I give credit to my stripper name and go very, very still as I stare at the Don of the Romano family like a little baby deer in the headlights. Slowly, the Don’s face stretches into a wicked smile, and I see that he likes my fear – likes his women, perhaps, knock-kneed and trembling. Something abo
But I hold the questions back, because I can see the tension in Christian’s shoulders, see the stern set of his jaw. I’m not getting anything out of him today – nothing real, at least. Instead, I just reach across the car and put a hand on his knee, putting my own anger and fear aside and wanting
The next few hours move quickly mostly because…well, because I don’t let myself think about much. Instead, I get busy. “Iris,” Frankie moans as I push past him into his room, starting to scoop clothing off of the floor and throwing it into a hamper. “Please, Iris – you can’t just channel all of yo
Frankie, to my surprise, narrows his eyes at me a little bit, the corner of his mouth turning up into a smirk. “What?” I ask, frowning at him, confused. “It’s just…” he hesitates, and then runs a hand through his hair. “Can I say something that’s going to make you a little mad, Iris?” I step b
“Oh my god,” Christian says, half frustration and half panic as he crosses the room in an instant, wrapping me up in his arms. “Frank, what the hell is going on here!?” “I didn’t do anything!” Frankie protests, looking at me wide-eyed from the living room. “She was fine five seconds ago!” Nico d
But…well, it’s still nice, isn’t it? To have my oldest friend resurrect our oldest tradition, just to cheer me up a bit. I sit quietly, flicking through the movie options on the big-screen TV on Christian’s far wall, trying to decide. When Christian comes back a few minutes later with a big tray f
My little Cozy Up extends far past the time that I thought it would. Honestly, I thought it was going to be a glass of wine, a couple of cookies, one a nostalgic old movie and then Christian would kick me out, shooing me along to my room like he always does. But when the first movie ends, he puts
I cannot help biting my lip – just the edge of it! – as Christian lifts up his shirt and reveals his very…very defined stomach muscles. But my intrigue on that point is immediately dashed when I see the huge scar that stretches across his left side, moving from his ribs almost to his navel. “Chr