Page 51 of Crazed

Arrogance fills Tristano's orbs. He proclaims, "To old dogs who love new tricks but still want to hang on to the past, even though they don't realize that gnawing on the bone eventually destroys it."

"Bro, what the hell does that mean?" Massimo asks.

Pina huffs. "I think what your little brother meant to say is that when a dog's in the doghouse, there's always a reason."

I'm still confused about how this conversation took a turn to this point.

Massimo shakes his head and puts his hand on the small of my back. "Have fun with your dog lingo. Katiya and I will see you later." Before I can say anything, he whisks me through the club. He stops in front of the elevator.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"It's a secret," he replies.

The doors open, and we step inside. Massimo halts others from getting in the elevator with us. He presses the P and enters a code.

"Secret hideaway?" I question.

He spins, backing me up until I'm against the wall. His lips press against mine, and his tongue urgently slides into my mouth.

When the doors open, I'm breathless.

He retreats, walking backward and pulling me with him. When the doors shut behind me, Massimo spins.

I sharply inhale. It's a clear night. All of New York City is twinkling in front of us. Tiny-looking vehicles whiz by on the bridge. Buildings sparkle with different colored lights.

Massimo slides his arms around my waist. "It wasn't supposed to be finished until next week. They surprised me today when they called to say they completed the remodel."

"This is..." I glance in both directions, amazed at the view. Dark-blue walls, warm-amber lights, and soft music create a sexy atmosphere. I breathe, "This is incredible."

"I'm glad you like it. This is where we should live," Massimo says.

My heart races, and I gape at him. "What?"

I thought I would live at my papà's forever, but honestly, I don't want my family in our business. I meant for this to be a place for me to crash when I'm partying in the city. But when the foreman called today, it seemed like a sign.

Shocked, I glance around the huge space. "You want to move in here?"

"Yes. Tell me you love it and you'll move in," Massimo orders.

I softly laugh. "Of course I love it. I've never seen anything so stunning."

He grins and steps so close, our bodies touch. "So you'll move in with me? Here?"

"Of course I will!" I declare, tearing up. A sharp pain shoots through my chest. This moment is everything a girl could ever dream of experiencing. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe someone like Massimo would love and care for me. All I want is him. This apartment is an added bonus.

"Good. The movers will bring your things tomorrow. In the meantime, I have a gift for you," he states.

"A gift? Massimo, you've already given me enough tonight," I assure him.

"Oh, dolce. That wasn't your gift," he boasts, leading me down the hall. He opens a door and motions for me to go inside.

There's no light on in the room. I carefully take a few steps, and he steps behind me. A light slowly turns on, but like the ones in the main room, it's a warm amber that doesn't overpower anything.

It's as if I'm watching a scene unfold. An oversized bed with dark silk bedding is in the center of the room. Pewter chains with cuffs dangle from the ceiling. Different types of furniture, a luxurious glass shower, and a wall with floggers and paddles all compete for my attention. I ask, "What's in the drawers?"

Massimo kisses the back of my hand and guides me to it. He opens one drawer at a time, displaying all sorts of different toys. Some of them look vanilla. Others make a tiny bit of fear-filled excitement fly through me. He pins his steel-blue eyes on me. "See anything you like?"

I bite my lip as my butterflies spread their wings. I run my fingers over several vibrators and then point to the wall. A thick black leather strap with gold pointed studs hangs next to the floggers. Each end of the leather boasts padded buckles. The middle of the strap is also padded. "What is that?"

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