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“My dirty little secret,” the corner of my mouth lifts in a smirk. “I love the sound of that.”
“Nico, I’m being serious right now.”
“So am I, Sophie. Do you want to know about my world, my business, my family?”
She shrugs. “Not exactly, but seeing as you’re always dragging me into your mind, and I’m stuffed full of you half the time these days. I figure it’s a bit redundant to say no at this point.”
I flash her a smile. “I really, really like that visual.”
She huffs, rolling her eyes, “Of course you do.”
“Alright, Sophie, listen. Thing is, bringing you into my world before you’re ready either makes you my ultimate strength or my greatest weakness.”
“Meaning?”
“There are no half measures. No dipping your toe in or trying it on for size. If I bring you in, there’s no going back.”
“What do you mean, ‘there’s no going back’?”
“Sophie,” I begin, the gravity in my tone unmistakable. “Every moment of my life, I wear a target on my back. The second you’re tied to me, that target—it’s on you, too. Your life is going to change in ways you might not be ready for. If we go out, it means you’re coming home with me. And going out alone is off the table unless you’ve got bodyguards.”
The extra police security I’ve arranged for this street, the cameras, the night patrols—that would be nothing. She would need way more than those.
“You’d also become the focus of intense speculation by the media and blogs if they catch wind of you.”
I see a shadow of uncertainty flicker in her eyes as the weight of my words settles over her. “You’re right, that’s a little over the top. But these changes would be temporary, right? Just while we... navigate this casual fling?” Her question is tinged with a hope that puzzles me.
“Is casual what you want Sophie?” It’s the sensible option, but it’s not what either of us would be satisfied with.
She meets my gaze, silent, her hands pausing on my chest, right over the place I thought was an empty shell.
“I don’t know,” she confesses.
I look down at her vivid golden eyes, eyes that aren’t just sexy anymore. They’re wise and honest and can see far deeper than most people.
“Well, I do. You want me, Sophie—all of me.” I place a hand on the tiled wall beside her head, caging her with my body. My other hand lifts her chin, ensuring her gaze stays on mine. “You want me to take you to my home, fiammetta. You want me to make you mine.”
Her mouth parts in a sharp intake of breath. “Nico...”
“Shh, it’s okay.” My voice is a murmur of reassurance. “I want the same thing.”
“Nico! You can’t know that; it’s not even been two months since we met.”
I sigh, tilting my head back to stare at the ceiling, searching for the right words. “How long did it take you to know in your gut that I wouldn’t—I couldn’t hurt you?”
She sinks her teeth into her kiss-swollen bottom lip while she considers this, oblivious to the bolt of lust aimed straight at my cock. Fuck, I want her mouth. Now.
“I think I knew right from that first day you came to my house. When we went to Rafe’s funeral.” Sophie admits.
“Well then, I trust you’ll also figure this out soon enough.” Gently freeing her lip, I capture her mouth in a quick, hard kiss.
As she begins to melt into me, momentarily forgetting her rush to work, I pull away, ignoring the ache in my balls. “I’ll let you finish here, Sophie.”
Stepping out of the shower cubicle, I take care of the condom and leave her to finish her shower, knowing that if I don’t go now, not only would she be late, she’d be too hoarse to speak to her clients today.
Wrapping a towel around myself, I make my way to the bedroom to dry off and dress. I’m zipping up my pants when a knock at Sophie’s front door catches my attention. Since the shower is still running, I head down the hall.
Gertrude Willoughby, Sophie’s neighbor who twice last week came by hoping to collect George, flashes through my mind.
