Page 71 of Phantom Mine

My smile turns pensive at that. I brush her cheek softly with my thumb. “That’s true,” I say thoughtfully. “You seem to be the exception to many of my rules,cara.”

Her lips part and her eyes haze. When I start to lower my face to hers, she snaps out of it. Weaving beneath my arm, she frees herself and turns to face me.

Swallowing thickly, she says, “One and done, Matteo.”

“Are you saying it to convince me or yourself?”

“You.”

The corner of my lips curve. “If you say so.”

Valentina heads for the door but stops when my voice rings out once more. “Wait.”

She turns and watches me approach warily. I wrap one of my suit jackets around her shoulders.

“Wear this.”

“Why?” she asks even as she puts her arms through each sleeve.

My gaze rakes hotly down the length of her. “Your cover up is ripped and your cum is running down your thighs. You look likea walking ad for exactly what happened to you — getting fucked to four screaming orgasms.” Valentina rolls her eyes and tries to leave but I stop her. Slowly, my eyes drop to her mouth. “Who was the last man to kiss these lips?”

“You.”

A dark growl rumbles up my chest. “Before me, I mean. Before yesterday.”

Valentina meets my hard stare boldly. She holds my gaze for long moments before she finally rips her eyes away.

The bolt unlocks loudly and then she’s gone.

Chapter Nineteen

Matteo

“We seem to be conducting a lot of our meetings in the VIP rooms lately,” Enzo notes casually.My answer is distracted. “Mhmm.”

Enzo follows my gaze as I track Valentina’s movements about the room. “Wonder why that is.”

“What?” I ask.

He sighs. “Wasn’t sleeping with her supposed to bring an end to this obsession?”

I tear my gaze away from her with great difficulty and face my cousin. “It’s a deeper itch than anticipated.”

“Thanyouanticipated, perhaps. Some of us were under no illusions of just how deep this itch actually runs.”

“It’s the mystery about her, that’s it. The more she refuses to talk, the more intrigued it makes me. I just need some answers and then I’ll be set.”

“If you say so.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“No.”

My lips curve upwards. “Care to wager on it?”

“On whether you’re going to be able to walk away from her? Absolutely.” Enzo gives me a firm look. “It’s a wager I’ll happily lose because it’s one I absolutely cannot win, Matteo.”

My eyes trail over to where Valentina is moving between patrons, a serving tray cocked against her hip. She’s tucking her hair behind her ear, smiling down at an older man when she feels my stare on her. Her gaze lifts and holds mine with a look of cool disinterest before she cuts the contact.

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