Page 130 of Sin & Sapphire

Ana shifted in her seat when I climbed into the car. “Everything okay?”

I laid my hand on her thigh, possessive and irritated that I’d be sharing her with Luca tonight, even though I’d invited the cheeky bastard.

Her muscles clenched under my touch, and then she melted into the seat, threading her fingers through mine and holding my hand against her skin.

“Parfait,” I said softly. “Absolutely fucking perfect.”

The apartment smelled faintlyof charred garlic, but with the windows open, it was slowly improving. I ordered several bouquets of flowers, briefly wondering what type Ana preferred before banishing the thought. The last thing I needed was to act like a lovesick calf. Ana was our toy, and I was taking the price of Tchérnov’s war on my businesses out of her hide.

And I would keep telling myself that until I believed it.

“Come here, princess.” I handed her an apron and couldn’t stop my chest from warming at her delighted smile.

“Salad first,” I murmured.

She gestured to the salad she’d already chopped. “That, at least, I have under control.”

“Good girl,” I said without thinking, and a faint pink flush stained Ana’s cheeks.

“Before we get started on the rest, we’re going to get everything chopped.”

Moments later, she was gleefully mincing garlic, then dicing onions. Tears poured down her face. “Fuck, Valentin! I meanmaître,” she quickly corrected herself.

“I love to see you cry,” I teased, and when she tilted her face to mine with a sweet smile, I couldn’t stop myself from brushing my lips over hers.

“Mean,” she murmured against my mouth before stepping away.

I grabbed a clean wooden spoon off the counter and swatted her ass with it. She shrieked with surprise.

“Brat.”

“You love it,” she said, rubbing her ass with the palm of her hand.

I stopped myself before responding in the affirmative. What if Ididlove it?

Together, we blanched the tomatoes and peeled them, squishing the flesh between our fingers to remove the seeds, to her delight.

The door to the apartment opened while she was laughing, and Angelo walked in with more flowers.

“This is so gross!” she said with a girlish giggle that lodged in my chest, burrowing its way into my soul and taking up residence, despite my resistance.

“It’s not as gross as bitter sauce,” Angelo said, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my shoulder. He did the same to her, and a vision of future evenings together danced across my imagination.

Ana carefully poured olive oil into the warmed pot, then added the onions a moment later, stirring them with a clean wooden spoon. She looked at me, her eyes wide with pleasure as the apartment filled with the sweet smell.

“Delicious,” Angelo murmured. “I’m proud of you, angel.”

“Be proud of me when it’s done,” she answered, “and edible.”

He placed two baguettes on the counter, along with a block of butter and two bottles of red wine.

“Is the Russo whelp’s cum still dripping out of your cunt?”

Her breath caught, and she nodded. It was a lie. He’d fucked her hours ago, and she’d showered since, but theideawas so fucking hot.

“And when I tell you I expect you to eat dinner without anything underneath your dress, will you do it?”

She nodded again, and he kissed her neck where it met her jaw. “I’m proud of you, angel.”

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