Page 28 of Tony

And even though I am the one who commands her full attention right now, I can just tell her mind is on something else.

No. Not something. Someone.

She’s thinking about him. That kiss. The way she… swooned. Because that’s what I just caught her doing.

She didn’t dart behind the building to avoid Vann at the front door to the shop. She went to the back door so she could have a moment to herself. To relive that kiss in her head before she shook it off and had to join the rest of us in the real world again.

I snap my fingers. “Eyes up here, Rosalie.”

“Don’t call me that.” Her eyes blaze as she spits these words up at me.

I press my body against her with a little more force, grind my hips a little. “Changing your name won’t change who you are, Belinda.”

“I didn’t just change my name. I changed my life, Tony.”

“I don’t really care what you call yourself. I’m happy to go along with the lie. But when I’m standing in front of you, I need your attention on me.”

“What do you want? Do you even know why you’re here? I didn’t invite you. I didn’t lead you on back in Key West, I didn’t flirt with you, I didn’t hang around like a lonely little puppy waiting for her master to take notice.”

“No. You left.”

“And that pisses you off, doesn’t it?”

She’s got me there.

“Hmm.” She smiles, averting her eyes. As if not looking at me can hide the smirk.

I take a step back, let go of her shirt. She glances up at me with a tight frown. “OK,” I say. “You want me to go home, Rosalie? I can do that.”

“Oh, can you?” She scoffs. “If that were the case you wouldn’t be here in the first place. If that were the case, you wouldn’t be following me around like a creepy stalker. If that were the case—”

“So why don’t you just let me fuck you, get it all out of my system, and I’ll be on my way?”

“Oh.” She laughs. “Oh.” She points at me. “You are the biggest douchebag I’ve ever met.”

“Then why are you still standing here? Hm? That bag of food is getting cold. Be a good Girl Friday and take it inside to your masters. Such a fucking amazing career you have going here. I’m so proud of you.”

She slaps me. “Fuck you, Tony.”

My hand comes up to my cheek to feel the heat and sting of the slap. I grin at her and she makes a face. But she doesn’t push me away and she doesn’t go inside. She stays right where she is.

So I step closer once again. My fingertips find the edge of her shirt. But this time, I don’t hesitate. I palm the soft skin of her stomach and slide my hands up to her breasts, grabbing the edge of her bra and pulling it down so her tits bounce out.

She sucks in a breath. But that’s the only signal she sends me.

It’s enough. Practically a “yes.” Pretty much a “keep going.”

I lean in to her neck and whisper, “You like this, don’t you?” Her shoulders bunch up like I just gave her a chill. “You like this sick game we play. You can’t get enough, can you?” One hand slides down to lift the edge of her skirt. I pause for a moment, my fingertips caressing her thigh, my head slightly cocked so I can see the side of her face.

I wait for her to stop me before I move forward.

She doesn’t stop me. She bites her lip and begins to breathe faster, staring straight ahead, eyes fixed on some unknown point across the alley.

“Mmm-hmm,” I hum. “You like it.”

“It’s got nothing to do with ‘like,’ Tony. It’s…” But she doesn’t finish.

“It’s OK,” I say, nibbling on the edge of her ear. She bunches her shoulders up again. Shakes her head. “I feel it too. I’m not here because I want you, Rosalinda. I’m here because I need you. You’re my sick obsession. I weaned myself off of you almost a decade ago. Had you sent away. Got over it. Forgot about you. Rosalie who?” I laugh a little and she turns her head away from me, exposing her neck. I kiss it. Softly. Tenderly. I can be that guy. But with this girl, it’s just another trick I’ve learned over the years. “But then you came back. And it was like… taking that first drink after being sober and the addiction coming back unwanted. Trust me, I’m not here for you. I’m here for me.”