35. Cock Blocker
CHAPTER 35
COCK BLOCKER
R affaele
A lethal mix of fury and jealousy pounds into me in time with the raging beat of the DJ’s house mix. Isabella and Serena are encircled by a ravenous group of Italian men and if one more guy so much as brushes by her, I’m going to lose my shit.
Even the cool air of the open-air nightclub atop the surrounding hills of Rome does little to ice my temper. The past twenty-four hours have been absolute torture. Dio must really have it in for me. How is it possible that the moment Isabella and I decide to give into temptation, the grand cock blocker of all cock blockers shows up on our doorstep?
Not that I mind Serena as a person, but does she really have to insist on sleeping with Isa for the length of her stay? As if the nightclubs aren’t bad enough…
Another breeze kicks off the hill, sending cool air across the old medieval fortress turned summer nightclub. Isabella sweeps the tumble of dark hair behind her ears, her forehead glistening with perspiration. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips glossy with a bright pink hue, and she’s the most gorgeous woman in here. No wonder all the men are salivating around her like mongrels. Serena, too, is certainly beautiful with her long, curly blonde hair and eyes glittering with amusement, but beside my Isa, she pales in comparison. Any woman does. Regardless, between the two of them, it’s been a long line of waiting men all night.
I’m not sure how much more I can take.
When a guy in a sports jacket and pink shorts makes his move toward Isabella, cramming his body between her and Serena, I can’t control my legs from marching toward her. My fingers close around her upper arm and jerk her hard against me. The guy shoots me a scowl, and I throw him my middle finger in response.
“Raf,” she breathes, a hint of a scolding in her tone, but still her body curves to mine.
“What? Did you actually want that coglione grinding on you?”
She shrugs, glancing over my shoulder at Serena who is now dancing with the cornuto . “I was just having some fun. Relax.”
“Relax? You want me to relax?” I snarl. “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to just stand by and watch as these assholes rub up on you?”
A satisfied smirk tips up the corner of her lip. “Are you jealous, Raf?”
“Yes,” I hiss. “Is that what you want to hear? That simply the thought of any other man’s hands on you makes my blood boil, and my fingers twitch to snap their damned necks?”
Her breath catches, perfect lips curving into a capital O.
“Does that scare you, principessa ?”
Pressing her lips into a hard line, she slowly shakes her head. I didn’t think it would, and a pleased grin slashes across my face. I dip my head, my mouth brushing the shell of her ear. “Does it turn you on?” My voice is nothing but a jagged whisper.
Her eyes meet mine, defiant as all hell.
“I think it does.” I walk her back a few steps until we’re hidden in a small niche of the old fortress, roughhewn stone walls on three sides of us. “If I slid my hand in your panties, would you already be wet for me, principessa ?”
She snags her bottom lip between her teeth, sucking, and I wish it was my lip in her mouth. Or even better my cock. I draw her lip free with my thumb, my mouth inches from hers. “You know it makes me wild when you do that, right?”
“Now, I do.” A smug grin teases her lips.
I walk her back another step until her bare shoulders hit the stone wall. Caging her against it, I part her legs with my knee, rubbing my thigh against her apex. She’s soaked, her arousal seeping through her panties and my jeans. I move against her, gently rubbing, but from behind it looks as if we’re only dancing.
“Mmm, Raf,” she groans as she grinds her hips against my leg.
“I don’t know how much longer I can wait to claim you, principessa . The more I think about it, the worse of an idea it becomes.” I dip my head to her neck and suck hard, earning a squeal. “Because I’m pretty damned sure that once will never be enough.”
Her glittering eyes meet mine, something unreadable glistening just beneath the surface. “Who says it has to only be once?”
“Because twice would be my ruin and three times my total damnation. More than that, and I’m fairly certain I’d never survive.”
A chill surges up her spine, the tremor vibrating through my own body.
“Well, that could be a problem then.” She smirks. “I expected at least three times the first night.”
A deep chuckle vibrates my entire chest, and my heart staggers before picking up its quickening tempo. “Demanding… I like that.”
She rises to her tiptoes and glances over my shoulder, likely searching for Serena, before returning that hypnotic gaze to meet mine.
“Is Serena good?” I murmur.
“Yeah, she’s still dancing with pink-shorts guy.”
“Then let’s get out of here. Let me take you home so we can finally?—”
She presses her finger to my lips, slowly shaking her head. “I can’t just leave her.”
“Why not? She’s got that guy and her own retinue of guards.” None remain as close to her as I do with my charge, but then again, no one is as good as me.
“Serena’s only here for one more night, Raf, then she’ll be back in Milano. I want to spend this time with her.”
Jerking back, I remove my leg from between her thighs, an unexpected pang lancing through my chest. I must have made a face because Isabella’s smile softens, and she laces her fingers through mine.
“I’m not saying I don’t want to be with you, too. You know things are complicated. If anyone found out about this” —she motions between us— “you know we’d both be screwed.”
A smirk tugs at my lips. “So, you do care about me? And you don’t want me returning to Manhattan in a box?”
“Of course, I do, you stronzo .” She smacks my cheek before squeezing it gently. “Besides, you were right. Papà would send me right home, and my Roman excursion is just getting started."
A rueful smile spreads despite my best efforts. “Fine, but the moment she’s gone, I’m giving you a night you’ll never forget.”
“I’m counting on it.” With her fingers still tangled with mine, she tugs me back toward the center of the dancefloor, and I follow like a complete idiot, because I’m already that gone for her.
Serena and Isabella walk arm-in-arm, giggling and gushing about the evening, as I lead them through the stone archway that spills out onto the dirt parking lot. Serena’s guards are waiting in the limo to drive us all home, and I’m shocked by the loose tether they give their client.
Luca would never approve. Then again, I’ve heard his brother Dante is quite a different breed.
“Tomorrow we should have a party on your rooftop.” Serena claps her hands, the haze of alcohol brightening her eyes. “Don’t you know a bunch of hot doctors you could invite?”
Isabella chuckles, and I bristle at the remark, thoughts of her date with Jeff still at the forefront of my mind. “Sure, I could put something together quickly.”
“You’d like that better wouldn’t you, Raf?” Serena cocks a light brow in my direction. “This way sweet little Bella could be at home and protected?”
I nod slowly.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice how tense you were tonight.” She throws me a knowing smile, and I wonder what exactly she’s trying to get at.
“Oh, just ignore him,” Isabella cuts in. “He’s always tense. And I’m sure even with the party at home, he’ll be grumpy.”
Serena surges ahead to pluck a hibiscus from the nearby hedge, and I lean into Isabella and whisper, “I’m grumpy because instead of watching other guys’ hands all over you, I want my hands to be all over you.”
A grin slashes across her face and her cheeks heat, sending wicked pleasure up my spine.
Before she can respond, Serena bounces back with the pink bloom tucked behind her ear. Behind her, two men walk up the cobbled pathway.
Every nerve stands at attention as the two familiar forms coalesce from the darkness. Cazzo .
What the fuck are my brothers doing here?