Page 75 of Empire of Temptation

I could feel my cheeks heat. Luca probably encountered beautiful women every day, so his compliments were flattering. Energized and giddy, I rubbed my feet against his calves. “Now, what?”

He cracked open an eye and focused it on me. “What do you mean?”

“What are we going to do now?”

He rolled to face me. His hand wrapped my throat, turning myhead so he could kiss along my jaw. Then he bit me gently. “Sleep,” he whispered. “That is what we are going to do.”

“No, come on.” I pushed on his shoulder so I could see him. “It’s too early to sleep.”

“I can’t fuck you again so soon.”

“No, I don’t mean sex. I want to shower and order room service. Maybe watch a movie.”

The edges of his mouth turned down at the suggestion. “Valentina,” he started in a grumpy, boss-like tone.

“No way, Luca.” I slipped out of his grasp and stood up, then turned toward him. “I gave you my virginity. That means I get to make the rules for the rest of the night.”

“That is not how this works.”

“It is tonight. You owe me.”

He stared at my boobs for a long beat before his gaze returned to my face. The edge of his mouth lifted slightly. “Tonight, fiore mio. That’s all you get.”

Chapter Eighteen

Luca

She wasuna nottambula, a night owl.

I should’ve known this about Valentina, considering her profession. Most everyone in the restaurant business kept odd hours. But I wasn’t prepared for how much energy this girl had at one o’clock in the morning. I didn’t dare suggest going to a club for the fear that she would agree.

Though I was exhausted, I didn’t complain. Yes, I was jaded, a hardened criminal, but how could I not indulge her? It was clear she hadn’t stayed in a hotel this luxurious before, nor had she ever ordered room service. Her delight at the ability to summon a grilled chicken sandwich, french fries, and a hot fudge sundae in the middle of the night had been adorable.

Now I was wearing a hotel robe, eating greasy food and watching a mindless reality show on the television—all because she wanted me to.

She licked her spoon, then pointed it at me. “Admit it, you like this show.”

“It’s terrible.” A bunch of young and dumb people were on an island together, and the only point I could see was that they were trying to fuck each other. “They need to go on a tv show to get laid? Dai, Valentina.”

Her foot pushed against my leg. “It’s not about getting laid. They’re looking forlove.”

I rolled my eyes and withheld my opinions.

“Would you go on one of these shows?” Her eyebrows rose dramatically. “What if it was Mafia Island, where they put a bunch of mob bosses together? You could compete in challenges like racketeering and blackmailing. Or who has the prettiest mistress.”

I shook my head. “Your imagination, it is incredible.”

Her attention returned to her sundae, but her brow wrinkled as her mood seemed to darken. What was she thinking about? “What is it?” I asked gently.

“Do you hurt people, Luca?”

“Yes.” There was no use lying about it, and she deserved as much truth as I could give her.

“Do you feel bad about it when you do?”

“We all make choices, Valentina. I’ve learned to live with mine. There is no other life for me than this one.”

“But . . . the people you hurt, they deserve it, right?”

---