“Deadly,” I take a sip of whiskey. “I could hardly protect you without staking my claim. It wouldn’t do for you to have another man’s name on those perfect lips of yours.”
Something dark takes over her expression. “I suppose you’d be wanting my lips around your cock before you even lifted a finger to protect me.”
“On the contrary, I’m sure we could find many ways to occupy my fingers.”
I don’t miss the way her eyes dart to my hand, my finger still circling the rim of my glass. Slowly, I lift it to my mouth and try not to groan as her dark eyes follow the movement.
My cock begins to strain in my pants as her tongue darts out to moisten her bottom lip.
“Rocco, I…”
“Cas!”
We both jump at the sound of Claudio Lazzaro’s drawl. I’m not sure I’ve ever hated a man more in my life.
“Lazzaro, Miss Cassandra here was just delighting me with her company.” I don’t bother offering him a smile. “It seems you’ve been holding out on me.”
Something in Lazzaro’s jaw jumps in response. “Cas only started a week ago, sir.”
“Yet it seems you’ve both known each other a while?”
Cas clears her throat. “Did you need something, darling?”
I want to vomit as the pet name does wonders to the tension in Lazzaro’s shoulders. Most of the club’s patrons have disappeared while we were talking, and the staff have packed away most of the bar. I wonder if they’d notice if I punched him in the face?
“I need you around back,” he says to Cas. He offers no more explanation.
“Right.”
I look back at Cas, immediately noting the way she stares emotionlessly down at her hands. Her entire demeanor seems to have changed in an instant.
Where was the confident woman I was speaking to only a moment before? The woman who could match my flirtations beat for a beat while taking me down a peg in the process?
“It seems I’ve occupied enough of your time,” I announce as we both stand.
Without thinking too hard about it, I reach out to take Cas’ hand in mine and bring it to my lips. I’m desperately trying to ignore the way my skin lights up at the touch. “Until next time,Angioletta.”
Her hazel eyes bore into mine. I can only pray that I’m imagining the longing I find there. For both our sakes.
A firm hand clamps down on her shoulder. “You must be warm, Cas. Let’s take that jacket off and get you into some normal clothes.”
Before she has time to protest, Claudio pulls at her sleeve and drags her out of her leather jacket.
Something primal roars within me at the sight of Cas’ exposed flesh, but then…
Then I stop breathing.
Cas tries to cover her arms, but it’s too late. Claudio throws a protective—no,possessive—arm over her shoulders.
The bruises match his hands perfectly.
4
CASSANDRA
“What did Rocco Moretti want with you?”
We barely make it backstage before the question bursts from Claudio’s lips.
