I’m alight with need. I’m hard with desire. I know without a doubt this woman will be in my bed, begging for me to take her, soon. I need to get my control back in this situation. She needs to learn where she belongs.On her knees serving me.
“Beautiful girls should be afraid. They should run in the opposite direction from men like me. I’m not a good person, Raina. Or would you prefer if I called you Rai?”
She shakes her head, scrunching her nose at the nickname. The action, though childish, only heightens my lust for her. I want to violate her innocence in so many delicious ways.
“I’m not like most girls.” She leans in, as if she’s about to tell me a secret. Her scent is soft, reminding me of fresh flowers, perhaps even candy. Sweet and intoxicating. A deadly combination. “My preferences may differ from girls you’ve been with, Mr.…” She smirks then. It’s a sinful smile on her rather innocent face.
“You’re quite the inquisitive little thing. Aren’t you?” I murmur, allowing my breath to fan over her face. Lifting the glass, I lean in, allowing the crystal to touch my lips. Her gaze drops to my mouth like I planned, as she watches me sip the harsh amber alcohol. I swallow, but her stare doesn’t waver. She’s fucking perfect. My tongue darts out, licking the remains of the expensive liquor from my lips, and I see her mimic the action.Good girl.So responsive. Flawless in every way.
The burn of the whiskey is enough to drag me from the buzz that seems to swirl around us. “Bella, can I get some drinks?” Giovanni saunters over, breaking the stare down between me and Raina, which causes her to jolt to attention.
“Yes, of course. What can I get you?”
“A bottle of bubbly, Cristal please. Three glasses and whatever my brother is drinking.” He slaps me on the back and chuckles. Her gaze darts between us, and I see her mind whirling with questions. Before she has time to say anything more, he glances at her and smiles. “Tonight please, beauty.” His order angers me, but she obeys so easily, I can’t help feeling proud of how beautifully submissive her nature is. “She’ll be perfect, Franco,” my brother murmurs and I nod in agreement. Yes, she will be. Both my brothers know my affliction, my need for a woman like this. But they also recognize how dangerous it is. How addictive it is.
As much as I should walk away, I don’t. I won’t. I’ll have what I came for—the delicate blond beauty behind the bar.
8
Raina
Both sets of eyes are burning a hole through me. I’ve never been devoured by a simple stare, but both these men are masters at it. It’s almost as if they’ve undressed me and I’m at their mercy. The thought sends a heated tingle down my spine straight to my core and as I clench my thighs, the wetness pooling in my panties is an obvious sign they’ve affected me.
Men haven’t given me so much attention. I’ve never wanted it, but with this stranger, I do. He hasn’t told me his name and as much as I want to know, he’s right. Perhaps it’s the mystery of him that makes me so dizzy with need for him. Maybe if I knew who he was, I’d run a mile.But what if I don’t?
Turning, I place the drinks on the counter and watch as the younger man places his credit card in front of me. “Leave that behind the bar. I think this evening will be a late one.” He winks and leaves me alone with this hunter who’s slowly turning me to a mess of desire.
When he settles himself beside my cousin, I can’t help wondering what she’s doing, since she’s practically sitting in his lap. We don’t know who they are, and from their private meeting with my brother, they can’t be good people. “Does my brother intrigue you, Ms. Lombardi?” The seductive rumble from behind me startles me.
“No, he’s just… I mean… that’s my cousin and best friend.”
“I know,” he says quietly.
Snapping my gaze to his, I question, “What?”
“I’m guessing the dark-haired one must be your best friend. The little blonde my brother is so enamored with looks like you, so I’m going to hazard a guess that she’s family of yours. The only difference I can see between the two of you is your eye color,” he states matter-of-factly like I should have known he’d deduced our connection so easily.
“And your brother…”
“He’s a good boy, perhaps annoying with his smoking, but he’s not going to hurt her… unless she implicitly asks.” He lifts his gaze to me in challenge, but this time I don’t give him one. Dropping my eyes to the glass in front of him, I’m hypnotized by the way his index finger swirls the amber liquid. Once it’s wet with whisky, he brings it up, pointing at me. “Taste it,” he orders in a low rumble. It’s gravelly, but the command is clear. Without a second thought, I lean in and wrap my lips around the tip of his finger. His mocha eyes darken further, turning black with desire.
This man is controlled, reserved, but the unbridled lust swimming in his dark eyes shows a beast lurking below his calm veneer. It’s waiting to be unleashed, and God help me, but I want him to let loose on me. The deep-seated desire that emanates from him is enough to have my panties—which are still wet from earlier—drenched.
Once I’ve licked the alcohol from his finger, my mouth pops off with a soft sound. My gaze is locked on his as he in turn puts the digit in his mouth, licking the exact same spot I did. I don’t know why that’s so sexy, but I’ve never been more turned on than I am now.
“Do you take orders easily, Raina?” Once again, he caresses my name the same way as his hands would stroke my skin. At least, how I imagine they would.
“Depends who’s giving them.” My sassy remark earns me a sexy smirk. One dark brow lifts in question and I shrug. “I don’t know you—”
“You’ve just obeyed me when I told you to lick the alcohol from my finger, and from what I can see, you enjoyed it.” The corner of his mouth lifts. It’s the slightest movement, barely there, but I notice it. As with most of the things this man does, it’s controlled.
“Maybe I was being polite so you’d tell me your name.”
“You’re really adamant. I like a woman with fire in her eyes.” He lifts his tumbler and takes a long sip. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows and the muscles in his neck are corded, as if he’s barely holding onto the predator within.
“Since you like my fire, are you willing to give me something in return for it?”
“Franco,” he says simply. My deductions on the accent were correct. He’s Italian. Jesus, he’s probably working for the American Nostra.