Page 107 of Empire of Temptation

Horned up? Dio, the way this generation talked.

Rising, I angled her shoulders until her back was against the tile. Then I braced myself with one hand, leaning in so we were close, but not touching. “Later. I want you thinking about me all day.”

“Pretty sure I’ll be doing nothing but, especially when I drive by the cemetery.” Valentina nipped at my throat. “God, that was hot. It makes me want to bite you some more.”

Chuckling, I stepped back under the spray. “Are you part vampire?”

“Maybe. Would you let me turn you immortal so we could be together forever?”

“If it means I can keep fucking you, yes.”

We finished in the shower and I dried her off with a towel. Then I wrapped one around my waist and headed for my closet. I expected her to do the same in the other bedroom, but she followed me. “Are you wearing a suit today?” she asked as I found a pair of briefs.

“Do you want me to?”

Using a band from her wrist, she fashioned her hair up into a wet ponytail. “I always want you to wear a suit. You look so hot in them. Though your pajama bottoms are pretty hot, too.”

Pajama bottoms? Hot? “Then, yes, I’ll wear a suit.”

“Yay! I get to pick out your tie.” Humming, she bounced over to the neat line of ties hanging and began sifting through them. I pulled on a dress shirt and absently did the buttons, my attention fully onValentina. The towel she wore barely covered her ass and her long, smooth legs were on full display. I loved her legs. They were strong, with velvety soft skin, and fit perfectly around my waist as I drove inside her warm, wet pussy.

“Wear another dress today,” I said. “And heels.”

She looked at me from over her shoulder, and there was a strange expression on her face, almost like panic or worry. “Why? Are you coming to the restaurant tonight?”

“Do you want me to come in?”

“No!” she said emphatically—and my eyebrows raised in surprise. Instantly, she smiled and waved her hand. “I mean, we’ll both be busy, right? You should stay here and work on your things. I need to catch up with Roberto and Giovanni, then meet with the social media person we’re trying to hire. Place orders and whatnot. You know, restaurant things. It’ll be super boring and I won’t have time to sit down.”

My senses went on high alert. Valentina was babbling and trying to keep me away from the trattoria. Why?

“No problem, amore,” I said casually, though my mind was racing. “I’ll eat here and we’ll see each other tonight.”

She handed me a tie and kissed my cheek. “Perfect. I’ll go get ready and you can drive me in.”

Questions burned my tongue as I silently watched her go. I didn’t know why she was acting this way, but I would definitely find out.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Luca

Itexted my brothers as soon as I left the trattoria. I needed a full report on what happened last night. I also instructed Sergio to get all the camera footage from Valentina’s office, the dining room, and the alley.

If something happened, I would discover it.

Aldo drove me back to the house, his hands tapping on the steering wheel along to the music he was enjoying. I put my mobile in my pocket and tried to stay calm. There was no use speculating on the reason for Valentina’s behavior until I knew more. Maybe she was tired of me interfering with the restaurant. Or she didn’t want people to gossip about us. I tried not to think it might be another man, because I would have to kill him.

She’s only ever been with me. There is no other man.

Still, there was that nagging doubt. Any fool could see that she deserved to be with someone her age, someone from this town. Yet the idea of her with another caused my gut to cramp. I wasnotgiving her up.

“Anyone see anything last night?” I asked.

“Where?”

“At the restaurant.”

“Not that I know of. We were up the block watching the cars. Dante and Rico were on the doors.”

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