Page 11 of Sin & Secrets

Without thinking too hard about it, I reach out to take Cas’ hand in mine and bring it to my lips. I’m desperately trying to ignore the way my skin lights up at the touch. “Until next time,Angioletta.”

Her hazel eyes bore into mine. I can only pray that I’m imagining the longing I find there. For both our sakes.

A firm hand clamps down on her shoulder. “You must be warm, Cas. Let’s take that jacket off and get you into some normal clothes.”

Before she has time to protest, Claudio pulls at her sleeve and drags her out of her leather jacket.

Something primal roars within me at the sight of Cas’ exposed flesh, but then…

Then I stop breathing.

Cas tries to cover her arms, but it’s too late. Claudio throws a protective—no,possessive—arm over her shoulders.

The bruises match his hands perfectly.

4

CASSANDRA

“What did Rocco Moretti want with you?”

We barely make it backstage before the question bursts from Claudio’s lips.

I take a steadying breath.

It wasn’t as if I could tell him the truth—that it was clear that Rocco wanted to domanythings with me. I could tell that the desires he spoke aloud only scratched the surface.

The rest of what he wanted had been implied by the way his frighteningly beautiful gray eyes devoured me whole, promising all the secret, terrible, salacious things he would do to me if I would only give him a chance.

And dear God, did I ever want to give him that chance.

Sitting across from him had been the worst kind of torture. Each word that came out of his mouth picked at my resolve so thoroughly I had been seconds away from giving in entirely.

I had been seconds away from suggesting we fall into the nearest bathroom so he could show me exactly what he intended to do with his fingers.

“He was just introducing himself. He’s the boss, after all.”

“I’myour boss,” Claudio counters.

I swallow hard. “Of course you are, darling. He was just being polite.”

“Moretti doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”

I can’t help but agree with him there.

Claudio must see it on my face because the next thing he asks is, “Did he try to proposition you?”

“Claudio…”

“I will kill him.”

“Claudio!” I grab hold of his sleeve, a pitiful attempt to prevent him from leaving, but one that mercifully stops him in his tracks. “It’s you and me, remember? I would never betray you like that.”

He searches my eyes for the truth, and I pray to everything that’s holy that he finds it there.

What the hell was I thinking, allowing myself to be seduced by someone like Rocco Moretti? Not only is he a self-proclaimed billionaire, he’s the person who’ll be signing my checks.

It’s no wonder Claudio is acting like this. I could have sabotaged my entire career tonight. Our careers. All because my mind turns off whenever Moretti looks at me like I’m some lovesick teenager. I need to get a grip.

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