Page 100 of Maddest Temptation

“You closed the deck?” I gasped.

“Of course, I did.” He drew nearer. “Or else I would have to kill every man that looked at your naked skin.”

“Naked?”

“Yes,” he nibbled on my neck and inhaled deeply. “You’re so damned sweet, Francesca.” Air got stuck in my lungs. “I think I’ll have my dessert now.”

“You’re so confident I’ll give it to you,” I teased as anticipation coursed through my veins, and wetness pooled between my legs, my panties sticking to my skin.

Cassio nibbled on my jaw and then kissed me; it was fast, and yet it still left me breathless. “A man can only dream.”

“I’m yours, Cassio,” I confessed. He could do whatever he pleased with me, and I wouldn’t care. I was too far gone. I wanted him too much to think better of it.

He had me naked in record time, my clothes scattered over the floor. I truly hoped no one was watching us through the camera feed, but I didn’t care about that either. Not when he picked me up and walked all the way toward the glass wall.

“Cassio,” I squealed as my back touched the cold glass. I looked down and saw the city beneath me. I was never one for heights, my heart started hammering against my chest. “Cassio,” I repeated again, this time it was laced with fear.

“It’s safe, Francesca,” he assured me. I breathed in deeply. “I won’t ever let anything happen to you,” he said with determination. “Do you trust me?”

I nodded, of course, I did.

He picked up my hand and settled it over his heart, it was beating fast, too. “You’re nervous,” I noted surprised.

“I’m always nervous when I’m around you,” he confessed with a shy smile.

“Around me?” Was this a joke? Cassio was nervous around me?

“Look at you, Principessa.” He did so with wonder in his eyes. “You’re so perfect.”

“I’m a mess, Cassio,” I pointed out with a dry laugh. “I’m full of thorns.”

He shook his head. “No, you’re perfect just the way you are, Francesca. Don’t ever think otherwise. I don’t fear pain, my skin is thicker than that.” He tucked a strand of hair from my face and placed it behind my ear. “You are perfect for me.”

My heart swelled. It was impossible not to love a man like him. I leaned in and kissed him; it was soft and devoid of our usual hunger. We took our time, letting our mouths dance to their own rhythm. There was no need to rush.

Cassio tasted like the dreams I once dreamt, and it was so sublime. So…pure. I wanted to live in this kiss forever.

I could feel his heart accelerating, picking up speed like mine was, both erratic. Suddenly, the kiss grew desperate. Cassio lifted me up and I instantly wrapped my legs around his powerful body. He held me like I weighed less than a feather. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him harder.

“I’m going to fuck you before my city. I’m going to own you completely.”

I chuckled at the shift in his voice. “Then please do, Cassio Moretti.”

Cassio pushed my soaked panties aside and pushed into me in one powerful thrust. My head fell back against the window as I cried out his name.

“You.” He thrust in hard. “Are.” He pulled out. “Mine.” He thrust back deep inside me. “Say it.”

“I’m…yours.” I panted hard.

“And I’m yours, Principessa.”

29

FRANCESCA

Iwoke up to Cassio on the phone, his voice gruff and serious. I fought to adjust to the morning light and realized it wasn’t morning yet. The sun was still asleep—like we should be.

Light poured from the bathroom, and I watched as Cassio paced back and forth. I sat up, pulled the sheets with me, and crossed my legs waiting for him to return. When he did, I noticed his expression was grave. He sat beside me and ran his fingers through his golden-brown wavy hair. His large hand came to rest on my thigh, and he took a deep breath readying himself to speak.

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