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“She asked for very little from my father, only the best for her children. She wanted me to be a lawyer. It was her dream. I wanted to be my father; that was my dream. Those two dreams could not exist in one man. So the time came for me to make a choice.” He extended his arms. “This is my choice. Myfamiglia, is my choice. My business is a lot of things. And most of these things are within and beyond the law. None of it has anything to do with you and me.”

Masterful persuasion seemed to be his style, but when he spoke to her she couldn’t help but recognize his sincerity. “Your life sounds complicated.”

“It’s extremely complicated, Bella; my existence is rooted in contradictions and complications. Do you know what is not complicated? Us. This that we share. Passion. I make you feel good? Don’t I? You make me feel more of a man than anyone outside of those doors.”

“Because of the sex.”

“Because of your fire.” He smirked.

Mira rolled her eyes. Still, she couldn’t help smiling.

“We have a friendship, right? No strings. No need to attach meaning to what I do, if we are just enjoying each other. You appearing from nowhere reminds me of why I should not let complications get the better of me. If I do, I will miss some of the sweetness of life.”

The harsh uneven rhythm of her breathing thinned. The man spoke like a poet and with his accent she weakened. Her thoughts became muddled, and she couldn’t remember in that moment why they argued.

“I say what I mean, without a filter, Bella.”

“I see.”

“With you, I will be more cautious,” he said sincerely.

Her memories of their shared passion were pure and clear, at the front of her mind. It made his apology sweeter. The man didn’t really owe her any further explanation than the one he gave. She stared at him and wondered so many things. What did the tattoos on his body mean? What made him so angry and gentle all at once? What woman had his heart and how could she ever compete. He raised his hand to her.

“Veini qui. Abbracciami.”

“Translation?” she asked softly.

“Come here, hold me.” A mischievous, sly, smile tipped the corner of his mouth upward. As if the denial of his request was not an option. Mira wanted to yield to the burning sweetness that made her his captive. Her feet moved under his command. She shed her robe and crawled back over the large bed to him. “I think I like complicated,” she said.

“And I think I know what else you like.” he rolled her under him and her lungs dragged in deep breaths. He drew her to the edge of the bed and stood. She again was confronted with the angry long erection she longed to possess. Giovanni would oblige. His large hands smoothed over her skin and down her thighs before he spread her legs and lowered to his knees before her. She stared down the line of her body at him.

“Let me apologize properly.”

Lust pushed him straight into full-on arousal. A deep groan escaped his throat as he thrust his tongue deeply into her core and his hands clenched the soft lush curves of her firm ass. Her body undulated in response and her mound pressed upon his face. If he could smile he would.Damn.He could dine here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.

He sensed the awakening flames within her. He fucked her with his tongue, sucked and nibbled on her clitoris until she thrashed and pounded her small fists against the mattress for release, and release she did. Lapping with repeated flicks of his tongue, he enjoyed her torment.

She sat up in the bed and squeezed her thighs tightly shut while she shook hard through her climax. Giovanni peered up at her, still on his knees. He rose, lifting her legs and cinching them around his waist. Their eyes met. He found her wide gaze, full of appreciation for what they now shared. It made him more confident. He liked the way he saw himself in her eyes. He could believe himself worthy with this woman.

Intent on full possession, he drove his cock into her. He tossed his hips side-to-side to sink deeper. “So good,” he groaned. “More,” he said. “I like how tight you keep it for me, how you move your ass. Like this. Yes.” He said thrusting in and out of her. She bucked her pelvis when he thrust deeper and he speared her with a hard glance. Though she moved the way he desired, he felt a sharp pang of jealousy that she would know so much of his needs. How many other men had known her sweet body? Who were the motherfuckers that came before him? He wanted names and address so he could send his men in to take care of the competition permanently.

“Don’t stop,” she moaned. Giovanni had slowed his passionate thrusts. He fell back over her and started to fuck her on the edge of the bed. A shiver racked her body and he knew she was close. Knowing his weight was making her breathless, he tried to lessen his passionate thrusts, but he soon slipped beyond control. Spiraling toward his own orgasmic ending that nearly made him weep like an infant.

Chapter Six

“What’s that on your neck?” Fabiana asked.

Mira’s hand instinctively covered the spot in question. She pulled the collar of her shirt over to hide the reddish-purple bruise.

“Oh shit! Is that a hickey?”

“What? No.” Mira chuckled. She found several love bites that morning when she showered. A few bruised patches of skin also peppered her breasts, abdomen, and between her thighs. The man had a habit of biting, sucking, and licking every inch of her. “You know I bruise easily. I was showering a bit too hard this morning.”

A nervous tremble went through her hand when she reached for her cappuccino, so she abandoned the attempt. It was silly to hide the truth from her best friend, but for some reason she didn’t want to talk about it. She ignored the questioning look on Fabiana’s face. Mira hid her sleep-deprived eyes behind the black lenses of her sunglasses. Giovanni was gone. So breakfast this morning had been served outside on the veranda facing the lake. They dined alone on an arrangement of pastries, so sweet and fresh the cream filled croissants melted on her tongue.

“I have news.” Fabiana’s voice, whimsical and light, matched the mood of her friend when she arrived in a tangerine sundress that Mira had designed for her three years ago.

“Sounds mysterious,” Mira said, grateful for the change in subject.