Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 624 -

*Caterina*

Elio's words danced over my skin like tiny flicks of electricity. Each word caressed me like a warm hand that I wanted to reach out and take.

"So, your mom said I could stay tonight. I'd like to... if that's okay with you?"

The rich baritone sound of his voice caused the muscles in my body to spasm beyond my control. Yes, I wanted him to stay. I needed him to stay. Hell, I was sure the man already possessed a secret key to the front door. Why couldn't he just move some of his stuff in here already and stay permanently?

Ever since our last encounter on that very couch, I'd felt nothing but an unbearable pent-up frustration. Between the constant heated looks and innocent touches behind my mother's back, I was certain I was on the edge of combusting. My eyes slowly opened to replace Elio's dark hooded gaze staring at me, waiting for an answer. My cheeks flushed a pink hue while my eyes dropped to his lips.

"Of course," I responded wistfully.

He gave a slight smile that was marked with some kind of silent victory. How could he possibly think that I would say no to him, I wondered. The very air around us was growing thicker by the second. And with it, I could sense Elio's reserved behavior was beginning to crack away as well.

Between pushing back my hair from my face, he glided his fingers down my cheeks and over the curve of my neck to play at the collar of my sweater. His tantalizing touch coaxed me to melt further into him.

No one had ever made me feel this desperate for attention before. Not a single other living soul had made me feel more desperate, more entranced to be touched.

Part of me still couldn't fathom that this man wanted me. Elio was strong, compassionate, devoted, family-oriented, ambitious, protective the list went on. He could easily have anyone he wanted. But based on the sensual, hypnotic movements of his hands, it was clear that he wanted me.

The feeling was entirely mutual. And I was prepared to prove it to him.

I lifted my own hand up to take his face in my palm. Leaning in, I captured his lip in a searing kiss. I needed him to feel my longing for him.

As I melted further into his touch, my hold on him grew tighter, almost angry... because among my desperate unyielding need to feel him against me, my anger toward his actions was fighting back just as strongly. Something about my rough movements must have been a clear indicator for Elio that there was more at play here than just lust.

He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and pulled back, breaking the connection between us. He tipped my head slightly back and forced me to look him in the eyes.

Elio was breathless, his voice rough and gravelly. He narrowed his eyes and spoke.

"Are you still upset about me stepping in between you and Paul?" he questioned sternly.

"Yes," I hissed. My breathing grew to become just as broken as his. "But... but I understand why you did it too."

Elio pulled his brows together. A notion of skepticism crossed his features. He ran the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip.

"Do you?" he asked with a hint of doubt. "Do you understand the awful feeling of rage that filled me when I saw him get close to you? When I watched him try to wrap his arms around you, I thought he was going to end up in a body bag." I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to keep my calm as Elio frighteningly arousing words rippled over me. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would have torn Paul to pieces had he not held himself back. I was secretly thankful and pleased that my dinner party didn't end with an ambulance and a formal statement to the local authorities.

The old version of myself would have surely rolled her eyes and scoffed some snide remark back at him. But the new me, the me who wanted to tear away both of our clothing in that same moment, found his domineering nature to be endearing... and sexy as hell.

"Elio," I gasped.

He let out a muffled growl of frustration from his chest while nearly manhandling me to better situate himself. Before I knew it, he'd curled his hands underneath my legs and lifted me onto his lap. He quickly locked his hands onto my hips, forcing me to stay in place.

I was once again straddling this man's waist.

"Caterina," he said raggedly. "I promise I'm not trying to overstep your boundaries. But I could tell from a mile away that Paul wasn't going to leave without some form of force."

He raised his hips up, unconsciously pressing his hardening length against the inner side of my thigh. I bit back a moan. My face twisted in agony as I nodded my head.

"I know," I whispered. "I know that, Elio. You're right. You being there made the situation better. Thank you."

He lifted one of his hands to stroke my cheek. "Tell me what you want, Caterina."

I bunched the material of his dress shirt in my hands and pulled him toward me. Closing the gap between us, I caught his mouth in another mind-bending kiss and grounded my hips down against his own. His hands were everywhere he could get them as I rolled our clothed bodies against each other.

"I want you," I said heatedly.

Elio returned my feelings with another push of his hips. God, it wasn't enough. I needed to feel his bare skin against my own. For just a brief moment, I pressed against his chest and gave myself enough space to pull my sweater over my head. As soon as I carelessly tossed it to the floor, I made the attempt to get up from the couch.

But Elio wasn't having any of that.

His hand continued to grip my waist and refused to let me go. My heart dropped into my stomach. Did he think we were going to continue this out here in the open?

"Elio." I shook my head. "We can't—not here."

A devious smile curved his mouth. "Why not?" he asked firmly. "I say we finish what we originally started here days ago."

My mouth fell open in shock. "Are you insane? My mother is literally down the hall. She could walk in at any moment. What if she hears us?"

This explanation only appeared to excite him even more. Elio glided his hands over my nearly exposed chest and hummed. He nipped at my collarbone and splayed several small kisses along the curve of my neck. "Would you really rather we go upstairs?" he asked.

I should have said yes. I should have been the mature adult in the situation and made us go upstairs to the bedroom. I should have wanted to play it safe. But there was a feeling, a rousing thrill of doing something we know we're not supposed to do.

Instead of nodding my head I muttered out a, "no."

Elio went on to grace me with a haughty, know-it-all grin. "Well, you'd better keep quiet then," he told me with another kiss.

The next several minutes were filled with nothing but frantic movements and numerous pieces of clothing flying in all different directions. Elio's large, warm hands roam over my front, cupping my breasts. His thumbs circled and rolled over the stiff peaks of my nipples, making me arch further into his hands.

I took my lower lip between my teeth to keep myself from moaning too loud. Unconsciously, my hips began rotating over the maddening hardness of his erection.

"Mm, please," I whispered against his lips.

Elio licked his way into my willing mouth while taking himself in his hand and giving long, tentative strokes. He lined the head of his length at my entrance and pushed forward in one brutal thrust of hips. My eyes widened as the intense, overwhelming pleasure rushed through me. His one hand instantly covered my mouth, keeping the wanton moan from echoing off the walls.

"Fuck, Cat," he grunted. "Be a good girl and try to keep quiet for me."

My eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head as my entire body broke out into countless tremors as he went on to set a punishing, determined pace for us. Elio's eyes were filled with carnal eagerness that could only be matched with the sensual movements that grew between us.

Jesus Christ, this was wrong. Yes, it was late, but that didn't mean that no one would catch us. But... good God, I became nothing but putty in his hands.

It was almost terrifying how willing I was to hand over my sense of control to him. Normally, I was prickly when it came to my independence. I hated it when Elio would try and run my life, always telling me what I had to do and what I needed to do.

But this felt different. This didn't feel like he was trying to control me. Every touch, every surging thrust of his hips sent an individual message of despairing need.

I nodded my head in comprehension. Slowly, Elio lowered his hands from my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and leaned down to kiss him again.

A sudden spark of heat started to flicker beneath my stomach. I undulated my hips against his own with every strategic movement. He slipped his hand into my hair and leaned my body back, allowing him to thrust deeper.

My nerves tensed and shook as he hit the hidden pleasure spot inside of me.

"Oh, my God, Elio." I whimpered. "Don't stop. Please, don't stop."

Again and again, Elio hit that same glorious spot. My vision was beginning to blur, and my inner muscles were starting to clench around him.

"That's it," he drawled. "Come for me, Caterina."

His pace quickened to the point where my whole was overcome by a euphoric wave of pleasure. He continued to thrust throughout my orgasm while chasing after his own.

The moment I stopped shuddering, I felt myself sway forward and sag heavily into Elio's chest. I couldn't bring myself to try and move, nor did I really care to.

But before I knew what was happening, I felt myself being moved off the couch. He carefully gathered me up in his arms and moved us out of the living room. I buried my face in his neck and kept my arms around him. "Our clothes," I mumbled into his ear.

Elio hummed in amusement. "I'll go back for them."

He placed me down on the center of my bed and disappeared for a brief minute. I allowed my eyes to flutter close, knowing that he'd return to me.

And just as I expected, he did. There was a quiet, ruffled sound of clothing dropping on the floor near the door. The next thing I heard was the creaking of my bed frame as Elio climbed onto the mattress to lie beside me.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me flush against his side. His masculine, musky scent filled my senses. I felt wanted. I felt cared for.

And it was all because of Elio, the man I'd traveled hundreds of miles to get away from. Now I couldn't imagine being any further away from him than this.