TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

her again. “Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” Why did she keep challenging him when he clearly was trying to be the levelheaded one?

“Both,” he said with a smile before tapping her on the nose like he might his little sister. “I’ll see you on the eleventh.” And with that he took her by the elbow and pulled her toward him. Just when she thought he’d changed his mind and might kiss her again, he opened the door behind her, turned her around, and gave her a gentle nudge inside.

“Lock the door.” That was something her brothers would tell her, further dousing the flames he’d sparked. Once again, he seemed to have returned to thinking about her in a sisterly way regardless of the message that kiss had sent. Tony started to turn away but stopped and added, “And do me the honor of featuring me in at least one flaming hot dream tonight.”

Just like that, the fires ignited within her once more. She gave him her most seductive smile. “I will, if you will.” Her voice sounded husky even to her ears.

He chuckled. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I have a long drive to come up with a number of scenarios too.” His gaze lowered to her breasts making them burn with desire for him to touch and kiss them. Clearly, she’d misread his sisterly intentions earlier. “Sweet dreams, dolcezza.”

Sweetness. The endearment warmed her heart—and a throbbing spot much lower.

“You too. Text me when you get home, so I’ll know you made it there safely.”

Tony nodded briefly then without another word, he turned and walked down the steps to the parking lot. She stood rooted to the spot until he motioned for her to get inside. Apparently, he wasn’t going to leave until she did.

With a sigh that he wouldn’t change his mind, she entered the foyer of her condo and locked the door behind her. Inside the surprisingly lonely space, frustration from the unspent sexual tension made sleep of any kind impossible, so after a quick shower she curled up in bed and opened the spy novel Marc had given her. Despite his assuring her it was a riveting thriller, it didn’t hold her attention one iota.

The memory of Tony’s body pressed against hers filled her thoughts and led to a heaviness in her lower body that wouldn’t be denied any longer. She opened her nightstand drawer and pulled out her bullet vibrator. If ever she needed release, it was tonight.

Damn you anyway, Tony Giardano!

She hoped he lost sleep tonight, too, after leaving her like this.

And that he’d call her for another non-date soon. She didn’t want to wait a month to see him again.

I’m an idiot.

Whether he thought that because he had left Carm on her doorstep with both of them wanting more or because he’d let things go as far as they had in the first place, Tony wasn’t sure. One thing was certain—he’d need a cold shower tonight when he got back home.

Which was the first place he headed when he walked into his apartment two hours later. While drying off, he remembered that he’d promised to text Carm and let her know he’d made it home safely. She’d probably fallen asleep already, but he sent her a cursory message. Seconds later, his phone pinged.

CARMELLA: Thx for letting me know. Pleasant dreams.

Her reminder of his challenge for her to have a hot dream about him came back. As his own thoughts returned to his fantasies on the drive home of what he would’ve liked to do with her tonight, any effects from the cold shower dissipated quickly. He grabbed a hand towel and carried it into his bedroom before texting her back.

TONY: not pleasant. flaming hot ones.

As he waited for a response, he realized this was the first time since the victims had been recovered from the river that he hadn’t automatically reached for alcohol soon after entering his apartment. Sure, in recent days he’d managed to talk himself out of taking that first drink, but tonight he hadn’t given booze a single thought.

All he had been able to think about were the fantasies that kept him awake on the drive home. Carm’s body naked beneath him—or on top of him—he’d been fantasizing about her in both positions, actually. Or of Carm taking his cock into her hot, sweet mouth.

She didn’t respond. Had she fallen asleep? Was she dreaming about him yet?

With his free hand, he stroked his cock, hoping for some much-needed relief from the sexual tension that had been building all night. In his mind’s eye, he unzipped the little black dress she’d worn to dinner, revealing her tantalizing shoulders. Slowly, her breasts came into sight encased in a black lacy bra. He bent down to kiss the skin spilling out of the bra cups. She moaned the way she had during their kiss, and he let the dress slide to her feet revealing sheer black panties.

Ping! Jarred from his fantasy, he reached for his phone.

CARMELLA: I despise you for leaving me like this.

Tony grinned. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one left wanting.

TONY: will make it up to you sometime, dolcezza.

CARMELLA: It’s Friday already. Busy tonight?

Shit. She knew he was off duty if she kept up with Marc’s schedule, so he couldn’t lie and say he had to work. Of course, he didn’t owe her an excuse. Just tell her you can’t make it. Because they weren’t going to end their next evening together with merely a kiss.

Tony needed some time to think before taking that next step. He also had an appointment with Lisa this afternoon and wasn’t sure what kind of mood he’d be in afterward.

TONY: sorry. can’t.

Let it go. Don’t start something with her. You’re not in the right headspace for a relationship right now.

Sex was a coping mechanism for him, but that’s not how you treated someone like Carm. Then why did his fingers develop a mind of their own? Maybe an alternative activity might not have