Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
My hands slid up his arms, over his shoulders, then wrapped around his neck, pressing my body more securely against his.
The scent of him, woodsy with a slight hint of citrus, flooded my system, mingling with the taste of wine and sugar on his lips, the combination almost overwhelming me as his lips pressed harder, as mine met his, just as needy.
Aurelio’s hand slid up to the back of my neck, fingers curling in, a possessive touch that somehow didn’t feel dangerous as it would have in the past, instead filling me with the sensation of safety.
A low moan escaped me as his fingers shifted into my hair, teasing across my scalp as his tongue teased between my lips, and claimed mine.
Desire pinged off every nerve ending, making my pulse beat harder, making my skin warm and my clothes feel scratchy and uncomfortable.
My breasts felt heavy, my nipples twisting into tight buds as the aching sensation in my core grew to something close to pain.
Aurelio’s other hand traced down my spine, then wrapped around my lower back, crushing me against him.
I should have felt trapped.
Instead, I felt, I don’t know, cherished.
His teeth gently nipped my lower lip as my fingers drifted up into his hair, loving the silky feel against my fingers even as his fingers left my hair, drifting down my neck, over my chest, starting to move downward.
I arched backward, creating the space for his hand to move between us, to slide over my breast that I was desperate to feel him brush, squeeze.
But as his hand started to move down, a wail from the back porch had us both jolting, breaking apart, as Judah’s cries came through the baby monitor.
I was kiss and wine drunk for a moment, frozen in place, unable to snap out of my haze.
“I’ll get him,” Aurelio said, giving me a long look, then turning and making his way back into the house, leaving the monitor on the porch.
On numb legs, my sex aching with disappointed hopes, I made my way back onto the back porch, collecting the glasses, the plate of cookies, and tucking the monitor under my arm as I made my way back inside.
I was placing the cups in the sink, running some water into them so the red wine stains didn’t set in, when I heard Aurelio’s voice on the monitor.
“Hey, buddy,” he said, voice soft. “You’re alright,” he said, and I could picture him going to the crib, reaching inside, and pulling Judah into his arms. “Weird to wake up in a strange place still, huh?” he asked, then let out a little grunt as, I imagined, he lowered into the chair.
There was some sniffing as Judah calmed down. Maybe I should have been upset that my son, who’d only ever been able to fully be comforted by me, was so effortlessly calming down for Aurelio.
But, honestly, I just… got it.
Aurelio just had an air about him.
A calm, quiet sort of confidence that set you at ease almost immediately.
I’d found myself trying to picture him upset or angry, even yelling, but I couldn’t even imagine that.
“You’re lucky you’re so cute, kid,” he said, making my gaze slide to the monitor. “Because you have the worst timing in the world.”
My mouth curved into a smile as I stood there in the kitchen, my lips still sensitive from his, my skin burning a bit from the brush of his stubble, still aching all over for his touch.
As he started to hum, I turned off the monitor, then made my way upstairs, stepping into the room.
“Want me to take him?” I whispered.
Aurelio continued to hum, and just shook his head at me.
Maybe I should have walked out, left him alone to comfort Judah, to give me a break.
But for some reason, I found myself climbing onto my bed instead, pulling up the soft blanket he’d bought for me, and listening to him hum my son back to sleep.
Somehow, the sound seemed to lull me as well, and before I knew it, I was starting to drift to sleep.
I wasn’t aware of him lowering Judah back into his crib, of him pulling up the bars.
But I did stir enough as he pulled my blanket more fully up over me that I was fully aware of his lips when they softly pressed into my temple before he made his way out of the room, closing the door quietly.
Alone, I rolled onto my back, staring up at the darkened ceiling, wondering if it was possible for me to trust myself and my instincts anymore.
You were always too willing to believe the best in people, Claire-Bear, I could practically hear my mother whisper in my ear.
Maybe.
But I swear to God, I was sure that Aurelio was someone a woman could trust.
That I could trust.
After a lifetime of bad decisions with men, I was almost certain that my instincts were right about this one.