Page 62 of Kissing the Villain

Luca lifted his cell phone from the bedside table and typed a quick text message. Then he poured himself another glass of scotch and dropped into the armchair.

Marcello appeared a minute later, still dressed in a suit. He looked concerned, but I shrugged and tied the robe around my waist.

Furious with Luca, I marched over to him. “Don’t even think about coming to my room, asshole.”

As I walked away, Luca laughed. “Like you could stop me.”

27

ALEX

I spreadout on my bedroom floor, my fingers wrapped around a piece of vine charcoal. Making slow, sweeping movements, I drew the rough idea for my next piece.

I sketched a man with fierce eyes, horns sticking up from his thick, dark hair. Smoke and falling ash surrounded his head, making him look like he’d stepped out of Hell. He wore a fitted suit that outlined his muscles, jacket shoved to the side, revealing the guns strapped to his chest.

Luca Salvatore.

Prince of Hell.

Marcello strolled into my bedroom. I saw his shiny black dress shoes before I looked up at all six feet three inches of him. My mouth watered like I’d been stranded in the desert for months and needed a drink. His muscular body hugged a three-piece Brioni suit he wore like armor.

“You’ve been busy,” Marcello noted. “New painting?”

I sat up and handed him the pad. “I’m trying something new.”

He studied my work, and I saw a semblance of a smile. Those were rare in this house.

“It’s a rough draft,” I told him.

His eyes met mine. “This might be your best work.”

“You think so?”

He nodded and handed back the book. “You have a natural gift. My mom could see the flaws in every person and bring them out.”

Marcello hadn’t made my life hell or forced me to be with him. He cared about my feelings. Well, when he wasn’t drugging me or locking me in my bedroom at his brother’s request. Deep down, I knew he wanted me.

I had a choice between the two.

“Promise me you won’t run or do anything stupid that will force me to hunt you down.”

I stared into his sad blue eyes. “I promise.”

Marcello removed a cell phone from his suit pocket. “I programmed a few numbers for you.”

I slid my finger across the screen and scanned the Favorites. Luca was number one, of course. Marcello was number two on the list. Beneath his name was Pops, then Kali Marx. He knew better than to add my parents. They could go to fucking hell.

He rose from the floor and offered his hand. “We’re eating in the dining room in one hour. Change into something more appropriate.”

I lifted the strap over my right shoulder, a wicked smirk on my lips. “Do my paint-covered overalls offend you,sir?”

A smile teased his lips. “Choose one of your new dresses.”

“Anything else, master?” I chuckled, loving the annoyed look he gave me. “You going to spank me if I don’t follow your orders?”

“You would like that too much.” He rushed into my walk-in closet and dropped a black dress onto my bed seconds later. “Luca wants you to wear this one. Get ready. I’ll be in the hallway waiting for you.”

Marcello walked out of my bedroom and closed the door behind him. Taking advantage of my alone time, I fished the phone out of my pocket and hit Kali’s number.

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