Page 68 of For Your Eyes Only
That’s when it hits me as hard as an anvil. I can’t let her go.
She’s this rare treasure I’ve found here, near the ocean, like a gift from the sea. She’s mine, only mine. Everything we do is ours alone, and it’s glowing and perfect.
I was her first. All I’ve ever heard is that being someone’s first makes them needy and tiresome. She’s none of those things. I can’t get enough of her body, so fresh and eager to learn, so hungry for me. She touches me with wonder, looks at me with wonder. It makes me want to protect her, never let anyone disappoint her or make her cry.
“Gia.” Holding the condom, I slide out and quickly dispose of it.
Reaching for her, I pull her to me again, needing to feel her against my chest. Needing her to seep into all the cracks life has beat into me. She makes me whole.
Fuck Franco. Fuck Manhattan. Fuck being the boss. Only Gia and I matter.
A happy little smile is on her face, and she carefully unbuttons my dress shirt. I didn’t even take my clothes off when I got home and saw her in the kitchen in that same cooking dress, barefoot, with her hair all up on her head. Hunger took over, and I had to have her.
Now her hair has fallen around her shoulders. Her top is unwrapped and when she has my chest bare, she pulls me into a hug with a contented sigh. We’re skin against skin, and my eyes squeeze shut. I turn my face so my nose is buried in her curly hair, in her sweet scent.
She’s something I’ve never had in my life. Being with her is a place I didn’t know to look for, because I didn’t know it existed. Who says we can’t be together? Who says this is forbidden? Fuck them.
Then Franco’s words come drifting back.
“I don’t want you dancing at the Rhino anymore.”
“What?” Her voice is high, and her body stiffens in my embrace. “What are you talking about?”
Releasing me, she steps back, adjusting her dress so it’s wrapped tightly around her body again, as if she’s preparing for a fight.
“It’s not safe for you at the club.” My tone remains steady. “You know what happened last time. I don’t want you putting yourself in danger again.”
“Are you firing me?” Anger flashes in her dark eyes, and I’m annoyed and proud of her.
I’m pretty confident she’s as invested in what we have here as I am, but she won’t let me order her around.
“I’m not firing you.” Although, I haven’t completely made up my mind it isn’t the best course of action.
“And I’m not giving up my independence to be with you.”
“Come here.” I step forward, catching her arms. She half-heartedly resists before allowing me to wrap her in my embrace. “I’m not asking you to give up anything. I want you to be safe. We still haven’t found that guy who grabbed your foot.”
“You didn’t stop Glitter Girl from dancing when you hadn’t found him the first time.”
“I didn’t know it was you.”
“So now you think you can tell me what to do?”
“Yes.”
Her brow furrows furiously. “What gives you the right?”
You’re mine.
I don’t say that. Instead, I opt for the obvious answer, “I’m your boss.”
“But I have something special planned.” Her lips are pouty, and I want to kiss her. “One last dance.”
“No.” I’m shaking my head. “You’re doing the subscription side now. You don’t need it anymore.”
She slides her hands to my neck, lifting her pretty eyes to meet mine. “One last time. I want to know you’re there, to know you know it’s me. I want to dance with you watching, unable to touch me. I want you there with all those men going wild, knowing it’s my last dance, and when it’s over, only you can have me.”
As she speaks, her voice softens, seduction enters her tone, that little rasp, and even though we just fucked hard, my dick twitches. This beautiful, dangerous girl, jeopardizing everything.