Page 65 of Lies like Rubies, Part Two (Savage Jewels)

My heart melted when she nodded and took his hand, leading him back to her bedroom.

He winked over his shoulder as he disappeared up the stairs with her.

Wonders never cease.

I wandered back out to the kitchen and accepted a glass of red wine from Nick, who had just opened a very expensive bottle. “No sexy times?” he asked, frowning.

“Not when my four-year-old wakes up and sees me crawling on the carpet.” Lord knew it wasn’t just going to bemyheart broken when these men left us. It would break her heart too.

Nick just grunted and went back to stirring his sauce as Lorenzo worked his magic for some sort of dessert. That was one thing about Italians — all the men could cook.

At loose ends, I returned to the sofa and cracked open my finance texts. Finals were barreling down at me, and I felt woefully underprepared.

Dante sat beside me and nipped my earlobe. “She’s asleep. And you’re wearing too many clothes.”

“Are we not about to eat dinner?” I asked, tilting my head so that he could run his lips down my neck. When he cupped my breast, I gasped, moaning as he kneaded me roughly through the fabric, squeezing tight, the combination of pain and pleasure sending desire shooting straight to my clit.

“I’d love to strip you naked and feed you,” he whispered in my ear.

“How about we eat dinner as a family instead?” I asked. “A fully dressed family,” I continued when he traced his hands down my side and fingered at the hem of my shirt.

He hummed. “I’ve volunteered to keep an eye on Lizzie tonight so that Lorenzo and Nick can enjoy some time with you downstairs after dinner, since Miss Carolina’s gone for the weekend.”

My eyes shot to his. Dante Oscuro was babysitting. Babysitting my daughter. Dante Oscuro.Babysitting.Facilitating an evening of sex with my other boyfriends. Babysitting.

“You just broke my brain, Dante.”

He brushed his lips over mine. “You can make it up to me any way you want.”

27

NICK

WatchingDante feel up my girlfriend while I finished making dinner left me hard and annoyed. All I wanted to do was lay her out on the table and devour that sweet pussy.

Lorenzo set the table while I plated dinner—pasta, sauce, and a salad. When Sofia sat down, her face slightly flushed and her hair askew from Dante’s ministrations, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Sofia was finally letting her guard down around us. After everything she’d been through, her vulnerability was a gift, one I didn’t intend to abuse.

She looked up and caught my eyes, her Mona Lisa smile teasing at her lips. I set her plate in front of her and swooped in for a kiss. Her lips parted on a sweet sigh, and I plundered her mouth with my tongue.

God, she tasted so fucking good. I tangled my fingers in her hair and yanked her head back, angling her so I could nibble my way down her throat, encouraged by her audible gasp and the way she softened beneath me.

Someone cleared their throat behind us. Ignoring them, I worked my way back up to her lips, capturing them onceagain in a fierce and possessive kiss. When I finally pulled away, her eyes were glazed over with lust, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were bruised and swollen.Perfect.

Sofia, a master of regaining her composure, blinked twice, and then asked us how our days were. All I could think about was how to maintain this domestic bliss with her forever.

Dante frowned and glossed over his day. “Nothing interesting,” he said.

“Really?” she answered. “I heard you finalized the deal with Adam Zhang today.”

He frowned, looking at her sharply. “You heard?”

Her smile was just as sharp, almost predatory. “Adam and I talk almost every day.”

Dante’s jealous growl rumbled through the room. “You talk to another man every day?”

“With his guns coming in from Europe rather than Latin America, he needs another way to get drugs into Yorkfield.”

Dante leaned back in his seat, watching Sofia thoughtfully. “They certainly can’t come in the same containers as my guns.”

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