Page 86 of Empire of Temptation

“You don’t need to go home. Check the closet in the adjoining bedroom.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Did you buy me clothes, too? I told you, I don’t need you buying me things.”

“Just go and look, bella.”

Turning, I marched out of his bedroom and into the adjoining one. He really needed to stop. The handbags yesterday cost a mint. Now he’d bought me clothes? Probably designer shit that I had no business wearing around town. Everyone was going to think I’d lost my mind.

I stopped in my tracks. The huge walk-in closet was filled with . . . my things. My dresses, my pants, my sweaters. Everything. All neatly arranged on hangers and folded on shelves. My shoes were stacked on one wall. He’d, what? Moved me in?

I blinked, sure I was mistaken. He wouldn’t do that. Would he?

There were drawers, so I opened those, hoping to not find more.Please, god. Let me be wrong.

Nope, there they were—my panties and bras all neatly arranged.

What. The. Fuck.

I usually tried to control my temper. But I came from a long line of loud Italian-American women who took no shit from anyone. And this was absolutely too much.

“Luca!” I shouted. “Get the fuck in here!”

“Problem, bella?” he answered instantly in an even tone.

I whirled and found him casually leaning against the door frame, his hands in his pockets. Had he been standing there this whole time? “Yes, there is a fucking problem!” I waved my arm toward the hangers. “You moved all of my shit here. Are youinsane?”

“Your house isn’t safe. I told you earlier how easy it was for me to break in. Anyone could come in there and hurt you.”

I put my palms together and prayed for patience. “Luca, no one in this town is going to hurt me. I grew up here. I’ve been here my whole life and we have, like, zero crime. But forgetting all that, you can’t just move me in here without at least asking me first!”

“I knew you would say no.” He lifted a shoulder, his demeanor so calm and arrogant that I wanted to throw something at him. “And so I made the decision for you.”

Holy shit. I had beenmafiosoed, just like Gia warned me might happen.

My skin grew hot, fury gathering steam in my chest as I glared at him. “I want my stuff moved back. Now. You had no right to this.”

He pushed off from the door frame and strolled toward me. I straightened my spine and braced my feet for a fight. I knew he was going to try to work some mob boss mojo on me, and I wasn’t having it.

Once we were close enough, he placed his hands on either side of my throat and brushed his thumbs over my jaw. “Amore, there are still things in your house. I didn’t move you out and you may go backthere anytime. I thought you might like having some of your things here for when you sleep over.”

“Okay. Phew.” I relaxed, feeling foolish for overreacting. “I was worried there for a minute.”

“But,” he continued, more forcefully. “I would prefer it if you stayed here with me. Where I can keep you safe.”

“So you want me to stay here all the time? Or occasionally?”

The edge of his mouth curved, secrets dancing in the depths of his espresso-colored eyes. “Do you want me to answer honestly?”

I shoved him away. “Ugh. Get out of here, you overbearing man. I need to get dressed and I don’t have time for this conversation. We’ll finish it tonight over dinner.”

I expected him to leave, but he walked over to the hangers and began flipping through them. “Wear this,” he said, pulling out a low-cut black dress. I bought it a year ago for one of Maggie’s winery parties.

“Luca, that isn’t a daytime dress appropriate for a restaurant owner. It’s tight and my boobs practically fall out of the neckline.”

“Which is why I want to sit across from you at dinner while you are wearing it.” He took the dress off the hanger and handed it to me. Then, while I was trying to wrap my head around this turn of events, he snatched up a pair of black heels and the new burgundy handbag. “These too.”

I frowned as he handed the accessories to me. “You’re pissing me off.”

“Then it’s too bad you are seriously obsessed with my dick. Because it is attached to me.” He leaned down and kissed me briefly. “You look beautiful in whatever you wear, piccolina. But do this once for me, okay?”

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