14

Giovanni

How does she take all my self-control and shove it back in my face like the blinding rays of the rising sun? All sharp edges and easily rendering you sightless. How did she manage to go from an inconvenience, a fucking sexy as hell one at that, to a constant distraction? She has made me lower my defenses and I’m trying with all my willpower not to domino her into oblivion. I have no hesitation to use her relationship with the Russo kid against her. Fuck, I’d do a lot worse just to see her stripped bare in front of me begging me to touch her. I have to remind myself to reel in my demons before they break her.

I slide my gaze over her long legs until they reach her hips and take in all that is Valentina Mancini.

Her delectable ass presses against the railing in the elevator. All night I’ve wanted to pound that flesh and watch it pink up, but I won’t touch her until she allows me. And I know she will ask, eventually. For now, I’ll be satisfied with watching and studying her curves, the arches of her back, and the different moans as they escape her lips. Until the day she permits me to taste her, to punish her, to consume her.

We both stay silent as the lift ascends. I shoot off a text to my underboss, ensuring all gears are oiled in our next takedown. I sense her gaze on me and glance up to be met by her sultry eyes.

“You look worried, Principessa.” I arch an eyebrow at her.

“I’m not living with you until I sign my life away on our wedding day,” she blurts out, the icy tone of her voice cooling my skin.

“I didn’t expect you to,” I respond and regard her as her hands grip the railing so tightly her knuckles start to turn white.

“I’ll also be going back to Verona to continue with school.” She blinks at me, the defiance in her demeanor shining through like a beacon warning a ship about to run aground.

“Let’s not kid each other. We both know you’re there to get your pussy pounded.” I flash her a taunting smile and watch her features morph into a deeper scowl.

“Fuck you,” she spits, the venom in her stare penetrating the space between us.

I lunge forward until I’m pressed against her, slamming my palms into the elevator walls on either side of her head. She doesn’t flinch, and I’m momentarily in awe of this beautiful woman pressed against me. “I won’t have you speak to me that away again. Understand, Principessa?” My voice drops an octave.

“I thought you liked it all dirty and shit.” Her eyes meet mine, glare for glare.

“I also said I like to be a monster, and once I’ve laid my hands on you, you’re fucked.” I slam my lips against hers roughly, taking what’s been promised to me. She doesn’t fight me at first and for a few seconds her body molds to mine, her hands roaming my muscled back. The tension between us is volcanic and it plays out in the clashing of teeth and the biting of lips.

She comes to her senses and presses her palms against my stomach, pushing me off her. “Stop,” she pants as I move an inch away from her.

“What’s the matter, Principessa? Did you like that too much?” I glower at her, teasing her and wanting her sharp tongue to lash out at me.

The elevator pings and she ducks under my arm, escaping the confines of the small space, straight into the waiting arms of her fuck buddy.

I stalk after her straight into my newly purchased penthouse. The sprawling size of this beast is enough to ensure we won’t bump into each other. Three stately master suites, all with a king bathroom and sitting rooms, are placed in three corners of the apartment. The cinema room with the whole floor lounge sits between two of the master suites. Just enough to keep us apart. The loungeroom has the best fucking views in Manhattan. My soon to be playground, if all goes to plan. I figured I’d need a landing base in New York once this deal is sealed. There was no fucking way I was shacking up in the Mancini estate playing happy families. I don’t do the family thing. That lifestyle doesn’t suit the man I’ve become. I’m all business; and if you don’t serve me a purpose, I’ll discard you.

I watch the two hesitate before embracing each other. Their familiarity knots my insides, making me want to gut the Russo kid. I stride past them to the well-stocked bar and pour myself a whiskey. The malt glides down my throat, adding fire to my insides. I refill my tumbler and move to the floor to ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. The lights of the city flicker as I let the two of them get comfortable enough before I set my demands on them.

I hear the clinking of glasses and a soft close of the bar refrigerator. “By all means, make yourselves at home,” I say to the reflection in the glass and salute the wicked man looking back at me.

I see the Russo kid approach in the reflection, two tumblers of amber liquid held in his hands. I turn to look at him, study him, and try to see what she sees.

“Thanks, man. For not ratting on us.” He holds a glass out to me as a peace offering.

“Play by my rules and no one needs to find out.” I take the tumbler from him and knock it back.

“Let’s get this straight from the beginning. I don’t play by anyone’s rules, not even my old man’s. Except for Valentina, I’ll happily do as she wants, as long as she wants. She is all that matters. You’re simply an add-on.” He sips his whiskey and watches me carefully.

I’m impressed by his forwardness and no bullshit attitude. I can almost see why she’s so smitten. “Shall we get started then?” I dismiss his little speech and narrow my eyes at him, testing his buttons.

“Valentina,” he calls over his shoulder.

I catch her hesitate by the bar, slam down a drink, and waltz over to us. I watch her carefully, trying to figure out how far I can push her tonight. Her eyes land on mine and understanding passes between us. I wish I could read her thoughts and desires.

“Want to show this dude how we fuck?” Leonardo wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her into him.

“Oh my god. Seriously, Leonardo?” She scowls and tries to pull his arm from around her waist.

My cock awakens at the sight of her struggling to get free. “Let’s take this to the bedroom.” I stride past her and brush my hand against hers, needing to touch her skin.

“Come on, it’s fucking hot. You know how much you got off on the thought of him watching me lick your pussy.” I hear Leonardo’s voice echo around me, trying to convince her to go through with this. Intriguing me that she’d imagined me watching already.

“Fuck, I’m going straight to hell and I’m taking you with me,” she replies, the uncertainty tainting her words like a faint siren in the distance.

I pour another whiskey and head into the master bedroom, the sheer curtains pulled open to frame the city skyline. I settle on the sofa and wait patiently for my two performers to join me.

They walk in side by side, her arm wrapped around his, a wicked glint in her sultry dark eyes. I need to kick the desire to claim her. Maybe if I watched the Russo kid pound her in every way possible, it might stop my obsessing.

He leads her to the bed, his tie already loosened and whispers something in her ear, making her grin at him. Her dazzling smile lights up her stunning face. She smiles easily for him, as though he’s the light in her dark world.

“Close the door and dim the lights,” I order and watch the two of them turn to me, astonishment on both their faces. Get used to it, kids. This fucker likes to boss everyone around.

Valentina walks slowly to close the door and dims the lights enough to make faint shadows on the walls. Her gaze is wild with excitement and fear. She returns to her fuck buddy and looks up at him as though she is looking for encouragement and reassurance.

I place my tumbler on the armrest of the sofa and watch as she stands there, uncertainty playing on her movements. As though he can read her thoughts, Leonardo turns her and cups her cheeks in his tattooed hands.

“It’s just you and me, babycakes.” He presses a kiss to her lips.

“Now that we’ve got that lovey shit out of the way, face me and undress her,” I growl at them.

She flips me the finger.

“Stand still and keep your eyes on me, Valentina. Don’t move your eyes from mine until he has taken your dress off. Or that will be strike one,” I demand, my voice controlled and level.

Our eyes meet then, and a struggle of power plays between us. Neither of us is used to doing as we’re told, and I know this is going to test her control in allowing her to succumb to my demands.

Valentina keeps her eyes on me; never looking away as Leonardo unzips her dress and lets it fall to her ankles. I catch a glimpse of a knife strapped to her thigh, hugged tightly against her Medusa tattoo. I lick my lips at the thought of what I’d like to do with that knife.

Her pale pink g-string and strapless bra hug her curves, curves I need uncovered. I see a delicate tattoo, written in fine cursive writing, across her ribcage, under her breast. My curiosity zones in and I try to read it from where I am sitting, but the lighting is too dim. I make a mental note that when she lets me close enough to her, I’ll explore all her tattoos and trace them with my tongue, learning the meaning of each and every last one of them.

I slice my gaze to Leonardo and watch as his eyes roam over her body, her athletic form familiar to him, yet he still looks at her as though this is the first time he’s truly laid eyes on her bare skin. He grabs her hips and pulls her into him, and she lets him roam his hands over her ass, kneading and feeling the taught flesh under his fingertips.

Her gaze remains on me, taunting and teasing me, showing me what I can’t touch tonight. My dick presses against my pants, almost painful in how much it’s throbbing. It’s going to take all my self-control not to grab her and pummel into her tight pussy.

“Just you and me.” Leonardo grabs the back of her neck and angles her face up to his. “If you don’t want to do this, tell me and I’ll get us the fuck out of here.” He kisses her forehead and trails his lips down her cheek and over her neck.

“Okay, I trust you,” she breathes through pursed lips, answering him, but looking at me. Her hands tug at his tie.

“Don’t. You won’t be touching him tonight, babycakes.” I smirk at her and I can see she’s dying inside and wants to throw something at me.

Her defiance is evident in the way she huffs under her breath, struggling to fight the urge to defy me. She zeroes in on me, her face calm with an undercurrent of rage.

Leonardo obliges as he slides off his shoes and unbuttons his suit pants, letting them fall to his feet, his hard cock straining against his boxers. He kicks his pants to the side and removes his suit jacket and shirt, sending them flying in my direction. His torso, back and arms are covered in tattoos, the deep cut v on his abdomen the only place not decorated.

I take my tumbler and swirl the whiskey around watching the intimate touching between them and the nervous tension radiating off her. Her tanned legs would look so fucking good wrapped around my face. I push that mental image out of my head and throwback my drink.

“Take off her lingerie.” I don’t bother making eye contact, my eyes focus on her ass.

Leonardo reaches around to unclasp the strapless bra but she stops him.

“Stop directing us. This isn’t a porno.” She throws me one of her snarky scowls over her shoulder.

Leonardo chuckles, pulling the bra down under her breasts and leaning down to take her nipple into his mouth. Her eyes close in pure bliss.

I take my gun out from the top of my pants and I stalk to stand directly behind her, taking her jaw in my hand and angling her face up to mine, my fingers curling around her throat. She eyes me with caution but doesn’t fight me. I press the barrel of the gun to Leonardo’s head and he slowly stands back up.

“Calm the fuck down, dude.” Leonardo swats the gun away from his head, unaffected and unafraid.

I ignore him and lean my head down, my mouth close to her ear. I can feel her heartbeat, steady and strong against my fingertips. She’s not afraid. “You will do as I say or this thing between you two is over. Understand?” I hiss, squeezing her delicate throat a little tighter to drive my point before I uncurl my fingers and graze my fingertips along her soft skin, the red marks left behind, making my dick twitch.

“There’s no need to be a giant dick.” She swallows, her curiosity shining in her ebony eyes.

My dark gaze meets Leonardo’s. The crazy fucker looks more turned on than before, his eyes gleaming with a certain type of crazy I recognize all too well.

“Strip her bare,” I direct my demand at him, noting he may be the easier one to control.