Page 27 of Christmas with the Mafia
“Do we have an appointment?”
My eyes are wide like saucers, and he nods. “We must purchase a ring to dazzle my parents. Only the best will suffice, and time is against us.”
Suddenly the enormity of my situation hits me, and I slump back against the seat. “I’m not sure I can do this, Nico.”
He stands and in two short strides, tugs me from my chair and without warning, his lips crash onto mine, his tongue forcing entry into my mouth. It’s an attack I never saw coming, and as his arms tighten around me, I kiss him back like a cheap whore, desperate for this—for him, any doubts in my mind erased in a nanosecond.
As kisses go, this one is off the scale, and his deep groan is like a battle cry as he pulls me in hard against his body. I have never been kissed like this before, with desperate hunger and such possession. It’s as if my mind has emptied of anything but the man kissing me so ferociously.
I am melting, any reserve I had swept to the side lying in tatters on the carpet and as his lips move to my neck, I gaspas he sucks on my skin, his hand splayed out on my back, crushing me to his chest.
Then it ends almost instantaneously, and he says huskily, “I’m sorry, I lost control. Allow me to show you to your room.”
My mind is spinning as I follow him along the corridor, and as we stop outside the room he allowed me to use earlier, he inclines his head toward the door.
“Sleep, we start early tomorrow. I will arrange for an alarm call at six am. There is a lot to organize.”
As I stumble through the door, unsure what the protocol is now, the door closes behind me, and only when the dust settles in my mind do I realize that he didn’t take no for an answer. I’m doing this whether I agree to it or not. That was the message I got from the kiss, and I’m even more surprised to discover that’s fine by me.
When I wake, it’s to the sound of the telephone ringing beside my bed, and it takes me a moment to remember where I am. The silk sheets that are caressing my body are the most decadent treat, and I could definitely get used to this luxury.
I reach out and grasp the phone, my voice husky with sleep.
“Hello.”
A bright and breezy voice on the other end is my answer.“Good morning, ma’am, this is your six am wake-up call. You’re welcome and have a nice day.”
The line cuts before I can reply, and as I drop the phoneback on the cradle, I struggle to get my act together, registering that I really should use another word than yes all the time when I’m around Nico.
My memories resurface, and with a groan, I sit up, loving the warmth from the room that is nothing like the freezing wake-up call I endure most mornings. This really is luxury on another scale, and as I slip from the bed, barefoot and naked, the carpet beneath my feet is soft and enticing.
I’m aware that I don’t have long and use the amazing shower to its full advantage, slightly cooler than I usually like it in an attempt to wake me up. As the fog clears from my mind, I’m fast coming to the sobering conclusion that I am now way out of my depth.
Fourteen
NICO
Trent meetsme exactly ten minutes before I told Regina to be ready.
“The contracts were delivered during the night, and we expect most to be agreed and signed by close of business today.”
“How much?” I ask casually, expecting the usual high number, which is confirmed when he grins.
“Twenty-five million.”
“That’s not bad for an evening’s work.”
I allow a small smile to express my delight and add, “And for charity?”
“Three million dollars.”
I nod. “Acceptable.”
Trent shrugs. “What are my instructions?”
“We have a busy day ahead, Trent. First, we stop at Regina’s apartment before heading to breakfast at La Parisienne. Then, before shopping at Harry Winston we will attend Bergdorf Goodman, make sure the personalshoppers are lined up. This evening we must dine at Jean-Georges. Is the contract ready to sign?”
I reference Regina’s one, which is probably the most important deal I negotiated last night, and Trent nods.
