Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“No,” I said with a laugh. “My door is always open.”
A handsome smirk moved over his face. “It’d be nice if you were there every night I came home.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t that be nice.” There were four pieces of the bruschetta, so I took another one, the olive oil and the tomatoes so scrumptious. I hadn’t eaten much today. Didn’t have any groceries in the kitchen, and I’d been stuck to my computer most of the time.
“It would be nice,” he said. “So how about you move in with me?”
I’d just gotten the last bite into my mouth when he asked me a question I hadn’t anticipated whatsoever. It was an awkward exchange because my mouth was full and I desperately tried to get it down.
All the while, he just grinned wider and wider like this was hilarious.
I finally swallowed. “Are you serious?”
“I’m always serious.” He took a drink of his wine.
“Just to make booty calls more convenient?”
“Come on, that’s not the only reason.” He wore the most handsome smile, a grin that lit up his entire face, making him irresistible. “It’s a big reason, sure.”
“Constantine, I can’t tell if you’re joking.”
“I’m not joking.” He turned serious and dropped his smile. “I planned on asking you tonight before the dick-delivery jokes. This relationship is pretty fucking serious now, and I want you home with me. I don’t have my guys watching you—as per your request—and that’s just not working for me anymore.”
“You can have your guys watch me if that makes you feel better.”
“I want you to live with me. I want you in my bed. I want you there with me always.”
I’d literally met him six weeks ago—and now he wanted me to live with him. The craziest thing about it? I wanted to say yes. Wanted to jump headfirst into this man’s ocean. My apartment was fine when I moved in, but now I felt out of place whenever I was there . . . like it wasn’t home.
“I know it’s fast—”
“Yes.” I should have second-guessed Enzo a million times and I never did, but I knew I shouldn’t second-guess Constantine ever. Was it too fast? Yes. Was this fucking crazy? Yes. But I didn’t have one foot out the door anymore. I’d put all my chips on Constantine the moment I got him back. “I want to live with you.”
The grin that stretched over his lips . . . to die for.
“I hate my apartment anyway.”
There was a twinkle in his eyes, a warmth that rivaled the summer heat in August. There was a softness there too, a masculine gentleness he seemed to show only me. He rubbed his jawline with his fingers like he wanted to map the smile that seemed permanently carved into his mouth. “Attagirl.”
I packed a bag, and he took me to his place afterward. Medusa greeted us when we walked inside, and as always, Constantine stopped everything he was doing to give her a rubdown and a kiss on the head.
I loved seeing him with her. I’d heard that you could judge a person’s character based on how they treated animals—and that meant Constantine had a heart of gold. She was a big dog to share our bed, but I’d already formed a connection with her the second our eyes met, so I didn’t mind.
I carried my bag to his closet, and when I came out, Medusa had already jumped on the bed. “I guess I should introduce you to my friends.”
“Damn right you should.”
“But you’re going to have to tone down the emperor thing.”
He chuckled. “What do they think I do?”
“Personal security, like what you said in Taormina.”
“Why not just tell them the truth?”
“Well, they’d probably think I was lying. And if they believed me, they’d probably be terrified.”
“Whatever you want to do, sweetheart.” He started to undress, more of his hard body and black ink revealed as he got undressed. I’d never cared for tattoos either way, but his were absolutely gorgeous against his skin.
He tossed his clothes aside, then got into bed.
Medusa methodically got in the middle to make sure she kept us apart.
“Baby girl, sleep on the couch tonight.” He spoke to her like she could understand what he said.
She kept her chin on the top of her paws.
“Baby girl.” He deepened his tone. “Mommy and Daddy need their alone time.”
She released a quick sigh before she left the bed and jumped on the couch.
“Wow . . . she understood you.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve had to ask.” He pulled back the sheets and patted the bed beside him. “Now get that fine ass over here.”
I undressed down to my thong and one of his T-shirts and got into bed.
Like an animal, he was all over me, grabbing on to me and pulling me hard. He released a growl against my collarbone before he kissed my neck, before his big hand pulled my little thong free. Like he hadn’t taken me before dinner, he moved over me and in me, sealing his dick in my airtight vault. “Fuck, sweetheart . . .”