Later, we’re in bed next to each other, her head on my chest, my arms around her.
“That was amazing,” she compliments me.
“I’m glad you thought so. I always strive to please the women I fuck.”
She huffs. “I’m just so used to all these men wanting me to be a certain way. I like that you’re not like that. A woman like me could fall in love with a man like you.”
I chuckle as I move my arm out from under her. “Listen, sweetheart. You’re great. A great beauty. A great lay.” She smiles at that. “But I’m not going to fall in love with you. I’ve never been in love. I don’t have time for it.”
Her smile turns into that cute but fake pout again. “Is there someone else?”
My mind flashes back to a beauty with long brown hair and the best legs I’ve ever seen. “No,” I say roughly. “There’s no one else.” Just a woman I’ve been dreaming about for the better part of a year. Adelina. I’ve only seen her a few times, and we’ve barely spoken, but damn, I might have a crush on her. Me. A fucking crush. But she’s just too fucking beautiful for me to stop thinking about.
“Then we can continue what we’re doing. Fucking. Having a good time. Nothing more.”
“Sounds good to me.” I capture her lips with mine and roll her onto her back. “Now, enough with this chit-chat. Ready for round two?”
“I was born ready.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes, focusing instead on how good of a lay she is.
After we’re done with round two, she sits up to smoke a cigarette. “Matteo, you’re a fucking god, I swear.”
I grin. “You’re good for the ego, Emma.”
She traces her hand down my chest, her fingers brushing my chest hair. “I’m good for a lot of things.”
“I bet you are. I already know one of those things.”
She blows out smoke and wiggles her eyebrows. “Ready for round three?”
Before I can answer, my phone rings from somewhere on the floor. “Sorry, baby. It might be important.” I lean down and scramble through my clothes until I find my phone. Dario is calling. “What’s up?” I ask once I answer.
“I have a proposition for you.” Good ol’ Dario. Quick to the point. Never beating around the bush.
I eye Emma as I answer. “Name it.”
“How would you feel about marriage?”
I look away from Emma as I sit up. “What are you talking about?”
“I want you to marry my sister. Adelina. You two would be a good match. You would balance each other out.”
I blink, taking in his words. “You want me to marry Adelina?”
Emma whips her head to look at me, her eyes wide. I shake my head, turning away from her.
“Yes.” Dario’s calm voice is going to drive me fucking insane.
“How did you come to this conclusion?” My heart is beating faster. Fuck.
“I trust you, Matteo. You’re a great man to work with, but you can be reckless. Adelina is the opposite of you. She’s calm personified. I want to marry you to a woman who can help keep you in check. And I want to solidify our working relationship by rewarding you with my sister.”
“What does Adelina think of this?”
“I haven’t told her yet. I wanted to know what you thought first. Since I’m not your boss, you have the power to say no. But I think it would be in everyone’s best interest if you said yes.”
I think about his proposal for half a second. “All right. I’ll marry her.” Out of the corner of my eye, Emma jumps up from the bed and starts dressing.