Chapter 5
5
Giselle
“Iwas coming to find you,” Carlo called out in front of me. He wore a blue button-down shirt that was tailored to fit him. And I knew this because I’d made it to fit him. It matched his sparkling eyes. It wasn’t a color he normally wore. But I knew the second I saw the fabric that it would look perfect with his eyes.
“You found me.” I smiled even though I was feeling more than a little hesitant about being around him at the moment. If what my father had said was true—Carlo Sovrano was not the man I thought he was.
At any rate, I wasn’t about to start shouting out, “Hey, are you really a mafia king? If so, how many people have you killed?”
Nope.
If what my father said was true, I was going to have to play it cool. Although I really wanted to run screaming from here right now.
“I figured you’d be out with the horses.” The look of love on his face nearly bowled me over. I could feel how much he loved me.
“You know me too well,” I said as he reached out and grabbed my hand. He pulled me into his body. I pushed against his hard chest. “I smell like horses.” I smiled up at him. And that was probably true. But what I really needed was space.
From him.
From Stefan.
From this whole place.
“When has that ever stopped me from wanting you?” His arms wrapped around my torso, and he lifted me up. Then his hands were on my behind—and I melted.
When his mouth touched mine—I was a goner. He kissed me deeply from the start. His mouth was hungry.
For me.
I slid my hands up his chest and over his huge, muscular shoulders.
Gosh, my lumberjack was huge.
Everywhere.
“I haven’t been gone that long,” I muttered into his mouth.
“Hmm.” He kissed me some more, his tongue dancing with mine. I felt my nipples harden instantly. “Maybe it’s the anticipation of this afternoon that has me especially amorous.”
I moved back as much as he’d let me. Which wasn’t that far. “This afternoon?” I asked, no clue at all what he was talking about. But by the look on his face, he was really looking forward to whatever it was.
“This afternoon.” He practically dove forward to capture my lips again.
I was able to maneuver away. “What’s this afternoon?” I asked cluelessly.
The smexy, lumberjacky grin on his face completely took over. “You and Eve are joining me in bed.”
My eyes opened wide, and my mouth did the same. “Oh,” was all I could get out.
Right.
Our deal.
Eve and I had our afternoon with Stefan yesterday. I guess the men were trying not to tire us out by fucking us all in one day.
Not that that’s stopped them before.
“Oh, is that today?” I let my hand creep over to the back of his neck. “I didn’t know.” I gave him a tender kiss on his cheek and inhaled his piney, manly scent. Gosh, I was going to miss that yummy, masculine smell.
“It is. Nick and I flipped a coin,” he chuckled in a low, deep voice that sent a lovely shiver down my body, “and he lost.”
I giggled and kissed him on the lips this time. “You’re very competitive.”
His hands tightened on my behind. “Damn right. Now go eat and get ready. You’ve got two hours.” He squeezed my behind one more time before he set me down. “I’ll make you lunch.” His hand immediately grabbed mine, and we walked like that back to his castle.
Halfway there, I decided to ask him a question in a roundabout way. I mean, I wasn't going to just come out and say, “Hey, Carlo. Are you a mafia king? Just curious.”
Yeah.
Probably not the way to go.
Instead, I asked, “What kind of business did you have to do here?”
His hand tightened over mine and he peered down at me. “What? Why?” His brows knitted together.
I tried to shrug it off like I wasn't digging for answers to my question. “I don’t know. You guys never talk about what you do.”
He cleared his throat. “We have a lot of different businesses, Giselle. Too many to name. Real estate is a big part. We own casinos and car dealerships, too. Lots of things. Why are you suddenly so curious?”
Crap.
I hoped I hadn’t triggered any alarm bells with him.
“Why wouldn’t I want to know?” I threw the question back at him. This obviously was not going to be a conversation where Carlo suddenly divulged all of his secrets.
And honestly, what in the world would I do if he did?
Right now, I really wasn’t sure.
If he was a mafia king, or a soon to be one, that would complicate things with Sergio.
In a big way.
A big, big way.
Sergio liked to be at the top and in control. Of everything.
And if he found out that I was here with Carlo and Stefan—and if Carlo and Stefan really were what my dad said they were—then Sergio would have even more reason to kill them. There was no way Sergio would allow his wife and child to live with Carlo and Stefan.
And if Sergio found out that Carlo and I were engaged—even if it was just a fake engagement, he’d blow his freaking lid.
I shuddered to think of the vengeance he’d seek.
“Are you cold?” Carlo asked as his arm snaked over my shoulders and he pulled me against his side. “You’re shivering.”
I shook my head and bit my lip. “No, I’m fine.”
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Do you need a nap before our fun starts?” His voice was almost growly and super smexy.
I smiled and slipped my arm around his waist. “No, but I’m sure I’ll need one after.”
I felt his body vibrate with laughter. “Hopefully I’ll wear you out. And having two gorgeous women sleep with me afterward wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”
Dammit.
Just thinking about doing that made my heart start beating faster.
Which was a good thing.
Because even if Carlo was a mafia king, I was still going to do what I promised.
And chances were good that I’d like every minute of it.