Chapter 1
Black cherry tobacco mixed with notes of amber wrapped around me, coaxing me closer.
Cesare's hand was calloused in mine, and I desperately wanted it to touch me all over.
We hadn't gotten to that part yet, but with each visit, I knew I grew closer to my goal.
He followed me, looking around the new space as if he wasn't sure what he was doing there.
That was how he looked each time he came to me.
I didn't let it bother me, not when I was finally going to have him.
I moved him toward the bed and sat him down.
I wanted to fall into it with him, but as powerful and sure Cesare was, I could so easily spook him.
And I refused to be the downfall to my own plan.
Ten years in the making, and I finally had the man in bed with me.
I wasn't about to fuck it all up just because I was a little excited.
Butterflies weren't enough to describe the fluttering happening in my abdomen.
It was closer to shock waves that continuously rolled over me.
And each time I got to touch him, to inhale him, the sensation doubled.
It was a good thing I hadn't eaten; the last thing I needed to do was puke.
Cesare Vitale was mine. He’d been my ideal man since I was introduced to him ten years ago.
She, of course, had her claws in him, laying claim to him and showing off to the world that she was his prized possession.
I knew then what I knew now: it would never work and it hadn't.
None of them did. There was only one logical reason for that: I was supposed to be the one at his side.
The one person who warmed his bed and made his cock hard.
Even if Cesare didn't know it yet, I did.
Moving to New York had been a planned move.
It didn’t matter what it took. I did what I had to do to get to him, even if I had to sell my ass to strangers.
I'd do anything, and I meant anything. There wasn't a task I wouldn't do or a person I wouldn't cross to get what I felt was mine.
Months of working in Silver Dreams passed, and the chance had finally come wrapped in expensive fabric and the spitting image of Cesare and her.
I’d clung on to anything and told any lie I had to tell to get to Cesare Vitale.
Benito was the opportunity I'd longed for.
He had a job for me and it was to get as close to Cesare as possible.
I would have done so already but now everyone at Silver Dreams was backing me in some way.
They didn't know the full plans, but Cesare was now off-limits to any woman or man in the place. He was my exclusive client.
I dropped down into a squat, spreading my legs, knowing just how my pants formed to my long legs.
It left little to the imagination. I had to tamp down the glee that rushed through me as Cesare's hard gaze tracked my every movement.
I shifted my hips just slightly before drawing his focus back up to my face.
I placed my hands on his thighs, fighting my body's reaction to take more of him.
I watched him through thick lashes. His lips were turned down in a frown, and I could only guess as to what was going on in his head.
Wonder if Grand Myah said what I told her to.
Cesare was a Vitale, and I knew what kind of possessive they were.
They didn't share, ever. I was more than ready to be possessed by him.
Heat spread over my chest as the thought settled further into my head.
Years of dreaming of touching him and here I was.
His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back and a few strands fell forward as if he wasn't bothered to fix it.
There was more salt than pepper as the years slowly caught up to him.
But for Cesare to be fifty-four, he looked hot as fuck.
His facial hair was cut short and groomed, framing his face.
His broad shoulders could easily hold my legs when we got to that point.
I was hoping today would be the day, but I was patient. I could wait.
I ran my tongue over my glossed lips. I rarely wore any, but I knew Cesare liked the strawberry flavored one. My stomach flipped as his gaze tracked the movement of my tongue.
Kiss me. Fuck me. Own me.
I shoved down my desperation before he could pick up on it. A sultry smile graced my lips as I leaned closer, resting on his thighs and giving him a sinful gaze I knew worked on many. "Hard day?"
"Not particularly." The edge in his voice told me as much as the way his shoulders stood tight and rigid. Cesare was a hard man, someone used to keeping his thoughts close and his secrets buried.
I hummed while drawing circles on his upper thigh, loving the way the muscle jumped every single time I got a little closer to his cock.
"Then why are you glaring at me?" I reached up, gripped his chin, and turned his face so we were eye to eye.
The glare didn't lessen, in fact, he looked even angrier.
Cesare's hand moved fast, wrapping around my throat. Electricity danced down my spine and wrapped around my cock. I couldn’t squash my moan. Any time he touched me without me needing to guide him was always a euphoric moment.
"Tighter,” I bit out.
"Whore," he growled, but the ice in his gaze had lessened slightly. He pulled me up into his lap, and I easily straddled him. My hands went to his shoulders.
"No,” he said curtly. “Remove your hands. Now.”
I obeyed without so much as an argument, even if my palms itched to touch him more. He was denying the only pleasure I got in this world.
"You're the highest earner here, huh?"
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. He was upset like I knew he'd be.
I played it off, shrugging. "I'm one of a kind. Don't you like me?"
"I don't care to share."
I rotated my hips, grinding my ass down on his lap. "Mr. Vitale, it sounds like you want to keep me all to yourself."
Cesare's mouth opened and closed before he shoved me off his lap. The loss of heat was upsetting, but I pushed my waist-length hair back and crawled my way back to him.
"If it makes you feel better, you're my favorite," I whispered against his ear.
He scoffed before a cruel laugh filled the room.
His thumb dug into my chin as he gripped it hard.
His dark brown eyes were void of any emotion; it was like being stranded in the middle of the ocean at the dead of night.
There was nothing and no one. The blood in my veins ran cold as I was faced with the real side of Cesare.
I wasn't new to it, but I wouldn't be human if staring a killer dead in the eyes didn't send chills down my spine.
Knowing who he was and seeing it didn't make any difference.
He could kill someone right here in front of me.
I'd be shocked, but my desire for him wouldn't waver.
I was that fucking dedicated to having him.
"I don't need your platitudes; they mean nothing to me. You're a whore who I spend money on. Your words hold as much value to me as sewer water."
"Doesn't mean it's a lie." I didn't dare back down. The moment I did, Cesare would lose interest, and I wasn't letting that happen. I placed my hands back on his thighs. "You're right, you pay me but that means anyone could buy my body for the night, not what comes out of my mouth."
He stared at me for a long while as I held his gaze. My breath was caught in the back of my throat, and I didn't dare let it out, waiting to see what he said or did. It was a toss up every single time.
"Strip."
That was a surprise. He normally had me keep on at least one or two items no matter how scantily I'd dressed.
I stood up and pulled off the black, skin-tight crop top.
My dusky brown nipples instantly caught his attention.
The areolas were in the shape of hearts.
I thought about piercing them, but I'd yet to do it.
Not that Cesare seemed to mind. A look of carnal desire washed over his face.
I could get addicted to the way he watched me.
Like a predator waiting for the moment they could go in for the kill.
I hooked my thumbs in the low-riding pants and tugged. I'd forgone underwear. The pants were too damn tight anyway, but I'd hoped to entice Cesare even more. I turned around and bent over. My hair fell forward, curtaining around me as I stripped out of my bottoms.
"No panties?"
I flipped my hair over my shoulder. "I can always put some on for you, but no, not today. Will that be an issue?"
His jaw tensed before he relaxed. "No. Turn around."
I didn’t shield anything from him. I stayed perfectly still, letting him get his fill of me, waiting for the moment he either demanded I put something on or come to him. The air in the room felt tight as though there wasn't enough.
He cursed under his breath in Italian before beckoning me closer. Every inch that disappeared between us made the flipping sensation in my stomach increase. It felt like I was on a roller coaster that constantly went down at nose-dive speed.
I dropped back down onto my knees as Cesare spread his legs.
He hesitated for a second before gathering my long hair in his hand.
He tugged on it, and tendrils of pleasure sparked to life over my scalp.
I freed his cock and moaned at the sight of it.
His length was on the thicker side; he'd definitely be a stretch once we worked our way to that point.
Till then, he'd have to wear my throat out instead.
I opened my mouth without being prompted and ran my tongue over the glistening head, lapping up every drop of precum.