Page 26 of Nico (Belles & Mobsters 2)

With a deep breath at the pointless wishes, I pushed the door and entered, immediately greeted by a hostess.

The moment I gave the name of Nico Morrelli for reservation, the hostess gave me a blinding smile. She strutted off towards the open floor plan restaurant, and I followed in silence, my nerves teetering on the edge with each step I took. This place wasn’t as stuffy as the restaurant where I met him, but its customers were just as wealthy.

It had been so long since I had been on a dinner date, I felt almost at a loss. Strangely, I was not seated in the restaurant lounge area but ushered into a private dining room with a table set for two. I would have preferred the lounge area where other customers were. At least there were witnesses there.

The hostess motioned with her hand for me to enter the room and without another glance at me she left. I slowly walked in, my eyes on the empty table set for two. The room was dimmed and the light smell of fresh flowers was in the air. I walked to the chair but instead of seating myself, my hands clutched the frame of the chair.

I should run now before he comes.Maybe Bear wasn’t in the front of the restaurant, and I’d take a cab to the Carter’s house. And then we leave the state. I could run now. Maybe William’s parents could come along.

“That’s fine, get me the details tonight.” My head whipped in the direction of the man’s voice and my eyes met his. There was cruelty in those silver depths but also beauty that could pull me into a web of trouble. This physical impact he had on me was wrong and unhealthy, on so many levels.

As if he knew what I contemplated, a knowing smirk played around his beautiful, sensual lips.

God, he looked like sin, that sun kissed skin lickable. He looked amazing in his fitted, expensive suit, but I bet he looked even better without it. I wondered what kind of tattoo he hid under those clothes, and instantly my cheeks warmed imagining him naked.

I gulped hard. Jesus, my hormones decided to kick in at the wrong time. And with the wrong man.

Stop it, Bianca!Any man with the last name of Morrelli is the wrong man!

The harshness lurked in his hard features, just like a hint of ink on his neck under his collar. It was undeniable he was dangerous. How could anyone possibly miss it? Yet, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.

Sweet Jesus Christ!

Nico Morrelli stood by the window behind me, his eyes watching me with too much intensity. He ended his call and walked up to me, stopping barely a foot from me. Even with the distance he towered over me. I should feel threatened, knowing he blackmailed me into this arrangement and knowing everything I did about the world he ran.

Yet for some stupid reason, I felt safe.Mental check needed!

I knew that no man from that world was safe. They used women like property and discarded them when they no longer needed them. Well, that wouldn’t be me and my girls.

“Hello, Bianca.” At the sound of his deep voice, I blushed harder and a shiver ran down my spine.

Goddamn this body of mine. Nobody ever impacted me like this, not even William, and I’d loved him forever. Except… once, when I went dancing with friends during college summer break. My eyes connected with a man across the club and this same reaction I had to Nico Morrelli happened.

No, it couldn’t be. No way!I eyed this man in front of me, comparing him to the man I shared a fleeting glance with all those years ago. He couldn’t be the same man! This man took what he wanted. I knew as well as I knew my name. The man in the club wanted me, yet he never made a move.

How many times had this man in front of me taken what he wanted without a second thought? Like now, for example. He blackmailed me into marrying him, without regard to consequences to me or my family. Nico’s broad, wide shoulders carried the responsibility and fate for so many people. And now my girls and I were one of those people. One snap of his fingers, and boom. We could be dead. If only I could convince him that somehow this marriage was a bad idea. For so many reasons.

One of them, though the least important one, was that my body seemed to think it was time to end my celibacy since William’s death. I still remembered how hard Nico’s body felt when I bumped into him, sending my body into overdrive. I worried I might jump him and make the fantasies a reality from all those nights when I touched myself thinking about him.

What an idiot I was! I got myself off thinking about a mobster's hands on me. Except the man in my fantasies wasn’t a mobster. Just a gloriously hot man that made my insides clench with need.

I swallowed hard, my insides on fire.

“Hello,” my voice slightly shook, my nerves getting the best of me.

Unsure how to greet him, I just stood there. Should I shake his hand? This was a completely new situation for me. It wasn’t as if we were lovers.Except in my fantasies.

Not fucking helping my case, Bianca.

The man in my fantasies might have looked like Nico Morrelli, but it wasn’t him. Thankfully, while my internal battle went on, Nico took the lead, leaning over kissing me on the cheek.

Shit!His mouth felt good on my cheek, his scent invading all my senses and my pussy clenched with need.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

My heart raced at his touch and an involuntary gasp left my lips. I took a quick step back, his smell enveloping me. The scent of the deep forest, dark and sensual, and my damn body loved it.

Brakes Bianca!I had to put a stop to any touching and kissing. For two goddamn years!

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