Page 20 of Kidnapped By the Mafia Boss
“Will you tell me yours?” I’m stalling.
“Pfft.” Jenna skips over the stones, and I’m tempted to rip them up and throw them miles away, so she has to turn to me to keep her feet dry. “Hardly fair!”
On the other side of the stream, she turns and looks back at me. I haven’t crossed, and somehow, I want her on this side. With me.
“Tell me.” I set my boots into the gravel at the edge of the flowing water.
Her scowl is cute, but I wait. She holds up her thumb and forefinger making an “o”.
“Zero.”
“And.” This shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t. But I want to be her first.
“Zero and zero.”
I grin, savage, primal glee zinging down my spine as Jenna looks away bashfully.
“Come back, and I’ll tell you,” I command.
Her chin lifts in challenge. “Come and get me.”
I’m across the stream before she has moved more than an inch, and swing her into my arms, one arm below her knees and she grips my shoulders, laughing. Splashing through the water, careless of my clothes, I bring her back towards my house.
I stop and slide her down my body to the ground. Once she’s steady, I reluctantly let her go, saying,“We should return to the house for your date. I need to cook.”
“You’re going to cook for me?”she asks, disbelieving.
“Of course. How else would a man show his respect, admiration, and caring for a woman?”
“A greetings card and a bunch of flowers?”
I laugh from my belly.
“So, what’s your number?” she asks again as we fall into step. “You have to tell me now.”
“I would if I could,” I confess. “But after so many, the only one who matters is the next.”
She tilts her head. “What do you mean?”
“Whether the next man might kill me. Or the next woman might be the one I’ve waited for.”
. . .
4 days ago
His low growl is all the sweet words I need. The bruising grab to my waist is the softest caress.
It’s not polite. It’s not refined. He strips my defences away.
Animal instincts.
Blood pumping, vivid, honest.
—CATCHMEKISSME
9
JENNA
