Page 27 of Stolen Vows

She yelps and grabs my wrist.I smirk and rub my fingers together, twisting and compressing her hard, sensitive nub.

“Eyes on me,paperotta.Only me,” I demand.

She swallows, blinks, and digs her nails into my wrist before tilting her lips in the most mesmerizing and devious smirk.

“Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth?”She quirks a brow.“You watched me, now I watch you?”She peels one hand off my wrist, hooks her finger behind a button on my shirt, and tugs.“You pinched me, now I…”

She’s shameless.Brazen.Wicked.

I rip her hand away from my chest, tuck her breast into her clothes, and spear my hand into her hair.

“No more stripteases,amore mio, or my teethwillcome to play,” I vow with a nip to the red spot I left on her jaw.

I slam the door and stalk to my car without a backward glance.

As I wedge myself behind the wheel, I replay the last few minutes in my mind and curse.I’ve spent ten years planning my revenge.My entire life revolves around crushing Pietro and Valentina’s lives.

But somewhere along the line I miscalculated, and now Valentina Denaro holds the power to ruin it all.

Noah drops into his seat, runs his hand through his hair, and blows out a breath, relaying my thoughts without words.

Except he proves his impression of the situation is not the same as mine when he looks me straight in the eye and asks, “Nothing but a spoiled princess, huh?Was this worth it?”

I quirk a brow.He mimics the motion and lifts his chin toward the dash.The hour on the clock changes.

Fuck.

Valentina Denaro is not the problem.

I am.

I can’t let her sink her claws into me.Her pretty face and luscious curves aren’t the problem.

My emotions are.

I shift the car into drive and lock everything except the cold fury away.

Nothing will stop me from getting revenge.

Not even myself.

Chapter 9

Valentina Denaro

Nervous sweat gathers on my skinand soaks into my sheets, but I stare up at the ceiling and count my breaths.

My wedding to Romeo Yovanni is today, but I haven’t seen or heard from Mario since he tried to throw me over the parking deck railing two and a half weeks ago.

He told me no more strip teases, but I haven’t been able to resist wearing his gifts under my nightgowns.Part of me misses the thrill while the other part is relieved I don’t have to risk my father finding out.

My insecurities plague me.Despite the emotional trauma of our last meeting, the sexual tension and overall intensity buoyed me for days.Nothing could dampen my spirits.A magical barrier kept me on cloud nine.

Time chiseled away at my protection and self-doubt crept in.

Nothing has changed.My father still manages me to within an inch of my life, Romeo rarely remembers I’m alive, my mother hasn’t miraculously returned, and Mario has me dangling on the end of his rope.

My alarm rings.I don’t move.