3. Masaccio
CHAPTER THREE
Masaccio
W e are back on the dance floor, which is the last place I want to be because her tight little body is getting harder and harder to ignore when she presses it right up against me like this.
She is staring up at me. The thin strap of her dress slips a little and falls from her shoulder. Instinctively, I run my hand up her arm, dragging the strap back into place.
Her lips curve into a temptress’s smile.
Her eyes are locked with mine and I can feel I am about to make a terrible decision as the alcohol blurs my self-control.
Fuck, she is gorgeous.
As she presses against me, her breasts spill from the top of her dress.
Fuck.
This is not helping.
Her lips part and her fingers trace along my jaw, sending shivers running through my body.
My cock is stirring, wanting to know what she feels like.
My eyes trace over her full, rose-pink lips. The lipstick has long faded, but her natural color is even more beautiful. I lick my lips. I wonder what she tastes like.
Not thinking clearly, I lean down - and press my mouth against hers as my hand touches the heat of her skin.
She seems to hesitate for a moment, but then melts against me. Her body rubbing against mine.
Fuck. She feels so good in my arms.
The kiss deepens as she pulls me even closer.
Her lips are soft and warm.
Sparks seem to shoot from my fingers where my hand touches her lower back.
She pushes her hips against me, and I feel my cock beginning to grow.
Shit. This isn’t good. I can’t let her feel that. She’s already throwing herself at me. If she knows I’m physically attracted to her, there will be no end to this disaster of a situation.
I shouldn’t even be kissing her.
It was impulsive. A terrible decision.
If I don’t stop now, I’m going to have a problem that will not be easy to hide.
The music changes and it’s enough of a distraction for me to pull away from her.
But my cock is still not ready to calm down and my heart is hammering against my ribcage. I am sure she feels it against her breasts.
I have to get out of here. I have to get away from her.
“I need a drink.” I mutter and let her go, hurrying to leave.
I walk straight to the bar and order a whisky on a rocks. Dammit. That was so stupid of me. Leora Alesso is nothing but trouble, and I can’t be mixing with someone like her.
I run my hands through my hair. Then I shake my head, closing my eyes and wishing I hadn’t been so stupid.
“You’re playing with fire.” My brother says with a chuckle as he leans against the bar next to me. Rufino looks like a red-haired Viking. He’s one of the very few people I’ve ever known who is taller than me. His presence demands attention. Most people are terrified of him.
It didn’t stop me and my other brothers from ripping him off though - just for looking different.
“What?” I say, feeling moody again, eager for this wedding to be over so I can go home, have a hot shower and forget any of this happened.
“Leora. You’re asking for trouble with that girl. Next, she’ll be wanting a proposal and she’ll be choosing names for your kids. That’s not the girl you want to mess around with.”
“Fuck off. She’s just tipsy.” I snarl, feeling more agitated by the minute. I wish he hadn’t seen that. I’ll never hear the end of it.
Rufino shakes his head. “She’s a firecracker, that one. But I don’t think she kissed you because she’s tipsy. I think she’s got the hots for you.” He’s leaning with his elbow on the bar, looking out over the crowd of guests. No doubt eyeing Leora.
My youngest brother arrives at the bar too. “Did you just kiss Leora Alesso?” He laughs, punching my arm.
“Don’t you start as well.”
“You guys are going to live happily ever after and tell your kids how you met at a wedding. Pretty romantic, Mas.” Celso says, grinning at Rufino as he taunts me.
“What the fuck is wrong with you two?” I grumble, nodding a thanks to the barman as he slides my whisky towards me. “It was just a kiss. A drunk mistake. It didn’t mean a fucking thing.”
I glance over to where Leora is talking to some of her friends and immediately regret it. The looks she throws at me make my stomach knot.
I drag my eyes away.
She does look like she’s ready to name our kids. Freaking hell. I need to stay clear of her.
“I heard her father has hit some trouble with his business.” Rufino and Celso are chatting among themselves.
“What kind of trouble?” I ask, wanting a distraction from my bad choices. I make a point of keeping my back to the guests - to Leora. Making no accidental eye contact with her.
“ I don’t think his business has been bringing in any profits for a while now. He took out some loans to invest, but from what people are saying, he just ended up in debt.”
“You can’t trust what people say these days.” I shake my head. I never was one for gossip.
“Not just any people. Even dad was commenting on it the other day. Marco Alesso is in the shit. Dad was discussing the fact that it provides an opportunity for us to move in and take over some of his territory.” Rufino says.
Getting our hands on Marco’s territory would be a bonus. We don’t need it. But it would be nice. For my father, it would be more of an ego thing than a business thing. Marco and him have been at each other’s throats for years.
“Dad has been after his territory for over a decade now.” Celso takes a sip of his beer.
“I guess now’s the time, then.”
I stare back towards Leora. “I wonder if daddy’s little princess over there knows her father isn’t so rich anymore. She wouldn’t survive a day in the life of a working person.” I smirk.
“There are a hundred men who grab the chance to marry that fox. She’s too beautiful to worry about not being a pampered princess.”
“Hmph.” I snort in annoyance. I don’t like spoilt brats, and she is the queen of brats.
“She might be beautiful - but I pity any man who ends up having to marry that one.”
Eventually, the conversation drifts away from Marco Alesso and his spoilt daughter, to far more interesting topics, like our own family business, which has been thriving.
F or the rest of the wedding, I do my best to avoid Leora, not wanting to be tempted to repeat the same mistake. I hang out with my brothers and drink beers at the bar until the guest start leaving and the crowd thins out and I think I can leave too without being rude about it.
I walk over to the table where I left my jacket over the back of the chair. Picking it up, I slip my arms into the sleeves and shrug in onto my shoulders.
I feel a hand run down my back, sending a shiver through my body.
“Are you leaving already?”
I turn to face Leora.
My jaw muscles clench and my mouth is dry.
She steps close to me and runs her hand down my chest.
I catch her wrist and stop her.
“Leora, I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening.” I say, stepping away from her.
“But - don’t you want to get my number?” She looks hopeful.
“No, thank you.” I take another step back and she steps with me, so I reach out and grab her shoulder, forcing her to stop.
“Good night , Leora.” I say - to the point - leaving no room for misunderstanding.
She nods, a slight, tipsy grin on her face.
“Good night, Mas. I’m sure we will see each other again soon.”
I turn around, walking away briskly. “I doubt it.” I mutter to myself.
I hope my brothers didn’t see all of that, otherwise they’ll be ripping me off again.