‘Your bags have been loaded and the car is ready for you downstairs, Miss.’
I examined my reflection in the giant living room mirror, checking for signs of the terror lurking within.
Outwardly, I looked calm and collected, my bold gold and white Dolce & Gabbana sundress showing off my lightly tanned shoulders, arms, and a respectable amount of cleavage. I straightened the tasteful hoop earrings and slid on oversized Celine sunglasses.
My shaky breath seemed to burrow all the way to my heels, and when I exhaled, out came a layer or two of fear.
Last night, Cesare had as much as admitted Liv Ivanovski was behind the sabotage, possibly with the full blessing of Bonafacio.
In a moment of panic, I’d wondered if that would be the end of his interest in me. Having him fall on me straight after, and gorging himself on me for hours after that, had allayed my panic.
But then he’d accepted my departure with zero complaint, merely lying back in bed, his powerful biceps flexing as he tucked his hands behind his head and watched me dress. Hell, he hadn’t even asked me when I intended to leave Singapore.
Was that why I made the insane proposal? Or had I played perfectly into his hands?
What the hell did it matter?
‘Thank you, Sam.’ I smiled, tucked my yellow Birkin into the crook of my elbow and followed him into the lift. If he was surprised my minders weren’t shadowing me, he didn’t show it.
I’d texted Sofiya an hour ago with a request for her to take care of them. I didn’t know how she had but I was grateful.
I plucked out my phone when I reached the ground floor. What I was doing was pure insanity but while I had a crumb of common sense left, I’d at least put some precautions in place.
When I spotted Cesare outside, leaning against his Bentley SUV, my footsteps faltered to a stop. He looked menacinglydivinein a black shirt opened at the throat and sleeves folded back to reveal those brawny hair-dusted arms that had pinned me so deliciously to his bed last night. Black slacks and his customary Italian loafers completed the look.
Despite the busy foyer, his fierce gaze zeroed in on me. He clocked my hesitation, and his jaw rippled.Come to me, his gaze growled.Now.
One foot moved, the compulsion irresistible.
Shit, I was really doing this.
Resuming walking, I typed quickly before I lost my nerve.
I’ve decided not to head straight home.
I’m taking the week. Be in touch when I can.
Love you. Mx
With his sunglasses dangling from his fingers, he watched me with predatory focus, nodding at the phone I was slotting back into my purse when I reached touching distance. ‘Who was that?’ he growled.
‘I was texting my sister.’
One corner of his mouth tilted. ‘What’s the point? You don’t know where I’m taking you. And I’m thinking you’ve either turned off your phone or are about to, so you can’t be reached?’
It was scary how intuitive he was. But then I shouldn’t have been surprised. That single-minded precision and instinct had won him two championships. And if he’d indeed succeeded in flushing out his traitors, he could win a third. ‘No comment,’ I quipped.
He straightened, waved Fist away and opened the back door himself. ‘Get in the fucking car,’ he rasped. His hand slid from the small of my back to my ass when I didn’t move fast enough, squeezing the flesh he’d spanked before helping me up. ‘Now,bedda.’ My gasp earned me a wicked grin. ‘That’s for sassing me.’
He slid in after me, slammed the door and immediately yanked me onto his lap, unbalancing me. He ignored my yelp and spanked my bottom again as his head descended to brush the tip of my nose with his. ‘And that was for not saying hello properly.’
‘I didn’t say it at all,’ I corrected.
‘Exactly.’
The mechanical whine of the privacy partition didn’t even distract me. I crawled over him, threw one leg over his lap, and braced my knees on either side of his hips.
His hands immediately cupped my ass and yanked me down onto the straining erection behind his fly. My hands landed on his shoulders and I almost groaned at the volcanic arousal in his eyes. I was growing irreparably addicted to that look. It made me feel more powerful than I had in a long time.If ever.
