Page 63 of Irreplaceable

All the while, she gripped the edge of the counter and kept making these little thrusts with her hips as if trying to fuck the air. I wanted to fuck her. Fuck, I wanted her.

I went back again, this time using my hand, my tongue. She arched her back, her breathing ragged as I lavished her with attention. This was how I’d wanted to take care of her. Not with food. Not with gifts. But with my hands, my mouth, my body.

And then I knelt to the floor, moving my attention lower still until I’d reached her stomach. Overcome with emotion, I knelt at the altar of her body and closed my eyes in prayer.

“Ciao, bimbo. Sono tuo papà e non vedo l’ora di conoscerti.”

“Enzo,” Harper whispered, her voice clogged with emotion.

I peered up at her, and I wanted her to see me. Really see me. I was baring myself to her. I was the baby’s father, and I couldn’t wait to meet him or her.

Something passed between us, and I stood slowly. I slid my hand up her neck, cupping her cheek. Her skin was so soft, so warm. I wanted to sink into her. I wanted to remind her of how good we were together.

I didn’t hesitate to kiss her, claiming her lips with mine. Our breathing ragged as we rediscovered each other. Tongues clashing. Her breasts pressed to my chest, hands exploring. Our skin separated by a layer of fabric that I wanted to rip off, removing any barriers between us.

And then it was over almost as quickly as it had started. She placed her hands on my chest and pressed. “Stop. Enzo, please. I can’t.”

I rubbed my thumb along her lips. One taste hadn’t been enough, and I wanted more. “Why, uccellina? Why do you deny yourself what you want?”

“Because the last time I let myself have what I wanted, I got burned.” There was a fire in her eyes. She stepped back and crossed her arms, covering her chest. “I told you, there is no us apart from the baby.”

I didn’t know what to do at this point other than lay it all on the line. I’d made it a goal never to leave anything on the field. And I planned to do the same with Harper until I’d won her over. I would not give up.

I stepped closer, my voice gravelly. “Maybe not right now. But we will be something, uccellina. Deny it all you want, but we already are.”

I felt it in the depths of my soul, and I knew she did too. I just had to make her see.