Page 30 of Sexting My Ex's Dad
Her words make me narrow my eyes slightly before I make my face passive again. Was that jealousy? Just because he’s my ex’s boyfriend…and we’d almost kissed…doesn’t mean that I have some kind of claim over him. He can do whatever he wants with whoever he wants – including Isobel.
“Maybe,” I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant despite the turmoil inside me. “But right now, I just need him off my hands.”
“Fine by me,” Isobel agrees eagerly, her smile wide as she strides confidently in Elio’s room.
With a sigh of relief, I turn my back to them, something vile rising in my throat at the thought of her flirting with him.
But I push it aside and get back to work.
“Stella,”Isobel calls out breathlessly, approaching me with an apologetic smile.
I frown. Has Elio done something to her? “Is everything okay?”
She sighs. “It would be if Elio would give me the time of day, but he, well…he only wants you.”
“Me?” My heart skips a beat, and I can feel my pulse quicken. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugs, her eyes wide with curiosity. “But he seems determined to talk to you. Trust me, I tried to get his mind off of you, but he’s not budging. There’s only so much that I can do.”
“Fine.” The word comes out more sharply than I intended, but I can’t help it. “Thanks for trying, Isobel.”
She just smiles at me before going to another one of her rooms while I steel myself with a deep breath and head towards Elio’s private room.
I wouldn’t know when Paul got here — but I’m sure he’d wait up for me. And I’d have to try to explain this really weird situation with Elio. It would all workout. It had to.
I stand in front of the door, for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob. The last time that I’d seen this man I’d been demanding money out of his pocket. I can’t imagine what he thinks about me.
And I don’t have a clue why his thoughts matter so much to me.
I push open the door, and my gaze immediately falls on him.
Elio is sitting in the deep red chair closer to the corner of the room, his feet planted squarely. He isn’t smiling, but honestly he doesn’t have to — he’s still captivating. His jaw is clenched slightly, with his salt and pepper hair brushed to the back, exposing his mesmerizing bright, blue eyes that I feel like I could look into forever without getting tired.
He’s wearing a suit, much like the first time that we’d met, but this one is lighter. This man could get any woman he wanted, so what is he doing in a place like Regency?
“Mr. Lombardi,” I begin, my voice firm despite the unease swirling in my chest. “I understand you wanted to see me specially? Why is that?”
“Ah, Stella,” he greets me, his eyes locked on mine like a predator sizing up its prey. “Yes, I did. Please, have a seat.” He gestures to the couch beside him.
“Actually,” I reply, folding my arms across my chest, “I’d prefer to stand. Now, what do you want with me?”
Elio raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my assertiveness. But his surprise doesn’t last long. Instead, his lips curve into a knowing smirk, and I can feel the heat pooling in between my legs.
It’s not fair for a single man to be this…tantalizing.
“Such fire,” he comments, his voice a low purr that somehow manages to be both infuriating and alluring. “I appreciate that in a woman. But let’s not be coy. You know exactly what I’m here for.”
I frown.So he wants the special service?“Why couldn’t you just ask Isobel? She’s more than capable of handling any requests you might have.”
“Because Isobel’s body isn’t the one that I’ve been imagining.” His answer is blunt and shoots straight through to my core.
“Mr. Lombardi…”
“Elio,” he corrects me.
“I don’t think that would be appropriate.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “No, I doubt it is, but you’re the one that started it by sending me that picture, Stella. I gave you the chance to backout, and you didn’t. Now, I plan to be the one to finish it.”
