Guilty Stars

9

“Those are perfectly reasonable concerns, although I think your imagination may be more at issue than my job. It’s really not as dangerous as you may think—at least, most days it’s not.” “What about being shot? Surely, you haven’t forgotten about that.” “That was different. It’s not every day the second in command of the Italian mafia betrays his family and kidnaps the boss’s daughter. Most days are pretty boring, really. I used to broker some art deals, but now, I mostly oversee our auto repair operations—ensure we have the parts we need and the right cars get to the right people. It’s not exactly legitimate, but it’s not all that dangerous either. I can’t guarantee I’d never see the inside of a prison, but the chances are slim. We’re good at what we do at this point. There’s significant levels of protection between upper management and the guys on the ground.” Well, that wasn’t totally reassuring, but it was something. Even more important, I believed him. I listened to people lie to me all day long. I could tell when someone was glossing over the truth, and Michael was being honest. He addressed my concerns without acting defensive about personal questions when we’d only just reconnected. That showed signs of impressive emotional maturity, and that was just as attractive to this therapist as any sharp jawline or chiseled abs. “I really appreciate you sharing that with me,” I whispered, my voice suddenly lost in a sea of emotion. The air in the room seemed to pressurize as Michael’s gaze darkened. He slowly swiveled in his chair to face me, then reached out and slid my chair closer. The wooden legs skidding across the vinyl floor echoed in the silent room. My legs threaded between his, and our breaths mingled as his face drew within inches of mine. “Don’t ever be afraid to ask me anything, Evie.” His hushed words reverberated down into the deepest parts of my soul, mending together pieces of me that I hadn’t been sure would ever be whole. “I think you’re f*****g incredible, and I know this is all very fast, but I don’t think we could stop it if we wanted to. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find someone who captured my interest so completely, but now I realize that was just a part of the process to get me here. At this moment. With you.” He leaned in, agonizingly slowly, his rich masculine scent filling my lungs, and brought our lips together reverently. Like opening the door on a brand new page in our lives, this felt like a beginning. A mutual agreement to give ourselves over to the magnetic pull between us. Michael wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his body and deepening the kiss as he brought us to our feet. My head spun, and my belly flipped cartwheels. I was Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole with no desire to ever go back. He seated me on the table, my legs wrapping around his hips. Our kiss was insatiable. My hands slipped beneath his T-shirt, reveling at the searing heat of his skin beneath. My fingers explored the ridges of his toned abdominals as if to memorize each glorious dip and curve. When he pulled back and slipped his shirt up over his head, I stared unabashedly at the striking beauty of his body. Not only would his form make a Greek statue weep with envy, but the inked art covering his skin was a masterpiece. My fingers trailed from a mournful angel over his chest down to a detailed cathedral on his opposite ribs. All done in black ink. A patchwork retelling of his life. “They’re beautiful,” I murmured. “Do they all have meaning?” “Each one, but those stories are for another time.” He pressed forward, forcing my legs farther apart and bumping my half-eaten bowl of ice cream. Michael’s eyes flicked down to the melted mix of sugary soup. When I looked up, a devious smirk kissed the corners of his lips. He dipped one finger into a pool of chocolate, then painted a delicious trail along my bottom lip. Before I could swipe at it with my tongue, he did the deed himself, licking the chocolate from my skin and sucking my lip into his mouth. “Mmm…” he hummed. Chocolate was my absolute favorite treat, but tasting it on Michael’s tongue added to the flavor in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I became ravenous. Moisture poured from my core, and I nipped back at him, starving for more. Michael chuckled. “Where’s your bedroom?” I tipped my head to the right. “Back there.” He carried me the short distance and set me down next to the bed where I started to undress. His large fist wrapped around my hand. “Let me.” He lifted my shirt up and over my head. “I want to be the one to uncover every silky inch of you.” He peppered a line of kisses over my shoulder as he stalked around me. “No rushing, at least, not this time.” Once he was behind me, and I could feel his warmth radiating against my back, a storm of goose bumps pricked across my skin. He slid my leggings down over my hips, leaving my underwear on, then slid his hands slowly back up my body. “You are breathtaking,” he whispered next to my ear, sending a shiver racing down my spine. My entire body felt alive. Electric energy anticipating each new sensation. His fingers adeptly released the clasp on my pale pink bra, sweeping up to my shoulders and gliding the straps down over my arms. Exposed to the open air and desperate for his touch, my n*****s pebbled and ached with need. I moaned, unguarded, and raw. A plea for an end to the torture and a breathless cry for more. Michael aligned our bodies, sweeping my hair over one shoulder and pressing himself against my back. The feel of his throbbing erection against my backside had my body arching like a sunflower seeking the warm rays of the sun. His arms wrapped around me, hands cradling my breasts and pulling at the stiff peaks until I cried out with growing madness. The pulsing ache between my legs was voracious. I felt swollen yet desperately empty, needing to be filled. “Please,” I begged him. “I need more.” A dark chuckle sounded next to my ear. “I knew you’d be greedy. It’s those devilish streaks of red in your hair. You’ve got fire in your soul.” He trailed one hand down past my belly and slipped his fingers beneath my silk panties. His fingers slid through my neatly trimmed curls, a guttural rumble clawing its way from his chest. When those competent fingers dipped between my folds, I thought I’d faint with relief. I gasped and arched, pressing into his c**k behind me and making him hiss out his own overwhelming need. “f**k, you’re the sexiest f*****g thing I’ve ever seen. I didn’t want to rush things, but I’m not strong enough to keep away.” His fingers delved deeper, one sliding easily inside my wet opening. “I want to see you—taste those beautiful t**s—but I can’t bring myself to stop touching you. You feel so damn good.” My body shuddered, already dancing toward an earth-shattering c****x. Michael retracted his diabolical fingers. “Oh, no. Not yet, Little Red. Not till I’m inside you.” He eased me onto the bed, allowing me to lay back and watch as he removed his remaining clothes and rolled on a condom.