A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

her shirt and his is unbuttoned. I don't bother trying to conceal the grin on my face at seeing them. "Well, hello there sex kitten." I call out to Lil. She flushes with a warm blush that lights up her skin.

Nico groans at our interruption. "If she is a sex kitten. What exactly does that make you Gianna?" Nico looks at me with a crude glint in his eyes.

Knowing exactly where he is going with it, I shrug. "I dunno, a nympho maybe. Why did you have another word in mind?"

Nico opens his mouth to say something when Daveon clears his throat beside me. "Nico, don't."

Nico glares at Daveon for stopping him before he groans as he reluctantly moves his hands off Liliana. Helping her down he steps back and begins to button up his shirt. "I'm installing a call request button. So you can't just come up anymore." He turns his attention back to me. "Especially you. That’s the last fucking thing I want is for you to constantly be coming in unannounced."

"Be nice." Liliana chastises Nico.

"I am being nice." She rolls her eyes at him before walking over to me. Grabbing my hand she drags me away from them, heading upstairs.

Settling down onto the bed, she watches me. "So how are you doing?"

"I'm fine, a lot better now that I'm not marrying Enzo." The relief I still feel is warming.

"Me too." She glances down looking at my ring as a smug expression settles on her face. "You know, I thought there was something up with you. Especially how you hated him so much."

"No, that hate was real. He still drives me fucking nuts sometimes. Speaking of which. I guess I have to plan the engagement party? For tomorrow.” I give her my best attempt at a pleading look. “Please help me."

She looks at me with shock. "We better get started then. Let me get dressed and we can get going. I know some caterers we can go talk to."

***

When we get back, I have almost everything set for tomorrow besides telling all the caterers where it is. Since Daveon wouldn't even tell me an address to give them all, I'll have to call them later with it.

It's not too much later after we return that Daveon and Nico arrive back. We don't stay long before he is ushering me out to go show me our new home. Excitement bubbles up at finally getting to see where we will be living. As we get into the elevator he pushes a button before stepping back facing me.

Only a moment or two later the elevator dings once again. That was a short ride down. Confused, I look up at the dial indicating the floor we are on. 20? I turn to Daveon. "Why did we stop here? I thought we were going to go to our apartment?"

He enters a code on the panel. "We are." The doors open to a luxurious loft. He pulls me out over the threshold as I stare around.

"You mean we live in the building with Nico and Liliana now?"

"I figured it was safer than anywhere else, and you don't have to be watched over here. Plus this way you can spend as much time as you want with Liliana while I'm away. I know you've missed her probably as much as she has missed you." My heart does a little flutter at his thoughtfulness.

“So you moved here for me?”

He nods instead of speaking. I turn looking around. It’s beautiful, large and spacious. “It’s not the penthouse but it should have anything you would need.”

“Does Liliana know?” I can’t keep the grin from my face.

“Yeah she does, but I asked her not to say anything to you.” I begin wandering through the place. It looks massive with the open concept flooring. As we walk to the balcony, I open the door stepping out, the smell of chlorine wafts to my nose. As I look around I see the cause.

“We have a pool??” I squeal, looking at him with astonishment. In the corner is a small rectangular pool in-set into the ground. The water is glassy and calm as the low orange glow of the lights dimly illuminates the surface. He comes up behind me grabbing me by the waist as he runs his hands over my curves.

Leaning down, he takes my ear into his mouth nibbling around it. “Do you know how fucking amazing you look in a bikini? After spending that day seeing you in that damn bikini when you were visiting New York, I decided I wanted to have the opportunity to see it whenever I wanted.” He spins me to face him.

“You know we could have just gone to the beach or something if you wanted to see me in one.”

“Yeah but then that would mean every other man there gets to see you too.” He leans down again brushing his lips over my neck as he moves them across my skin. “And that is a problem for me.” I push away from him, a mischievous grin on my lips as I back towards the pool.

“So since we have it all to ourselves. Is a bikini really necessary?” He watches me with hooded eyes as I reach down pulling my shirt up and over my head. Slipping my shorts off I push my discarded clothes to the side as I turn, diving into the pool. As I break the surface I open my eyes, looking up at Daveon, who is still standing where I left him, unmoving. The lukewarm water moves smooth and serene as it laps against my skin.

“What, don’t know how to swim, Hercules?” I taunt him, breaking his trance. He quickly peels out of his clothes before jumping and cannonballing into the water. I giggle as a wave splashes over me when his large body breaks the surface. With the water choppy and the lighting low I struggle to see him under the surface. When he still doesn’t come up I