Page 21 of A Bond Beyond Blood

“Vinny, I—”

“Jacqueline.”

My breath caught in my throat at the way he said my name, so full of power and leaving me little room to talk back.This was the side of him I knew, the side I was familiar with.I understood and expected the side of him that didn’t hesitate to throw me down onto the mat or kick my ass until I was bruised and bloody—

“I’d like to spend Christmas Eve with you.”

Andthatwas the side of him that threw me, not onto the mat to spar, but so far off balance I wasn’t sure which way was up.

His eyes flicked back and forth between mine, then his thumb stilled at the corner of my mouth and redness began to seep into that space around his irises.

My pulse sped.

He licked his lips.

No no no

We can’t.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” he whispered.

I swallowed hard and, standing in the middle of my childhood bedroom, surrounded by too-pink walls covered in posters of all the emo bands I once adored, I made a decision.

“Say yes, Jacqueline.”

“Yes,” I said on a sigh.

God, yes.

Then his lips were on mine, soft and tender.

And Vinny’s kiss was everything I imagined, yet somehow nothing at all like I’d expected.

Because it was so much more.

Slow and deliberate.

Surprisingly tender.

Each stroke of his tongue sent heat through my veins and weakened my legs.

His mouth moved against mine with delicate precision, like I was a flower he was afraid to damage.Each tender brush of his lips sent goosebumps bursting out over my skin.

My cheeks tingled.

Butterflies sprang to life in my stomach, wild and untethered as they danced, their wings tickling my ribs.

He tasted even better than he smelled, and in that moment, I wanted to be wrapped in the cool winter breeze of Vinny Ricci for as long as I lived.

All too soon, he pulled back, eyes encircled with crimson as he looked down at me.“I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”

I pulled in a shuddering breath and admitted, “Me too.”

Smirking, Vinny shook his head.“So stubborn.”

“It’s too risky.”

“No one will know.”

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