Page 60 of And Everything In Between

“All yours. Can I cook for you?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “My little thug misses wanna cook for me now?”

“Shut up, Vanni.” She pushed his chest playfully. “But yes, I do. You just got in off the road. I wanna thank you for my books and thought and work. I love it. So yes, let me do that for you.” Her hands slid up his arms, feeling the tension still held in his muscles. “But first, a shower.”

“I’d love that,” he said, his voice dropping to that tone that always made her stomach flip. “And I can’t wait to watch you move around my kitchen.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs, both of them taking the steps two at a time. Inside his massive bathroom, with its marble countertops and rainfall shower, she stood before him and began to undress him with tender, maybelove,and care. First,his shirt, her fingers skimming his skin as she lifted it over his head. Then his joggers, her knuckles brushing against his hips as she pushed them down.

He allowed her to care for him this way, standing still beneath her touch, vulnerable in a way he rarely allowed himself to be. The realization hit him suddenly, powerfully, no woman who wasn’t related to him had ever loved him like this. Not with this kind of tenderness that asked for nothing in return. Not with this unguarded care that existed outside of desire, though desire was certainly there too.

“This makes me feel some type of way, Paige,” he admitted, his voice rough with emotion.

“Why?”

He didn’t answer at first. Just looked at her. In awe that she was here, doing this. Choosing him.

She glanced up at him, water running down his chest, her hands still on his waist. She knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from him. She knew much like her; he hadn’t experienced unconditional love. Those with the biggest hearts sometimes took the most losses. She understood and it was exactly why she wanted to do it.

“This is the first time anyone ever cared for me like this, and it not be a lie or a scheme. Sometimes I wonder if you’re real.”

His voice was low, he was saying something he hadn’t said out loud before.

“It’s okay. This is a first for me also. I’m here with you, too.”

She kissed his chest, right over his heart. His chest rose and fell as he fought his own emotions.

“I don’t want anything from you, Giovanni. I want you to feel safe, wanted, and appreciated too. You deserve that, especially after this week.”

“I know, that’s why I fuck with you. You solid.”

“Thank you for allowing me in your space. You should be at ease in your home. You’ve allowed me in, so I plan to honor that.”

He wrapped his arms around her again, tight. He was afraid she might disappear if he didn’t hold on. They stood there like that for a long minute, steam rising, skin flushed, the sound of the shower the only thing between them and the rest of the world. She reached for the soap, carefully washing his body, her touch both practical and reverent. He did the same for her, his hands gentle across her shoulders, down her back. This wasn’t about sex. It was about care.

She’d had a day too, but seeing him made her stress melt away. He wasn’t even due back until tomorrow; his early return was the best surprise she’d gotten in ages.

He reeled her back in with a smirk, bare chest pressed to her back. “Aye, hold up. Where you running off to?”

“To cook, remember.” She smiled against his chest, looking up at him.

“Oh yeah, but I ain’t hungry for that.”

She pulled back giving him a side eye and grinned. “You got all weekend to wear me out, but tonight I want you fed and relaxed.”

He kissed her again, this time slower. When he finished, he looked at her through hooded eyes, the eyes she couldn’t resist and said, “Let me eat you first.”

“Vanni,” she whined ready to give in.

“Vanni what?” he smirked, invading her space some more. His voice giving Barry White and his brown eyes had voice her weak in the knees. “You could be screaming my name right now. Quit stallin’.”

She opened her mouth to say something slick, but he lifted her by the waist up on the sink and dropped to his knees, stealing her breath and words.

His hands slid up the backs of her thighs, slow and unhurried.

“You take care of me,” he murmured, kissing the inside of her knee, “I take care of you. We can do this shit all weekend.”

Her hands found the edge of the sink, knuckles tight as she tried to steady herself. He stepped in, closing the space between them, his breath tickling her skin. And when his mouth finally found her other set of lips, Paige saw stars. She missed him so much.

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