I settled in my bed, thankful to be home, and watched City as he undressed. I’d never been with a man that I couldn’t stop staring at. I wanted the image etched in my brain. His muscular build flexed as he took off his pants. The tattoos on his torso and arms moved, and I was mesmerized as if watching a movie. I ached to tug on the bar that hung from his nipple, salivated to taste his flesh, and shivered at the thought of him inside me.

He kicked his pants in the air and caught them. “Don’t look at me like that, sugar.” His shaft bobbed, catching my attention; my mouth suddenly felt dry.

I blinked and looked at his face. “Like what? I was just thinking about how skilled you are at catching your pants.” I giggled.

“You just looked at my dick in a way that makes me want to jam it down your throat.” He grinned at me, and even though my face hurt, I wanted nothing more than for him to do that to me. “Not today, sugar.”

“Tomorrow?” I raised my eyebrows, hoping that I could entice him, or at least get a promise of something before the weekend ended.

“We’ll see. I decide when and how. What can I get you?”

“Your cock.” I knew when I said dirty words that he couldn’t resist me. If he continued to deny me, I sure as hell wouldn’t make it easy on him.

He rubbed his face and muttered something I couldn’t quite make out. “Want something to drink or eat?”

He stood there, buck-naked and mouth-wateringly delicious, and waited for my answer. How could I think of water when his beautiful body was on full display? I shook my head and patted the mattress with a crooked smile.

“Tomorrow, sugar.”

A pout hung on my lips, but inside I was happy to at least get a concession. “Good enough. I don’t have anything in the fridge, City. I didn’t think I’d be here much this weekend.” Admitting to an Italian man that you lacked even the staples in your pantry wasn’t easy.

“My mother wants to drop off food later. Are you okay with that?”

“Really?” My mother had never brought me food, even when I had the flu. I always fended for myself, even if it meant crawling to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. His mother, a woman I’d never met, would bring me food, and I had a twinge of jealousy. What would it have been like to grow up in a house like his?

“I can call her anytime and she’ll drop something off. You just say the word.”

“Word, word, word! Does your mom use Ragu like mine?” My mother never cooked from scratch. As a child I thought Chef Boyardee was the bee’s knees, until I grew up and realized it was closer to vomit in a can.

City laughed, and his smile made my chest ache. “Don’t even mention the word Ragu to her. She’ll have a mental breakdown.”

“Good to know,” I said. “Remind me to never cook for her, okay?”

City grabbed his phone as he crawled in bed. “Hey, Ma. Suzy’s going to rest for a bit, but we’d love for you to drop by with some food.” I could hear her talking on the phone, and it reminded me of Charlie Brown’s teacher. I couldn’t make out the words, but I heard a garbled voice as I put my head on his chest. I played with the piercing, which earned me a stern look. “I’ll text you her address. Thanks, Ma.”

He put the phone down and stared at me, but I just smiled. “What?” I asked innocently.

“You must’ve hit your head harder than I thought.”

“Maybe.” I kissed his nipple, tugging on the hoop with my lips. He inhaled sharply as I bit down.

“Sugar, not now. I’m trying to be real good here, and you’re not in any shape right now to do the things to you I want. Later, when you’ve rested and had something to eat, I’ll give you more than you can handle…if I feel you’re up to it.”

“Party killer,” I said, as I laid my head back down in the crook of his arm.

“Be a good girl and sleep.” His fingertips trailed down my back, leaving a wake of warmth against my skin. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of his hands on me, even if it wasn’t the way I wanted.

I didn’t know how long I slept, but when I woke up, I was alone in the bed. His side was still warm. My muscles rebelled and ached as I stretched. “Damn,” I whispered, wanting to move without pain.

The doorbell rang and my heart started to pound—his mother. I didn’t look presentable, and my face had to be a mess. I’d stared at it in horror this morning at the hospital. This wasn’t the way I wanted to meet his mom.

I could hear them talking in the kitchen. The door cracked open and I turned my head, praying it was City. “Hey, sugar, ma’s here. Do you want to meet her?”

“I look like crap, City. I can’t have her see me like this.”

He sat down next to me. “Sugar, she was at the hospital this morning. She’s seen your face. She’s not going to stare at you.”

I sighed. “You didn’t tell me.”

“Sorry. Come on, just a quick hello. She made you lasagna.” He brushed the hair away from my face, following the curve of my cheek.

I’d do anything this man asked me to. A smile, touch, or kiss and I was totally and utterly his. “Let me get dressed and I’ll come out.”

Meeting parents always scared me to death, and it meant a step deeper into a relationship. His mother obviously loved her son enough to bring us food, and I wanted to at least thank her for her kindness.

I looked into the mirror, touched the stitching on my lip with my tongue, noticing the coppery taste of blood. There was no need to bother with makeup. I couldn’t look any worse than I did, and if she liked me now then I’d knock her socks off when she saw me at my best. Dressed in my favorite hoodie and sweats, I walked out to meet Mrs. Gallo.

“There she is,” City said, standing from the couch with a smile plastered on his face.

Mrs. Gallo stood up and turned around. Her face was lit up and she looked like the mom I always wanted. She had long, wavy brown hair, big brown eyes, and a kind smile. “Suzy, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around me. “I’m sorry for how we’re meeting, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

“Thank you, Mrs. Gallo, I’m feeling much better.” I moved to sit next to City, and grabbed his hand. “Thank you for making me lasagna. It’s one of my favorites.”

“My pleasure. Food always helps make everything better,” she said.

“Italian motto,” City muttered, and I laughed.

“I’m going to get going now and leave you two kids to enjoy your food. I just wanted to say hello. Is there anything else I can do before I leave?”

“No, ma’am, you’ve done more than I can ask for.”

“Mrs. G or Maria, please. You need anything, just have Joseph call me.”

“Joseph.” I laughed. It sounded so serious, and fit him well.

“Watch it,” he said in a playful tone, and squeezed my hand.

We all stood and hugged his mother goodbye. We walked to the door and watched her leave. I pictured her climbing into a minivan, even though she didn’t have small children. I never pegged her for a woman that drove a Mercedes. I dreamed of a new Honda and knew it would be a budget killer…maybe someday.

“Your mom is great,” I said as I wrapped my arm around his waist.

“She can be, but she’s a pit bull when you cross her—just ask my father,” he said. “Want some lasagna?”

“What’s for dessert?” I asked as he closed the door.

“Anything you want, sugar.”

“You know what I want,” I said.

“Are you up to it?”

“Question is, big boy, are you up to it?” I wanted him, and I figured that if I challenged his manhood, he’d finally cave. All men are the same in that regard.

He laughed. “Don’t ask questions if you can’t handle hearing the answer. Eat your food and I’ll show you how up to it I am, sugar.”

He placed a giant piece of lasagna with cheese oozing out in front of me. My stomach growled at the smell, and the feeling of hunger finally registered. I cut into the slice and watched all the insides squish onto my plate. The hot lasagna spread across my tongue, and I wanted to moan from the taste.

“That good, huh?” City asked as he scooped a chunk in his mouth.

“What? Did I?”

“Yep, you moaned, sugar.”

My face became heated. “Well, I’m used to Stouffer’s lasagna. This is amazing, City. You don’t know how lucky you were to grow up on this type of home cooking.” I slid the fork across my tongue and slowly chewed, letting all the flavors dance on my tongue.

“I never thought about it.” His fork stopped near his mouth as he looked at me with piercing eyes. “Suzy, you keep making noises like that and I won’t let you finish the next bite.” He set the fork on his plate and leaned back.

“I need my fuel to get better.” I placed another sliver in my mouth, closed my eyes, and made a small sound in the back of my throat.

“You have thirty seconds to finish what’s in front of you before I take your ass in the bedroom and give you something to really moan about.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at his watch.

I shoveled the food in my mouth. I felt torn in this moment, but the lasagna could always be reheated.

“Fifteen.” He smiled at me, and I felt everything in my body convulse and scream to be touched. I chewed like a maniac.

“Five.”

“Wait!” I held up my hand. “I need something to drink,” I said as I hopped off the high-top café chair.

“I got something for you to wash that down with, sugar. Time’s up.”

“Slower, Suzette,” City said in my ear as he rocked in and out of me. “It’s not a marathon. I want to savor being inside you.”

“I’ve just missed you. Missed this.”

“We have the rest of the weekend. I don’t want to hurt you. Slow.” He grabbed my hips and held me still as he slowed his pace. I wanted to scream and claw him, but I knew it wouldn’t help to fight him.

He rested his forehead against mine as he encased my body and assaulted my senses. This was more than just sex. He expressed his feelings, and I felt them seep into my body. I stared in his eyes as he stared into mine before he kissed my lips. The pain of the kiss didn’t stop me from returning it with fervor.

My fingers dug into his shoulders and I felt them flex under my touch. Each thrust brought me closer to the release I craved. His breathing grew harsh as he curled his arms under my body, tilting my hips.

My hands rested on his hips, unable to reach his ass, as I felt them relax and constrict with each thrust. I wished I had a mirror to watch his ass and back as he moved with my body. I squeezed the soft skin and hard muscle as the orgasm tore through my body. It was stronger than anything I had felt before. My toes curled and my muscles clenched around him as his pace quickened, before he slammed into me one last time, reaching his own bliss.

He nuzzled my neck and kissed the soft skin, making a trail to my lips. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to you, sugar.”

I ran my fingers through his hair and pulled his face to mine, forcing his eyes to see me. “I’m fine, Joey. You saved me.” I kissed him and didn’t give him a chance to respond. He flipped us over, and I straddled his body before breaking the kiss.

“No more fantasies that don’t involve me by your side, but I still want to make them come true.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” I smiled against his chest as I kissed the skin over his heart. I listened to his heart thud in his chest. I had never felt so content with any person, let alone a man.

City spent the rest of the weekend helping me. Even though it started rocky, it ended with me feeling more loved and adored than I ever had. I couldn’t deny my feelings for him any longer. My checklist no longer mattered. He showed me that he would take care of me and treat me in the way I’d always wanted. My doubts about if he was the “one” had vanished, and were replaced by a fate that had been sealed.