Page 23 of Heartless Vows

And it’s all because of him. Giorgio Vivaldi. He wasn’t cruel or unyielding. In fact, his taunting helped me feel more in control.

And now he holds me in his arms like he cherishes me. It’s too much.

I need him as an ally, but I can’t lose sight of what’s at stake by allowing my emotions to interfere, so I swallow the lump in my throat—enjoying the residual salty tang of his release—and wipe my tears away with the back of my hands.

“I’m okay. You can let me go now,” I say.

“In a minute.”

His curt response raises my hackles.

“No. Now.”

He sighs and strokes his fingers through my hair.

“You may be okay, but I’m not. Be still,mia topolina, and let me hold you while I recover.”

His admission shouldn’t fill me with pride, but it does, so I lean my forehead on his hard chest and focus on regulating my breathing. The feel of his semi-hard cock against my stomach fills me with perverse interest and an unexpected sense of intimacy.

When he weaves his fingers into my hair and tugs my face up to meet his gaze, my stomach bottoms out and the heat simmering low in my belly flames as though he poured gasoline down my throat instead of his semen.

He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip and studies my face with hooded eyes.

“Let me taste myself on your tongue.”

The deep, guttural quality of his voice obscures his words, but when I register what he means, heat rushes to my face. Yet as he lowers his head to mine, I don’t pull away.

I should smack him, turn away, and remind him of his promises, but I can’t. Not when he asks for permission and looks at me with such hungry eyes.

Especially not when I want another kiss from him.

His unhurried yet predatory approach steals the breath from my lungs, and when he groans in delight, wonder fills my chest.

I brought this terrifyingly huge and menacing man to the heights of pleasure.

The soft exploration of his tongue carries me away from reality as he deepens the kiss, and when he pulls away, urgency pulses through my clit.

“You’re perfect, Aurora. I can’t wait to taste every inch of you, so let’s finish this thing with our parents and go sign some papers,” he murmurs against my lips.

I shiver and nod.

He chuckles and pushes me toward the sink with a hand on my ass.

I turn on the faucet and absently cup some water into my mouth as he tucks his cock into his underwear and rights his trousers. My mouth waters at the intimate act, but I mentally kick myself and focus on erasing evidence of the last few minutes as best I can.

After running my hands through my hair, I count it a loss and tie it up with the hair band on my wrist.

Since my purse is at the table, I don’t have my makeup, but after washing my hands and splashing water onto my face, I dab dry with the hand towel and pull my lipstick out of my pocket.

I pause and stare at my reflection in shock. My lips have never been so swollen, my cheeks have never been so flushed, nor have my eyes sparkled so brightly. After my sleepless night, fretful morning, and stressful afternoon, I expected to look pale and withdrawn, but I look more alive than ever before.

I swallow and apply a light coat of lipstick before tucking it back into my pocket and turning to meet Giorgio’s gaze. The appreciation in his eyes confounds me.

Without a word, he tucks me against his side and leads me into the dining room, but when I try to return to my original spot, he tugs me closer and guides me to the chair beside his. I stiffen and try to pull away, but he ignores my attempts and pushes me down into the seat with firm yet careful hands.

My mother’s glare sends ice down my spine.

After requesting the server change my place setting, Giorgio settles into his chair, picks up his drink, and leans back as though nothing happened.

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