Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Greta sat cross-legged on a sunchair that someone had pulled into the shadows, away from the pool’s glow, and she was peering up at the night sky. For a few moments, I simply watched her, how the moonlight made her skin glow, how content she looked cloaked in the dark and all by herself. My heart sped up and heat flushed my body. Fuck. What. Was. I. doing?
This question kept repeating itself in my head.
I approached her slowly, making my steps heard so she didn’t startle. She peered over her shoulder and I waited for her to tense. She didn’t. Instead, she patted the place beside her. “You can sit down if you want.”
I folded myself down on the sun chair. It was too low for my long legs but I wanted to be close to Greta.
“Why are you out here alone in the dark?”
I had a feeling she would have been out here even if it weren’t for me.
“I wanted some quiet,” she said before she motioned at the stretched-out beast at her feet that was eyeing me with eerie amber eyes. “And I’m not alone.” She stretched out one leg and began to run her toes along the dog’s side. I was mesmerized by her elegant petite feet, by the way she held them as if she was about to dance some difficult ballet move, by her toe nails, which weren’t painted. I’d never met a girl who didn’t paint her nails and still Greta pulled it off. With a satisfied huff, the dog turned on its back, presenting his vulnerable belly and throat so she could pet those too. A smile pulled at Greta’s mouth as she ran her toes along the bare insides of the dog’s upper thighs. It was a male dog, no wonder he was eager to be petted by Greta.
“We don’t have long,” I murmured. Reminding her. Reminding myself because being around her it was easy to forget that we weren’t alone in this world.
“It’s better if nobody catches us.”
I couldn’t read her. She sounded almost forlorn.
“Why did you say you wanted to kiss me?” I asked the question that had been haunting me since yesterday.
Greta tilted her head to the side, watching me quietly for several seconds. “Because I like your face.”
I almost choked on laughter. “Only my face?”
Her dark eyes took in every inch of my body, slowly, meticulously, as if she really wanted to make up her mind. This girl was out of this world. “I like your body as well.”
I allowed my eyes to wander over her body like I’d never dared before. According to my reputation I was cocky and boisterous, but so far I hadn’t been suicidal enough to undress Greta Falcone with my eyes in Camorra territory. “I like your face and body as well.”
Greta’s mouth turned into a small smile but pursed in confusion when I checked our surroundings.
“Just checking if there’s a risk of getting a knife in my back.”
Greta shook her head. “Nevio wouldn’t stab you in the back. He prefers the direct approach, so does Alessio. Massimo might do it, though.”
Something shifted on the ground and the white fluffy dog let out a huff where it lay hidden at the Cane Corso’s side. “You lied to Alessio. Why?”
“I lied,” she admitted softly, guilt tinging her words. “I like how you make me feel.”
My eyes were drawn to her lips. Maybe this was our only chance. I could claim Greta’s first kiss.
She didn’t deserve this. But I wasn’t a good man.
Her eyes met mine. “Why did you lie?”
I paused, not sure what she meant.
“About your fiancée.”
It felt as I was being doused with ice water. She knew.
Strangely enough, I felt relieved. Lying to Greta had felt…wrong.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly because I didn’t. I’d lied without thinking because every second since I’d met Greta I’d wished I wasn’t engaged, so much stronger than I’d ever felt it before.
Greta searched my eyes then nodded as if she believed me. “Us sitting here together, is it wrong?”
Was she asking me for moral guidance? I was the wrong person to ask for many reasons. “We’re not doing anything.”
Greta tilted her head so she was peering down at her dog once more. “It doesn’t feel like that.”
“I know,” I admitted. My eyes rested on Greta’s face, on the thoughtful tilt of her lips.
Something cold touched my neck. I tensed, my hand flying to the gun in my holster.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, asshole, or I’ll ram a hole in your skull,” said Alessio.
“You better lower that fucking knife,” I growled, half tempted to pull my gun and see if his reflexes were quicker than my own.
Greta rose to her feet and her dog growled in a low and threatening way. “Stop it, Alessio. Amo caught Momo for me.”