Page 74 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

She was fucking with him. He picked her up and spun her around, causing her to laugh and wrap her arms around his neck.

“Woman, I’m a man on edge. Stop playing with me.”

He lowered her to her feet but kept his arms around her, and she kept her arms around him.This. This was what he wanted. This was what he needed.Her in his arms. He’d do damn near anything to keep her like this, smiling and in his arms.

“Say it again.” He was damn near begging now.

“I said...” she started, gaze dropping to his neck, unable to meet his eyes. “If you want me, get to know me. And you do that by first asking me on a date.”

He had heard her correctly.

“Are you serious?” he asked.

She nodded, gaze rising to his.

“Don’t play with me, Rosa.”

Laughing, she told him, “I’m not playing. I’m serious.” She removed her hands from his neck and folded them over her chest. “But you’re not serious because you still haven’t asked me out yet.”

“Shit. Uh.”What to do?Normally, he’d have his guard give a woman a key card to one of the hotel rooms with a note that read...

Would you like to join me for a nightcap?

– Orazio Cattaneo.

After a night of fucking, he’d send her home with a gift and never see her again. And if he did see her again, it was only for a pretend relationship that would benefit her family and his. Real dating was not something Ras was familiar with.

“I’m still waiting,” Monique drawled.

Damn it.Orazio released her and went down on one knee.

“Whoa.” She took a step back. “I said ask me out. Not... whatever this is.”

“I know. I am. Uh...” Why was he so fucking nervous? Still on one knee, he said, “Monique Rose, would you like to go to dinner with me tonight? And in the morning? And tomorrow? And...”

“Slow down. Let’s take it one day at a time.” She squatted down until they were face to face. “I would be delighted to go to dinner with you tonight, Orazio Cattaneo. As long as you have me home at a decent hour. And when I say home, I meanmyhouse. Not your suite.”

An indescribable feeling crashed over him, damn near overwhelming him with its intensity. His Rosa was giving him another chance. Even after the stupid stunt he’d pulled, she was willing to trust him one more time.

This woman was fucking perfect. Before he could stop himself, he had his hand at the back of her neck, pulling her forward to claim her lips in a fierce kiss. His mind was telling him to hold back.

It was telling him he needed to make a good second impression on her because he’d fucked the first one up. Yet, he was too riled up to think straight. He needed to taste her, to feel her, to be sure this was real and that he wasn’t dreaming.

A soft moan escaped her as her hands went to his chest to balance herself, but she didn’t pull away from the kiss. In fact, his Rosa was just as hungry for this as he was. Her tongue tangled with his, tasting, teasing, driving him wild.

Though he wasn’t ready to end it, Orazio forced himself to pull away from the kiss. Rosa swayed forward, leaning into him. She blinked, then righted herself as she stared up at him. He saw the desire in her gaze, and he wanted to give in to it. Holding back was hard as hell.

“Why did you stop?” she whispered.

“Starting now, I will try my best to be a gentleman. And a gentleman doesn’t kiss on the first date. He damn sure doesn’t kissbeforethe first date.”

Orazio trailed his thumb over Monique’s bottom lip and felt her shiver.Fuck, it was going to be hard being a damn gentleman. But Monique was worth it. You rarely got second chances in life, especially in his line of work.

One screw-up could cost you your life. He would forever cherish the fact that Monique was willing to give him this chance. He knew it hadn’t been an easy decision for her. And he wouldn’t do anything that would make her regret it.

He was determined to get this right. Orazio stood and helped her stand up. It was time for him to take her home, because that’s what a gentleman would do. But he’d see her again tonight and tomorrow.

And the next day. And the next. And the day after that. Because he was going to take her on dates every fucking day of the week. He smiled down at his Rosa. For the first time in, well, forever, Orazio Cattaneo had a girlfriend.

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