Page 52 of Twisted Knight

I’ve never been vain; appearance didn’t matter that much to me. I knew women liked me, at least how I looked—if they knew the monster lurking so close to the surface, they’d run…

I opened the door and any dark thoughts or doubts just vanished instantly at the view of the goddess in front of me.

She had her black hair in a plait that went over her right shoulder, dressed in a simple green, flowy knee-length dress. The dress almost matched her eyes and it complemented her skin in ways that made it so hard for me to keep my hands to myself. The only little extra on her was her pink lipstick and her big hoop earrings. It was all so simple; nothing extra but she didn’t need anything. I’d seen that woman bare, and she didn’t need anything to bring me to my knees.

Fuck!My dick twitched again. Now was not the time to think of India naked.

I cleared my throat and looked down, picturing the death scene from Baker’s Place, hoping to put my dick into a coma for the next few hours.

“I, um, I can change if it’s not suitable. Sorry. I was not sure the evening you’d—”

I grabbed her face in my hands as gently as possible and leaned down, brushing my lips against hers softly, and I had to stop myself from deepening the kiss.

“Don’t ever doubt yourself,Dolcetta. You’re breathtaking no matter what you wear.” I brushed my nose against her.

“You just stood there, in silence,” she said with an uncertainty that disconcerted me. How could she be insecure?

“I just had to catch my breath after seeing you, is all. You do that to me.”

“What?”

“Take all the air out of my lungs.”

She smiled brightly at me and once again, seeing her looking at me like I was a hero made me feel a little like one.

I let go of her face and extended my arm to her with a playful smile. “Ready to go, beautiful?”

“Sure.” She took my arm without hesitation, causing my heart to tighten once more in my chest.

Did Luca feel like that too when he was with Cassie? No wonder he was addicted.

“Where are we going?” she asked when we finally sat in the car.

“The best steakhouse in town.” Thanks to Luca’s ownership of the place, we had a table whenever we wanted.

After a five-minute drive, I stopped in front of the restaurant and quickly exited and rounded the car to help India out.

“You didn’t have to,” she said, taking my hand.

“Of course I did,” I replied, intertwining our fingers together. “It’s a first date.”

She shook her head but the bright smile she gave me was the perfect answer. She loved the attention.

Was it not something she was used to? I expected a woman like her to be lavished with attention, and yet every small gesture from me seemed like everything.

I threw my key to the valet. “Don’t park it too far.”

He bowed his head. “Of course. I will take great care of it.”

As soon as we walked in, the blond hostess smiled brightly before letting her eyes rake down my arm to my hand holding India’s, her face looking a little dejected before being replaced by her usual generic smile.

“Mr. Romano, what a pleasure to see you tonight.”

“Thank you.” I looked around and noticed a couple of men from the famiglia sitting at the bar and looking at us unabashedly.

Yep, everybody will know about my attachment before the food hits the table.

I turned back to India and the happy light in her eyes made it all worth it.

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