Page 31 of A Touch of Fate

I shook my head. “Can you give me a towel?” Samuel got out of the pool and took one of the fluffy towels that rested on one of the sunchairs.

He draped it over my shoulders. Then he picked me up and put me down on the sunchair.

I peered up at him, and he surprised me with a heated kiss.

He pulled back after a moment with a tight smile.

“I shouldn’t start something I can’t finish. ” He looked at his watch, then sighed.

I blew out a little breath, trying to gather my wits about me. I glanced up at the surrounding houses. The pool was mostly hidden from view by hedgerows, but I still worried about people catching a glimpse of us.

Samuel positioned himself in front of me. “Nobody can see anything now.”

I opened my bikini top and tugged it away, then dropped it beside me on the lounge chair. Samuel’s eyes practically devoured me as my nipples hardened even more in the light wind. I leaned back and tugged my bottoms down so I could really dry myself.

“Fuck, Emma. I really wish I had more time.” His voice sent a shiver down my back. He shoved down his swim trunks, revealing his erection. I was at eye level with it, and I could have leaned forward and taken him in my mouth. My face heated. Where had that thought come from?

Samuel grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist. I cleared my throat and wrapped my own towel tighter around my body.

It was funny that I had thought the physical aspect would be a problem in our marriage.

That obviously wasn’t going to be the case.

Building trust and an emotional base would be much harder.

Renato and I stepped into the newest whorehouse of the Outfit. It was our most sophisticated with whores that were referred to as models and who looked like they might actually be one, at least in catalogs or ads, not the Paris Fashion Week.

Renato motioned around. “What do you think?”

Half-moon-shaped dark green leather booths offered privacy thanks to the satin curtains that could be closed completely.

In alcoves over the booths, fake Roman statues added to the exclusive appearance.

Dark wood panels covered the front of the bar and the lower part of the walls, with golden wallpaper on the upper part.

A door behind the bar opened, and a tall woman with red hair in a purple jumpsuit stepped out.

She was in her early forties and was responsible for picking out girls for Renato’s whorehouses.

He owned five in total and had been managing them as Captain under my rule since his father had stepped back from managing the brothels after a stroke.

She strode purposely over to us, and Renato’s mouth pulled into a leer. I released a sigh.

“Samuel,” Autumn said with a charming smile before she turned to Renato and allowed her smile to become more sultry.

She leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek, leaving a lipstick stain on his skin.

Those two had been fuck buddies since Autumn made Renato a man thirteen years ago.

He had a strange bond with her, even if he fucked other women all the time.

“Samuel wants a tour so he can approve of this project,” Renato said, pride ringing in his voice. Autumn touched his shoulder. “Everything’s ready. I picked three more models. I’m sure you’ll approve.”

“Lead the way,” I told her.

She moved ahead, swaying her hips. Renato smirked, then we followed her into the backstage area where the “models” could serve their customers whatever they wanted.

At the very end of the long hallway was the lounge room where the women could change clothes and put on makeup.

When we stepped inside, twenty-five women turned their heads toward us.

Most were in their early twenties, and only a few were in their thirties. There was something for every appetite.

I assumed they were only dressed in skimpy underwear so I could evaluate them. Though, that was really Renato’s job. He tested every whore before she started working for him.

Autumn moved past the women as if she owned the place herself, then pointed at the last three women. “These are our newest additions. Would you like to test them now, Renato?”

Renato scanned the busty dark-skinned woman, then a petite Asian woman, and a tall blond woman. “What about you, Samuel? Would you like to test any of these ladies? Their talents are extraordinary.”

I sent him a scowl that shut him up. “I’m sure our customers will appreciate it.”

Renato shrugged.

I turned on my heel and left.

Renato followed me and stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “So you are adamant about the fidelity thing?”

I glowered at him. “I am. Considering your father will hand over the Captain title to your brother if you aren’t married before your thirtieth birthday, you should consider the fidelity thing too.”

Renato’s expression darkened briefly. “I’ve thought about it.”

I cocked an eyebrow. Renato has been fucking so many whores and other women over the years, he was notorious even in our circles. I certainly hadn’t lived like a monk, but I’d never reached the level of manwhorehood that Renato had. It had caused him trouble finding a wife.

“My father won’t budge. He insists I marry someone from a conservative family.”

“I thought none of them wanted to give you their daughters.”

Renato shrugged. “Not from Minneapolis and not from Chicago, but I might have found someone.”

“Who?”

“Apparently, Giorgia’s family is very pious and strictly Catholic, as conservative as they come.”

“No, Renato. What are you up to now?”

“Let’s just say I made a deal with Giorgia Farina, and she’s willing to become my wife. Now I just need you to put in a good word for me with her brother and mother.”

I closed my eyes. “She’s Emma’s best friend.”

“That’s good for Emma, right?”

“I don’t know. Not if Giorgia cries her eyes out over your manwhore ways every day.”

“It’s a marriage of convenience. Giorgia knows what the deal entails.”

“All right. But if I find out you lied to the girl and pretended to be in love, I’ll kick your stupid ass.”

“Deal.” Renato clapped my shoulder.

I released another sigh.

Autumn appeared in the doorway. “Are you going to test them out now?”

“Of course. You know me. I take my job very seriously.” He sent me a grin. “You sure you don’t want a good cock suck?”

I definitely wanted my cock sucked, but not by one of these women. Since Emma had been at eye level with my erection today, I could think of nothing but her beautiful lips around my dick.

“I’m taking Emma to dinner at La Cantina tonight.”

Renato searched my eyes. “Good for you. Have the gnocchi for me. I haven’t been there in a week. We need to have lunch there again.”

I nodded, then turned on my heel and headed to the bar where the barkeeper was testing different cocktails.

“Negroni,” I said.

He frowned, but his expression smoothed the moment he recognized my face. He gave a quick nod and began to mix the drink, then pushed it over to me. I took a sip, then nodded appreciatively. It was good. I emptied it, then had another before I pulled my car keys from my pocket and got up.

“I could call you a taxi.”

I sent the man a look that made him pale. “I advise you to keep your nose out of your customer’s business, but especially out of mine. I make the rules in this city.”

I strode away, pissed off.