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His lips flicker upwards at the corner but he says nothing.
“Are you laughing at me?”
The cold look comes back, the one I saw on the train when he faced down my attackers. “You need help and I am offering to help, Miss Fletcher. Consider it compensation for what Alessandro Colombo did for you.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“The money will be in your account by the end of the day.”
“Holy shit, you are serious. Are you not used to hearing people saying no? I said I don’t want your dirty money.”
He gets up and walks around the table, stopping in front of me. I look up at him and he seems taller, like he’s become a giant. Those feelings I felt last time I saw him come flooding back. I want to get on my knees. I want to reach into those pants of his and pull out what’s in there, slide him to the back of my throat and watch his eyes grow hungry with lust as I swallow everything he’s got to give. What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I want to submit to him so badly it makes my insides throb?
He growls out the words, “Do I look like a man who accepts the word no?”
My breath catches in my throat. “Are you threatening me?” I manage to ask, shocked by how weak my voice sounds.
“You want my help. You don’t want to admit it. That is a laudable trait. You are a proud woman. That is also to be admired. But do not allow your pride to turn into stubbornness. That is a far less laudable trait.”
“What are you saying to me?”
“I am saying that I see through you, Miss Fletcher. I see into your soul. It is a gift I have. You want me but you cannot admit it.”
“I do not want you. Who the hell do you think you are?”
“It is nothing to ashamed of. Most women want me. However, I do not want most women.”
“Good for you.” I get to my feet, trying to push past him. “I think it’s time I get going.”
He doesn’t move. I bounce off him like I tried to walk through a brick wall. “You’re going nowhere,” he says, grabbing my wrist. “You want to run from how you feel but you cannot hide from your own mind.”
“You don’t know me,” I snap back at him, yanking my hand free. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know you better than you think. You want me and I will admit to wanting you but it would be a bad idea. I am a criminal, as you say. I am not the relationship type. All I am good for is fucking without feelings ever becoming involved. I cannot offer you a relationship but I can offer you a chance to forget things for a while.” He leans toward me, close enough for me to smell his aftershave. Strong, powerful, makes my insides quiver. “Is that something you would like? To forget your pain? To moan out loud, sweat pouring down your naked body as I make you come over and over again? Would you like that?”
“No,” I reply but he can see through the lie as easily as he sees through all my defenses. “I don’t want that.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Good for you.” My walls are crumbling down with every word I speak.
He’s leaning closer, close enough to kiss me. He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear as he growls. “Tell me no again and I’ll say no more about it. Go ahead. Lie to me. Tell me you don’t want me to fuck you.”
I open my mouth but no words come out. Come on brain. Help me out.
His hand snakes around my back, pulling me toward him. “Say it.”
“Is this the favor you want from me?” I mumble as he moves his head toward mine, his body pressing into me, making my legs go weak at the knees.
“No more talking,” he replies. “Not another word from you until I give you permission to speak.”
FOUR
RICARDO
* * *
I’m taking a big risk. I'm a fan of risk. This is how I’ve reached the top of the famiglia. You don’t get to the top by being cautious. You have to roll the dice and see where they land.
