by Eve Black
Closing the distance between them, she stood on her tip toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He tensed, probably holding his breath to see what else she’d do. Instead of deepening the kiss as she desperately wanted to, she broke the kiss and stepped back.
“Relying on people who love you doesn’t make you weak, it doesn’t make you any more vulnerable. It makes you stronger. I know it doesn’t make sense—people can let you down, they lie, they cheat, they break your heart, but they also lift you up, hold you there, have your back, and clean up your messes. They can be the foundation you build your life on. Look around you,” she said, raising her arms and turning in a semi-circle. His gaze never left her face. “This—all of this is something I built from nothing. And I’d still be nothing if it weren’t for my mother and Mia. Those two women were the rock supporting me through all the shit and success over the years. I cannot imagine being where I am without them. If I hadn’t put my trust in someone other than myself, I’d still be living in Miami, probably on my fifth crackhead boyfriend, living on government aide, and hoping to survive the next gang war.”
Vitali drew up to his full height, towering over her with a lethal darkness in his eyes, one that told her he was contemplating murder. She couldn’t help but smile; he was like a wolf, snarling at imaginary rival alphas. It was both humorous and hot as hell.
“I would protect you,” he said, his deep voice a near inarticulate growl. He raised his large hands to her face but stopped just shy of actually touching her, his expression, once again, filling with uncertainty.
Eager to feel his hands on her, she reached up and completed the circuit, pressing his hands into her cheeks. The warmth of his flesh poured into her, and the electricity of the contact zinged across every nerve ending.
“I know you would, Vitali, and that means a lot to me,” she murmured, her voice losing some of its power as she stared up into the unfathomable emotion in his gaze.
“I may not know how to be good at love, but I know how to protect what is mine. And I am scared to death of losing you.” He swallowed, tension rolling from his broad shoulders. “I haven’t been this scared in years.”
Closing her eyes to block out the frightened look on his face, she took a deep breath, knowing there was more to say, and hoping he would listen. She needed him to listen.
“I understand the fear, Vitali, I do.” She opened her eyes to stare at his Adam’s apple, which was bobbing with his nervousness. “I know you endured a lot of shit when you were a kid. But so did I. And I refuse to let that keep me from knowing what a full and happy life feels like.” Gathering all her daring around her, she flicked her eyes up to his.
He was peering down into her soul. “I want a full and happy life with you, Mariana. Do I even have a chance?”
“Vitali, I am not asking you to forget where you come from or what you’ve been through; they’ve helped you become the man you are. But you cannot use your past as an excuse to deny yourself a future…” She hesitated the barest moment. “…with me.”
His eyes widened in surprise, but then they brightened with more joy than Mariana thought possible. His grip on her face tightened, and he bent down to bring their faces within inches of one another—as if he were looking for any hint that she didn’t mean what she’d just said.
“Mariana?” he breathed. “Does that mean that… Can you love me, too? Even with my past and my mistakes and my fears?”
She grinned. “Vitali, I love you.”
Before she could gauge his reaction, Vitali claimed her mouth in a searing kiss too long in coming. His hard lips ravaged the softness of hers, shattering her apart. This—this is what she’d been missing, what she’d been starving for since that day in Koh Tao. This man and his mind-blowing kisses. Desperate for more of him, she slid her aching breasts against his chest, groaning at the scape of her nipples along his rock-hard body.
A low rumbling began in his chest, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping into her hot mouth to set her world on fire. He mastered her, liberated her, made her come alive with pleasure, and die from the agony of his not being buried deep inside her.
He must’ve read her mind because he tore his mouth from hers and, chest heaving with each breath, strode to the door to lock it.
Mariana watched the movements in the muscles of his ass as he walked, and the wetness in her panties grew until she could feel the dampness against her inner thighs. When he turned back to her, his gorgeous face was hard, wicked, and his brilliant green eyes flashed with emerald fire, burning her, cauterizing the wound his previous actions had caused. His perfect lips curled up on one side, and her pussy thrummed with want. Her gaze dropped to the immense erect cock pushing against the seam in his trousers.
She licked her lips.
He growled. “I’m glad you sent your employees to lunch because I am going to fuck you on your desk—Mrs. Pavlovich.”
Shuddering, Mariana felt the world right itself.
A bright and joyful laugh burst from her chest. “Then come get me, husband.”
Love this story? Get your copy of Eve’s next book in the series: Billionaire Bachelor: Omar!
About the Author
Eve Black is a lover of all things sexy, naughty, dirty, filthy, and chocolate.
She loves to write all the sexy scenes she wishes were in the books she reads. So she writes sexy books!
When Eve isn't writing, she is reading, and when she isn't reading, she's drinking tea and coloring in her adult coloring books.
Connect with Eve: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
Eve Black Books
Diamond Bridal Agency
Billionaire Bachelor: Michael
Erotic BBW Romances
Filthy Hot Mess