Page 95 of Craving Francesca

“I—you,” I sputtered. “I’ve never even seen you smoke except that night.”

“I’ve got a pack for when I’ve been drinkin’,” he replied. “Don’t crave ’em otherwise.”

“You mean we could’ve been fucking this whole time?” I asked, slapping his shoulder.

“Probably not,” he replied, chuckling as he caught my hands in his fists. “But you would’ve gotten more that night for sure.”

I huffed.

“Woulda taken me a minute to figure it out,” Gray said, lifting my hands to kiss them before letting go. “But we woulda been right here eventually.”

“Pretty sure about yourself.”

“Baby, you woke up this mornin’, came struttin’ across the room topless, and straddled me. I think it’s warranted.”

“I didn’t strut.”

“You did.” His hands glided up my waist and cupped my breasts before pinching my nipples lightly. “After the way you’ve been lately, it was a beautiful fuckin’ thing.”

“All the drama at home is still there,” I reminded him, running my fingers lightly through his hair. “My life is still a mess.”

“Work’s a mess. Your life isn’t.”

“I think I have to quit my job. I haven’t found anything else, but I can’t be there every day.”

“I agree.”

“I’m so fucked.”

“It’ll work out.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“Give yourself a little more time to put things in perspective without that shit breathin’ down your neck,” he said gently. “We’ve got over a week to ignore it.”

I looked into his dark-brown eyes. He was so calm. Collected. Quiet. The only time I’d ever seen him worked up was when I had my hands on him.

“Iamdrama,” I warned. “If that’s what you were trying to avoid, you failed. Even beyond this Scott shit—things are never peaceful. I’m loud. Contrary to recent history, I generally don’t take anyone’s shit. and I won’t take yours either. I can hold a grudge for years. I don’t forget, and I rarely forgive—and I’m not quiet.”

“I know you,” he reminded me.

“I’m just saying, if we’re together, I’m not going to change. I know myself. You’ll be jumping into the drama with both feet. I’ll try not to yell at you while we’re at the club, but I can’t promise that unless you can promise to never piss me off.”

“You done?” he asked as I paused to take a breath.

“I think I covered it.”

“All right, my turn.”

I nodded regally, giving him the floor.

“You yell at me, there’s a good chance I won’t engage if we’re in company. I’ll hash it out with you later.”

“That’s fine.”

His lips twitched. “Want you to come to dinner at my parents’ house—”

“I know your parents.”

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