Page 21 of Cruel Longing

She laughed. “Funny. I run a multi-billion-dollar organization. I don’t have days off. Hand me my phone? If I don’t check in with Ciro in the next few minutes he will freak out and show up with a gun pointed at your face.”

“He always points a gun at my face. Starting to wonder if he has a poster of me in his room for target practice.”

She shrugged. “True. It’s his job.”

“Are you going to tell me why out of all the security options you kept that guy around?”

“I’m still alive.” Her stare was hard. “That should be enough for you to know. Ciro keeps me safe.”

“Fair enough.” I didn’t want to press her for answers I already knew. I wanted to admit Ciro wasn’t the only one who devoted himself to her safety, but the confession would create an irreversible domino effect. I would never destroy us again.

I strolled to the foyer table and walked back through the suite with her phone in my hand.

“We are going to have breakfast.” I eyed her, holding her phone just out of reach.

“I need my phone,” she requested with an edge to her voice.

“Breakfast?” I countered.

She sighed. “Yes, breakfast.” She smiled slyly.

I handed her the phone.

“Should I also call the desk and extend your stay?” she inquired.

“No need,” I answered. “If I didn’t make it clear last night this is where I’m staying until I buy a new place in New Orleans.”

Her green eyes sparked with interest or was it apprehension?

“Here? I thought you had the room only for the night.”

I looked around the room. “It has everything I need. Beautiful accommodations. Room for me to work. Room for me to play.” My palm skimmed along her shoulder.

She shivered, whimpering at the way my fingers pried the sheet from her breasts. I groaned, taking her in.

She turned her lips upward. “Will it always be like this?”

I made a lazy circle with my thumb around her nipple. “Yes.”

“Is it a good idea for you to live here, Luka?” I straddled her hips, my legs pressing on the outside of her thighs. I had her locked into place. There was nowhere for her to go. No way to move.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” I dragged the sheet all the way to her navel.

Her lips parted with breathy pants as I strummed her tits. “Because we are walking a dangerous line.”

“I’m comfortable with danger. Are you?”

“The families will talk,” she whispered.

“Let them.”

She fell back on the pillow. I had her worked up. Flushed. Willing. Eager.

I shoved off the bed. “Make your calls.”

“Ugh,” she groaned, throwing a pillow in my direction. It hit the wall and fell to the carpet.

I chuckled, ducking into the bathroom while she checked in with her bodyguard. I brushed my teeth and started the shower.

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