She was such a sucker for this man. “Okay.” She pulled on a pair of Keds and followed him down the stairs and into the night.
It was pitch-dark, apart from the occasional streetlight and the glow of the moon. Wolfe led her firmly down the path, keeping her hand securely locked in his. Their feet slapped against the cobblestones, and the ancient buildings thrust into the sky, surrounding and protecting them like beautiful old trees. Even late at night with the shops closed, pedestrians lingered, sipping espressos and clutching large bags from one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, Via della Spiga.
Wolfe seemed to have no direction. He swung her arm back and forth, lapsing into a comfortable silence, and she relaxed. When he finally spoke, he told her the earth-shattering news as if it was the most natural thing in the world to share. As if he’d been sharing intimate details with her forever.
“Sawyer and Julietta legally adopted me.”
She stumbled and he quickly caught her. Gen gasped and gripped his hand. “What?”
His slow grin lit up his features. Lord, he was sexy. Gorgeous. Sexy. “Yeah. That was their big news and why they wanted me to come visit. We tried years ago, but they couldn’t find my mother, and the paperwork was a mess. Went to court a few times but nothing really came of it. I assumed Sawyer quit, but he’s been working on this the whole time.”
“What did you find out about your mom?”
The grin slipped. “She died.”
“I’m sorry.”
He nodded. “I lost her a long time ago. I can’t even be sad. She wasn’t my mother anymore.”
His simple words tore at her heart. To have a parent break you in half and destroy the innate love and trust of such a relationship haunted her. But Gen knew he didn’t want her sympathy or tears or pity. He wouldn’t have them either. She looked upon him as the victor. He got away, rebuilt, and found a family to love and cherish him. “I hate what you had to go through,” she said softly. “I’d kill her myself with my bare hands for hurting you. But you got to the other side. And even though a piece of paper is important, Julietta and Sawyer were always your family anyway. I just love that we can celebrate it’s legal.”
He gazed off in the night, as if trying to express his thoughts. “I can’t believe they wanted me,” he finally said. “I was a pain in the ass. I mean, of course I wanted them, but the idea they never gave up trying to adopt me blows my mind.”
She reached up on tiptoe, cupped his cheeks, and forced him to look at her. She memorized every beloved feature: the scruff around his jaw, the proud slanted nose, the strong dark brows, and those lightning-blue eyes that held secrets he’d never share. Gen choked on the words. “Because you give them just as much joy, Wolfe. You’re special. They love you more than you can imagine, because you gave them precious gifts. Your trust. Your friendship. Your respect. Your heart. Everything you are.”
“It’ll never be enough.”
She smiled at the ridiculous statement, and before she could slam down the barriers, her soul escaped and flew free.
“Don’t you realize who you are? How you make people happy?”
The world tilted. Held its breath. And waited.
“Don’t you realize how much I love you?”
He froze. She was reminded of a cartoon character with the balloon of words floating overhead, waiting for a response. Gen wanted to duck her head, laugh it off, and go back to their agreement. But it was too late. She couldn’t take back the truth, or her real feelings. He might not like it, but dammit, he was going to have to begin dealing with it.
Seconds ticked by. A minute. He didn’t move, refused to speak, just gazed at her with an all-consuming hunger that told her more than any answer could.
He pressed his forehead to hers, shaking his head back and forth, trying to deny the moment. “What are you doing to me?” he murmured. “This is going to lead to disaster.”
A half laugh escaped. Her breath rushed over his lips. “Yeah. Probably.”
“We should go back to the way things were. It’ll be better.”
“Don’t want to.”
“I can’t give you what you want.”
She closed her eyes and hung on tight. He could, but he didn’t realize it. Didn’t want to believe it. “I disagree.”
“You’re so stubborn. We shouldn’t sleep together anymore. It’s gotten too complicated.”
“So deny me.”
His lips hovered an inch from hers. “I can’t. I’m wrecked. But I don’t want to hurt you.”
His mouth pressed, retreated, slid over her lips. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “So don’t,” she whispered back. Then kissed him.
Sweetness. Her knees weakened, and she slumped in his arms as his tongue slid between her lips and drank. He kissed her like she was precious treasure, fragile and worthy of the most exquisite tenderness. A whimper caught in her throat as he worshipped her with his mouth, and tongue, and lips, allowing his body to give her what his mind couldn’t.
Everything.
“Take me to bed.”
Her demand made a laugh escape his lips. He nibbled on her ear, bit her lobe, and caressed her back in long, sweeping strokes. “One last time.”
“One last time,” she repeated. The lie was easy to utter as he swept her up into his arms and carried her back to the house. She didn’t care as he made love to her with such care and attention. She fought off her orgasm so she could revel in every touch and kiss he bestowed. When he finally surged inside her, she let herself go, shattering around him, telling herself another lie over and over as he claimed her throughout the night.