Page 16 of Tease

“You don’t seem surprised.”

She shrugged as she stuck a grape in her mouth. I waited for her to finish chewing. She licked her lip and settled her gaze on me.

“I k-know m-more thanMamáor a-anyone else thinks.”

Leaning closer to her, I stroked my fingers down her thigh.

“I think people underestimate you.”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll try not to make that mistake again.”

She placed her hand over mine and squeezed my fingers. The way she blushed had me wanting to kiss her. To be honest, I wanted to press her down on the blanket and devour her pretty mouth. There were far too many things I wanted to do to Rina Villetti. None of them were innocent or sweet. I might want to protect the girl, but it didn’t stop me from desiring her pliant body underneath mine. My teeth digging into that tanned skin, leaving bite marks all over her to make it clear to anyone else that she wasmine.

“Mia preziosa,” I murmured, leaning ever closer until my mouth hovered over hers.

She was so fucking precious. I wanted to give her the world and keep her wrapped up safe with me. No one would hurt her or call her names again. If they did, I’d hurt them right back. They’d pay for messing with my woman.

“Ti voglio così tanto.”

Rina didn’t speak Italian fluently, but she understood it. Orsino had taught his girls from a young age, as my father had done with me. Being bilingual served me well when I started working for Zayn and kept our conversations private when necessary.

“I w-want y-you too,” she whispered, her breath fluttering across my mouth.

She set her plate on the blanket and kissed me, her fingers digging into my hair. It took all my fucking willpower not to shove her down on the ground. Instead, I kept it light, pulling away after a few minutes. This was meant to be a date, not an invitation to touch her body in the ways I’d been eager to for days.

Rina didn’t look particularly happy I’d stopped. I stroked her cheek and adjusted her glasses, so they weren’t askew on her face.

“Later… I promise.”

She let out a breath and nodded. When we were alone and not out in the open, we could get carried away. We could do whatever she wanted. I’d never push Rina for more than this. Only when she was ready would I lay her down and show her how much I desired her.

I leaned back and picked up my plate. Rina did the same, and we shared a quiet meal. Just being with her was more than enough for me. Sometimes all I wanted was to be in her company, even if we didn’t say a word.

When she finished, she set her plate down and moved closer to me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and let her lean her head on me.

“D-did you always want to w-work with Zayn?”

Her question made me smile.

“No, but I looked up to him when we were kids. He was always so self-assured about everything.”

“H-he calls y-you his shadow.”

I snorted. I had followed Zayn around and all but forced my friendship on him when we were kids. Being there for him was something that came naturally to me. He could take care of himself, but I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him. The fact Gennaro had almost killed him haunted me, not that I’d told him. I hadn’t been there… but Ari had. She’d protected Zayn. That girl loved my best friend more than life itself. She’d more than proven her loyalty to him and his family. I’d always protect both of them. I would take their secret regarding how Gennaro actually died to the grave.

“You worried that means I won’t have time for you?”

“N-n-no. If you want to be w-with me, y-you’ll make time… won’t you?”

My arm around her tightened.

“Always,mia preziosa.”

She placed her hand on my thigh and nuzzled my chest with her face. I never imagined Rina to be the affectionate type, but I should have known, given the way she doted on her cats. Merry and Pippin were her constant companions.

“Besides, Zayn is aware of my… feelings towards you. I doubt he’d let me get away with not spending time with you.”

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