Page 72 of Tristano

I look up and nod. “Yeah, I worked all summer in order to be able to pay for it.” I shake my head. “A waste of four hundred dollars if you ask me. You wear it for a couple years, and then as soon as you graduate, in a box it goes.”

“I never wanted one,” Tristano says ruefully. “I wanted the letterman jacket more. They pulled women in like candy.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I say, rolling my eyes.

Tristano pretends to be offended. “Hey, at least I’m not wearing it still. Besides, I don’t need to pull women anymore.”

“Oh? Is that because they come crawling to you?” I tease.

He stares into my eyes, losing all humor. “I mean, they try, but I only have eyes for one woman now.”

I can feel myself blushing. “What am I ever going to do with you?”

“Tie me to the bed? Ride me? Buy me dinner?” He smirks.

“Tris!”

I lean back and grab a pillow. I reach out and slap him on the shoulder with it.

“Abuse!” he cries out. “I didn’t know you were so violent,anima gemella. I kind of like it. Hit me again, but this time on the ass.”

“Of course you would like it,” I mumble under my breath as I drop the pillow.

“Any touch of yours I enjoy, even if it brings me pain.” He winks at me.

“Oh god. I can’t handle anymore of this…” I wave my hand in front of him.

“I get that a lot. I’m a lot to handle. I think you are up for the challenge though.”

I push his shoulder, making him fall back.

“Enough. My cheeks are burning.”

Not only are my cheeks burning, but my body is tingling. I’m getting turned on simply from this little interaction. It’s more than I can handle. I mean, I’ve dreamed of this for so long that now that I have it, it’s overwhelming.

He smiles, brushing some hair back from my face. “I know. I love the color.”

Shaking my head, I stand. “I think I need to cool off. How about we go out?”

He gives me a look like he knows why I’m changing the subject. “Get changed into a pretty dress. I’m taking you out on the town.”

“Okay,” I murmur, watching him edge out of the room.

“I’ll be out here waiting.” He blows me a kiss.

As soon as he clears the door, I fall back onto the bed and stare at the ceiling. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into. Tristano has been the perfect gentleman. Never pushing me too far. I think I want more though. No. Not think. I know I want more, I’m just not sure how to go about it.

I’ve never actually been with a man. After the trauma from my childhood, I resigned myself to the fact that intimacy wasn’t going to happen for me. I never met anyone who made me want to try for anything more.

Except Tris. He’s always been the one to get my libido going. Hell, if he knew the amount of times I got off thinking about him, it would inflate his already large ego. Still, am I ready for that?

I think I am,

Pushing myself up, I get off the bed and head toward the closet. Opening it up, I reach toward the back and move a few hangers before I find it. I pull out the black dress and turn toward the mirror, holding it in front of myself.

It’s got a deep, square neck that makes my cleavage look awesome for being almost nonexistent. The material clings to me like a glove and hits mid-thigh and has thick straps. It’s not overly revealing compared to what most women would wear, but for me, it’s out of my comfort zone. I bought it on a whim once when I was out shopping. I don’t even know what possessed me to do such a thing. I almost never wear dresses unless it was for undercover work.

Yet here it is, tags still on it and all. It’s screaming to be let out. For once, I’m going to listen.

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