Page 28 of Marcus

She heard what he didn’t say.

He was, technically, bringing her home.

“So, was it supposed to be a date? No. Do I care about the semantics here? Not particularly. Do I want you to have a good time, and then we can go from there? Absolutely. And that’s what matters.”

“Do you intend to bring me back?”

Marcus grinned, flashing perfect, white teeth in the process. “That depends on what you want here, and I don’t get a say either way.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“But I do get to persuade you.”

Yep.

That had her shifting on the spot, desperately trying to ignore the heat traveling through her body and how this man so easily caused it to happen.

How long had it been since she felt an attraction to a man?

Lust for him?

Too long.

And that unsettled her.

If only because a long dormant part of Cella suddenly remembered exactly what it was like to be this woman. The one who wanted to seduce a man—to show him she could be just as bold and alluring as him, but in her own way.

The words slipped past her painted lips before she could think better of it.

“Persuade me, then.”

All at once, Marcus straightened to his full height, dropping his hands from either side of the doorway to move in closer. She felt like a deer in the headlights, a prey caught in the sights of the most dangerous but beautiful predator. She was caught by the curve of his lips, how they lifted at the edge on one side as his gaze dropped down to her mouth while he closed the distance between them.

One of those strong, large hands of his found her hip, expansive and warm as he grabbed tight before dragging her close to him. Just tight enough to make her breath catch before his lips fell down to meet hers in a kiss that had fireworks lighting up under her skin. It started slow, at first, the way his lips swept over hers, curious and tasting.

Soft, but still demanding.

And then she opened for him.

He blew it all out of the water.

All he seemed to need from her was that unspoken permission, and the man took what he wanted. His other hand threaded into her hair, grabbing just hard enough to wish he was doing that while she was on her knees, and his tongue licked at the seam of her lips before darting inside her mouth to slash against her own. The hot mint taste to his tongue was enough to make her want far more.

She still couldn’t breathe.

Still didn’t want to.

That kiss told her all she needed to know about Marcus Guzzi, and this night.

It was going to be a good one.

And he would be very dangerous for her.

Every single part of her.

Cara Guzzi turned on her heel with a wide smile that didn’t falter in the slightest at the sight of a woman on her son’s arm when Marcus said, “Ma, do you finally have a few minutes for little old me?”

The woman’s gaze turned on Cella, a recognition flashing, as she took the hug Marcus offered. “Glad you could make it—sorry I’ve been running back and forth all night. A new company did the food; I regret telling Martina to retire, honestly.”