Page 27 of Diavolo

He gestured toward a stack of luxe black boxes in the corner of the room. Camille had left those unopened for some reason. "Those are also for you."

With a slight frown, Elyse shuffled over to the stack of boxes. Gingerly, she picked one up, lifted the lid, and peered inside. Delicate, intricate pieces of lingerie peered back at her. Most of the bras and panties were barely held together by pretty bits of lace and silk and tiny, little strings. Elyse flushed as she snapped the lid shut. She stammered, "I-I don't think I need these."

Alessandro rose from the couch and strode toward her. He stopped right behind her. She could feel his solid warmth brush against her shoulders and her back. "Your relics need to be replaced."

"It's fine. No one will see them."

"But a beautiful woman needs beautiful things," he whispered over her shoulder. "It does not matter who sees them.You—will know."

Alessandro moved even closer to her. His chest was now pressed firmly against her back. Elyse's insides melted. The man seemed to be radiating heat like the sun. Joy unfurled within her chest. Elyse realized, then, that she'd missed him over the past two months. His hand rose to trace her bared shoulder blade. Elyse trembled at his touch. His fingertips ghosted a tantalizing line down her back until he reached the clasp of her bra.

He toyed with the closure. "May I, Dr. Romero?"

Desire surged through Elyse. At this particular moment, there was something irresistible about Alessandro. More so than ever. The man had been fucking her with his eyes for the past hour. The lingering effects left Elyse feeling weak. It was clouding her judgment. She turned around to face Alessandro. Her hip barely brushed along the hard ridge of his crotch, but the repercussions were immediate and potent. His nostrils flared with a sharp intake of breath. Every muscle grew tense. Her body reacted to him like a tide to the moon. How much longer could she resist the pull? Slowly, she reached behind her back.

"Allow me," Elyse offered quietly, "sir."

One by one, her fingers unlatched the tiny metal hooks. Her bra fluttered to the ground.Cool air pricked her breasts. Elyse stood before Alessandro with her posture steady, her head held high, and her tits completely bared. The man seemed mesmerized by the rounded teardrop curves and dusky rose-tipped nipples. Releasing a moan of appreciation, he tried to reach for her. But Elyse smiled coyly and took a step back.

"Look," she instructed, "don't touch."

His eyes darted between Elyse's face and her breasts like a broken man. Desperately, he pleaded with her, "Angelo, per favore, be kind."

It seemed, in his eyes, at this moment, she was no longer Dr. Romero. Elyse no longer felt like herself, either. Their two months apart had allowed Elyse to prove to herself that, despite Alessandro's magnetism, she was quite capable of standing her ground. A deeply feminine energy sang through her veins. It transformed her into someone else entirely. The change felt freeing. "Iwillbe kind. But only if you behave."

His jaw clenched. "Do not tease."

"I would never," Elyse retorted in mocking tones.

Alessandro eyed her suspiciously. "I gave you two months.You did not come."

"I didn't mean to stay away."

"And yet," he grumbled, "you forgot about my fucking existence while I pined day and night."

Pined? This bastard and his theatrics. With a sigh, Elyse tried to soothe Alessandro's bruised ego, "I only kept to myself because I was frightened."

"Of me?"

She paused before answering honestly, "Of how you make me feel."

"Are you still frightened?"

"No."

"Then,per favore, come to me now."

The plea in his tone only fueled Elyse's confidence. It was undeniable. She lusted after him, she had missed him, too, but, in the end,hewas the one to knock onherdoor. Because the bastard desired her more. Lightly, Elyse placed a hand upon Alessandro's chest. She could feel the hard muscle under the fabric of his shirt. She could also feel his heart hammering away against his flesh. Exerting only the slightest bit of force, she pushed himback, back, backtoward the leather couch.

"Sit," she ordered when the back of his legs hit the edge of the cushion, "and watch."

Donning a dazed expression, Alessandro sank to the couch. He was surrendering so quickly. It was shocking. As he gave in to her request, Elyse sensed the power shift between them. Such a realization caught her by surprise, and it filled her with profound clarity. Suddenly, Elyse knew exactly how to keep her employment for the next two years. In addition to providing the best goddamn medical care that money could buy, she needed to show Alessandro that he was better offwith herthanwithout. She'd mold herself into the shape of his fantasies. To be willing but not too eager. Agreeable yet unattached.Make him obsessed with her. It mattered more than actually fucking him.

Her intentions might be all sorts of wrong, but freeing herself fromPapá'sdebts seemed like a just motive. Besides, Alessandro had deceived her first. This ploy of hers was simply a form of insurance. A means to discourage him from dismissing her on a whim.

Determination rose in her. The more she could prolong his attraction to her, the greater her influence would grow. Desire fueled power. Last time, Elyse realized, her attempt had failed because she fought against her feelings, chickening out halfway, when, in actuality, what she needed to do was stoke the passion, tease it, coax their need to the very edge of madness. Let it burn until he fell to his knees before her. As long as Elyse craved him less and he craved her more, she'd be safe. He'd be less likely to fire her, hurt her, or strip away her chance at freedom.

Clinging to this newfound resolve, Elyse opened one of the black boxes. There was a lacy white bra and matching panty inside. Elyse took out the bits of lace. Then, she spun away from Alessandro, positioning her back to him on purpose, before hooking her thumbs on either side of her underwear to push it down. The scrap of cotton fell to her ankles. Elyse stepped away from it in an elegant, fluid motion. Her tits were still hidden from view, but her ass was on display. From behind, she heardhim grunt in approval. With unhurried, sensual movements, Elyse secured the lacy white bra around her breasts and slipped on the lacy white panty. When she turned back to Alessandro, he was dragging his hand down his mouth. His eyes held a feverish gleam as he drank in the sight of her.

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