Page 102 of Chasing Hope

My eyes snap open as a groan of pure pleasure leaves me.

Evie’s eyes flash at the sound but all I can concentrate on is how fucking good it felt to hear her say my name while she’s sitting on my lap.

One of my hands leave her hips, trailing up her body. The face mask container tumbles from her hands as mine slides along her neck, cupping her jaw and pulling her down to me.

Not caring for the crap on my face, Evie lays her forehead against mine as I beg, “Again.”

Her hands grip my shirt, seemingly pulling me closer as her hips move atop mine, eliciting another groan of pleasure. A small breathy moan tumbles from her lips and it takes all of my self-control not to flip her over right now, spread her legs apart, align our hips, and melt into the warmth of her.

To melt into the touch we’re both on the edge for.

The hand that’s still on her hip guides her, letting her know she can rock gently if she wants, and my fucking god does she take the invitation. Ever so slowly, just a fraction back and forth, her hips cant.

Tilting my chin up our lips brush as I beg, “Again, Dove,” I tell her. “Say my name again.”

Her hands slide up my chest, along my neck to the back of my head, where she sinks her fingers into my hair and holds me to her as she answers my prayer.

“Matteo.”

My resolve snaps.

With one hand on her jaw, I cup the cheek of the most precious woman in this world and lift my chin. Our lips brush, electricity sparking between us…right as someone pounds on my goddamn fucking door.

Evie jumps a foot in the air before scrambling off my lap and avoiding my eye.

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

“I’m going to kill whoever the fuck that is,” I growl, low and deep. I stand, my hands fisted at my sides as loss slams into my chest because I see the walls she’s built already.

My one fucking shot.

Myonegoddamn fucking shot and it was ruined by?—

Irving cowers as I fling the door open, taking a step back once he sees the murder promised in my eyes.

Wringing his hands, he looks from me and then over my shoulder to Evie somewhere behind me in the apartment.

“Ahh, Valenti…your face is green.”

I force myself to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. It takes an ungodly amount of time for my anger and disappointment to fade, and even then, it lingers like a stab wound.

“What do you want, Irving?”

He steps forward, hesitant, and I feel like a fucking dick, but I’ve wanted to kiss Evie Ellington for as long as I can remember and I was so close. So damn close, and now I’m worried I’ve fucked everything up.

His swallow is audible as he holds up a phone.

Kieran’s face appears on the screen, his brows raised. “Did we interrupt?” the fucker teases, smirking before he leans forward, squinting. “Why the fuck is your face green?”

Then the screen illuminates, a notification popping up to inform me that Ashford took a screenshot.

Growling, I snap, “I swear to God, if you fucking post that?—”

“But you look so adorable.”