Page 55 of Ruthless Guardian

Instead of releasing me, he moves forward begrudgingly so that I’m now wedged between the two males like a damned chew toy.

Yeah, this is going to be fun…

CHAPTER 27

THE DEATH OF ME

Raffaele

Thispezzo di merdais going to die an excruciating death if he doesn’t stop eye-fucking my client. I stand beside Isabella as the eagerprofessoreregales the interns about his thrilling new research project on immunotherapy. She watches him mesmerized, as if every word that falls from his mouth is pure gold. If he’s such a damned good doctor, why isn’t he a practicing physician?

“Ah, there you are, Carlo.” The professor pivots his gaze to the young man approaching from my right.

I’d caught a glimpse of him an instant before from my peripheral. He doesn’t look familiar which has my hackles raised. He’s not from the medical internship program, and he’s not on staff at thePoliclinico, so who the hell is he?

“Students, I’d like you to meet my new assistant, Carlo Piemonte. He went through the same program at the hospital a few years ago.”

The guy looks like he could be Massimo’s younger brother with the same trendy wire-rimmed glasses and conservative button-down shirt and skinny jeans. Only where the professor has dark golden hair, his assistant’s is a shade lighter. The young man is also a little taller with a slighter build. I yank my phone out of my pocket and shoot off a text message to Aldo with the guy’s name. I need a background check ASAP. If Isabella will be spending time with Massimo, then his assistant must be cleared as well.

As all the students exchange pleasantries with the newcomer, the hair on the back of my neck prickles when he reaches his hand out to Isabella. “Piacere. A pleasure to meet you.” Luckily, the contact is brief. Maybe because I’m glaring at thecoglione, and he has an ounce of sense, unlike his mentor. “I hope your stay at thepensionewas okay?”

“Oh, yes, thank you for arranging that, Carlo.” Isabella gives him a sweet smile, the one she reserves for strangers in polite conversation. It’s guarded and doesn’t quite meet her eyes.

Thankfully, Carlo moves on to the next intern, and his arrival has put an end to the professor’s monologue about malignant melanoma. Isabella’s eyes flicker to mine as I watch the lanky assistant move through the crowd of students to join his mentor, Massimo.

“What’s so funny?” she whispers.

“Nothing. I’m smiling because I’m glad it’s over.”

“Massimo’s speech might be over, but the night has just begun.” She lifts her flute of prosecco and clinks it against my sparkling water.

“As long as there are no more rousing speeches on the efficacy of the professor’s novel immunotherapy in treating advanced melanoma, I suppose I could tolerate this get together a little longer.”

“Don’t be an ass,” she growls under her breath. “That’s important research he’s conducting.”

“I’m not saying it isn’t, but does he really have to brag about it for over thirty minutes?”

A grin ghosts over her lips, and despite her best efforts, I coax out a smile. “It’s interesting…”

“If you say so,principessa.”

With an eyeroll that has my palm twitching, she gulps down the remainder of the prosecco and turns toward the bar. “I’m getting another.”

“Do you think that’s wise after last time?”

Her cheeks blush a tempting crimson, and my cock stands at attention at the hypnotic sight. I can’t help my thoughts from wandering back to the night at the hotel, to the flush of her skin, to the curve of her lips, and to the stars that danced across her brilliant sapphire eyes as she came.

“Probably not,” she counters, “but this time, I’m sure I’ll find a willing participant.” Her lips slide into a feral grin. She’s provoking me, and I know it. But I’m too mesmerized by those pouty lips and sparkling eyes to stop myself.

I lean closer, so close, my nose brushes the shell of her ear. “You know very well I would have been willing if the circumstances were different.”

Her eyes meet mine, darkening and defiant. “But nothing has changed, has it?”

I grind my molars, clenching my jaw before I snap the hair tie around my wrist. “No,” I grit out. “I am your guard, and you are my client. If I am to work at the highest level of my ability, the lines must remain between us. My duty above all else is to keep you safe.”

“Then I’ll just have to find someone else to see to myotherneeds.” She spins away, swaying that ass so provocatively that I’m biting my tongue to keep from running after her.

Fuck, there’s nothing I want more than to be the one to satisfy her needs. I dream about sinking my cock into her pussy nearly every night now that we’re under the same roof. I’d never admit to her how many evenings I spend lingering at our adjoining door just listening to her soft breaths as she sleeps.

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