Page 70 of Empire of Temptation

“She was fucking one of my men. Then she came onto me.”

“And he didn’t care?”

“Of course not. He introduced us.”

“I don’t understand your world at all.” She dug into her cup for another bite of gelato. “How do you know she isn’t still sleeping with him or with another one of your men? Or anyone else, for that matter?”

I snorted. “Because I am the boss.”

“Which means, what? You don’t share?”

“Exactly.” I put my free arm around her and kissed the side of her head. “I don’t share, bella. Ever.”

“But I’m expected to share?”

“Why would you care?”

“Because it’s gross. And wrong. And misogynistic.”

“I don’t understand. She is back in Catanzaro. What does this have to do with what is happening here?”

“It just does,” she snapped. “Are you planning to break it off with her?”

“No.”

She stopped in the middle of the walk, her jaw falling open. “You have got to be shitting me. You expect me to be okay with that?”

This was enough. I didn’t need to explain myself on the street. If Valentina wanted to have this conversation, we would do it privately. I tossed my half-full gelato cup in the trash. Then I took her elbow and led her to the car where Aldo and Carlo were standing. I opened the door. “Get in.”

“Aren’t we going to finish this conversation?”

“Yes, but I’m not going to do it on the street. Climb in, or I’ll put your sexy ass in there myself.”

She sighed but did as I asked. “Give us a minute,” I told my men.

They both nodded and put their backs to the car, allowing me privacy and also blocking us from pedestrians. I went around to the other side and got in next to Valentina.

Taking her empty gelato cup, I put it in a cup holder. “Tell me why this matters to you.”

“Does she think you’re still in Italy? Is she waiting around for you?”

The suggestion was ridiculous. “I don’t answer to her. Part of being the boss means everyone answers tome.”

She folded her arms and stared through the car window. “Well, I don’t answer to you.”

I put my hand on her thigh and slid it high under her dress. “Yes, you do, fiore mio. You’ve already agreed to be mine. And this means that I now make the rules.”

She tried to push my hand away, but I didn’t budge. I was stronger and needed to make a point.

“Stop it,” she said. “We’re fighting and I don’t want you todistract me.”

Ignoring her protest, I let my fingers creep higher and higher, relishing the softness of her skin. I wanted to bite her inner thigh, mark her as mine. Finally, I brushed the tip of my finger across her seam and we both inhaled a surprised breath.Dio mio. No panties. “Who makes the rules, Valentina?”

“Not you, if your rules include sleeping with me and other women at the same time.”

I pressed my lips to the spot behind her ear, then kissed down her jaw. “Dimmi, bella. Who makes the rules?” I whispered, caging her in with my body.

She clutched my tie in her fist, a good sign of her willingness. “What if I said we both do?”

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