Page 47 of Empire of Temptation

Aldo left and the numbers on my screen blurred in front of me, my concentration fucked. I’d been thinking about her all day, how she pressed up against me in bed last night with those soft and lush curves, her breath warming my skin. It had been a struggle to get up this morning, leaving her to sleep, when all I wanted to do was feed my cock into her pussy.

A knock sounded. “Dai, entra!” I called.

Aldo held open the door and Valentina sailed into the room. She was flushed, hair pulled into a high ponytail, her eyes wild and angry. She wore a dress that looked like a man’s shirt and it pulled across her chest, as well as showed off long, tanned legs. Fuck, she was gorgeous. My heart raced in my chest, pumping like I’d been jogging, while my skin sizzled with awareness.

Aldo shut the door and left us alone. I tried to keep my voice even. “I hadn’t expected to see you again so soon, fiore mio.”

She pointed at me, gaze narrowing. “Do not call me that. I know what it means.”

Now I was confused. “This upsets you, this endearment?”

“We are not at the endearment stage. I barely know you, which is why I’m here.” She folded her arms across her chest, which only brought my attention to her spectacular tits. “Stop meddling with my restaurant.”

“Meddling?”

“Don’t play stupid, Luca. The sign and the background checks? Now I find out that you’re covering the cost of the renovations!” She threw up her hands and let them fall. “This is ridiculous. I barelyknow you and you’ve taken over what’s supposed to bemyrestaurant.”

I should be furious with the way she was speaking to me—with so much attitude and disrespect—but I liked her sassy mouth. It made me want to kiss her and bite her until she melted against me. And her perfume? Christ, it was driving me crazy. It was the same scent still on my sheets upstairs.

Do you want to have sex with me, Luca? Please, say yes. I’m tired of wondering what it’s like.

Lust clawed beneath my skin, sharp and demanding, making it hard to breathe. Valentina was a mixture of soft and vulnerable, but also tough as balls. Who else would dare to come here and give me such a scolding? It only made me want her more.

In a flash I made a decision.

I was tired of fighting this, which meant I was planning to fuck her. But I couldn’t fuck her without telling her my real name and what I did for a living. I was a cruel man, but I wouldn’t deceive Valentina about something so basic.

Decision made, I slowly stood and put my hands in my pockets. “Come here.”

She huffed, a sound of outrage and disbelief. “No. I want answers, Luca. You’re overstepping and I want to know why.”

“That isn’t happening. Now, come here.”

“No. You’re going to distract me with all of your . . .” She waved her hand in my general direction. “You-ness.”

I had no idea what that meant, but I wanted her to follow simple directions. “Get your sexy ass over here right now.”

She licked her lips, but didn’t budge. “Why?”

“Because I’m going to kiss you, but I can’t until we talk first. And I want my hands on your body while I do it.”

Her gaze darkened and the skin of her throat turned a dull red. “You’re supposed to ask first,” she said in a breathy voice. “Haven’t you heard about consent?”

Madre di dio, this girl got my dickhard. “Now, fiore mio.”

“Wait.” Shaking her head, she put up her palms. “This is all happening too fast.”

No, it wasn’t. This was taking fucking forever. I usually had the patience of a saint, but this girl was testing all of my limits.

I edged out from behind the desk and stalked toward her. She lifted her shoulders but didn’t move, just watched my approach with hooded eyes that told me all I needed to know. She was nervous but excited. Curious but hesitant. Eager but shy. I vowed right then to make this so good for her.

As I closed the distance between us, the muffled thump of my shoes on the carpet was the only sound in the room. When I reached her I stopped and stared down at her. I could see the pulse throbbing on the side of her neck, my virginal little flower.

I dragged my hand up her arm and felt the tiny shiver that ran through her. I kept going, higher over her shoulder and then her throat, until I cupped her jaw in my palm. My other hand rested on her hip, my body surrounding her. “I want to kiss you. Do you want it, too?”

She nodded and swayed toward me ever so slightly.

I nearly smiled, the victory was so sweet. “You need to say the words. We need to be very clear on what you are consenting to.”

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