Noticing a package in the kitchen, I pick up the small, brown padded bag and twist it in my hands. Every muscle tightens. A foreign postmark glares at me along with my name. The handwriting’s vaguely familiar, but I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.
Ripping it open, my heart stops, and the smile fades. Staring back at me is something I’ll never forget, but would’ve happily lived without seeing again, ever. Yet, it also brings a relief that I never thought I’d have.
I tip up the package and the gaudy gold signet ring, one I’d recognise anywhere, falls into my hand. A piece of paper pokes out from the shredded bag.
Well, that’s one fucking big apology, because it means he handed me something I could never gain myself. Not now. Not ever, without my family being at risk.
My freedom.
Sly bastard. It means a lot for him to have taken the job. If it was a job. We’re talking about Jase, after all. A smile creeps onto my face. It’s good to know after everything, he still has my back. The weight and fear carried on my shoulders for a long time disappears. My family is safe from my past. Alberto Zaffino’s dead.
I squeeze the ring in my hand one last time, silently thanking Jase, walk over to the bin and throw it away. Needing some noise, I head off to turn the TV on.
The first thing I notice when walking into the lounge is Lizzie. She’s all I see. Lying on the sofa, earphones in, dressed in her sweats, if you can call the barely-there shorts and crop top that. Her hair haphazardly falls on her shoulders, and she’s reading a book. She still knocks me for six every fucking time. I’ll never get tired of owning her, her owning me, body and mind. I’ve been in her presence for maybe thirty seconds and I’m already at half-mast.
She must sense me, and turns in my direction. As she sits up, she removes the earbuds and a tired smile crosses her lips.
“Hey,” she greets huskily. And it does nothing to tame the throb between my legs.
“Hey. You didn’t hear me come in?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “How long have you been there?” Her gaze trails down my bare chest, and it may as well have been her nails with how my body reacts.
“Long enough.” I gesture to the full-blown hard-on I’m now rocking.
She laughs. It’s soft, gentle, and tugs so hard inside me, it weakens my knees. “You’re insatiable.”
“Where you’re concerned? Too fucking right.” Since we broke the no sex rule a few months ago, I can’t keep my hands off of her.
“You seem less tense, happier?”
It’s the understatement of the year. “With you in my bed and my son in our home, what do you expect?”
An understated heat burns from her, and a shy smile overtakes her features. Our gazes lock.
I’ll be forever caught in her storm. I never want to be anywhere else. She’s my weakness. She always will be. But instead of letting it break me, become my downfall, I’ll embrace the fucker. Take it by the horns and ride it, hard.
I’m in front of her within three strides. I take hold of Lizzie’s hand and pull her up against me. Her eyelids become heavy, and her breath catches.
“Is Kai having a nap?”
“No. He’s still with Cait. Apparently they were going on an adventure around the zoo.”
That explains his absence, and I know our son couldn’t be in more capable hands. “Hmmm.” I breathe out against her ear and trail my fingers over her exposed skin at her waist. Her body shivers under my touch. And the fact I know I’ve got Lizzie to myself is doing nothing to calm my desire for her. “Do me a favour?”
“Anything.” She’s already as breathy as my cock’s hard.
I pull away from her. “Come lie on my back while I do some push-ups.”
Her eyes widen, and her face shines with the smile that touches her lips. It’s not what she was expecting. “Um. Okay.”
In all honesty, the last thing I want to do is push-ups. I desperately want to take her, here and now. But as long as she’s with me, that fact will always be my truth. I need to restrain the urge occasionally, as difficult as it is. Time to test myself.
“Bring your book. You can read while I press.”
“Seriously?” she giggles.
I get down on the floor and position myself. “Yeah, seriously.”
Every part of her moulds to me, even when she’s on my back. The roundness of her tits on my traps, the curve of her sweet spot over my arse. Everything.
“Okay. You’re going to have to bend your knees just a little, and cross your ankles.”
She does as I ask, and I start to press, slow and controlled. After ten, she asks, “Do you want me to read to you?”
“Okay.” I laugh because I know she’s reading some girly romance shit. “If you want to.”
She begins to read in a soft, sultry voice. Each press-up I make gets harder and harder, along with my cock. Her breath brushes my neck as she talks, her voice mesmerising. She’s reading a hot and heavy sex scene. Visions of taking Lizzie in the ways she’s describing make continuing the push-ups almost impossible. I thought these love books were rainbows and unicorns. Guess I was fucking wrong.
“That’s really not helping.”
“What’s not?” She’s playing sweet and innocent, but really she’s the devil’s sidekick.
“I’m trying to control the urge to fuck you every moment of every day and you’re reading me that?”
She chuckles, and the vibrations on my spine shoot straight to my cock. She’s pushing my limits. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’ll pay, woman. When I get to one hundred, you will be punished.” My voice deepens. “Long, deep, and hard.”
She leans forward a fraction and whispers in my ear. “I’m counting on it.”
My abs tighten and arms shake, close to giving way. I gather every shred of strength I have, take a few deep breaths, and then push through the remaining sets.
Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred.
I twist my body, dropping one shoulder as I raise the other. She rolls off me and onto her back.
“What the…? Noah!” Her voice sounds angry but the flecks in her eyes glint at me, and there’s a wicked smile on her face.
My body covers hers in seconds. “Payback’s a bitch.” I thrust against her, rubbing my body against hers, and the smile vanishes, but the flecks flare brighter.
“What’s my punishment to be, sir?” She holds me captive with her gaze.
I lean down and run my nose along her throat to her ear. “You’re playing a dangerous game, angel. I could get used to it.”
Her face lights up. “I bet you could.”
I pin her arms to the floor and she wiggles beneath me. “You’re going the right way to getting tied up and blindfolded.”
“Is that a promise?”
I love that book. If she’s playing this game, I’m going to push her limits.
“You know it is. Want me to spank your arse, too?”
Her face flushes, but she holds my gaze as she nods.
Fuck me. I know she likes me unrestrained, a little rough, and a lot dirty. But I never considered she’d go there.
I release her arms. “I’ll hold you to that. But right now, I need to be inside you.” Sliding one of my hands down between us, the heat of her pussy greets my fingers. “Right here.”
As much as the thought of restraining her gets me high, that shit will take time, and I have no patience. I need her now.
A small, throaty moan emanates from her as she runs her fingers through my hair and gives it a tug. “What are you waiting for?”
My urge is to be feral, to mark my territory, to claim. But as much as the need takes hold, I restrain myself. “You, angel. I want you to take the lead.” I want her to ride me. There’s nothing better than watching her come undone from above me. It’s the sexiest view I’ve ever seen and for as long as I live it’ll never get old.