Always by Celia Juliano Read Free Book Online Page B

beautiful life she’d dreamed of at her grandmother’s knee as Grandma knitted and hummed love songs and lullabies.
    Gina turned. Vincente’s house was in front of her. She had to stop his family, so she could get back hers.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Vincente had said his goodbyes. He didn’t know what the hell was going on with Gina and her parents, but the tension between them was clear especially since she’d run out halfway through dinner after that private conversation with her father. And Vincente still didn’t know what she had against his family. Forget her.
    He stepped onto the sidewalk. The sun blazed against the horizon, illuminating the city with fiery colors. Gina, in that red dress…He shook his head. She, like the sun, would burn if he got to close. But, damn, the heat felt good. Forget it. He was used to the cold.
    He rolled his shoulders and strode up the street. As he unlocked the side gate at home, he stopped, sensing he wasn’t alone. He turned his head. Gina rushed toward him from around the corner. She got in his face and pushed him. He stood still, tensing and releasing his pecs. Her eyes showed hurt, not crazy or anger, and her hands trembled.
    “Keep your family away from mine. I know what you’re up to.” Her voice cracked, as if she held back tears.
    There wasn’t any point in saying anything. She wouldn’t believe him, no matter what he said, and he wasn’t going to get the truth out of her. Not yet.
    “Do you hear me?” Her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling in an erratic pattern.
    He walked through the gate and down the path. Her footsteps clicked behind him. She grabbed his arm.
    “Don’t ignore me,” she shouted.
    “Everything okay?” Nico said from the side doorway.
    Vincente clasped Gina by the waist, pulled her in front of him, and firmly, but not so he’d hurt her, pinned her arms behind her. She sucked in a breath.
    “Lock up the gate and erase the footage. She was never here. I got this.” Vincente moved forward. Sometimes Grandpop checked the security footage. Vincente didn’t want Gina hurt anymore than she already was, and she might be if anyone else found out she’d been here. Gina locked her legs and refused to budge. She leaned back into him, wriggling. He kept hold of her wrists with one hand and smacked her ass with his other hand. Gina made a surprised sound. Her body softened just enough that he loosened his grip.
    He wrapped his arm around her waist. She stilled. Her hair tickled his cheek. A low growl rumbled in his chest. “You want me to treat you like a child or a woman?” he whispered in her ear.
    Her stomach contracted as she let out a breathy sigh. She swiveled in his arms and faced him. Her frown and stiff features told him she was still upset. She closed her eyes. “I get angry. It’s childish.” She opened her eyes. Her gaze searched his for a moment. She kissed him, almost frantic, moving from his lips to his neck to his ear. “I’m a woman,” she whispered between kisses. Her tone had softened, almost a plea for him to see her as that woman, not as the angry girl she’d acted like. She was all softness, yielding…He eased his fingers up her back, into her silky hair. Their kiss deepened. She nipped his lower lip. He gripped her head and ass and pulled her flush to him. As if from a distance, the gate clicked shut. Vincente ran his tongue across her lip. Her tongue darted out, sending him flying, like riding the crest of a wave. As quickly, he broke their embrace, took her hand and strode into the house. She kept up with him, following as he made his way through the kitchen and up the stairs.
    When he entered his room, Gina tried to free her hand. “That guy—he’ll tell…” Her tone was laced with panic.
    He grabbed her, shut the door and locked it. “No. You’re safe.”
    She ran her hands over his chest. Finding the zipper on her dress, he tugged it down. Her fingers trembled as she undid the