I opened my eyes again, needing to see him, to make sure that tender touch really came from him and not some crazy dream. “Why are you—”
“Relax and enjoy it. Don’t ask questions.”
I’d never been good at reining in my curiosity, but as Angelo caressed my sore flesh, I found it easy to be quiet. He was so gentle now, like he actually cared how I felt. Why would I want to argue with that?
Because you hate him. Because you need to get rid of him as quickly as you can.
His hands left my ass, and he began to massage my back, working his way from my sacrum to my shoulders. I forgot all the reasons why I wanted him to leave because, at that moment, I wanted his talented hands right where they were.
I was nearly asleep when he stopped touching me. The loss of the warm contact pulled me back to consciousness. When I opened my eyes, he was looking down at me, his expression almost tender.
I didn’t like that I was naked and he was still dressed. “I want to see you.”
He grinned. “I’m right here.”
“No, all of you.”
I thought he would protest, assert his dominance by denying me what I wanted, but he rose from the bed, pulled his sweater off, and tossed it on top of my clothes.
I couldn’t help but stare. I’d already seen the tattoos on his arms when he’d come to the bakery in a tank top, but now I saw that the designs extended down his sides and disappeared beneath his waistband. I drank in his dark pink nipples and the perfect ridges of his abs. He looked as powerful and dangerous as I knew he was.
“You can touch me if you want to.” His words weren’t a command. They sounded almost uncertain. No, that couldn’t be. I was just lust drunk.
I rose onto my knees and rested my hands against his muscular shoulders before sliding them down over his pecs. He groaned when I brushed my palms across his nipples. I pinched them gently, enjoying the feel of the hard buds between my fingers and the way his eyes widened. I explored every ridge of his abs, stopping only when I reached his waistband.
“Go ahead. Take my pants off.”
That was one command I had no intention of disobeying. I popped the button on his jeans and lowered the zipper. Of course he’d gone commando. It suited him perfectly. I pushed my hands into the back of his pants, sliding my hands over his buttocks as I pushed his jeans down. He toed off his shoes and kicked out of his pants. I sucked in my breath as I took in his fully naked form.
He was even hotter than I’d imagined in my fantasies the night before. He looked the part of the predator, like a big cat. He moved his powerful body smoothly and silently, and he would never hesitate to take down his prey and eviscerate them.
I should be terrified of what he might do to me. I knew I would never be able to overpower him, not even if I had a gun. He had all the advantages right now, and yet, he shuddered under my touch as I leaned forward and flicked my tongue over one of his hard nipples.
“Fuck.” It was more an exhale than true speech.
Liking his response, I suckled the tight bud and let my teeth scrape his sensitive skin.
“Don’t start something you’re not ready to finish,” he warned me.
I was way too sore to let him fuck me again, but I couldn’t be sure when I’d get another opportunity like this.
“I like touching you, tasting you.” I hoped my honesty might win me the chance to do this again.
He smiled. “That’s good because I’m going to have you every fucking night, more than once. Maybe more than twice. I may not let you sleep at all.”
Could I get the bakery ready to open if I couldn’t sleep? Somehow I’d gotten through three years of law school on a few hours a night. This was only for a few months.
And then I’d be free of him. Except, I already knew I was going to be completely addicted to him by then.
“You’re thinking too much,” he scolded. “Move over.”
He got into bed with me and pulled the covers up over us.
“What are you doing?”
“What the fuck does it look like I’m doing? You’re exhausted. You were already tired when I got here, then I fucking wore you out.”
“I’m not—” Why was I arguing with him? I was exhausted. I hadn’t been sleeping well since I’d found out I had this debt hanging over my head.
“Look at me,” he demanded.
Reluctantly, I obeyed.
“When you’re with me, all you need to think about is doing what I tell you to do. This time is about pleasure. It’s a chance to forget everything else. Forget your fucking worthless father. Forget about the bakery. Forget about who you used to be, about our past, everything.”