Page 46 of Phantom Mine

“You paid for a dance, not a kiss.”

“How much more do you want for a kiss?”

I shouldn’t look at his lips, but they’re rightthere. Calling to me. Set in a grim line of frustration for me.

When I lick my lips with my eyes still pinned on his mouth, his cock jerks against my ass. He spanks me sharply, the slice of pain vibrating through my flesh.

“Do that again and I’ll fuck you right here, Valentina,” he growls.

God, he has me weak-kneed at the sound of my own name.

I flush crimson at his crude words and look away. “I’m not a prostitute. You can’t pay for a kiss.”

“How much?”

Stubborn, obsessive bastard.

“You can’t afford it.”

A guttural rumble rolls up his throat. He fists my hair and tugs, forcing me to fall back against his chest with a squeak.

“Try me,” he breathes against my ear, a note of humor dancing along every word.

My stomach does the thing in response.

Thething. It flips and twists and curls and rolls, simultaneously swelling and caving in on itself, as pleasure and satisfaction light a wildfire in my belly.

“One kiss?”

He nods, once. Urgently.

“A hundred thousand pounds.”

Cool metal makes contact with the skin of my stomach and slides upwards, raising goosebumps along its path until whatever it is slots underneath the band of my red lace bra.

Glancing down, I see that it’s a black Amex.

Matteo’s eyes are fixed intently on my mouth. “Hold onto this. We’ll charge it when you’re done.”

His large hand curls around the back of my neck and he pulls me eagerly towards him. Butterflies erupt by the thousands in my belly as his mouth approaches.

I flatten my palms against his stomach to halt him. He pauses only briefly, his eyes narrowing in clear warning, then he drags me roughly into his chest until our excited breaths mesh together. I push him firmly away once more just as our lips are about to meet.

This time, he snarls.

“Now’s not the time for your stubbornness, V—”

“A hundred thousand pounds doesn’t buy you the use of your hands, Matteo.”

Thick lust explodes in his gaze, darkening the eyes he has trained unwaveringly on me. “Be careful how you whisper my name at me,pavona. I might become addicted to it.”

His gaze shines with clear provocation, his mouth curling into an arrogant smile. I wrap my hand around his nape, causing his smirk to fall away instantly.

Dilated, hungry eyes drop to my mouth. They go heavy with desire, his expression turning greedy as I approach and narrow the distance between us down to almost nothing.

With my heart in my throat and a dozen voices in my head telling me this is a spectacularly bad idea, I blow out a tiny, nervous breath, then slant my lips assertively over his.

Low heat simmers instantly to life in my belly. It sizzles slowly up my spine, growing in ardor and unfurling progressively until it’s a fireball barreling uncontrollably through my entire body. His mouth is warm and soft, his lips pillowy and pliant against mine with a hint of familiarity.

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