Page 89 of Craving Danger

His touch is soft as he takes hold of my chin. He nudges my face up, and when I feel his breath fan over my lips, he says, “I’m still here, baby.”

His mouth brushes against mine, and a sob sputters from me.

With my eyes closed, he’s the man I’ve fallen in love with.

“I don’t want to lose you,” I whimper against his lips.

“You won’t.” The words sound like a promise.

He kisses me tenderly, and I feel the strong connection between us.

Lifting his head an inch, he whispers, “Look at me, baby.”

“No,” I sob. “You’ll disappear.”

“I’m right here. You can feel me.”

Another sob ripples over my lips as I slowly open my eyes.

The moment my gaze focuses on Mr. Vitale, everything feels wrong.

The corner of his mouth lifts slightly, then he says, “I’m the mystery man you fell for.”

My eyes search his dark brown irises, and I don’t see the annoyance I’ve gotten used to in the office. Instead, his gaze is filled with affection.

I lower my eyes to his shirt as I try to process my boss and my mystery man being the same person.

My boss – my arrogant, rude, head-of-a-crime-family, dangerous asshole boss – is my mystery man.

Pulling away from him, I cross my arms over my chest again, then admit, “I don’t know how to process this, Mr. Vitale.”

“Franco,” he murmurs. “My name is Franco, Samantha.”

This is insane.

I fear him, yet I can’t stop this insane attraction I have for him. I can’t just magically flip a switch and erase my feelings for him.

The hate and love keep warring in my chest, and right now, I have no idea which emotion will prevail.

Lifting a hand, I wipe my palm over my forehead before saying, “I need time to wrap my mind around everything.”

“I understand.”

My anger surfaces again, and my eyes snap to his stupidly handsome face as I exclaim, “Do you? Really?”

“I know this is a shock for you, but we can work through it.”

I let out an incredulous burst of laughter while shaking my head. “Yeah, I’m not so sure about that.”

His features tighten, and I watch him change from my mystery man to my boss. His tone is determined as he says, “I won’t lose you.”

Throwing my arms open, I yell, “You never had me!”

He moves fast, and before I can even think about backing away, his fingers wrap around my throat. With his face an inch away from mine, he says, “You’re mine, Samantha. I will do everything in my power to keep you from leaving me.”

He doesn’t hurt me, and seeing the flare of panic in his eyes, I realize he means every word.

His palm moves up to my jaw, and his expression softens as he whispers, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Give me a chance to prove I’m the man you fell in love with.” He tilts his head and gives me a pleading look. “Please.”

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