Page 73 of Bittersweet

Elio laughs. I turn about ten different shades of red. He takes my hand and leads me toward the stairs. I follow, unable to let go as we reach the end of thehall.

He pushes the door to our left, his bedroom, but something shiny in the room on the right catches my eye. It’s a silver picture frame glinting in the half-light. I take a step forward. My heart races as my gaze flits over the floral duvet, the fluffy pink cushions, the Parisian artwork and the feminine touches all throughout the room. My eyes settle on the makeup resting on the vanity. I swallowhard.

Elio is living with anotherwoman.

Just when I’m about to turn and confront him, strong arms wrap around my waist and he leans in and whispers, “Sophia’sroom.”

All the air leaves me in a rush, and I relax back against his chest as he nibbles the sensitive flesh of myneck.

Elio turns with me in his arms, and leads us into his bedroom. It’s as mishmashed as the rest of his house. Hipster meets Hemingway recluse. There’s a huge four-poster bed in the center of the room with a red plaid flannel coverlet and rich teakwood walls. It looks like the set of every romance novel I’ve ever read, yet it’s even more perfect, because this isn’t a romance novel: it’s real life. And Elio is all I’ve wanted since I first laid eyes on him. This moment is all I’ve ever wanted, and it’s finally here. I have to repress the urge to squeal inexcitement.

I let go of Elio’s hand and step around him, inspecting his room. There’s a stack of paperwork on the desk in the corner, a cowhide chair with a Mexican woven blanket thrown over it, and a huge fireplace with an empty mantle. I stare at the artwork on the wall. Elio lets out a low chuckle, and I turn to see what’s sofunny.

“When you’re done inspecting my room, do you think you might want to come get naked and roll around my bed withme?”

Again, I blush. I’ve got to do something about that. “That’s what you want to do? Just rollaround?”

“You’re right. That was the wrong choice of words. I’d like to fuck you, Romy,” he says with a serious face, though he grins when my eyes bug out. “I just thought I’d soften theblow.”

My heart beats double time as I say, “Don’t . . . don’t softenit.”

“No?”

I shake my head emphatically. “No.”

“Good, because nothing about my feelings for you are soft. In fact, you’re making it veryhard.”

I glance at his crotch, and he’s right. He’s straining against hisjeans.

I take a step forward and he takes several toward me until he catches me up and kisses me stupid. We stumble through the room, our tongues tousling, hands grasping at clothing, at body parts, bumping into things in an effort to get closer. I tip my head back as Elio kisses my throat to my collarbone and dips his head beneath the neckline of my dress, pushing my bra aside, cupping my breast and taking my nipple into his mouth. I slide my fingers into his hair as a moan escapes me. His beard tickles my sensitive flesh, and I want to feel it all over my body. I want his kisses and sweet caresseseverywhere.

Elio grabs the hem of my dress and lifts it. My heart swells with fear, with pride for all of my hard work, and with nervous excitement. He lifts the fabric over my head and lets it fall to the ground. Then he steps back, and I cringe and close my eyes, afraid he won’t like what he sees. Weight loss takes a toll on your body, and I’m far fromperfect.

“Jesus,Romy.”

I squint one eye open because the reverence in his tone confuses me. “Jesus,what?”

He yanks off his shirt and I’m suddenly praising the gods too, and then I get it, because his hands and mouth are on me. They need me as much as I needthem.

He walks us toward the bed, and we fall backward onto the mattress. Elio quickly rolls us so that he’s hovering over me. I stare into those incredible eyes and feel a strange sense of courage overwhelm me. I slide my hand down his hard pectorals and abs, along the line of that sharp V leading into his pants. A groan comes from him, and my hands work the button on his jeans. Once I have his fly open, I slip my hand inside and find him rock hard and completely commando. My palm brushes the silky tip and his whole body stiffens. I use the opportunity to take hold of his shaft and stroke it with a firm hand. Elio closes his eyes and bites his lip as his whole body strains against me. I work my fist faster around him, but he groans and pulls away. “Wait, wait,Romy.”

I don’t wait. I’ve waited too long already. “What?”

“Stop. I need you tostop.”

My heart sinks.Oh.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, but my throat is choked with embarrassment.Did I move toofast?

“It’s been a while.” He kisses my forehead, and l tamp down the urge to touch him again because I see he’s struggling with this. “You’re the first woman I’ve been with since Coco’smom.”

“Oh.” My eyes widen. “I’m the first woman you’ve slept with in fouryears?”

He grimaces. “Is that a turnoff? That’s a turnoff,right?”

“No, no it’s not.” I screw up my nose in disbelief. “Four years, really? How is that possible? You’rehot.”

He chuckles. “It’s hard to find someone who’ll have sex with you when you have akid.”

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