Page 92 of Power & Punishment

“Leo—please,” I sob, throwing my head back.

He smiles, his thrusts getting harder and better with each new angle. I feel myself racing toward another release before his hand slides down between us and his fingers rub against my swollen clit.

That single touch causes something to burst inside me, causing a loud, guttural scream to echo off the walls. Leo keeps barreling his hips into my mine, gliding through my orgasm and crashing into his. He lets out a muffled cry and drives himself into me one last time before coming undone completely.

Water continues to cascade over us, washing away sweat and tears as he slides my body down his and rests his chin on my head. Sweeping, labored breaths mix together, and I feel the stress from the day melt away.

I know that everything that happened today won’t disappear after fucking Leo. When we both walk out of our little sex cocoon, the problems will still be there.

But now the weight on my chest doesn’t feel so debilitating.

And as Leo lathers soap to wash away our sins, I feel good.

He won’t fix my problems overnight.

Won’t even scratch the surface.

But just the thought that I don’t have to do this alone makes me feel a little bit closer to him.

And that scares the hell out of me.

26

MIA

“Eat,” Leo says, lifting a fork full of pasta to my lips. I give him a flat look before grabbing the fork and swatting his hand away.

I inhale the bite and muffle a moan. Leo smiles and leans against the counter, grabbing his own fork to share my plate.

“You’re stroking my ego, Teroso,” he purrs, his eyes flashing with delight. “Now I know how to make you moan outside of the bedroom too.”

I crack a smile, deciding he’s earned it for once.

Rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt I’m currently swimming in, I continue to devour the savory dish.

“What does Tereso mean?” I ask, attempting to roll my r’s, but failing miserably. But he doesn’t seem to care as he wipes Vodka sauce from the corner of my mouth.

“It’s a term of endearment, so in English it can mean a number of things like sweetheart, darling, and baby. But I prefer the literal translation.”

“Which is?”

“Treasure,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. My heart clenches.

I clear my throat and refocus on the plate in front of me. “You know using Google Translate to impress women isn’t classy.”

He laughs, setting his fork down and grabbing my waist. Leo lifts my body effortlessly onto the counter, and my eyes drink in the way his muscles flex. He looks good in a suit, but I think I prefer him shirtless.

“My Nonno taught me,” he says, keeping his hands tucked underneath my exposed thighs. “He immigrated to the States from Sicily when he was nineteen. Moved here with my Nonna and opened up a restaurant together.”

“Your biological grandparents?” I ask, biting the inside of my cheek.

He stiffens slightly but quickly relaxes back into me like we’ve done this a thousand times.

“Yes. My Nonna passed away before I was born, but my Nonno used to watch me after my parents took over the restaurant. He passed away when I was eight, but before that he taught me Italian so I could impress girls,” he says with a playful smirk.

“He also taught me food is the only real way to show that you care,” he smiles, reaching around me to grab another fork full of pasta and pushing it toward my mouth. I curse inwardly as I open my lips and accept the bite.

I lick my lips and lean back, using my hands to prop up my body as Leo sets the fork back down and continues. “But the most important thing he taught me was that trust matters more than anything. It’s not something you’re guaranteed. It’s something you earn. And you have to keep earning it every day.”