Page 36 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

Her heart was wrong. But this wasn’t the first time it had been wrong. Which was why this time, Monique wasn’t going to listen to her heart or her body. She was going to listen to her head. Orazio raised up to stare down at her.

“Monique,” he whispered.

“Yes.”

“Where have you been my whole life?”

Damn it.This man was a danger to her body, heart, and mind.

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ORAZIO

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What the hell made him ask her that? Orazio stared down at Monique.A deer in headlightswas the only way to describe the look on her face. The panic-stricken expression told him far more than he wanted to know.

His words had displeased her. They displeased him too. They’d slipped from his mouth before he’d had a chance to process them.Where have you been my whole life?What type of man asked a question like that after sex?

Now, she probably thought he was a playboy still laying on the charm. Or she thought he was sprung, and all she had to do was smile at him a little, and he’d be wrapped around her finger.

Embarrassment wasn’t an emotion he was accustomed to feeling. Usually, he said what he meant, and he meant what he said. Because of the words he’d uttered, he was experiencing a strange tingling sensation in his cheeks.

Was his grown ass blushing? He needed to put some distance between himself and this woman right now. Embarrassed but refusing to let it show, Raz started to move away from her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back to her.

He wanted to resist, needed to. However, the moment her lips touched his, he was lost. This woman was truly like a drug tohim. Every caress, every kiss, left him craving more. He couldn’t get enough of her.

If he wasn’t careful, he’d overdose on Monique Rose.Death by Rose.He had to admit, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go out. Considering the enemies he had, death by Rose would more than likely be the best out for him.

Her fingers threaded through the hair at his nape as she kissed him. Eyes drifting shut, Raz held her close, loving the feel of her body against his. This woman was made for him. She’d taken his fucking like a champ, never complaining about how hard he’d pounded her body.

Instead, the harder he’d fucked her, the slicker her pussy had gotten. How could he not be addicted to her?Where have you been my whole life, Rosa?Why the hell was that question on repeat in his mind?

Raz opened his eyes when Monique pulled away from the kiss. Lifting his head, he stared down at her. Damn, she was beautiful. How could anyone look into her brown eyes and not fall in love?

Love?

An uncomfortable feeling of comfort crept over him. It was the strangest shit ever. He would add it to the list of strange things his Rose made him feel. Her brown eyes held him captive.

He was caught in the grips of something stronger than him, and he didn’t know how to shake it off. Did he want to shake it off?Love?No, this wasn’t love. He didn’t do love. Love had never been kind to the men of the Cattaneo crime family.

He’d leave love to those who were emotionally rich and could afford it. When it came to emotions, he was bankrupt and had nothing to give. He tensed when he felt her fingers against his forehead. He hadn’t noticed that she’d moved one hand from his nape to the space between his brows.

Frowning, he asked, “Is this some new method of seduction?”

Her chuckle was a melody he hadn’t known his heart needed. Again, the wordlovedrifted through his mind. He shoved it away. He was satisfied with her. Perhaps, a bit distracted by her. But he was not in love with her.

“I’m not trying to seduce you,” she told him. “I’m smoothing away the worry wrinkles in your forehead. If you keep worrying, those wrinkles will become permanent.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Why are you frowning then?”

Because you scare me. Because you make me think about things men like me shouldn’t think about.

Schooling his face into a nonchalant expression, he told her, “I’m not frowning.”

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