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“I don’t want a boy. I don’t want a man either. I want you.”
He let out a bitter laugh.
“You can have whatever you want, princess, but you are not for me to have.”
“That will be my decision.”
I pressed my forehead to his, ready to launch into a kiss. He knew what was coming but didn’t let me down from his arms or push me back. When I pressed my lips to his, I felt the contrast with his rough mouth, cold from staying outside in the wind.
He was reluctant, but I teased his lips until he finally opened up and let me in. This kiss was different than everything we had shared until now. It was sweet and slow, like flame gathering its power, and with every second, the sensations grew more intense. His touch sent electric shocks all the way to my toes, and I melted on his chest like gelato in July. We were a paradox, an unstoppable force hitting an immovable object, each struggling to get its way. I wanted Hugo to jump off the cliff with me while he kept his feet strongly anchored into the ground.
After several seconds, he walked to the table in the living room, carrying me and letting me down on top of it. He broke the kiss but didn’t leave; he just sat there, my legs still on his hips, his hands on the table and his head down.
“You’re going to bring me to my knees, Catherinelle.”
I sure did hope so.
“Are you done avoiding me, Mustafa?”
He crooked his neck to look at me, his face still expressionless, but there was a playful ray of light in his eyes.
“I don’t know what you want from me, Cat. I can’t keep my hands off you when you’re close, and you’re always so fucking close.”
“Then don’t! What’s so wrong with me that repulses you, God damn it?”
Frustration bubbled in my throat, and my high-pitched question made Hugo do something I never believed he was capable of – be gentle. He raised his bear paw and touched my face with infinite care. I could barely feel him, almost like he was worried he might damage my skin with his palm.
“Don’t be stupid; you’re the most beautiful thing under the damn sun. You’re also a smart girl. You know you’re the forbidden fruit, princess.”
I was done circling about the elephant in the room. The year before my father was shot, he opened a new casino in Vegas. It was a luxury place, right on the strip and the launch party lasted a full week while rivers of champagne flooded the city. It was the first time my mom let me inside a casino, and I walked around clueless until Ignazio took me to a poker table and taught me how to play. When it came to poker, it was all about strategy and secrecy, and I was never good at it. I played with my cards on the table, all in, and this was how I wanted to play with Hugo.
“Are you afraid of what Gino would do if he found out?” ‘If’ because I wasn’t going to go and tell him.
Hugo laughed again.
“I don’t have to guess what he would do if he knew what I just did to you. Your brother would shoot me like a dog.”
“You’re his best friend,” I rushed to say, trying to make that dreadful fear disappear. I refused to think my brother would do something so stupid.
“I’m not afraid to die, Cat; that’s not what this is about.”
“He’s not going to kill you, Jesus.” Gino was…he was someone to be feared, but he was good to his people, and Hugo was one of his closest, most trusted friends.
“You’re his little sister; he most definitely would, but I told you, I don’t care about that shit. It’s not about fear. I pledged an oath to your brother, to your family. Going behind his back would be like I spit in his face, Cat.”
“You are not forcing me into anything, Hugo. If anything, I have been the one harassing you.”
“It doesn’t fucking matter, Cat. I can’t think straight when you’re around. You’re my best friend’s little sister, the jewel of the Nucci family crown, and you’re seventeen. My job is to keep you away from men like me. Men who would rip away that innocence that sparkles in your eyes, princess.”
“I know what I want, Hugo. I’m not a child. It’s like Bianca said the other day, you don’t get much childhood in the life we have. I want you.”
“We can’t.”
“Ten days.” I raised my hand to make him stop talking. “Gino is coming back in ten days, and I’m not stupid enough to think he won’t catch onto us. I don’t want to get between you two and start a fight between brothers.” Because that’s what they were, Hugo and my brother, they were brothers tied not by blood, but by word. “Give us ten days.”
I saw the battle on his face. He wanted me too, and it wasn’t fair to ask him to betray my brother’s trust, but my desire was stronger than my principles.
“I can’t disgrace you, Catherinelle. I won’t.”
