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She takes my hand. “Come on. I want to meet him.”
I pull back. “No, Valentino will have my head. He wouldn’t want me fraternizing with his men.”
“Well, guess who isn’t married to Valentino?” she asks with a giggle, as she starts walking in Dutch’s direction. “Me!”
“For goodness sake.” I roll my eyes. “Louisa.”
“Relax. You can stay over there while I talk to him. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll break through his armor.” With that, she’s gone. I watch her sashaying towards him for a few seconds, then I go back to the house and go to the kitchen where I help my mother put stuff away.
Louisa comes back in after about fifteen minutes.
“Well?” I ask.
She shakes her head in defeat. “The man’s a brick wall. I haven’t been able to get a full sentence out of him.” I hand a kitchen towel to her and we start to dry the dishes.
Less than an hour later I say goodbye to my mom, and get into the car. As it pulls away Valentino’s hands are on my body, pulling me to himself.
“I know you’re upset that I didn’t tell you I went to Terra de Barbieri yesterday, but?—”
“It doesn’t matter, Valentino.”
His eyes flare. “I don’t buy that. Don’t lie to me, Francesca. It does matter.”
“At first, I thought it did, but I realize now that it doesn’t. You came home and made it up to me by coming to lunch when you didn’t have to. You also agreed to go see Matteo even when you didn’t want to.” I smile appreciatively. “So… I don’t mind, for real.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You’re such a puzzle. I’m going insane trying to figure you out.”
“You have me figured out. Just one kiss, one touch, and I’m a mess for you.”
He hits the button to pull up the partition that blocks the back from the front and pulls me onto his lap. I rock my hip into his crotch.
Valentino’s hands wrap around my waist. “You know, you’re going to get fucked all night long, don’t you?”
Heat rushes to the apex between my thighs.
“Why not start the night now?” I ask cheekily and arch harder into his body, dragging out a groan from him.
“Francesca, don’t force my hand. I’m not a gentleman. I’ll take you here and now, with Dutch and Vance in the front seat.”
God, I love this man so much.
My eyes never leave his as I nuzzle his hand. “Do it.”
The intense desire in his eyes proves that he desperately wants to, but then he shakes his head firmly. “No. We’re almost home.”
“So you are a gentleman, huh?”
“No. I’m no gentleman. I’m a fucking caveman,” he whispers against my mouth. “Sometimes I want to take you in public, so no one will have a fucking doubt in their mind about who you belong to. But I’d die first before I let anyone see your naked body. It’s all so fucking crazy.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
FRANCESCA
“All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll stay,” Valentino says, pressing me against the wall, his tantalizing scent clogging my brain. It’s eight in the morning, and his jet is ready to leave, but Valentino is doing all he can to seduce me into asking him to stay.
He’s playing a very dirty game because many times I’ve been close to damning Matteo and Nonna Isadora and having him spend all day with me, but I know that will be an incredibly selfish move. It may be the last time he sees Matteo. Not that he seems to care either way. Still, Matteo and Nonna Isadora will get their wish.
“It’s time to go, Valentino.” I push him away, even though all I want is to tumble into bed with him. “Hurry up.”