“So, I heard you on the phone. Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine. I just had a call.”

“I gather you had a call because you were on the phone. I’m smart enough to logically deduce that.”

“I’m glad you’re smart about something,” I say.

He chuckles as the elevator door opens, and we step inside.

“So, who was it?” he asks as he pressesGto take us to the ground floor. He moves closer to me so that his shoulder is rubbing against me.

I look up at him and shake my head. “You’re very nosy.”

“Well, you wanted me to take my call while I was still in the room with you, so I figure I can ask you.”

“It was someone who wanted to talk to me.”

“A boyfriend?” He stares down at me, so I can tell he’s genuinely curious.

“I’ve already told you I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“A man that wants to be your boyfriend?”

“No such man exists.”

“I bet you many, many men would love to be your man.”

“Maybe they want to take me to bed like you, but I don’t think they want to be my man, per se.”

“I think you’d be surprised, Elisabetta Franco,” he says, licking his lips.

He grabs my face suddenly and pulls it up to his. I swallow hard as he leans down and kisses me.

“This is payback,” he says. He kisses me hard and fast, and I moan as I melt against him. His tongue slips into my mouth, and he pushes me back against the wall. His hands run down the side of my shirt, and I feel his fingers creeping up on my back, rubbing gently. I run my fingers down his back and moan as he continues to kiss me. I’m breathing heavily now. And when theelevator dings to alert us that we’ve made our stop, I know that I’m ready to escape him. I’m conflicted about how intense and passionate he makes me feel.

“Now that’s what a good kiss feels like,” he says as we exit the elevator.

“Are you trying to say that my kiss wasn’t good?”

“It was okay,” he says, “but I wanted you to feel ravished. Do you feel ravished?” he asks, grinning at me.

I nod slowly. My heart is still racing. I can still feel the imprint of his lips against mine. His tongue in mine. I can still taste him.

I walk toward the exit with him, not saying anything.

“Cat got your tongue?”

“I think that’s my line,” I say smartly to him.

“True, but remember, the cat doesn’t have my tongue; my tongue wants to be in your cat.”

“Liam!” I say, blushing as I see two older ladies staring at us. They’re in the lobby, and I’m pretty sure they heard what he said.

“What?” He grins at me. “Am I too vulgar for you?”

“I mean, you’re way vulgar for a British man,” I say. “I thought you all were polite and sensible and didn’t say dirty words.”

“Who lied to you?” He bursts out laughing, running his fingers through his hair. “We can be some of the crudest, rudest men you’ve ever met.”