Page 49 of Vinny

“We need their names,” Jobe said softly.

“Oh no,” she began to protest, putting her hand up.

Vinny, losing patience, said, “Don’t you get it, babe? Anyone who knows you could be a suspect. You don’t think some other musician could have done this?” he said, sweeping his arm out across the trashed room.

Standing, lips pursed, chin quivering, she refused to cry again. Lifting her chin, she looked over at Jobe. “I’ll make a list of my friends who knew I was traveling. It won’t be a long list. I don’t have many friends and itseems that you all are determined to take even them away from me.”

Vinny watched as she moved from the living area back to the bedroom and he stood, rubbing his hand over his face. Sighing, he looked up at his twin and friend. “How the hell do you do this?” he asked Gabe.

“What?” Gabe asked back, a grin on his face. “Fall in love or keep the love or keep the woman you love happy?”

Jobe chuckled, nodding in understanding. “She’ll be fine, you know. She’s tougher than she looks.”

Gabe slapped his twin on the back, saying, “Bro, you’ve never spent more than a few hours with some chick. Falling in love and creating a relationship takes time and energy. And yeah, there’re fights and misunderstandings.”

“So what do you do?” Vinny asked.

“Just take care of her, man,” Jobe said. “And never…never let her go. Even if for some fucked up reason that seems like the best thing to do.”

“Let’s go,” Gabe said to Jobe, deciding to leave Vinny with Annalissa. “She can give the list of friends to you and we’ll have Lily and BJ run them tomorrow.”

As the two walked toward the door, Gabe turned with a smile. “Oh and Vinny? The makeup sex is phenomenal.”

“I can hear you all, you know!” Annalissa shouted from the bedroom.

Laughing the two men left the apartment, leaving Vinny to decide if he should stay put or wander in to face her wrath.

16

Arriving back at Vinny’s apartment, they began the task of moving her things to his place. Grabbing a cart from the concierge’s closet, Vinny and Annalissa loaded it with the bags of clothes, a few books, all of her music, her violin and Easnadh, as well as her laptop. Another suitcase filled with clothes and toiletries completed the pile.

“This looks like I’m moving in,” she said softly, eyes avoiding his.

“Look at me. Please, baby,” he added. Seeing her gaze move up to his, he continued. “I told you the truth earlier. I’d love for you to move in permanently, but know that your world has been turned upside down.” Stepping closer, he towered over her, lifting her chin to keep her eyes on his. “I’m sorry, babe.”

Nodding, she said, “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have taken my frustration out on you and the others.”

“It’s okay. Let’s get your stuff upstairs and then eat.After that we can talk more about who we need to check out.”

They made an easy dinner of enchiladas with leftover rotisserie chicken, sautéed peppers and onions and tortillas. Afterward he walked into the bedroom, seeing her hanging up her clothes. He stood in the doorway for a moment watching her in the closet, trying to keep her things to a small corner of his large closet. He waited for the moment of panic or unease. Nothing.Never even brought a woman to this apartment. Never wanted someone knowing where he lived and showing up unannounced. Never wanted a woman to leave any of her shit around. This was his space. His retreat.Smiling, he continued to watch as she bent over to the bag, pulling out an article of clothing and then hanging it in the corner.

Never wanted any of this…until now.Seeing her things hanging next to his felt right. Good. Normal.

Walking up behind her, he reached around her body and scooted her hangers out over more of the bar. “Babe, I don’t need this much space for my shit. You’re here now, so take as much room as you need.”

She turned, his arms still around her, and looked up. Words left her so she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him instead. His arms left the clothes bar and slid to her back, pulling her in tightly. Allowing her to take the kiss where she wanted it to go, he gave her control.

She felt his gift, understanding what it meant for a man like him to give her the power. But she was not interested in just a kiss of thanks. Or a kiss of now. She wanted to give him the kiss of forever.

She opened, welcoming his tongue. Sucking on it,she pulled it deeper into her mouth. This time she captured his moan. Her tongue tangling with his sent sparks through her body as her breasts were crushed against his chest.

Moving her hips, she pressed her pelvis closer to him as she rubbed her core against his jean-clad leg.

That was all the invitation it took before he assumed control. Grasping the bottom of her shirt, he pulled it over her head, their lips parting only for the passing of the material between them. Her lacy bra pushed up her breasts like a feast for his eyes…and mouth. Dropping his lips from hers, he trailed a path down to the tops of her tits with his tongue. He grabbed the material with his teeth and jerked it down, exposing her rosy tipped nipples already hard for him. Sucking deeply on one, he rolled the other between his forefinger and thumb. Moving between her breasts he teased each one, nipping then soothing, sucking deeply until she pressed harder against his leg.

Her hands moved between them finding his jean button. Unfastening it as quickly as she could, she maneuvered the zipper over his massive erection. Palming him with one hand, she pushed his jeans down with the other.

His hands left her breasts and quickly divested her of her pants and panties as well. Soon they were both naked, hands caressing as they explored each other’s bodies. Her lips traced the tattoo on his chest before pulling his own nipple into her mouth. Hearing his sharp intake of breath, she smiled knowing she retained some control.

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