Page 12 of Rise To Power

And she’d revealed just how much of alittle mouseshe wasn’t. That intrigued me more.

“I hardly think we’re acquainted enough for pet names, Mr. Bruno.” A mischievous smile curled her lips. “And I’m not the one who is too late.”

I slid my gaze over her chest and the sparkle of the diamond against her skin. Fuck, but her tits were magnificent. Full, round and shifting beneath the silk of her black dress. “You have my word. I won’t keep you waiting again.”

“Someone has given you a false impression of me. I stopped waiting two years ago.”

“Careful with your words, Allegra. I just might believe you.” I’d expected a blushing virgin, not the woman next to me, purring with innuendo.

I kept my hand on her back as I escorted her to the massive dining room. A table seating for two dozen people stretched the length of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the room and overlooked the city lights in the distance.

Orlando, Emilio, and Ant had already been seated at the table, along with most of the other guests. A servant pointed to the two empty chairs between Orlando and Deidre. Ant sat to the left of Emilio. I held the chair next to Deidre until Allegra took her seat.

Then I sat next to her. My thigh brushed against hers. She moved closer to her sister.

I rested my arm along the back of her chair, leaned into her, and whispered, “Careful, topolina, you’ll give our guests the wrong impression of us.”

Servers approached the table with the first course. The aperitivo. Wine from the Bruno vineyards filled the glasses.

Allegra angled toward me. Her hair looked soft as silk and tumbled over her shoulder. “You mean, they might think you’re too close to me and making me uncomfortable?”

“It’s not discomfort you’re feeling,” I said, trailing my fingertips along the open back of her dress. Shallow breaths floating past her lips were the only hint her heart raced.

“It couldn’t possibly be any interest you have in me. Are we going to play a game of touching each other for appearances?” She slid her hand onto my leg. Her nails scored along my thigh, sending a shiver down my spine.

With a hard swallow, an intoxicating cocktail of lust, intrigue, and fascination slid down my throat. I needed a long slow sip of her mouth, something to whet my palate before I tasted the rest of her.

“Are those drinks dulling your reaction to me?” she asked.

If she moved her hand any closer to my dick, she was going to discover just how affected I was by her. And it wasn’t just her beauty. The stubborn defiance challenged me.

“You overheard my conversation?” I asked her in Italian.

Deidre glanced at her sister, casually took Allegra’s wine glass, and drank as she watched her sister’s reaction.

“It’s rude to speak in Italian when there are people at the table who don’t speak it.” Allegra kept her voice low.

“But you do,” I whispered. “What other secrets can I discover?”

Her gaze stayed with mine. “You were expecting alittle mouse, Marco.”

I enjoyed the way my name floated across her lips. “I admit, you’re not what I expected.”

“Sadly, I can say the same thing.” She snatched her hand back from my thigh.

“I suggest we start over,” I said. “Yes, unfortunately, I don’t generally consider the feelings of others when I speak. And of course, I never would’ve voiced my opinions had I known you were listening. I’m not accustomed to being spied upon.”

She laughed and twisted toward me. “Really? Your only concern is my eavesdropping. Next time, don’t speak under my balcony.”

“How could you hear me from your balcony?” The second-floor landings were twenty feet up. She’d have to have been hanging over the side to hear our words.

“We both heard you,” she said, indicating Deidre. “Sound travels.”

Deidre took another sip of wine and nodded conspiratorially.

“What you overheard was a private conversation.”

“What I heard was that you already have a woman to warm your bed. I can hardly be jealous since our marriage will be a business arrangement only. However, you require an heir, so when the time comes, we can arrange for IVF.”

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