratches that gave him pause.He lifted his head to look into her eyes.
"Please tell me you're not stopping," she said.
His body hardened at the urgent need in her voice."I don't want to hurt you.You're pretty scratched up."
"You're not going to hurt me, and I'm not going to hurt you.We'll make each other feel better."
Her words made it all sound so simple and when she took off her top, he completely lost all sense of reason.Her breasts were soft and full, and when she pulled him down on top of her, he went willingly.
He would make her feel good and make himself feel good.He just hoped she was right about them not hurting each other.Maybe it could just stay as simple as she'd made it sound.But he really didn't think so.
Fortunately, he was done thinking.
ChapterTwenty-Three
The worst day had been followed by the best night, Isabella thought, as she woke up Tuesday morning, with Nick's arms wrapped around her, his breath lifting the hair by her ear.She felt deliciously warm, and she didn't want to move.She wanted more of Nick, more kisses, more touches, more of everything.She wanted to stay in this bed forever, because she couldn't remember feeling this good, even though she knew there were plenty of dark shadows dancing just outside this happy bubble.
As the sun streamed brighter through the windows of their hotel room, she also knew it would soon be time to move on, to do what they'd come to Florence to do, which certainly hadn't been sleeping together.
