I was panting, groaning, already close to orgasm and struggling to control the sensations powering through my body when he dragged his mouth away abruptly.
I stood gasping for more, caught between the need to come and the need to exert control over what was happening, too fast. I grasped his forearms to steady myself. The inked flesh bunched beneath my fingers, the surprise at how quickly he had got me worked up almost as shocking as the raw ache in my sex still tormenting me.
He released the thong string with a sharp snap, then tugged down the hem of my dress.
‘Now you must tell me, Mia,’ he said, his tone raw as he continued to caress my shoulders. ‘Yes, or no?’
I swallowed, not quite able to speak, the shock of sensations he had conjured and controlled so effortlessly still playing havoc with my common sense.
But while I couldn’t resist leaning into his touch, I couldn’t banish my usual caution completely. Maybe it was the tats, or the scars, or just the aura of power and wealth which clung to him, and which I had never encountered before…but I didn’t want to throw myself into the arms of anactualpanther.
‘How do I know I’ll be safe with you?’ I asked.
His eyes flashed with something fierce, his scarred eyebrow lifting. Then he laughed. The deep, appreciative rumble reverberated in my abdomen.
‘Safe?’He let out another rusty chuckle. ‘If you want safe, I am the wrong man.’
Why did that sound like a promise rather than a problem?
His caressing hand slid over my shoulder and trailed down my spine to flatten against the small of my back, setting off a firework display en route. Then my belly connected with the prominent ridge in his trousers.
He brushed his lips across my ear, giving me another intoxicating lungful of pine and orange and laundry soap.
‘But you will not be hurt…’ he murmured. ‘You have my word.’ The gravitas in his tone was contradicted by the feral heat in his eyes as his gaze met mine—and the liberties he had already taken—but I believed him.
Then it occurred to me that I wasn’t sure I wanted to be safe tonight.
‘What about my sister and her friends?’ I asked, not quite able to let go of the responsibility that had defined my life for so long. ‘I should let Evie know where I’m going…’
He nodded. ‘Of course.’ His lips quirked in another dangerous smile. ‘As long as you do not take too long.’
I let out a breathless laugh. My mind—or rather, what was left of it after that incredible kiss—was made up.
Tonight, I wanted to be wild. And free. And listen to my instincts instead of my insecurities. Because my body was telling me—no,screamingat me—that however dangerous this man was, this could be the most exciting night of my life.
‘Okay, then, I’d like to accept your invitation,’ I said.
Chapter Two
Mia
I was stillstruggling not to hyperventilate five minutes later, after saying goodbye to Evie and her friends and collecting my clutch bag from them, when Vito folded his large hand around my trembling fingers and led me to the lower deck.
A gleaming black speedboat was moored to a platform at the back of the superyacht, its engine purring. A driver wearing a peaked cap and uniform shirt stood at the helm, while another collection of Vito’s ubiquitous bodyguards waited for us to board.
Vito stepped onto the gently swaying boat, then held out his hand. I hesitated, concerned about the heels.
Before I could overthink it, I kicked them off, picked them up, then took his hand to hop onto the boat.
He chuckled, his eyes alight with amusement, before taking the shoes and my purse to hand to the bodyguard who had followed us onto the boat.
‘I didn’t want to fall on my bum,’ I said by way of explanation.
‘You are unconventional, Mia. I like this also,’ he said, making me stupidly happy when he laughed again.
I had no idea why, but I had the strangest feeling he didn’t laugh very often.
‘And it would be a shame for you to fall on your bum,’ he said, mimicking my London accent as his strong, callused fingers wrapped around my palm and he led me to the seat just behind the driver. His gaze roamed down, making me aware of the sea breeze on my bare legs. ‘When you have such a perfect one.’
