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“Hey, Liam.” Lucinda’s voice is short and sassy.

“This is me.”

“I’ve been trying to call you for the last hour,” she says. “Where have you been?”

“Umm…I’ve been working. What’s going on?”

“We need to talk.”

“Okay. Hold on a second.” I place my hand over the mouthpiece and look over at Elisabetta. She’s frowning now, staring up at me with wide, innocent eyes. She looks absolutely stunning. Her naked body is beautiful, and I want to reach down and kiss her.

“I’m sorry. I have to take this.”

She doesn’t say anything in response; she just shakes her head and looks out the window. I grab her hand and pull her up slightly.

“What are you doing?” she says, glaring at me.

“I just want you to know that I thought that was an absolutely fantastic performance.” I grin at her, and she blushes slightly.

I stare down at her naked breasts, and then… “Even though…” I swallow hard and shift. “I am ready to break free out of my pants and?—.”

“So, then, why are you taking the call?” she says, sitting up.

I think she knows what she’s doing to me because she shifts closer.

I run my finger down the side of her face and through her long, dark, silky hair.

“I have to take this; it’s important,”

“And you have to leave the room?” She raises a single eyebrow.

I’m uncomfortable then because I didn’t expect her to say that. I did need to leave the room for this call. It is not something I want her to hear, yet I don’t want her to be suspicious.

“I mean, I don’t have to, but I don’t want to be rude.”

“Then take the call here,” she says. “I don’t mind. You can even put it on speakerphone if you want.”

“I’m not going to put it on speakerphone,” I say and try to suppress a sigh. “Can we pause this, then?”

“We’re not pausing anything,” she says as she lies back. Her fingers slide down between her belly and between her breasts. “I mean, that call’s more important than me, right?”

I bite down on my lower lip and grunt. “That’s not true.” I go and walk toward the corner of the room.

She looks at me, disappointment on her face.

“Sorry about that,” I say into the phone.

“Are you with someone?” Lucinda says, sounding annoyed.

“What do you want?” I say, trying not to snap.

“We need to talk.”

“And I’m on the phone, so talk.”

“There’s been a complication.”

“What do you mean, there’s been a complication?”