Chapter 20
DIANGELO
Present
You managed to drag yourself away last night with her taste on your tongue, but it took every ounce of your control.
You will not, under any circumstances, let yourself get carried away again.
I don’t care what side of the bed she’s sleeping on or how unabashed she is about touching herself.
I don’t care if she offers herself up in a pink satin bow and cuffs; you will not cross that line.
Terina Donati is off-limits.
She is your best friend’s little sister—a full ten years younger than you. She needs your undiluted focus to keep her safe. That cannot happen if you’re busy imagining her naked.
Like you’re doing right now.
Jesus Christ.
I’ve been reading myself the riot act all night and since the moment I woke this morning, yet one look at Rina has my imagination rebelling.
She’s wearing what must be the tiniest pajama shorts on record with a thin, baggy T-shirt.
Together, the two tease a peek at the luscious curve of her ass cheeks practically every time she moves.
And her hair … Jesus, her hair—thick and long, a deep auburn color like a redwood forest cascading down her back. A perfect fistful.
She flits about as if she doesn’t have a care in the world, an earbud in one ear, and a rhythm to her steps.
She’s a brightly colored flag waving in an autumn breeze, drawing the eye of anyone who happens by.
I noticed her beauty in the past, but never to this degree.
I wouldn’t allow myself to. With her living in my home, I can’t escape her mystifying effects.
I’ve had a semi ever since she got a coffee mug down from the cupboard.
My body’s response pisses me off. I suppose it makes what I’m about to do a smidgen easier because I have to reset the boundary, and if I’m an asshole in the process, it’s for the best.
For her safety, and for my honor.
Hell, for my sanity.
I’ll pretend last night never happened and ensure we maintain strict boundaries going forward.
“I need to go by Renzo’s place today. If you’re going to yoga, you need to go to a session around one o’clock. We’ll go to your brother’s after. I’m not doing two outings.”
There’s a hitch in her movements as she processes, but only for a second.
“One o’clock class works for me.” She blows on her coffee, then takes a sip.
I expected more of an argument. More of a reaction stemming from last night. I’m not sure what type of reaction, but this isn’t it. This isn’t anything. It’s like she’s oblivious, which was supposed to be my trick, and it’s pissing me off.
If she’s unaffected by my inflexible demands, I’ll have to up the ante. I need to do something to drive a wedge between us and keep my priorities straight. When she intentionally drops a corner of her toast on the floor for Bonny to gobble up, I seize the opportunity.
“Do not feed my goddamn dog,” I snap at her. “You’re already wreaking havoc on my life. You don’t need to give my dog the shits on top of everything else.”
Bull’s-eye.
She gapes at me as though I backhanded her across the face. With my mission accomplished, I head for the guest room shower where I plan to punish myself with ice-cold water because I feel like an absolute bastard. But it had to be done.
I’m not okay with her paying for my mistakes, which will happen if I’m not careful. Her sore feelings will heal, but a failure of protection might bring consequences I could never undo. I’ve lived that misery, and I never want to experience it again.