Page 33 of Thorns of Desire

Thud. Thud. Thud.

I sighed and sprung to my feet, placing my laptop on the sofa, then padded toward the front door as I muttered under my breath. “It’s like I’m living with?—”

I froze with the door half-opened, coming face-to-face with the man I thought I’d never see again but somehow couldn’t stop running into.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, then opened them, hoping I was hallucinating. But there he was. Panic exploded inside my chest while those lips that were capable of doing downright sinful things curved into a smile.

“Athena,” he purred. “How lovely to see you.”

Shit.How did he find me?

When I finally found my voice, it came out in a whisper. “Wh-what… what are you doing here?”

“I came for you,amorina.”

I couldn’t decide whether I should laugh or cry.

“Well, I don’t want to see you,” I snapped, but before I could slam the door in his face, his foot blocked it. My eyes lowered to his expensive Oxfords before returning to his face.

“Now don’t be like that.” Fuck, his accent sent my core throbbing. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“I wish I could say the same,” I mumbled, glancing over my shoulder, suddenly glad none of the girls had left their rooms. “You have to go.”

Manuel regarded me with his jaw pressed tight, the veins in his neck pulsing rapidly, and he shook his head.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he drawled, his dark eyes gleaming sinfully. Or was it furiously? I couldn’t tell.

“Yes, you are,” I gritted.

“No, I’m not,amorina.Now that I’ve finally found you again, I want a little repeat of our last encounter.”

I let out a strangled laugh. “You’re nuts. Hot as fuck, but crazy.”

“Crazy for something.” His voice was a perfect combination of rough and soft, so composed and accented that it melted the tension from me.

Until I remembered his visit to my mother only a few days ago. I moved to push the door closed again.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Just turn around and go or I’ll scream.”

A smile lifted his lips—plump, glorious, and so smug. He took another step and wrapped a hand around my waist.

“Nothing would make me happier. To hear you scream for me, just like the last time.”

Heat crawled to my cheeks. He pulled me into the hallway and my gaze flicked to him as we stood chest to chest. Heartbeat to heartbeat. My shorts and green tank top to his black Brioni suit.

If I was smart, I would have yelled out for my friends, but it would seem I was a glutton for punishment, because I remained silent as a church mouse.

“Are… are you stalking me?” I tried to twist free from his grip and step back.

I’d done research on Manuel Marchetti, learning of his connection to Enrico Marchetti and the Marchetti fashion house, but the speculations of the family’s involvement in the criminal underworld was what worried me. After the recent revelation about my heritage, I thought it best to keep my distance, but it would seem destiny had plans of its own, bringing Manuel Marchetti to my door.

“Not well enough,” he said, his eyes glittering like black diamonds.

We breathed each other’s air before he leaned in and ran his lips down my throat. His scruff tickled my soft skin as he trailed his mouth down my neck and past my collarbone. In the farcorner of my mind, I heard a soft click of the door, but I was too far gone to realize he’d led me further down the hallway.

“Manuel, I…” He pressed his face into my breasts, and I sighed. “I only do one-night stands,” I lied.