Page 75 of Worth the Risk

I look up at her as her hand finds my hair. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

She rolls her eyes and giggles. “I really don’t think your family will let me be anything but okay. Nonna has plans for me.”

“Are you choosing to call her Nonna?”

“No. She demanded it.”

I chuckle. “That sounds like Nonna.”

“What happened to your grandfather?” Hannah asks.

“He died a while ago. Ten years ago, maybe? I don’t really remember, to be honest. All I remember is thinking he was the polar opposite of Nonna. She’s loud, rambunctious, and the life of the party. He was very reserved. Stoic, like my dad. Dom remembers him really well, as does Alex. They said they never knew how Nonna put up with him.”

“Sometimes the most outspoken people need someone to remind them when to reel it in,” Hannah says quietly.

I look up at her, and she’s staring off to the side. “Is that how your ex-boyfriend was?”

“No, not really. Starting out, he was quieter, but seemed really optimistic and enjoyed life. Went with the flow more. I thought he was spontaneous and charming. I can look back now and recognize how he slowly flipped a switch, and I didn’t even notice it. He became regimented and authoritarian. I slowly began to change to match his energy, because if he was happy, it was easier. Once I realized I no longer recognized the person I had become, I wanted out. Only then was it evident that it was an incredibly unhealthy and abusive relationship.”

“Fucking hate that you went through that, bella,” I murmur, lowering my head to rest in her lap as she rhythmically runs her fingers through my hair.

“I don’t regret it, you know. The relationship with him. It taught me so much about myself. What I won’t settle for, and what I expect with a partner. Getting out of Georgia may not have happened if I wasn’t so miserable. And it brought me to you,” she says softly. “Let’s get ready for bed. You have to be up in a few hours.”

That quick reminder of my job makes me truly hate hockey for the first time in my life. Wordlessly, I get up and pull Hannah to the bathroom.

“What’s all this?” Hannah asks. Multiple shopping bags cover the countertop and floor.

“I wasn’t sure when you’d be able to get back into your apartment, and honestly, I didn’t want you to go back there while I was gone anyway. So I asked Arianna to pick up some things for you. She and Claire remembered some of your skincare and shower things, but they guessed on some. My mom sent over a week’s worth of clothes that would be easy for you to remove while your hand is still wrapped.”

Hannah tears up, pressing her good hand to her mouth. “I don’t deserve this. I don’t — I’m not. This is too much, Luca.”

Cupping her face between my hands, I force her eyes to meet mine. “You deserve everything, Han. Anything I have is yours. Anything you want, I’ll get it for you. You name it, baby. Whatever you need.”

“I just want your heart,” she whispers.

“It’s yours,” I rasp, my voice thick with emotion. Our lips meet in a kiss I intend to keep soft and sweet, but Hannah molds herself to me and thrusts her tongue into my mouth. My greedy girl yanks hard on my hair as she rises on her tiptoes to get closer to me. Picking her up, I push the bags out of the way so I can deposit her on the counter. Hannah spreads her legs and I step between them, wanting to get as close to her as possible.

Our kiss is carnal. It’s sloppy, as if we can’t bother slowing down for fear of the moment ending. I want more, but I can’t seem to stop kissing her. I’ll be gone for five days, and I want her taste embedded in my skin. On my taste buds. I want to wake up and smell Hannah every morning that I’m gone.

Because there’s no way I can leave her again.

I’ll go on this last road trip, but that’s it. I can’t leave her again.

“Luca,” Hannah whimpers into my mouth.

“What do you need, Pixie?” I ask, breaking the kiss to bury my face in her neck. Her pulse is going wild against my lips, and I suck hard against it, hoping I leave a mark. My mark. A blatant sign to anyone that Hannah is spoken for. Considering Hannah lets out a loud and guttural moan, I’d say she supports me staking a claim.

“I need you to …” she trails off. I stand to look at Hannah, noticing her heavily hooded eyes and blown-out pupils showing how turned on she is.

“Tell me.”

“I want your tongue. I need you to make me come on your tongue.”

Damn.

I love take-charge Hannah.

Well, I love Hannah all the time, but her telling me exactly what she needs? Fucking hot as hell.