Page 48 of Duty and Desire

My heartbeat raced. Warmth flooded me, and I couldn’t get close enough. I wanted to hear him talk more, to lose myself in his words. Except I knew words wouldn’t be enough to feed the hunger burning through me. I ached to explore him with my fingers, my lips, my tongue, to discover every inch of him, to learn the feel of his skin, the taste and smell of him.

“Let’s go inside.” My voice sounded as raw as his.

Gio gazed into my eyes. “If you’re sure that’s what you want?”

I smiled. “I’m sure.”

That kiss was just the beginning.

Chapter Sixteen

April 14

Gio

Ipaused, my hand on the patio door handle. “Open or closed?” It felt so random to ask the question, but my head was still reeling.

He came back. Nick came back.

“Open. I love the sound of the water.” Nick stood in the center of the living room, his hands by his sides, and I fought the urge to take him in my arms, to crush his lips to mine as fiercely as he’d taken my mouth a moment ago.

Take your time. Breathe.

Sometimes my inner voice knew what it was talking about.

“Can I get you something to drink? I could make more tea. Or there’s coffee, juice?—”

Nick’s eyes sparkled. “Only if you’re getting something for yourself.”

I headed for the kitchen but he stood in my path, chin held high, that sparkle still in evidence. “Nick, I can’t get to the fridge if youwon’t move. This isn’t that big a room. Unless you want me to make a detour around the coffee table.”

His lips twitched. “Think of me as an immovable object.”

I smirked. “Then that would make me an unstoppable force. Unstoppable. Kinda says it all, doesn’t it?”

“ButIcan stop you,” Nick countered.

I stilled, close enough to feel the heat of him, to fill my nostrils with his scent. “And how are you going to do that?”

“Like this.” Nick cradled my nape and our lips met, only this time the kiss was softer, sweeter, and I wanted to drown in it. I stroked his cheek, his barely there beard that was nothing more than stubble, scratchy beneath my fingertips.

He was there, he was kissing me, and it was enough to rekindle that flame of hope inside me once more.

I pressed my forehead to his. “Nowcan I get the juice?” He let go of me, took a sideways step, and I went to the fridge. “Has Claudia left?” I grabbed the juice, and two tall glasses I filled with ice.

“She should be at the airport by now.”

“Did your shadow tell you we ran into each other yesterday?” I shrugged. “I apologize for calling him that, but seeing as I don’t know his name…”

Nick flushed. “His name is Franz. As for what he’s doing here, that’s a little complicated to explain. And no, he didn’t tell me.” He frowned. “Did anything happen between you two?”

“Not much. The whole encounter lasted less than a minute. Of course, during that time he did threaten me with bodily harm if I ever went near you again.” I said it in as light a tone as I could manage.

Nick’s eyes widened. “He didn’t.”

I snickered. “Oh yes he did.”

He leaned against the dining table. “And now you really want to know more, don’t you?” He rubbed the back of his neck, his discomfiture obvious.

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