Page 88 of See Me

“Half?” He pulls back to meet my eyes. “That was all you. Digging your heels in like a jockey.”

I roll my eyes, a fresh blanket of blush rushing to my cheeks. “Did you have a condom?”

“Yes.”

“Did you know where it was?”

A deep laugh rumbles from his chest. “Yes. But I have a feeling I would’ve nearly lost my favorite appendage if I had tried to take it away from you, even for a minute.”

I can’t hide my grin. “You’re not wrong there. That was, uh…”

“Yeah, it was.” He smiles. “Let me get something to clean up the evidence of your not-so-subtle persuasion.”

I cover my face and laugh. “Oh, whatever. I didn’t even have to say anything. A little squeeze here, a little moan there. Men are weak.”

Luca laughs all the way to the kitchen. “I won’t argue with that.” He runs the tap and finds a cloth, walking back and kneels next to me, gently wiping me with the warm rag.

I study his face and smile when I see a small grin he can’t seem to wipe off, as he cleans me up. “Do I get partial credit for recognizing it was a poor decision?”

He roars a laugh and stands to toss the rag straight into the trash. Guess he can afford to buy new. “At least I know now I can’t open with that or we’ll never get a condom.”

“Is this going to be a regular occurrence, then?”

He shrugs. “It can be, I suppose. As long as we’re both on the same page. And as long as I don’t have to sleep on this small ass couch anymore.”

“This small ass couch has served us well. But I guess you’ve earned a spot in the bed.”

He holds a fist up like a champion. “I knew one day my cock would be used for good instead of evil.”

I pull a throw off the back of the couch and wrap it around my still heated body. “Cheese and rice, it's not a superhero.”

He slips his boxer briefs on and walks around the room collecting our strewn about clothes. “Cheese and rice? We need to work on creative cursing.”

I glance over my shoulder with a raised eyebrow. “Did you know what I meant?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then it works just fine. I’m going to bed, Superdick, you coming?”

He pauses, arms full of clothing, barefoot and looking sexy as hell. “I’m not complaining about the nickname, but that could be taken two ways.”

“I’m sure I’ll need them both at some point.”

TWENTY-SIX

DRIP DRIP

The heat rollingoff my body is a poor substitute for the warm cocoon I left an hour ago. It’s been a long time since I slept next to someone. I say sleep, but I mean lie next to someone with the intention of sleeping. That isn’t what happened, and it wasn’t just because Ella flops around like a fish out of water and makes little snorting noises every so often.

I spent the entire night tormented for playing this part—this good person. I want to believe that part of me still exists somewhere. But I’m having a hard time deciphering which me is real at this point.

Things are shifting.

And they can’t.

Not only for my sake but for hers. It wouldn’t be hard to getswept up in her. Who am I kidding? The gale force winds are already at my back, pushing me directly in her path. Every time I learn something about her, it sparks another question. I want to know more.

I want to know it all.

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