Page 18 of Contract of a Billionaire

Alessio was forbidden fruit. My father, being an ex-special agent, nor my maman would ever approve of someone like him. They wanted me to meet someone safe and grounded, not dark and consuming like Satan’s spawn.

After all, Father called Alessio’s father the true Satan. Not that he ever elaborated why he assigned him that name. It seemed appropriate considering how scary and cruel he was.

“So what are your plans for the night?” Luca questioned.

“Nothing,” my friend and I murmured.

“It doesn’t look like nothing,” the third guy remarked. What was it with these men? Was the requirement to be friends ‘super hotness’ or something?

“And who are you?” Branka questioned, glaring at the third man.

“Branka, that’s Nico Morrelli,” Alessio clarified.

The name didn’t mean anything to me but it meant something to Branka because she scoffed and muttered under her breath, “Another damn mobster.”

Fleur was back at that moment with our drinks. “Gentlemen.” She placed their drinks in front of them. “Autumn and Branka, sparkling water for the two of you.”

“We had better drinks at college,” Branka grumbled. I agreed, but with Alessio’s closeness I was so parched that I grabbed my drink and downed it in one gulp.

“Thirsty?” I felt Alessio’s hot breath on my neck, and it took all my control not to jump up.

Anxiety and something unfamiliar buzzed beneath my skin.

I had to get out of here. Or I’d give in to temptation. I teetered on the edge, needing to touch this man who’d consume me for so long. He looked like a man who’d promise heaven and deliver it. Either that or the most delicious sin.

I shot up, unable to handle this tension anymore. If I remained here for another second, I’d burst into flames and do something there’d be no coming back from.

Everyone’s eyes landed on me, but I locked them on Branka.

“It’s getting late,” I murmured.

And just like he was my magnet, my eyes returned to Alessio. That perfectly chiseled and symmetrical face that I itched to explore with my mouth. I wondered if he was clean cut underneath that suit or was there some bad boy ink hiding. Like his friend Cassio.

“Cassio, can you take Branka to my place?” Alessio asked.

“Ugh, I was hoping to spend the night with Autumn,” Branka retorted dryly.

“Not tonight.”

I slid a glance to my friend, but she seemed resolved in accepting her older brother’s demand.

“We’ll touch base tomorrow,” Branka said.

“Sounds good.”

By the time I exited the bar, Cassio had already headed to drop off Branka. Luca and Nico remained behind, while Alessio fell into step with me.

I dared a side glance at him.

Alessio moved quietly and lethally next to me, darkness swallowing his every move. His presence dominated the space around us and he seemed to steal oxygen. Did it bother him? Not one bit.

“Why are you following me?” I asked him, my tone slightly breathless. My goal was to get distance between us, not to have him with me until my Uber showed up.

“I’m taking you home,” he drawled, never stopping.

My steps faltered and I narrowed my eyes on him. “I didn’t ask you to.”

“You didn’t.” It was obvious that man never had to explain himself to anyone. He paused and turned around, cocking his eyebrow. “You coming?”