Through dessert, I tell him stories about Ally and I going away to college together, bringing him up to date on her four changes in career choices since we graduated high school. He tells me stories about Elle and Nico. There’s a lot of history there. They seem to have become his family. I notice he doesn’t often mention his mother.
After he pays the check, Vinny stands and offers me his hand to help me up. Though he doesn’t release it when I’m fully upright. Instead, he gathers me close and lowers his mouth to mine. I feel the heat of his breath and a brush so soft on my lips, I can’t even be sure if we’ve touched. “Did you bring your book?” he says softly, but with a huskiness to his voice that warms my body all over.
“Yes.” My breaths coming quicker and shallower from the close proximity, the word drops from my lips in almost a pant. This man can take me from zero to sixty in only a few seconds.
“Good girl.” He slightly pulls his head back to take in my face. The mischief I find makes my heart skip a beat. “You know I always loved it when you read to me. I had to sit on my hands to stop them from finding their way up that little black skirt you used to wear. I’m guessing this book is gonna be a lot more fun than the stuff we read in high school. And I’m definitely not sitting on my hands.” A damn sexy grin mixed with his deep raspy voice melts any conviction I’d had left. “Let’s get out of here.”
He doesn’t tell me where we’re going, and I don’t ask either. We’re both quiet as he zips his truck through the downtown streets, his attention clearly focused on getting to our next destination. My mind races and I struggle to separate it from my body that seems to have ideas of its own. At this point Vinny could probably tell me that he’s a serial killer, but if his hard, warm body is pushed up against me, I know my brain would lose the battle to the relentless pursuit of my body to fill its own needs.
He leads me into his apartment, both of us still quiet. I’m nervous and anxious and he senses it. Knows I’m teetering on the verge of changing my mind…not that I‘ve been given an opportunity to make up my mind anyway. One large arm wraps around my waist pulling me close to him. I lean my head into his chest, still feeling conflicted, although the close proximity tips the scale slightly on the side of seeing this beautiful man naked.
After a minute, Vinny runs a hand slowly down my cheek, stopping at my chin, using his finger to gently lift my head so my eyes meet his gaze. “I want you, Liv. I wanted you seven years ago. Want you even more now. So much that I can’t think about anything else. Need you.” He exhales deeply and leans his forehead into mine, composing himself before he continues. “All you gotta do is say no, Liv. But, I’m giving you fair warning…if you don’t tell me no, I’m going to take you.” His serious face changes and I watch as his pupil’s dilate, heat pouring from his body as he continues, his grip on the back of my neck tightening. “And then you’re mine to do with as I please.”
My breath hitches at his words, and I’m a goner. His long, thick fingers ravel tightly in my hair and he yanks my head back further to take my mouth. The roughness of his actions startles me, but at the same time sends a bolt of electricity mixed with fiery anticipation throughout my body making every little hair stand at attention.
My body presses into his as I kiss him back with a desperation I’ve never known. Slowly, he licks the rim of my mouth before diving in to suck on my tongue and my nipples harden with anticipation. Nibbling on my bottom lip, I can’t help but get the feeling that it’s more than a kiss. He’s showing me what he wants to do to me with his hot, wet mouth. My eyes roll into the back of my head at just the mere thought of his licking and sucking other places on my body.
His arm that isn’t tangled in my hair pulls me possessively closer to his body, so close I can feel his erection pressing up against my belly. The hard length of him digs into me and a low moan escapes my lips.
One minute I’m standing in the living room being kissed senseless and the next thing I know I’m being lifted effortlessly and carried into his bedroom. He gently sets me back down on my feet. I feel the bed against the back of my knees, but together we remain standing.
“Take off your shirt,” he says, his voice sinfully gruff and low. The commanding tone makes my body tingle all over.
Vinny takes one step back and waits. His hooded eyes are filled with desire, it makes me feel wanted. Worshiped. Adored. Slowly, I lift my shirt over my head, revealing my black, lacy bra contrasting starkly with my pale, alabaster skin. Vinny’s eyes rake me over approvingly and I stand still for a long minute letting him drink me in.