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“Why do you call me that?” I ask softly.

“Because you’re beautiful, delicate, and unique. The world is in awe of you whenever you let it see you. You’ve been hidden away for too long, and it’s time for you to fly.”

That’s the most beautiful thing anyone’s ever said to me.

I try to lift up on my toes to kiss him, but his hand around my throat keeps me where I am.

“Do you need something,farfalla?”

He won’t get any asking or begging from me, so I just shake my head no, which has him smiling like a fool.

Santino leans in closer, bringing his lips to within an inch of mine. “I know exactly what you want, Mia, and this time, and this time only, I won’t make you say it.”

The elevator dings and the doors slide open, breaking the moment and giving me the much needed excuse to push him away and get some air in my lungs. Air that isn’t contaminatedby his manly, musky cologne that has me wanting to kiss him senseless, bury my face in his neck, inhale deeply, and then lick him all over.

Jesus.

Shit.

Fuck.

I need out of this elevator.

There’s a sign on the wall that says penthouse one is to the right, and two and three are to the left.

“This way,” Santino says, nodding to the right as he holds the elevator open with his arm. “My brothers live in the other two on this floor. If you ever need anything and I’m not here, you can always knock on their doors. I’ll leave you their phone numbers as well.”

“Okay.” My mind is reeling with everything that leaving this elevator and entering his home will entail.

Santino unlocks his front door and holds it open for me. “Welcome home, Mrs. Antonucci.”

My throat immediately clogs with emotions and I swallow them down. I need to get back in control of this situation.

“Would you like a tour?” he offers.

“Maybe later. I’d like to get out of this dress first.”

“If you’re sure. It’s a beautiful dress and it suits you perfectly.”

“Thank you.” I turn my head and look at him over my shoulder. “I’ll need a little help, though. There are a lot of buttons and I can’t reach them.”

Santino steps up behind me and runs a finger over the line of pearl buttons that follow my spine. “It’d be my pleasure,” he says, his voice dropping to a dangerously deep level with a roughness that scratches an itch deep inside me.

His fingers deftly undo each button, slipping the pearls free from the elastic loops around them. It takes a few minutes forhim to make it down to the base of my spine, and when he does, he glides a knuckle down the same path.

Before he can comment on the lingerie he sees I’m wearing, I hold my dress to my chest and look back at him. “I just need a few minutes in the bathroom.”

Clearing his throat, Santino nods and points to the hallway off the living room. “The first door on the right.”

I bite my lip as I walk away to keep the grin off my face, knowing his eyes are still on me.

I open the door he directed me to, but instead of a bathroom, I find myself walking into what I think is the master bedroom. It’s done up in blacks and creams, and I’ve never seen a more inviting bed with a fluffy comforter that resembles a cloud. The huge curtains are pulled open, giving me a view of the city very similar to my old one, just higher up.

Not wanting to ruin my dress in any way, I shimmy it down my body and step out of it, then drape it over an accent chair beside a small table where a carafe of water and a clean glass sits.

During the reception, going to the bathroom in my dress required the help of two other people, so I only went twice, and now my bladder is screaming at me to relieve it. I keep everything else on, including my heels, and walk across the bedroom to the en suite.

I flip the light switch on and gasp. I don’t know what I expected, but a lavish black and white marble bathroom with a massive clawfoot tub that’s almost double the size I’m used to, a shower that looks like it could fit eight people, and a double vanity with enough counter space to hold all my products and then some. It’s beautiful, and I love the gold accents and fixtures that stand out against all the black and white.

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