Page 83 of Ruthless King

“Mi dispiace, princess,” I whisper. I’m so sorry she has to deal with this bullshit.

“You okay, Stells?” Rose’s wary gaze flickers between us.

“Yeah, just tired. Dante can be a little overbearing at times.”

“With a face like that, I don’t think I’d mind.”

“Rose …,” she warns.

“I know, I know. Hands off.” She raises her palms in mock surrender. “I guess I should go find my date anyway.”

“Yeah, probably.”

Rose wraps her arms around Stella, forcing me to momentarily release her. I immediately feel the loss of her warmth. “Promise me you won’t disappear again?”

“Of course not. I have a phone now and your number. Right, Luca?” Stella throws a pointed stare in my direction.

“Yes. I promise to give her your number as soon as we get home.”

“Fantastic. Lunch date this week?”

I watch Stella’s face for a reaction. Her smile is smooth, her demeanor calm. “I’d love that.”

Her answer drives a pang of guilt into my chest. I’ve been a monster, keeping her captive in my penthouse. But the idea of losing her is enough to squeeze the remaining air from my lungs. We’d have to discuss the new rules, new boundaries of this relationship.

With another tight squeeze, Rose releases my girl and turns to me. “I’m sure you’re a catch and all, but my friend is the best, so don’t fuck with her, got it?”

An unexpected smile parts my lips. “Got it, Rose.” Another wave of remorse crashes over me, but I maintain my cool grin. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Good.” She spins on her heel and disappears into the crowd.

Stella curls into my side, and I revel in the return of her warmth.

“She seems like fun.”

“She’s the best too. I hadn’t even realized how much I missed her until right now.” A look of longing furrows her brow.

“I’m sorry I’ve kept you so isolated. Things are going to change starting now.”

She glances up at me, her brow curved. “Oh, are they? Now that I’m your girlfriend?”

“Mmm, princess, I like the sound of that a little too much.” Truthfully, it didn’t quite seem to encompass the magnitude of what I felt for her. Girlfriend felt trivial after all we’d been through.

She wraps her arms around my neck and presses her breasts into my chest. Dipping my chin, I get an eyeful of cleavage. My cock twitches, and I’m instantly hard against her.

“You want to get out of here?” Even I can hear the rough edge to my tone.

“Yes, please.” Her hand slides between us, and she throttles my cock. Even over my slacks, I groan at her touch.

“Careful, princess. Another few minutes of this, and I’ll have to take you into the bathroom and fuck this naughty streak right out of you.”

She releases my dick and takes a step back. “I’d like to see you try.” She slants me a wicked grin that has all the blood racing to my cock. “Meet me in the ladies’ room in five minutes, Signor Valentino.”

* * *

Swinging by our table, I offer a quick goodbye to the mayor and his wife. With all the blood rushing from my head to the one below my belt, I’m surprised I remember at all. I give the couple a lame excuse of a headache when in reality my cock is just aching to be buried inside Stella’s hungry pussy. I’d imagined claiming her in the limo, but the bathroom works just as well.

I’m practically sprinting by the time I clear the dancefloor. I turn the corner, rushing by the famousSelf Portrait With Straw Hatby Vincent Van Gogh, to the hallway that leads to the restrooms when a dark form leaps in my path.