Page 28 of Ruthless Rival

I could picture him as a passionate, firm lover, caressing me all over and murmuring demands in my ear that nudged me closer and closer to orgasm. I dug my heels into the bed, curling my toes as the thought of him pressing me into the mattress. His larger body would overtake mine, and I would hold on for dear life as he devoured me whole.

I bit my lip to quieten down my moans as I finished, my body trembling through the powerful waves of pleasure as they crashed down on me. My stomach and chest grew tight as I stilled, letting the bliss grip me. A slow breath drifted from me when I finally settled down.

Warmth graced my skin as I gazed up at the ceiling, my head spinning from the intensity. It felt so good to think about him, but now the bed felt cold and empty around me. He wasn’t where I wanted him to be.

I sighed and stretched my arms above my head, trying to rally myself. All I could do was go through my end of the deal and sleep with the governor. Hopefully, Alberto saw how serious I was and helped me with my family, per his usual moral code. Then, we would both be happy.

Although, I could think of another thing that could happen that would make me even happier.

I shook my head and hopped out of bed. I didn’t need to be getting so attached to a Mancini. They were still a crime family, and it would probably be for the best if I stayed as far away from criminals as I possibly could. Especially if it meant getting personally involved with one. In the end, they were always trouble.

I rose up from the bed to look through my closet for something nice to wear tomorrow night, needing the right balance of class and risqué to draw the governor deeper into my trap. I already had his attention over the last several months. Getting him into bed would be easy, but I still had to make the effort to get him there.

With each dress I inspected and shook my head at, my motivation dwindled. I really didn’t want to be with the governor tomorrow. All he would do was boast about polls and whatever celebrity he just met. His form of confidence wasn’t sexy like Alberto’s.

I smiled to myself as I remembered how jealous Alberto sounded when I told him about being the governor’s date at Adriano’s wedding and at the ball. Alberto made all the right points to prove to me how he would’ve been a better date, but I believed him the moment I saw him. The governor wasn’t half the man Alberto was to me.

“None of this will work,” I said to myself as I shut my closet. I needed something new. I would probably want to burn it afterward anyway.

I grabbed my things and had my driver take me to the local mall so I could do some shopping. I wanted a dress that was either dark blue, cream, or black…sophisticated colors the governor would like, but the design of the dress had to tease him and drive him a little wild.

Once I got the governor alone in the hotel room, all I had to do was go on autopilot mode and get the night over with. The cameras would capture everything they needed to, then I would kick the governor out so I could look at the footage. If Alberto agreed to work with me, he could have the footage.

I didn’t want to hold anything over Alberto’s head, but despite how he made my heart race, this was still business. I needed his help, and I didn’t admit such things lightly. For years, I survived on my own, planning and waiting patiently for the right moment. Now, it was time. I needed Alberto along with the other Mancinis to step up and help me take out a common enemy.

A sales associate around my age walked up to me with a beaming smile on her face. “Hello! I’m Janine. Can I help you find something?”

I snapped out of my thoughts. “Yes, actually. I need something sophisticated… but sexy. Can I find that here?”

Janine didn’t even look fazed as she clasped her hands together in front of her, eating up the opportunity to make a sale. “Absolutely! I know just what you’re looking for,” she said as she motioned for me to follow her. She stopped in front of a mannequin that posed with its hand on its hip in front of the dresses section. “What about something like this? You have the fold-over, off the shoulder straps to show some skin and a wrap style skirt to hug the body.”

My eyes moved along the black material of the long cocktail dress, admiring how it hugged the mannequin’s figure, teased at the shoulders, cleavage, and thighs. It was an eye-catching choice. “Wow, thank you, Janine. I think this is perfect,” I told her.

Janine clapped her hands. “Amazing! And do you have anything to wear under your dress?” she asked.

I stared at her. “Under?”

Janine’s face flushed a little as she laughed. “Part of what can make an outfit sexy is what’s hiding underneath it,” she explained before gesturing toward the back part of the store. “We have a great lingerie section with so many different options.”

I frequently updated my lingerie collection at home and I couldn’t think of a better time to add to what I already had. “Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind. For now, I’ll take the dress,” I told her before heading to the checkout counter. I couldn’t settle for mediocre lingerie in the back corner of a mall store. I knew exactly where I needed to go.

Once I purchased my dress, I walked out of the mall and to the car, carefully hanging my dress up on the hook near my head. “Take me to Sinsation Boutique,” I said to my driver.

He nodded and pulled away from the mall. He knew exactly where the little specialty shop was, and it could be easy to miss.

Almost hidden discreetly like a secret, but the clothing and items inside bared all. The boutique was located on the bottom floor unit of one of the two-story townhouse buildings that gave New Orleans part of its unique architectural charm. There wasn’t even a sign with the boutique’s name on the front just LED letters on the glass front door that said ‘SIN.’

“Thank you,” I told my driver before stepping out of the car and heading into the boutique. Dim lighting filled the small shop from golden, vintage light bulbs strung up above. I let my eyes sweep over the shelves and racks lined with all sorts of different colors of lace and satin.

There were teddies, babydolls, garter slips, and corsets. The owner, Stella, made custom lingerie for customers as well. With my dress, I would only be able to get away with a nice strapless bra and a sexy pair of panties, but who said I couldn’t purchase something to slip into later?

As I admired a red babydoll with lace cups, I didn’t have the governor in mind when I pictured myself in the outfit. I saw myself strutting toward Alberto as he sat on the bed, watching me with those dark eyes of his. No matter what lingerie I bought, it would eventually end up on the floor, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Alberto’s reaction when he saw me in it.

I plucked the babydoll off the rack and brushed my fingertips over the soft, expensive material. I didn’t have one of these, but I could imagine how it would tease all of the curves of my body. Maybe I would drive Alberto even crazier by ditching the panties as well and just leaving on the babydoll. Maybe I would get the chance to wear it for him one day.

“Gabriela! I had a feeling that royalty was in my shop.”

I turned and faced Stella, a tall and curvy redhead. “Royalty?” I laughed as we embraced.

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