Page 59 of Empire of Temptation

The amount of slickness gathering between my legs should’ve embarrassed me. God, I was shameless for this man. “No.”

“Are you sure? Because I have no problem tonguing your clit in this bathroom for all to hear.”

I could see it . . . Me, leaning on the sink, with Luca’s dark head shoved between my thighs . . . .

I swayed toward him, teetering from the lust rushing through my veins. He chuckled. “You want that, don’t you?” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “Soon. I’m going to give you everything you need very soon.”

Then he surprised me by stepping away. “Get dressed. I’m taking you to New York City.”

“Wait, what?” Now my head was spinning for a different reason. “I can’t go to the city. We’re opening in two days.”

“Yes, you can. Get ready to leave. You have five minutes.” He unlocked the door and reached for the handle.

“Five minutes? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Valentina.” His voice was stern and he looked over his shoulder, expression unyielding. “Your sexy ass will be in my car in five minutes, even if I have to carry you out like that.” He tilted his chin toward my mostly naked body. “Though I’ll have to kill any man who looks at you. Is that what you want, fiore mio? A blood bath?”

I couldn’t tell whether he was serious or not. Luca generally meant what he said . . . but would he really kill someone who saw me in my bra and panties? “No, but can you please explain?”

“There’s no time. I’ll explain on the drive.”

Luca

I stepped out of the toilet, hoping my dick would calm down soon. I wasn’t sure I could drive a car in my current state. Mamma mia, her body was a fucking crime. If we weren’t already behind schedule, Iwould’ve taken off that flimsy bra and sucked on her tits for a few hours.

Later.I had a hotel suite waiting where I could have her all to myself.

As I entered the restaurant, I searched for Roberto. I found him at the bar, unpacking glasses with a woman I recognized from my first night here. She was the waitress who’d quit on Valentina. “Signora,” I greeted coolly.

“Table Seven,” she said with a smirk. “Nice to see you again.”

I ignored her and pointed to Roberto. “A word.” Then I strode to the front door, where he and I could speak privately.

He soon joined me. “Is there something wrong, signore?”

I pointed to the toilets. “She doesn’t plunge and she doesn’t clean. Get plumbers in here today to fix whatever the fuck is happening with those pipes. I don’t care if they need to be ripped out and replaced with solid gold. See that it’s done and send me the bill. Are we clear?”

“Sì, Don Benetti. Of course. I didn’t realize what she was doing. I’ll see that it’s taken care of.”

“Good. I’m taking her to New York overnight. I expect you to handle things here and not trouble her with drains and paperwork and glasses, capisce?”

“Understood. No problem.”

“What are you two talking about?” Valentina was close enough to hear us, but we spoke in our language, not hers.

“Nothing,” Roberto said confidently in English. “Luca informed me that he’s taking you to New York and I said that wasn’t a problem.”

I wrapped my arm around her waist. “Come. Let’s get on the road.”

“Wait,” she said, putting her hand on my chest. “Roberto, I was nearly finished with the ordering list for you. It’s on my desk. And Giovanni wanted to talk about?—”

“That’s enough,” I said and began towing her toward the door. “Roberto has run some of the finest restaurants in Italia. He can handle your little trattoria.”

She bristled against me. “Mylittletrattoria? It’s my whole life, Luca. And I don’t appreciate you being so bossy and condescending.”

She continued to argue with me as we went outside, but I ignored her. As long as she kept moving to the car, she could yell at me all she liked. D’Agostino wouldn’t wait around, so I needed to ensure we arrived at the show on time.

I let Valentina settle in the passenger seat and I closed her door. Then I hurried to the driver’s side. Before I got in, I nodded at Aldo and another guard, who were following behind in a second car.

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