Chapter 12 #2
She presses herself against me, flings her arms around my neck, and rises on her tiptoes. She whispers, "Just admit to me that you think about us."
I grab her wrists behind my head, lower them, and firmly warn, "You need to listen. It's never happening between us."
She jerks back, eyes flashing. "You're unbelievable."
"Good. Then you're finally listening." I point at the door. "You're leaving."
"You can't kick me out."
"I can. Keep watching, kid."
"I'm not a kid! I'm old enough to drink!"
"You are, and your immaturity is showing at this very minute," I scold.
She pouts, but her eyes turn to glass.
I sigh. "Listen closely, Blue. You're a great-looking young woman. There are tons of guys who would love to date you. But it's never going to happen between us. Don't take it personally."
She clenches her jaw, glaring at me. Then she mutters, "One day you're going to regret not giving me a chance."
I shake my head. "I regret a lot of things. This won't be one of them."
She glares. "You're just terrified of my father."
"I'm fully aware your father could end me for sneezing in your direction, yes."
"So you are scared."
"You should listen better. I just rattled off all the reasons it's never happening, and your father is only a small part of the equation." I open the door. "Move."
She stomps past me into the hallway, heels clacking like gunshots. I follow, shutting and locking the door behind us, even though none of it keeps her out.
We walk the corridor together, and I silently beg for no neighbors to appear. I steer her toward the stairwell.
She turns. "If my father asks where I was, I'm telling him I came here."
That's all I need.
"If he asks, I'll tell him how you've been stalking me and breaking into my apartment. Then I'll file a restraining order to keep you away," I threaten.
She gasps dramatically. "You wouldn't."
"Want to test me?"
A reluctant smirk tugs at her lips. "I hate you."
"Great. Make it permanent."
We descend the stairs in silence. Her heels stab each step. At the bottom, she pauses at the exit, pinning her sad expression on me.
Some of my attitude melts. Her expression reminds me of the little girl I've always known as Adrian and Skylar's daughter before she became fixated on me.
I soften my tone. "Go home, Blue. Don't break into my apartment again, or I will have a discussion with your father."
Her throat bobs. Then she straightens, flipping her hair back into place. "You're going to regret this someday."
"So be it," I reply, then push her out the door.
When she disappears into the crowd, I exhale and return to my apartment, still flabbergasted that she broke in again.
I need to know how she's getting in.
I mentally catalog all the ways I can grill the super without mentioning Adrian's daughter is a pint-sized stalker. Blue is annoying, but the Ivanovs are family. It's still Adrian and Skylar's daughter, and I don't want her reputation tarnished.
I get to my unit and unlock the door. I step into the family room and once again freeze.
This time, the intruder isn't one I'll push out.
Valentina stands in the middle of the room like she stepped off the cover of a magazine. Red minidress hugging every curve, high stilettos making her already-long legs look endless, dark hair curled and spilling down her back. Her lips are painted the same dangerous, sinful shade as the dress.
My brain short-circuits, and my dick goes painfully hard.
She doesn't smile. Her cool gaze flickers over my damp shirt. She taunts, "Rough day?"
My heart pounds harder. "You tell me. You're the one breaking into my apartment."
Her eyebrows arch. "Well, I had to wait for your other...guest to leave."
"Is that a question or an accusation?" I retort.
She purses her lips in disapproval.
I step closer.
Her eyes flash. "She's cute. Your little turquoise shadow."
"Blue's her name, and she's just a kid," I clarify.
Valentina's mouth twists. "Is that what we're calling her now? A color palette? Because from where I was standing in that hallway, she looked pretty comfortable in your space. Again."
My shoulders go tight. "Well, if you were eavesdropping, then you should have heard me tell her I don't want her."
She lifts a shoulder, the movement making a curl slide against her collarbone, right next to her Finzia tattoo. "She seems determined to have you."
I step closer, cockily asserting, "And that bugs you?"
Her brows shoot higher. "Clearly, I interrupted a very romantic moment."
"Jesus, Valentina." I drag a hand through my hair. "We're nothing. She's nothing. She's had a crush on me since high school. That's it."
Valentina's gaze narrows. "Funny. She doesn't look like a high school girl anymore."
I groan, "She's not. But she was when it started. And she's Adrian's daughter. I've told her no a thousand times."
Valentina's lips press together. "It sure seems like there's more to it."
I step forward, and Valentina steps back until she's up against the wall. I growl, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"She was in your apartment, Brax." Her voice cracks around the words she's trying to keep sharp. "Again. Dressed like that. Hanging off you. And you didn't look like you hated it."
"I did hate it."
She questions, "Did you? Because she looked pretty sure of herself."
Anger fills me. "I've never touched her and never kissed her. Not once have I even thought about it. I'm not into her. I told you—"
"Right." She nods, eyes going flat. "You're not into her. But yet she breaks into your apartment and throws herself at you."
I exhale hard. "Why do you care so much?"
The question hangs between us, heavier than any punch Sean landed today.
Her chin jerks back a fraction. "I don't."
"Bullshit."
Her tone sharpens. "I just think it's reckless. And stupid. And if Adrian finds out, he's going to—"
"Don't make this about Adrian! This is about you standing in my apartment in a dress you know is killing me, picking a fight about a girl I've been actively trying to keep away from me for years."
Color spills into her cheeks, but she doesn't back down. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?" I lean closer, an inch from her mouth.
She presses her palms against my chest. "Yes."
"I think you're jealous."
Valentina softly laughs. "I don't get jealous."
I slide my finger down her cheek, then grip her jaw, stating, "You are. Otherwise, you wouldn't still be here."
Her mouth curves into a dare. "And if I am, Brax? What exactly do you want to do about it?"
A beat of silence passes. The air thickens, charged, crackling between us.
That coil inside me snaps. I press my mouth to hers and tug her dress to her waist.
Her arms reach for my pants, shoving them down.
I lift her bottom, and her legs wrap around me. My cock slides inside her in one thrust.
She whimpers, trembling slightly.
"This is what I'm going to do about it, Minx," I warn, pinning her even closer to the wall and thrusting with all the months of longing I've had to be inside her again.
She flicks her tongue inside my mouth, grips my hair, tugging it slightly. Her hips rise and fall, grinding over me.
I groan, lower my lips to her neck, and nibble on her collarbone.
"Gesù, aiutami," she mutters in Italian.
"God's not helping you, Minx," I reply, gripping her hip tighter, happy Brenna made me learn Italian.
She shifts over me, her lips near my ear. "Like that. Oh shit. Just...oh!"
My mouth catches hers again. Our tongues turn to fire, dancing around each other.
She grips me tighter, kisses my jaw to my ear, then starts rattling off Italian I don't know while riding me harder.
I move my hands to her ass, gripping each cheek and pushing harder. Sweat pops up, adding to my already-drenched shirt. Fire flows through my veins, and my eyesight turns blurry.
Her pussy clenches my cock. She moans more Italian.
I warn, "Keep talking like that and I won't let you walk tomorrow."
Her laugh catches in her throat, turning into something incoherent. Her body spasms over mine, and she cries out, "Brax!"
I squeeze my eyes shut.
Don't cum yet.
I thrust slower, not wanting it to stop.
"Oh fuck! Oh fuck! Oh fuck!" she screams, and her body violently trembles.
"Say my name again, Minx," I order, speeding up my thrusts.
"Brax!" she calls out in a shaky breath.
I lose it. Every ounce of pent-up desire spools out of me. I push as deep as I can into her, and a high hits me so hard I see stars.
My breath hits her neck, and my vision evens out. I lift my face, and she pushes out of my grasp. She yanks her dress down. "See you later."
"What? Where you going?" I ask, following her to the foyer.
"I need to go."
"That's not an answer."
She finally meets my eyes. "You know better than to ask questions."
"Then I'm coming with you," I say, my protectiveness in full force.
She puts her hands on my chest. "You know you can't."
"Listen, Minx—"
Her fingers push my lips.
I stare at her, my pulse racing.
"Everything is fine. I'll see you later." She spins and opens the door. Then she looks back, says, "But it was fun. Keep Blue out of here," and winks.
I watch her saunter down the hall, get on the elevator, and wonder what the hell just happened.