Page 63 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
But this is my first kiss, and he’s already taken it without any hesitation, as if it was a given that it was his, so I tell myself I might as well enjoy it.
That hot tongue laps at my bottom lip, and I part my mouth to let him in. The moment he’s inside of me for the first time, something catches inside my chest. I moan into his mouth, licking and sucking and trying to mimic him without any finesse. It’s messy.
But he doesn’t seem to mind.
I wonder if he’s dreaming right now. In this dream, does he know he’s kissing me?
Or is he dreaming of someone else?
The question hits me harder than I expect, making my emotions collide in a harsh bang.
Turmoil slams into desire and exhilaration, breaking them into a million little pieces.
Nameless, faceless women stream through my head. How many lovers has he had? How many meant something to him?
And how could I ever compare to the beautiful, elegant women a man like Giorgio would pick? Doubt slithers over my nape. I’m eighteen. Fucked up in the head. A virgin. Did I really allow myself to think for a moment he’d do this knowingly with me?
I turn my head to the side, breaking the feverish kiss. “Giorgio, stop.”
A hand clutches my jaw and forcefully turns me back to him. His eyes are so damn empty. The usual spark is missing, as if his soul has left.
A tear rolls down my cheek.
He isn’t seeing me.
For him, I’m not real.
He scrapes my tear away with his thumb. “Don’t cry.”
My mouth parts, surprise rippling down my spine. “Giorgio? Are you there?”
His voice is monotone, his eyes blank. He’s on a hypnotic autopilot, and yet he repeats himself.
“Don’t cry, Martina.”
CHAPTER16
GIORGIO
I slamthe door of my childhood home and step out onto Via Cassano only to see Martina standing across the street.
What is she doing in Secondigliano? Her brother would lose his mind if he knew she’s here.
Then I remember it’s my job to protect her.
Fear engulfs me as I run across the street, trying to dodge the speeding cars. I’m afraid that when I get there, she’ll already be gone.
But when the bus passes, she’s still there, wearing a yellow sundress and a smile.
She laughs when I reach her and pulls me into an embrace.“Giorgio, it’s just a dream.”
In this dream, she’s the same girl I’ve gotten to know over the past week, but she’s different in a way I can’t quite put a finger on. When I inhale the scent of her hair, my restraint evaporates in a flash. Arousal fills me, so strong and demanding that my knees nearly buckle. When she makes a move to pull away, there isn’t a single chance I’ll let her.
All the times I’ve had to hold myself back from her flash before my eyes.
But this is just a dream.
And in this dream, she’smine.
