Page 7 of Isle of Beauty

If he’d been mine, and Igor had been a threat, I’d hope the entire bar would have witnessed the commotion. But that’s ridiculous because Pierce is a nice guy, he isn’t in the mafia, and he certainly isn’t mine.

I move to Pierce and gently put a hand onto his back. Heat radiates from him in waves. His muscles pleasantly shift under my hand and electricity jolts where our bodies connect. He’s a wild animal ready to tear the throat of what he perceives as a threat, and I’m the tamer who will call him off his target.

I’m so close to him now, his smell invades my nose. Something like bitter orange and a hint of lavender, it’s fresh, yet masculine.1 It fits him so perfectly I want to close my eyes and inhale like a maniac.

I shouldn’t be turned on right now…

I can already hear Giulia’s mocking laugh in my head.

Slowly, Pierce turns his head, his eyes never fully leaving Igor’s face. When I’m in his peripheral vision, I move my hand to his face, effectively turning all his attention on me. I don’t know why I do it. I just know it’s what I need to do to get him to listen.

“Pierce, this is my friend, Igor.” My voice is soft and coaxing. “I don’t know what happened but you can release him now.”

The look he gives me is one of confusion.

I understand. Why would my friend be seated at the other side of the bar, probably looking like a creep on the cameras? But I don’t think telling Pierce that Igor really is my bodyguard is a good option. I want to have fun, not tell a complete stranger my life story. It could put him in danger.

He glares back at Igor for another few seconds before taking a step back. My hands fall from his body and I immediately miss the heat of it.

The transformation happens in real time and the change is staggering. His features soften, his jaw and shoulders relax. He’s not smiling but he’s open. I understand why he’d be successful in a boardroom. His face is inviting and charming, no hint of the dark rage that simmers under the surface.

But I want to see it again.

I dismiss the little voice in my head that whispers of Pierce’s potential for violence.

Pierce clears his throat and offers his hand to Igor but no other form of apology. “I misread the situation. Pierce.”

A wide knowing grin spreads on Igor’s face when he looks at me, and I want to smack him. I’m never going to hear the end of it. I roll my eyes and invite him to join our group at the bar, usually our code for him to ditch.

As predicted, he declines and embraces me instead. “Promise me you’ll use protection, surella.”

The laughter in his voice is audible and taunting. I punch him as hard as I can on the bicep, which makes him laugh in earnest before he adds, more serious, “And don’t forget to keep your location on for the entire night. I’ll be checking in frequently.”

Igor slips into the crowd that started gathering for the past half hour and I turn my attention back to Pierce.

He focuses on me with intense eyes and I squirm under his scrutiny. I can’t help but blush. Which is completely ludicrous for me.

I wonder if he knows his little display of violence, as small as it was, made me wet.

Fuck, I’m sick.

Yet, you don’t grow up in the mafia and go through hard training without liking the potential for bloodshed at the end of it. I’m not about to kink-shame myself.

Pierce gets me out of my trance by asking what I would like to drink, and we make our way back to Giulia and Louis.

1 Lisandru wears the classic Jean-Marie Farina Eau de Cologne by Roger Gallet

FOUR

LANA

PIZZA AND TIRAMISU ARE THE WAY TO MY …

“Louis told me you and Giulia are leaving London soon?” Genuine interest shines in Pierce’s eyes.

I try to stay as vague as I can. As much as I want to give him the real me, I need to remain careful. Always careful. Protecting my family is in my blood and I’m not about to jeopardise them for anyone. “Uh… yeah. Our family business is expanding and we’re needed at home.”

“And is that what you want? Going home?”

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