Page 54 of Ruthless Guardian

This time the gasp that slips out is entirely real. Not that I didn’t notice Massimo flirting, but I hadn’t expected Raf to be so blunt about it. “How would you know?”

“Because I’m familiar with the look.” Those dark eyes raze over my bikini, drinking me in inch by inch. I squirm beneath that heated stare, squeezing my thighs to keep the unwanted surge of heat at bay.

“And what if I want to fuck him too?” The question spills out because apparently, I don’t have an ounce of common sense or a sliver of self-preservation.

“Careful,principessa,” he growls, deep and low under his breath so Aldo can’t hear.

“What? You said you had all the students and staff checked out, so he’s safe right?”

“Safe to be within your presence with me at your side.” He leans closer, scooting to the edge of the chair. “Not for his cock to be anywhere near you.”

“Is my father paying you extra for this?” I hiss, matching his stance at the edge of the lounger. “Did he tell you not to allow me to date?” My father’s overprotectiveness I’ve grown to expect and understand even, but my bodyguard’s? This is just too much.

Mom knows about my virginal status, had she toldPapà? Worst, had he told Raf? Oh,Dio, I’d die of mortification if he’d been sent to protect my purity.

“He didn’t say it in so many words, no…”

“But?”

“But protecting you means keeping you safe from all of it, Isabella. I’ve told you before, I’m a full-service kind of guy.”

“So are you going to fuck me then too?”

Aldo’s wide eyes snap in our direction, and a rush of heat blankets my cheeks.Shit!

“Yes, of course, I’ll tuck you in, too, Bella,” Raf practically shouts in the guard’s direction. Aldo’s expression visibly calms, and he resumes his pacing of the rooftop’s perimeter. Then Raf fixes his wild eyes on me, nostrils flaring. “Are you trying to get me fired?” he snarls. “You’ll be on the first jet back to Manhattan, if you do.”

“What good is being here if I can’t do anything?”

“What do you mean anything? You go to work every day, I’m letting you go to the damned party, and I’ll even let you go on your date with that snobby professor. But I’m with you at all times.”

I shake my head, irritation heavy on my brow. “It’s not fair, Raf. I deserve to have some sort of privacy.” Lowering my voice still more I whisper, “And a sex life.”

He heaves out an exasperated breath, dragging his hand through his hair. “You’re going to be the death of me, you know that?”

“But what a way to go, right?” I toss him a smirk before settling back into the lounger and burying my nose in my book. I need to hook up with someone tonight, anyone to get Raf out of my head.

The twinkling lights of Rome reflect off the smooth surface of the Tiber River as we approach the designated meet-up spot, RiverBar. As the name suggests, the open terrace overlooks the river, offering stunning views of the water and the cityscape beyond. I’m so entranced by the beautiful scene, I pay little attention to the grumpy guard beside me.

He steps ahead of me, holding the door open and the swanky bar stretches out before me with artistic light fixtures and exposed brick walls. The atmosphere buzzes with energy, a familiar energy I haven’t felt since that night at The Velvet Vault. For an instant, I’m transported to Manhattan, to my cousin’s bar, huddled beneath the table as shots pepper the air.

Squeezing my eyes closed, I push back the dark memories of what comes next, refusing to drown in the pools of blood tonight.Dio, I miss them, my brother Vinny, Serena and Matty, even Alessia and Alessandro… They may drive me crazy, but there’s nothing like family.

“You okay?” Raf’s breath skates across my ear, jerking me to the present. He leans in, and a single finger laces around my own. The darkness recedes in the space of a heartbeat, his presence offering a depth of comfort that surprises me.

“Umhmm,” I murmur, my eyes dropping to our entwined fingers. All this time and I’ve never mentioned that night at the club. Did he remember the few words we’d exchanged before the chaos began? One day I’d ask.

“Isabella, over here!” A familiar voice lifts my gaze to the archway behind the bar and the outdoor seating area. Massimo motions us over to a cluster of high tables and large comfy sofas right along the riverbank.

Raf unwinds his finger from my own, shifting his hand to the small of my back. With a gentle nudge, he steers me through the doorway. The outdoor seating area is a chic arrangement of minimalist furniture and subtle lighting coupled with smooth beats from the DJ, creating an inviting ambiance.

Massimo strides toward us, and I can visibly see Raf tense, from the sharpening of his jaw to the narrowing of his eyes and the sudden broadening of his stance. “Ciao, Isabella, so glad you made it.” Despite my bodyguard’s murderous glare, my professor nears, delivering the infamous double-cheek kiss.Brave man.

A deep growl vibrates the air, and it sounds like it comes from the darkest pits of hell, but judging by the ripple in Raf’s throat, the animalistic snarl must have come from him.

Massimo laces his arm through mine and Raf’s hand slips from my back and winds around my waist, anchoring me to his side. My professor tugs, but I’m trapped against a wall of unyielding muscle.

“Raf!” I hiss.

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