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Not for the first time, I wonder if he knows who I am. He watches me with those assessing eyes of his, and he holds himself as though he knows everything there possibly is to know. But could he really have uncovered my secret? I don’t know how. It’s been years since anyone thought of my papa, and I have no doubt that he wasn’t even on Dario’s radar growing up, so how could he possibly know who I am?
“Dance with me,” he says thickly as he reaches for my hand.
Not wanting to cause an argument on my girl’s special day, I do as he asks. “What is it that you’re wanting?” I ask, hating how he gets my back up against the wall.
“You,” he replies. “Is that not obvious?”
I nod. “It is, but as I have told you, I’m not interested.”
He gives me that know it all smirk of his. “Liar,” he hisses. “Come on, Portia, you can do better than that.”
“What makes you think I’m lying?” I ask with a raised brow.
His laughter has my stomach clenching. “Your nipples are hard, your breathing has deepened, and your hands are shaky. Need I continue?”
I glare at him. God, the man is pushing me. How the hell is he so damn cocky? “Again, I’m not interested. Just because I’m attracted to you, it doesn’t mean I’m looking to become another notch on your bedpost. I have a feeling there’s a hell of a lot of notches.”
There goes that stupid grin of his. “But none are you.”
“Oh please,” I say dryly. “Does that really work? Seriously, Dario, I’m not worth the fight. I’m not the one you want.”
There’s no way I’m ready for a relationship, and I don’t want to have a one-night stand. I’m a mess, and Dario’s extremely well known. If I were to have sex with him, the news would spread like wildfire and then it would get back to Marco. That man has his spies everywhere. He knows everything there is to know about the Famiglia—any boss would know the ins and outs of their competition.
I hurry away from him, needing to put some distance between the two of us. He’s getting too close. No matter how hard I push him, he keeps coming back, digging himself deeper beneath the walls I have built to protect myself.
“Portia,” he says, his fingers tightening around my wrist as he pulls me to a stop. “You aren’t ever going to be a notch on my bedpost. Do you think I’d chase any other woman?”
I sigh. “You’re not listening to me. I’m not interested.”
“Ah, baby,” he says as he steps closer to me, his fingers caressing my cheek. I pull in a sharp, ragged breath at his closeness. “You shouldn’t lie to yourself. Would it be so wrong for us to do this?”
I close my eyes. He’s getting to me. Why is he not letting this go?
When I open my eyes, he’s watching me carefully. I swipe my tongue across my bottom lip. “You have no idea who I am, what I’m capable of, or what I have done.”
“The same goes for you. I’m not the man that everyone sees now, Portia. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, things that would make you sick to your stomach. I’m irredeemable. But I’m hoping you’ll give me one taste.”
I blink. What?
“One taste. Let me show you just how good it can be.”
“One,” I breathe, hoping I don’t regret it.
My heart beats wildly and my stomach flips as he flashes me the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. When he looks at me with those deep brown eyes of his, the ones that are so filled with heat and want, I feel as though I’m the only woman in the world for him, despite knowing that’s not true. He brought another woman with him tonight.
“Relax, baby, you’re wound up tight.”
Well obviously. I’m about to be kissed and I have no idea what the hell I’m doing.
He presses a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. It’s quick and very sweet. I take a deep breath as he does it again, this time at the opposite corner. He continues to feather soft, butterfly kisses against my lips until I’m putty in his hands, needing more.
He finally presses his mouth to mine, and it’s urgent and strong. His hand slams around the back of my neck as he claims me. I’m helpless under his hold. I melt into him and open my mouth to his tongue. It slides past my lips and dances against mine.
My arms wrap around his neck and pull him closer, and I moan into his mouth. God, this is better than I could have ever imagined. I want more. I want him.
He pulls away for breath, his forehead pressed to mine, then I feel his lips at my ear. “I fucking love how greedy you are for me,” he says. And then his lips slide along the side of my face, and he pulls away.
I blink at him, standing there with my mouth hanging open.
