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7

GLORIA

O ne crisis averted and another one blows up right in my face.

Dom stands in the door, looking around, a storm-cloud scowl twisting his features as he takes in the place, the boxes, me pressed against Adriano and aching for him to kiss me again.

Okay, not exactly at the forefront of my thoughts at the moment.

But I am painfully aware of how close we are.

The T-shirt and no bra may have been dual purpose. And a double-edged sword.

Not that I was hoping anything would happen.

Who am I kidding?

Dom’s scowl drops to something more like shock as he pieces together the mess. And a little like he caught me red-handed.

“What is the meaning of all of this?” he rasps softly.

“Hi, Dad,” I force the words out, making myself use the term I truly do not associate with him. It works best, I’ve found.

Not that I’m trying to manipulate him.

“I went to find you in your wing of the house, thinking we’d have breakfast together. What do I find but an empty room? No one knows where you are. The housemaids are clammed up, tight-lipped, won’t tell me anything. Do you understand how worried I was? I didn’t know where you were and you weren’t answering your phone!” For a split second I almost believe his worry. “You know I don’t like surprises.”

There it is. The real reason he’s mad.

Not for my safety.

It’s his need for control.

“I’m so sorry, really. I was just busy moving my things. I asked the maids not to say anything until I could break the news to you myself.”

“The news?” He glances from me to Adriano and back. “Let me guess. This was your idea?”

Adriano stands stock still, like an awkwardly posed mannequin in a store window. It would be humorous in any other scenario.

“Well? Did you coax her into this? Give her the idea?”

“Uh. No,” Adriano suddenly snaps back with a little shake of his head.

“It’s bad enough the two of you meeting in secret at the office, sneaking off together. You know how it reflects on me?”

“Actually, I don’t know how our being engaged and actually having a relationship reflects on you, no,” I snap before I can stop myself.

“It’s inappropriate,” he states, but it falls flat. There’s got to be more to this.

“It’s the 2020s, Dad. It would be weird for us not to be living together.”

“So that’s it, huh? You’re barely here a month and you abandon me to move in with your boy toy.”

This is getting ridiculous.

Adriano’s cuing into the same feeling, raising one eyebrow.

“No one is abandoning anyone.”

“Do you really think I don’t see what you’re doing? Is this revenge? Plotting some social explosion that will ruin my dealings with the elders. Some of our partners are very old-fashioned, particularly our Eastern prospects. If I can’t keep my own house in order, how am I supposed to convince them that I’m trustworthy?”

“No one is plotting against you, Dom.” Adriano crosses his arms, frowning. His temper is rising, I can see it.

Careful, Adri.

I have to defuse this situation before it blows up in my face. Again.

“Dad, I just think that Adriano and I should have an opportunity to try this out a little bit. Trial run, you know? To see how it goes. And more than that, I need my own space. I can’t live at your house forever.”

“The compound is huge, Gloria. You can have as much space as you need.”

“As long as it’s in your house? That’s not my space.”

Adriano’s eyes flick toward me at this statement.

Yeah, yeah.

Neither is his apartment. Yet.

Biting the inside of my lips I beg him with my eyes not to say anything.

Dom’s several steps closer, glowering down at me, his eyes darting back and forth like he’s trying to concoct some legitimate reason for telling me no. Or he’s trying to figure out what the ploy is, how I’m trying to screw him over.

Paranoid much?

“You should have at least come to me first, Gloria.”

Okay. Time to bust out bitch-mode aka behave just like my father.

“That’s precisely the point I’m making. I am a grown woman and I need the freedom to come and go as I please.”

“And with what security?”

“Post them out front, post them across the street, or don’t! Adriano is perfectly capable of keeping his lover safe, or do you not trust your second in command?”

Adriano raises his eyebrows at this, squaring his shoulders and having my back despite the fact that I just played him so hard a minute ago.

Definitely going to owe him one.

“I can’t believe the audacity…” His muttering, growling, rant takes over as he turns and walks a lap around the huge apartment’s living area.

That’s when it really clicks.

And my mistake in how I handled this.

Dom doesn’t like any idea he didn’t come up with, so I need to spin it in a way that makes him feel like it was his plan all along. Live and learn how to be a manipulative psychopath, I guess.

Following him, I put enough distance between Adriano and us to pretend at privacy and reach out, taking his arm and turning the lean, tense man around. His eyes lock onto mine and I can see the suspicion there, the distrust.

“I’m sorry I pulled this on you. But I think it’s for the best.” I try to console him, to smooth it over, play the role of sweet daughter. “Are you really going to tell me no, Dad?”

“What do you know of what is best?” he sneers. “How am I supposed to trust you if you won’t follow my orders, or check in with me?”

“For every decision? Am I supposed to ask for permission when I go to the bathroom?” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

Wrong. Move.

His lips twitch, disgusted with my words. “Joke all you want. I own you.”

And there it is. Plain and sharp as a blade.

What he really thinks.

Rage roils up in my chest, threatening to make me cry, to overwhelm my thoughts. But I snatch it, use it and throw it back in his face.

“You know what? If you’re gonna use me as a bargaining chip, the least you can do is let me have some say in the matter. I’ve done everything you’ve asked, so?—”

His hand blurs toward my face faster than I can register.

And stops dead, an inch from striking my cheek.

“Take. A. Fucking. Step. Back,” Adriano growls, deadly menace in his stance, his dark eyes.

Dom’s expression shifts, from fury to disbelief as he looks at Adriano’s hand, gripping his arm.

“How dare you! Get your filthy paws off me!”

“No. You will not lay a fucking hand on her. Do you understand me? She is not your property. And you will not hit her. Ever. Especially not in my house.”

Dom’s jaw works silently for a moment, his hand shaking as he struggles to pull away.

Careful which battles you choose here, Diamante.”

“I was just going to say the same thing.”

“Is this the hill you want to die on? Because I won’t put up with insubordination.”

“This isn’t insubordination. I’m protecting your daughter. From you .”

And just like that, a grin spreads across Dom’s stark and lined face.

“That’s what I’m fucking talking about! See, this is why I knew it was a good idea to put you two together! I’m sorry that I had to test you like that, Adriano. But you know, some things you gotta make sure of in the moment. Trial by fire. That way I know it’s real. That you’ll take good care of my girl.”

He may as well have slapped Adriano in the face.

“I’m so glad I passed that test .” With a huff and a shake of his head he spins, storming into the bedroom and slamming the door.

“Crybaby. Do make sure he’s in a better mood by tonight, won’t you, Gloria?” Dom smirks, letting me lead him toward the door. I need him gone. Now.

“We’ll both be on our best behavior.”

“And make sure he wears a nice suit this time, and a tie. Kids these days don’t know shit about how to dress.”

“I’ll make sure. Now, let me get back in there, and I’ll let you know how things are going here in a couple of days.”

Dom raises one eyebrow, questioning the statement.

“You know, you gave me the idea the other night.” I lean in conspiratorially.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Doing this on my own terms will make Adriano think that it wasn’t your idea. If he thinks it was your plan the whole time, he’ll keep his guard up and he won’t let me in.”

Dom’s eyes narrow as he looks me up and down.

“Go on …”

“I can keep an eye on him for you. It’s only wise considering who he is. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be keeping him on such a short leash.”

“I like the enthusiasm for sure. Even if you are full of shit sometimes.” He grins, chuckling softly.

“Just give me a little time. I’ll get to know him better. I’ll get him to open up. And then if there’s any question about his loyalty, we’ll know.”

“All right, I’ll allow it. For now. Just keep your head on straight.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Hm. It’s good to see that you’re starting to think like a Vipera.” He sniffs, giving me an appraising look. “Just don’t get fooled into a false sense of security. Ever.”

“I won’t. Besides, you’d never let me get soft.” I chuckle, giving him a peck on the cheek to avoid letting him see my disgusted expression. Leave it to Dom to turn this whole tense situation into a lesson.

Like it’s no big deal.

Even if I want to scream at this horrible man for torturing me.

“Now, I have a lot of unpacking to do before our big dinner tonight. I’ll see you there.”

“Wear something spectacular, there’s going to be a lot of important people there.”

“Will do.”

Slipping back into the house, I ease the door shut, slumping back against it for a moment, taking a breath. When my heart stops pounding, I glance toward the bedroom, where I hear Adriano moving around, the door open just a fraction.

“Well, that was fucking stupid.” I sigh, heading toward the bedroom.

“I wasn’t going to say stupid,” Adriano’s voice comes from the bedroom door. “Not wise, though, taunting him like that.”

I start at his comment, not thinking that he would hear me.

“Well, sometimes you have to push the envelope to get things done.” I recover, pushing the door open.

“And what, get him to hit you? What would that accomplish?” He turns toward me, his expression guarded, but concerned.

“He couldn’t. Not with you around.”

Adriano’s mouth drops open, like he’s trying to decide if I’m being serious.

“I really am grateful for you having my back. For protecting me.” I approach slowly, seeing if he’ll pull away or let me in. Biting my lip, I come right up to him, directly into the focus of his devastating gaze.

I am laying it on a little thick.

But I mean it too. I am thankful for him taking my side.

Especially since I sprang the whole moving-in thing on him. Honestly, I’m shocked how well he’s taking it.

And how bold I’ve been lately.

Desperate times, though.

“Thank you, by the way. For going along with this. I really couldn’t keep living with my father and working with him. It was stifling and I felt like I was always being watched.” He quirks the corner of his lip, his eyes never leaving mine.

So I take the chance, running the tips of my fingers down his arms, raising goosebumps in the wake of my nails.

“You’re welcome,” he mutters, instantly sending my pulse pounding.

Being so close to him and the fact that we are alone. In his apartment. His bedroom. Our bedroom. It’s a whole different kind of excitement.

“What were you doing?” I peer around him, looking at the open suitcase on the bed. It’s my stuff, scattered haphazardly on the comforter.

“Sorry, I was just moving some of your things over.”

“That’s fine. I wasn’t sure where to put most of it.”

His eyes narrow slightly at that and I swallow, waiting for him to berate me, to kick me out. A million reasons and excuses why he shouldn’t spring to mind, but they all die on my tongue.

“Hm. I guess you can have the three drawers on the left side of the dresser. I mean, your stuff is already here, and going back on this after Dom let you get away with it would be foolish.”

There’s a smugness to his tone, a hint of a smile that sends a thrill jolting through my body. Even as he keeps his face stern, he’s playing along.

“You’re worse than my brothers, you know that?”

“Whatever do you mean?” I try and fail to hide the smirk pulling at my mouth.

“Always playing me for a fucking fool.”

“I would never!” Now I’m grinning uncontrollably at his wry expression.

God, he’s so hot.

So I test the waters, wanting more flirting, more of that heat that’s been building up between us. Cocking my hip to the side, I give him a look as I reach around him, grabbing one of the items in my suitcase, twirling it on one finger.

The blush in his cheeks when he sees the tiny scrap of lace is pure gold.

“I think I’ll start by putting these away.”

His eyes track me all the way to the drawer, watching as I drop the panties in one by one. Snagging a sleek, see-through nightgown, one of my favorites, I let him see it fully before folding it up.

“What do you think of this?”

“That is not a fair question.”

“Why isn’t that a fair question? You don’t like it?”

“I don’t know if I like it.” He shrugs, tonguing the inside of his cheek mischievously. “I haven’t seen you in it.”

“Hm…” I hold it up to my body. “How about now?”

“Better…but it’s hard to picture you in it with all those clothes on. Your skin tone, you know?”

“Oh, so you want to see more of my skin…tone?” Leaning against the dresser, I hook my thumb into the waist of my jeans, tugging them down just slightly, arching my back a bit to show more of my midriff. The negligee falls to the floor. “Better?”

“I might just need to see you in it. Or out of it.” He dips, scooping up the sheer purple fabric, rising to stand right in front of me, inches away.

“Maybe later…I’ll show you a few different colors…”

“After a shower …”

His head dips toward me a fraction, that little flip of dark hair falling over his forehead in the most tantalizing way. The proximity of his body, the warmth pouring off of him, has me reeling, my head spinning.

He could have me, right now.

Our breath intermingles, his hands resting on the dresser to either side of me.

It’s like a game of chicken. Who’s going to cave first.

“Aren’t you going to ask which color I’m wearing now?” I touch my tongue to my top lip, watching his eyes flash with curiosity.

“What color are they?” A downward flick of his gaze, involuntary.

Tilting my head to the side, I raise my head so I’m right in his ear, so achingly close that I could nibble it without any effort. “I’m not wearing any…”

Adriano swallows. Hard.

And it’s not the only thing that is.

He’s right up against me now, his cock straining against the zipper of his pants. “What if I don’t believe you?”

This bastard is calling my bluff.

My heart skips a beat.

“I guess there’s only one way to find out…”

The snap on my jeans pops between his fingers as he leans in closer, his chest filling my whole space, my vision. His scent is leather, faint cologne, something mild, fresh. It reminds me of lakes, cold water, contrasted with sophistication.

The overall feel of his presence in my bubble makes my legs go weak.

And he hasn’t even kissed me yet.

Before I can even react to his fingers tugging down my zipper, he tilts his head, letting his breath tease my neck, his lips less than an inch from touching my skin. Chills run all over my skin as he swoops his hand around, his palm brushing my belly, my hip, my lower back, then scooping into my pants. Fingertips lightly scrape down around the curve of my ass and I feel as much as hear him inhale, breathing me in.

But also a little shock.

“Fuck…you really aren’t wearing any…” It’s barely a whisper, and it nearly takes me out at the knees.

Knees that he’s suddenly dragging my jeans down past, tugging them off with a bit of assistance from me. Like I weigh nothing, he scoops me up onto the dresser, hooking my leg over one shoulder in one swift, effortless movement.

Then he just looks up at me, straight into my eyes, down on his knees before me.

Holy. Fuck.

He’s going to destroy me.