Page 114 of Dagger in the Sea

My head jerked.

“No answer?” she asked.

“We’re talking about you now. And you need to stop functioning and live. Live big.”

“Live big,” she repeated as if it was something only crazy Americans said.

“Yeah, live big. And you have it in you. First of all, you turned your back on school, your family’s expectations, and the high life to be with a man you were in love with. That’s pretty fucking fearless from where I’m standing. You were all in on all levels. No shame, no regrets, no doubts. Look at what you accomplished with Alessio’s party.”

The rosy pink and orange light shimmered over her as she shrugged.

“No, no. Don’t do that. It was designing, planning, organizing every detail, the chemistry of it. You excel at it. That wasn’t just some good time. It was a business venture, a remarkable publicity event. It was theater, and it was a success because of you. I know, I’ve been to a long line of these events. You brought something special to the table, Adriana, and you left your mark. You know what else? You used your fame and notoriety for a purpose. Your own purpose. You did that. That’s powerful. That’s power. Think about that.”

I’d rendered her speechless.

“Own that, baby.” My lips brushed the side of her face. “No matter what you choose to do, Adriana, you will be glorious.”

“Glorious?” She said the word as if it were comical.

My fingers dug into her neck and she winced. “Yes, glorious. You are very, very capable of doing whatever you put your mind to. You just have to want it badly enough.” I wanted to inspire her. Wake her up. I could start with my fingers, my mouth, my cock.

“Ah, beautiful,” she said.

I followed her gaze. The sun shone in the sky now. No more pinks, and rich oranges. Bright gold light. The day had begun, and it was no longer ours alone. No longer our quiet secret.

I kissed her, her eyes widening at my slow assault. Tasting, exploring. She opened to me, making little sounds that I drew into my mouth and swallowed whole.

“Turo,” her voice came out low and hoarse.

I slid my forehead against hers.Say it, you know you want it.“Go farther with me, Adri.”

The blue in her eyes flared for just a second. “What do you—”

“Are you attracted to me?” I asked.

“You know I am.”

“Say it.”

“I’m attracted to you.”

“How attracted?”

“Very,” she breathed.

“How?” I demanded. I needed to hear it, wanted to hear her say it, her words.

Her fingers gripped the back of my neck. “I can’t stop thinking about you. About how I feel when you touch me, when you look at me. Your looks burn right through me.”

“How do I make you feel?”

“Naked.” She let out a nervous laugh. “Spellbound to you, to something I’ve never known before. Yet at the same time utterly clear-headed. I can’t explain it in words. I even touched myself thinking of you.”

Fuck yes.“When?”

“On the boat before we left for the party.”

A noise rumbled in my throat. “Did you come?”

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