Page 573 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“Smutty, huh?” He grins, still sitting on his knees.

A flood of heat rushes into my cheeks when I realize what I just confessed. “Well, there’s suspense, too.”

He chuckles. “Sure there is. Like, how long it’s going to take the guy to get the girl naked. That’s suspense.”

I roll my eyes, ignoring the tingling between my legs. “It’s not all like that.”

“I didn’t know you liked to read that stuff.”

“Yeah, well, I guess we never got to the normal date Q&A stuff since we were too busy dodging killers,” I mutter.

His jaw tightens but he doesn’t respond.

The truth is, after that crazy day of the kidnapping, things got really hot and heavy with the two of us for a while. I thought things were serious between us, or at least moving in that direction. But instead, it was more like intense emotional response to near-death or whatever. And I’ve learned that when the flame rages fast and furious, it never lasts.

I thought it could. I was wrong.

It always snuffs itself out in some way.

In this case, it was because Bruno is an asshole who never had any intention of taking things to the next level with me. He picked his work and his life over any promise of a future. Damn, that reality was a harsh slap in the face.

Bruno lets out a sigh and leans back against the couch.

“You could actually sit on the couch. You don’t need to stay down there.” I slide my legs back so he can sit.

But he stands up instead, averting his eyes. “I’ll make you some hot chocolate.”

“You afraid to get close?” I try for a teasing tone but I can’t hide the disappointment that laces my words.

His lips press together. “Yeah.”

My throat tightens. “Oh.”

Oh? That’s all I can think of? Really?!

I pull one of the couch pillows into my lap and tug at the edging while Bruno makes my hot chocolate. The minutes tick past so damn slowly, it feels like hours have blown by before he hands me a steaming mug. I take a deep breath. The sweet, chocolatey scent fills my lungs and makes my mouth water.

“Thank you.”

He nods. “So, I guess I should get going. I don’t wanna take you away from your smutty book.”

My jaw drops and I snap it closed just as quickly. “I get it. The snow bunnies are waiting.”

Bruno’s brow furrows. “Snow bunnies?”

The heat creeps into my neck and explodes down my chest. “I saw you talking to a bunch of girls on the slopes before. I’m sure there are plenty of more girls like Amy who’d love to take youhot tubbing.”

“Why the hell would you say that? I’m here with you right now. I could have left but I didn’t.”

“You could have gone. I didn’t ask you to stay.” I clench my fingers around the hot cup, my skin sizzling from the heat.

“I didn’t want to go. Don’t you get that? I wanted to help you. I wanted to be withyou.” He rakes a hand through his thick dark hair, his eyes flashing with anger.

“You had that choice before and took a different path,” I say, my voice tight. “Why should I believe this time will be any different?”

CHAPTER4

BRUNO

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