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Every sound he made echoed in the space and the feel of his hard body as he collapsed against mine was truly a reminder I was all woman and had craved something exactly like this.

Only not from him.

When he finally relaxed and pulled away, the tension we’d shared before returned. This wasn’t some love affair so I couldn’t allow my guard to fall. I doubted he would either.

“When you’re finished, we need to talk. I’ll leave you a robe. Come downstairs.” With that, he left me alone in the shower.

It felt odd and not just from the cool air from the rest of the bathroom wafting in, but because he’d left so abruptly. Not that I’d expected pillow talk or some soft romantic words, but Jesus. It was just another volley or the move of a chess piece.

He wanted me disarmed for the rest of our conversation.

That wasn’t going to happen.

I made him wait.

Maybe a little too long, but what the hell? I took a luxurious shower, found some hair gel, and took my time relaxing.

When I did finally make it downstairs, he was standing fully dressed with a mug of coffee in his hand. He slowly lifted his head, the smirk from the night before returning.

I still had on a robe, my dress left in a ball on the floor of his office. He thought it was another moment of control for him. He should think again. I’d done some of my best casework as an intern in a robe much like this one.

“Would you like some coffee?” he asked.

“Yes. Black. Very black.”

He lifted a single eyebrow and poured a second mug, being careful not to touch me again by placing the cup on the counter for me to grab.

I did, immediately turning away from him and heading to the window. “You have a lovely view.” He really did.

“It’s decent.”

“You don’t really care. Do you? As long as it’s the biggest and most expensive then you’re fine. Right?”

“Something like that.”

“There’s more to life than wealth and power.”

I didn’t know why I was bothering.

“Tell me about the deal so I can have my attorney look it over. I will expect it in writing, by the way. If we decide to enter into an agreement, every aspect will be denoted and agreed to.” When he didn’t say anything, I turned around and gave him the same smirk as he’d given me. “Understood?”

“Understood.”

“Good. Then let’s hear what you have in mind.” I took a sip of coffee, trying to act nonchalant.

“While you might not like hearing this, having a woman in a leadership in this type of position is basically unheard of. Also, very dangerous.”

“Dangerous. Interesting. And sexist.”

He laughed. “Not necessarily. I don’t need to tell you how treacherous it could be. Plus, you know from your father and the fact you’ve spent your entire life in his protection that much of the work we do and the unwritten rules set in place occurred hundreds of years ago.”

“You’re trying to remind me that the mafia gurus are old and set in their ways?”

“Something like that.”

I sensed his irritation. While I loathed admitting anything coming from his mouth made sense, I couldn’t deny the ugliness. “Agreed. I don’t like it and that needs to change, but I do understand. What is your point? That my men will turn on me or that I won’t be taken seriously?”

“That’s exactly my point, Genevieve. Also, that you and everything you own can be taken easily.”