Page 71 of Empire of Temptation

I bit her throat lightly. “Then I would give you a demonstration to prove otherwise. Is that what you want? Right here on the street?”

“No.”

The single word was nothing more than a gust of air. Not very believable as far as protests went. I gave her slit another swipe with my fingertip. “Are you sure?”

She tugged me closer by my tie. “Kiss me.”

It was barely audible, little more than a breath, but I was more than happy to oblige. I tilted my head and slid my lips over hers. Her mouth was soft and welcoming and receptive, and she kissed me back with no hesitation. I let myself sink into her, blissfully unaware of everything around me as I flicked her tongue with mine. How long had it been since I’d last really kissed her? Not even twenty-four hours, yet it felt like decades. I’d missed the little sighs she made in the back of her throat and the way she turned soft.

She chased my lips whenever I readjusted, her grip on the tie almost strangling me. I petted her clit with the slightest of touches, edging her with a hint of what was to come. Her hips rocked, seeking, but I didn’t give her enough to satisfy either of us. That would wait until we were alone in the hotel and I could make her scream with pleasure.

I moved my mouth near her ear. “Who makes the rules?”

“Luca. I’m serious. Don’t sleep with her again, not until you and I are finished.”

“Okay.”

“Grazie, baby.”

My chest tightened—a strange and unfamiliar reaction. I ignored it and gave her slit another brush with my fingertip. “Now, who makes the rules?”

“You do, Luca.”

The sexiest three words I’d ever heard. I kissed her temple, then knocked on the window to signal the boys to get in the car. “Va bene, fiore. Now I will take you to the hotel and fuck you.”

Chapter Seventeen

Valentina

The suite was like something out of a movie set.

A long entryway opened into a luxurious living room. Sofas and chairs surrounded a coffee table, while a grand piano rested in the corner. There was a crystal chandelier, for god’s sake, while floor-to-ceiling windows provided a spectacular view of Central Park.

The furniture looked like antiques—expensive antiques. So expensive that I was afraid to put my old knock-off purse down anywhere. I held the cheap leather in my arms and walked around, not quite knowing what to do with myself. Did he expect me to go straight to the bedroom? Start stripping off my clothes?

More nervous than I wanted to admit, I wandered to the windows. The park stretched out below, the best view in the entire city, one I’d never seen except online. In person it was far more impressive.

The room was silent. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Were we waiting on something? “Are they bringing our bags up?” I asked.

“That happened earlier, when Carlo checked us in.”

“Who’s Carlo?”

“My other guard.”

Right. Luca traveled with guards because he was a mob boss and people might try to kill him. I couldn’t think about that right now. I caught his reflection in the mirror. He was watching me, his hands in his trouser pockets, appearing calm and confident as always. But his gaze was anything but calm. Even in the glass the intensity of his dark stare made me shiver.Who makes the rules?

I licked my lips, moistening them. “What are you thinking about right now?”

“How I’d like to fuck you up against that glass.”

Mouth dropping open, I spun around. Tingles ran all up and down my body, and I really hoped it was from horror. “But you won’t. Right? All those people would see.”

“Put your bag down on the chair and come here.”

I examined the closest chair. It belonged in a museum, not a hotel room. And it had no business holding my raggedy purse. I put my bag on the floor and walked over to Luca, who was watching me carefully. “Why did you put your bag on the floor?”

“Because it’s old and costs probably as much as a bar of soap in this place.”

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