Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I draw in a deep breath. “First, I’m not perfect.”
“I don’t mean perfect perfect.” He rakes his hands through his hair. “I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t think there’s a word in the English language. I know you’re not perfect. I know you aren’t infallible. No one is. But to me… When I look at you… It’s like I see the person I’ve never even allowed myself to dream about.”
Oh my God…
If he weren’t holding me, I think I might swoon.
For someone who claims he can’t find the word in the English language, he certainly knows how to use all the others.
I touch his stubbled cheek, scrape my fingernails over it. “I’ll break the date.”
He widens his eyes, but then his lips turn downward. “I can’t offer you anything. I’m not in any position to.”
“Did I ask you for anything?”
“No, but this lawyer fellow. He might be looking for a relationship. He might be able to give you things that I can’t.”
“Vinnie,” I say, “I’m not asking for anything except for today. For this moment. How could I ask for anything else? For years, I wasn’t sure I’d even have a future.” I gaze up at the night sky, take in every shining star. “I have one now, and I’m determined to enjoy every single second of it. If that means not looking past tomorrow, so be it.” I return my gaze to his. “Right now, that kiss you gave me… It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and while it has been a while, I have kissed a lot of men. So in this moment? My only desire is to kiss you again.”
He groans. A groan that sounds almost like a growl.
Then he pulls me to him and crushes his mouth to mine.
20
VINNIE
I may burn in hell for this, but at the moment I don’t care.
I need her. I want her. And I’m going to take her.
Falcon will probably kill me, but it would be a sweet death.
I devour her mouth. I let my hand slide up her belly to her chest, where I cup her breasts.
The perfect size, more than a handful, and I can feel her hard nipples through her bra and blouse.
She gasps into my throat as I give her nipple a pinch.
I break the kiss quickly. “Where? Where can I take you?”
“I… I have my own home. I’ve just been staying at Mom and Dad’s. You know, while I recover…”
She has her own home.
I don’t. Not yet. I’m staying at my parents’ house, helping Mom get used to not having Dad there.
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more sure of anything.”
“Your house far from here?”
“About ten minutes.”
I open the door for her, and she slides back into the passenger seat.
I get in the driver seat, but before I start the car I turn to her. “Are you sure? Because if you’re not, tell me now. And I’ll understand. If your body is too weak, if you don’t think you can do this—”
“Stop it,” she says, her tone slightly acidic. “Just stop it now, Vinnie. Do not treat me like I’m some weakling. You want to hear what I want? I want you to fuck me. I want you to fuck me so hard that I don’t know where I am. Even who I am.” She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “It’s been so long, Vinnie. I never thought I’d have these feelings again. I never thought I’d want these feelings again. And frankly? What I’m feeling right now is so much different from anything I’ve ever felt. So much better. So much more… I yearn for you. I ache for you.”
My blood is boiling. “Raven, God.”
“I want you to use me up,” she says. “Use my body. Take me until there’s nothing else.”
I suck in a breath.
“I feel like an animal,” she continues. “That’s how intense this urge is.”
I adjust my groin. “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.”
“Then take me to my home.”
“Will your parents worry?”
“I can text them. Tell them I’m spending the night with Falcon and Savannah. That way they won’t worry.”
Damn, she’s thought of everything.
“Do you have everything you need? I mean, I don’t want you to be without —”
She places two fingers over my mouth to stop me from talking. “I have everything I need in my purse. I always come prepared. So please, Vinnie. Please just take me home.”
My body is on fire as I start the engine of my car.
This is happening.
And damn…
I know I’m going to hell.
This is a woman who deserves everything. She deserves a man who can fall in love with her. Give her a family, children.
Not a man who’s got “kill Giacomo Puzo” on his to-do list.
But I can’t stop now.
Just for tonight, I will allow myself this release. To be with a woman who is an angel in every sense of the word.