Page 90 of Replay
“I love you, too,” I reply, only catching the last bit of what he said.
Suddenly, he grips my hips and thrusts upward, meeting my motions with more force than I could muster on my own. The effect is instant as he strokes my channel in that perfect spot that sends me into a surging frenzy of desire.
Within moments, my thighs begin to quiver as my release builds. I grab onto his shoulders and hold tight as he continues driving into me, kissing my neck hungrily as our breaths grow louder and louder, our noises now more animal than human. A pulsing sensation sweeps through my body as bolts of light explode behind my eyelids.
A hoarse cry rips from my throat as my climax takes over, and seconds later, Santino goes still, his grip punishing on my hips as he releases into me, his body convulsing as my sex milks his release drop by drop.
My head falls into his neck as his arms shelter me with warmth. His hand combs through my tangled hair as our chests slide against each other, our breaths fighting to regulate again. It’s several moments before either of us can manage a coherent thought.
“We missed the sunset,” he says, his voice gruff from our exertions.
“Your fault.” I laugh and glance behind me to see the sun has disappeared behind the autumn landscape. I turn back to see him checking me out.
He cheekily fixes my bra so the cups are back in their rightful place. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’m hungry.”
We both laugh and clean ourselves up quickly because, like it or not, we are in a public place. Lord knows who could come upon us at any moment. The twilight is beautiful as we nibble on some fresh fruit, and for some bizarre reason, my mind drifts to something I’ve been meaning to talk to him about for the past few weeks.
“Listen, I know this is awkward because we haven’t really spoken about it very much,” I say, turning to sit crisscross so I’m facing Santino straight on. “But that money you sent me back in Dundonald for the private investigator? I want to pay you back.”
“What?” Santino asks, popping a grape into his mouth and frowning at me. His hair is mussed from my hands, and he looks like sex on a stick leaning back on the tree with one leg propped.
“It’s weighed heavily on me for a long time. I’m getting a really nice signing bonus at Harrods, so I’d like to just get that sorted.” Waving him off, I dig into the basket for more fruit.
He stops eating and stares at me with a peculiar look on his face. “Tilly, I don’t want your money. I don’t need it.”
“I know you don’t need it,” I reply firmly. “It’s a pride thing for me. This has eaten away at me for ages, and now that we’re together properly, I don’t want this between us anymore.”
“It was never between us.” His nostrils flare. “I’d already forgotten about it.”
“Well, I didn’t.” I blink at him, confused with why he’s being so stubborn about this.
The muscle in his jaw tics. “Just donate it to a charity then.”
“You donate it. It’s your money,” I exclaim, crossing my arms over my chest. “I have the check already written.”
“I won’t take it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I won’t.” He slides his gaze from me and stares out at the view like the discussion is over.
I watch him curiously for a moment, that doubt from earlier creeping back in with a vengeance. “Why did you give it to me in the first place?”
“What do you mean?” he snaps, narrowing his eyes on me. “I was trying to help you.”
“But it was above and beyond what any other bloke would do.”
“So what?”
“So, I’m curious why. There must have been some sort of reason,” I pry deeper, wanting to know every single part of him now more than ever.
“Why does there have to be a reason?” he growls, his anger bubbling to the surface.
I pause as I stare back at him. “Because there has to be a reason. Just like there has to be a reason you used to like celebrating birthdays as a child, but you don’t anymore.”
“Tilly.” His jaw clenches as he glowers at me. “We don’t need to discuss this. None of it matters.”
That response only makes me more determined. “Look, I’ve tried to be patient and let you share with me when you’re ready, but that’s clearly not happening, so what am I supposed to do here?”
