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I crossed my arms over my chest, mimicking Alfie's stance, but I couldn't help but notice how his eyes briefly dipped down to my breasts before darting back up to my eyes. "I'm not sure how flattering being an embarrassment is," I said.
"Embarrassment's a strong emotion. I can work with that." The asshole actually had the nerve to grin. "Who were your friends?"
"None of your business."
"They sounded like they care about you a lot." Alfie's eyes darkened, and I wasn't sure if I liked the intensity in his gaze or not. "Probably wouldn't be too happy if they found me back here, I'm guessing."
"That was my cousin Sofia and my friend, Luca, and no, they wouldn't."
"Luca, huh? And what does yourfriendLuca do?"
"Are you asking as the jerk who snuck in the back door to my shop or as the master-at-arms for the Irish mob?" The nerve of this man. I poked my finger in his chest. "Jealousy isn't a great look on you. I know what you are, Alfie Doyle, and I don't want any part of it. So, either tell me why you came here tonight, or leave."
I hugged myself tighter to keep from pushing him out the door again, the ghost of his warm, muscular chest beneath my palm still fresh in my mind. Alfie pushed off the doorframe, and my pulse skyrocketed. He closed the distance between us, and I forced myself not to step back. His proximity was heady and intoxicating, the scent of leather and spice and something earthy, like pine or cedar. It suited him.
His eyes glittered darkly, something dangerous circling in their depths that pinned me like prey beneath his gaze. Then it softened into something vulnerable I didn't recognize at all. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"To…make sure I was okay," I repeated.
"Yeah." Alfie scrubbed a hand through his hair, a flustered gesture that matched the heat in his cheeks, possibly the first real emotion I'd seen from him. "You took a huge risk, covering for me like that. I wanted to make sure there wasn't any fallout. And I'm not sure if I thanked you."
"You did." I honestly couldn't remember if he did or not, everything surrounding that kiss was a blur. The air between usheld the same kind of gravity, and I dug my fingers into my arms to ground myself.
"Well, thank you again. You didn't have to do that. Hell, you could have turned me over, and it wouldn't have been a surprise." Alfie held my gaze, his voice solemn. "Thank you.”
Something twisted in my gut, something treacherous and tempting and terrifying. Alfie was the enemy--Irish Clan, mafia daughter, forbidden romance 101. I couldn't afford to think like this.
I swallowed. "It was nothing."
"No. It wasn't." Alfie's voice was rough, and the gravity between us seemed to increase tenfold. My skin prickled with electricity. Alfie lifted a hand to my face, his thumb brushing my cheekbone, and I knew, in that moment, that if he kissed me again, I'd lose myself in it.
I stepped backward, trying to create some space between us, but I moved too quickly. My heel caught on the doorway's transom, and I started to fall. But before I hit the ground, Alfie reached out and pulled me against his chest, an arm wrapped firmly around my waist, his heart pounding just as fast and as hard as my own.
His breath caught, and I looked up into the dark, heady green of his eyes, unruly auburn curls falling into his eyes. We were so close. Close enough to inhale the sharp cedar scent of him.
Close enough to press my lips against his.
I wasn't sure which one of us moved first, but the next thing I knew, Alfie's mouth was on mine. I gasped as he backed me into the shelving. Books fell at our feet. He tasted like whiskey and felt like danger, his lips firm and warm against my own. I clung to his jacket as he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing the seam of my lips, demanding, one hand reaching up to tangle in my hair, and I yielded to him.
There was no hesitation in this kiss, unlike the last, slow sweet press of his lips to mine. This one was commanding, controlling. Sharp bites at my bottom lip ignited flames in my belly. I shivered as his fingers traced down my sides to grip my hips, strong, warm hands pulling me closer. Alfie's tongue swept into my mouth, and I tilted my head back to get more of him.
"Emilia." My name from breathless lips, murmured against the sensitive skin below my jaw. I released my hold on Alfie's jacket and slid my hands along his ribs, feeling the long, firm lines of his body. I wanted more. My fingers darted beneath his tee shirt, pushing the soft fabric until I was rewarded with the hard planes of his stomach, a tortured groan from his lips, and a harsh bite at my throat that made my knees buckle.
We kissed until I was dizzy, and it was only when he slotted his leg between mine, lifting me up onto his knee where I felt the hard press of his arousal against my hip that reality came crashing down around me.
I broke the kiss, my breathing ragged. Alfie pulled back and stared at me. "Emilia--"
"Stop." I stepped back, creating the space I'd so desperately needed just minutes ago. Alfie searched my face, and I hated how good he looked, auburn curls lying messy over his brow, eyes blown wide with want, lips swollen and pink from our kiss. I stared at the floor. "You need to go."
"Em--"
"Please." I kept my voice steady. Alfie shoved his hands in his pockets, tension flexing in his jaw.
"All right." He hesitated. "Can I--"
"Don't come back." I forced myself to meet his gaze. Alfie looked hurt, and part of me ached at the sight. "Just--don't. If Lorenzo finds you here..."
Alfie's expression flashed. He bent down, but just when I thought he was going to kiss me again, he plucked a book offthe counter, instead.Pride and Prejudice, the book I’d already thrown at him twice. "I’m keeping the book, though." He nodded once, and walked out the door, leaving me shaky and breathless.
