Page 69 of Damiano De Luca (The Five Syndicates)
She yawned and leaned against the sink, content to watch me shower. “Are you going to explain yesterday?”
She didn’t sound mad. I didn’t know if it was her mafia upbringing or that spine of steel, but the way she took yesterday in stride didn’t surprise me as much as it should have. Well, I hoped I was reading her right.
I rubbed at my face, splashing water onto the glass divider. “I’m sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize.” The corner of her lips quirked up, and I realized I’d been anxiously waiting for more signs that she was okay with how rough I’d been last night. “I liked it.”
“I didn’t know what you’d like.” I shrugged and tried to play it off.
“I think how wet I was and the fact that I was chanting your name like it was the only thing running through my head—which it was—should have showed you that I liked it.”
Holy fuck.
My cock, which had been dormant, nearly shot up at her words. I thought of stinky socks, molded walls, and expired processed cheese until I got myself under control.
She had a teasing smile, like she knew what I’d been thinking of, when I spoke again. “I wasn’t sure if you liked rough sex. I was gentler when we did it in Devils Ridge.”
“And I appreciate that”—again with the smirk—“since it was my first time.”
Good God.
Stinky socks, stinky socks, stinky socks.
I was a grown ass mafia leader, chanting about stinky socks to keep my erection at bay. Perfect. Ego, meet blow.
I eyed the amusement on her face. “I took your virginity?”
“Yup.” She popped the P. “But about yesterday…”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’ve already apologized. Unnecessarily, might I add.”
I’d given up washing myself by now, so I just leaned against the tile and let the hot water rain down on me, courtesy of New York City taxpayer dollars. “My dad told me what happened to my mom, and I kind of just lost it. I mean, I already suspected that he had something to do with her death, but thinking it and knowing it are more different than I’d thought they’d be.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Yes. Maybe not immediately, but I’ll be okay eventually. I’ve lived the past sixteen years without my mom. It’s nothing new on that end. And I already hate my dad enough without this added to it. Though admittedly, it does make me hate him more. I didn’t even think it was possible.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll cut him off from the De Luca coffers. I’ve already taken away his empire. I considered sending him to jail, but I have a feeling he’s suffering more around senior citizens who have families that visit them than he would in jail, where he’d find camaraderie amongst the incarcerated.”
“You seem okay.”
Not like last night, I read her unspoken words.
Shit.
“I really am sorry.”
“Hey, Damsel?” she teased.
“Yes, Knight?”
“Stop apologizing for something I enjoyed. It’s getting annoying.”
“Okay. Fine.” I studied her. “Where does this leave us?” Naked in her shower was probably an awful time to ask this question, but our relationship had never boasted good timing.
