Page 28 of The Mafia Bachelor

But seriously, dressed half casually, in grey trousers and a white shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal his tattooed forearms and top button undone showing more tattoos, I can’t be held responsible for the response of my ovaries. They’re practically flinging themselves at him. Little tarts.

And as he walks me back to my room after our dinner and walk on the beach, my pulse does a ridiculous pitter-patter.

I pause outside the door, and turn. And when I do, I have to crane my neck to look at him, because he’s very close, and very tall.

Big. All over. If the speculations of the other girls are to be believed. My heart thumps harder.

“Thank you for a lovely evening.” My voice is barely there. All wispy.

He places a hand on the wall next to my head, and leans in. Every part of me sparks in response to his nearness, and the feeling of his solid muscle screening me from view. Protecting me. “I enjoyed getting to know you more.”

“Same.” I look into his green eyes, and I’m lost. He’s a deep, dark forest that I’ll never escape.

He lowers his head so slowly, I could easily duck, or flinch. But I do the opposite, rising onto my tip-toes to meet him.

His breath ghosts over my lips.

Our mouths touch.

Then he’s kissing me. No hands, nothing but that single point of controlled contact. He’s warm, and tastes of salt and the sweet dessert we shared and him. There’s something else that makes arousal unfurl low in my belly just from this one kiss, slow and restrained.

Unlike our first kiss that night, this is all leashed need.

And it’s over far too quickly. His pupils are blown, the green a thin circle when he raises his head and gives me a rueful smile.

“Good night, love,” he murmurs.

And I tremble.

11

KILLIAN

It’s the right decision to leave Avery wanting more as much as I do, but in two steps, I regret it. I find my mother. Fuming.

“You have to get to know the other girls,” she demands without preamble. “Jemma should have won today’s date. She picked up a gun and fought back.”

“Avery showed a lot of resilience in her recovery,” I reply smoothly. “And she figured out that it was paint guns.”

“You committed to do this the way I planned.” She glares at me. “That was the deal.”

I don’t know if she’s been this annoyed at me since she discovered about the Devil of Archway nickname.

“One date with someone else, Killian.” She takes on a beseeching tone.

The refusal is on the tip of my tongue, but then my dad appears next my mam, and puts his arm around her.

“Don’t only think with your dick, son,” he says gently. “Marriage is a long commitment.”

My parents share a fond smile.

I clench my jaw. If going for a date with one of the others will convince them, then that’s a small price.

I reluctantly nod. How bad can it be?

12

AVERY