Except some might say I was the worst of them all.
CHAPTER 3
Domenico
I didn’t ask Nicky to dance this time, even though her one glance at me when her sister started playing the violin told me she expected me to. And when she eased out to the pool area before the music stopped, I knew she was disappointed I didn’t give her the chance to blow me off. Again.
Yes, little kitten, my game has changed, and you’d better keep up.
In fact, I hadn’t spoken to her at all since the day I saw her leaving the mansion and refused me for the second time. I could tell it infuriated her.
It didn’t mean there had been a moment in the past days that I hadn’t thought about her.
I listened to the music. Angelina Bellomo—Lina as Nicky insisted on calling her sister till today—did play like an angel. This was the third time I’d heard her play live, at her wedding, today, and almost two years ago at Tino’s restaurant before they even got married. That was when I first laid eyes on Nicky.
I never spoke to her that day or made any indication I liked her. She was dancing with Tino, and he was very protective of her. I thought she was the girl he was obsessed with and tried, out of honor and loyalty, to get her out of my mind, thinking she was taken.
Tried.
Imagine how thrilled I was when I found out she wasn’t Tino’s woman.
Imagine how fuming I was when I learned what had happened to her when she was a kid; for weeks, the fuckers I had to arrange for their meetings with their maker had very long and loudred tripsto get there.
A round of applause yanked me out of my thoughts. I clapped with the rest as Signora Bellomo took her bow. She joined Tino in a dance as more music streamed from the sound system in the walls. My gaze traveled to the French doors that opened to the pool. Nicky was still out there.
I took a deep breath and headed out. I’d made her wait long enough.
She was sitting by the pool ladder, eyes closed, elegant heels lying next to her, golden cascades swinging down her back as she moved her head with the music, sparkling light blue fabric inched up her long legs, the water reaching her knees as she splashed it.
Beautiful. So fucking beautiful.
I wanted to hike her dress all the way up and take her right here. Many times.
My cock stiffened at the thought, so I cleared my throat, hiding my desire for now. “Nicky.”
Her head whipped toward me as her foot jerked in the water, making a louder splash. “The fuck? You startled me. What are you doing here?”
“What areyoudoing here all alone?”
“I asked you first.”
I chuckled as I got out my vape and waved it at her. “Your turn.”
She shrugged. “Getting some air.”
“Air? It’s an indoor pool.”
“And it’s twenty-five degrees outside. Here is the only place I can be by myself away from your kind without freezing my ass off.”
My kind? I smirked. “Well, this ass is meant for much better things...”
She grumbled and cursed. I bit my lip on a laugh. She was so hot when she was angry. “Domenico, you’d better get back inside.”
My name never sounded so good. What else would sound so sweet coming out of that mouth? I wanted to hear it all. I got out my vape and took a drag. “Or what? You’ll kick me in the nuts again?”
“Yeah.” She glared at me through the smoke, her nose crinkling. “Hey… What’s that you’re smoking? It doesn’t smell like tobacco.”
I dragged one of the recliners to her side and sat. “Hash.” I offered her the vape. “Wanna try?”
