Page 85 of Ruthless Guardian

“What’s the big deal? Raf is smoking hot and that body… If I had a guard like that, I would’ve broken him months ago.”

“And that’s exactly why Uncle Dante only assigns you seasoned professionals and mostly females.”

She laughs again. “Pa does know me well.” Turning toward the mirror to finish the final touches on her makeup, she finally releases me. “He’s been in Milano twice since I arrived, and I’m sure that’s no coincidence.”

“Really? To check up on you?”

“He says it’s some new business opportunity for the Kings, but I don’t really buy it.” She shrugs. “Enough aboutPapà. I want to hear every dirty detail.” Serena stares at me expectantly, her eyes alight with curiosity. “So…”

“It was fine.” I cross my arms against my chest as my heart starts to pound at the heated memories surging to the surface.

“Well, it sure sounded more than fine.” A devious grin twists her lips.

“OhDio, you heard me?” Heat flares across my cheeks, burning all the way up to the tips of my ears.

“Iwassleeping in the adjoining room.”

I want to crawl into a hole and die. How embarrassing.

“And as first times go, it sure seems like you enjoyed it.”

“It was fine…”

“Damn girl, you have no idea what fine is and trust me, that wasn’t it.” She fans her face dramatically. “That was mind-blowing! Three orgasms in one night? On your first time? That’s unheard of. The man must be a master.”

A ridiculous smile splatters across my face.

“When you’re done with him, maybe I could take a test drive?”

A streak of jealousy roars through my insides, clawing at my lungs. The thought of his hands on Serena, on anyone, has red-hot fury pounding through my veins. “No,” I blurt, the word spewing out like venom. “No way.”

My cousin whirls on me, her light brows puckered. “Whoa, chill. I was just joking.” She eyes me for a long moment before a knowing smile parts her lips. “Oh, shit, Bella. You’re falling for him?”

“What? No, of course not.” My voice comes out shrill and wild, a few octaves higher than my norm.

“Then why are you all twitchy?” She arches a perfectly plucked brow.

“I’m not falling for him, Sere. We both agreed this was a one-time thing. You know how Raf is with all his rules…”

“And if he wasn’t?”

I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. He’s my bodyguard, and he’s the only reasonPapálet me come to Rome.”

Two quick knocks at the door puts an abrupt end to our conversation, and a familiar voice seeps through the cracks. A voice that has my entire body lighting up at the deep timbre. “Isabella, can I talk to you for a second?”

That damned heat blossoms across my cheeks again as Serena watches me with a stupid grin. “You are so fucked, cuz,” she whispers.

Shooting her the middle finger, I spin around and jerk the door open. Raf stands in the hallway, an unreadable expression playing on his unfairly gorgeous face.

“What’s up?”

That cold mask drops, his eyes heating as he takes in my little black dress. It’s my go-to with spaghetti straps, a plunging neckline and a hem that creeps up mid-thigh. “Um, I need to walk the perimeter with you before the guests arrive.”

Ah, of course. It’s back to business. Our one night—and morning—are up, and now, we’re just bodyguard and client… Myheart staggers at the whiplash. But I stiffen my lower lip and my shoulders as I follow him down the hallway.

“We’ll have two guards at the door, then another three surrounding the building as always. I’ll be with you?—”

“As always,” I cut in.

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