Katie
“Fine,” I say. “But me saying yes doesn’t mean anything.”
I know that’s a lie the second it leaves my mouth, but there’s no way I’m admitting that out loud.
“Of course it doesn’t,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me. He’s humoring my very obvious lie, and it makes me want to punch him. “Come on.”
He extends his hand, and I shut my eyes for a second.
Fuck, Katie. This is such a bad idea.
I’m still angry with him. I’m angry that he lied, angry that I almost had sex with him before I knew the truth, and angry that none of that seems to stop me.
I sigh and put my hand in his. His mouth curves slightly, as if this outcome was never really in doubt.
A butterfly drifts lazily past my face as we reach the door.
For one ridiculous second, I wish I could stay right here among the glass and flowers and pretend the last twenty minutes never happened.
When he opens the door, Luca is standing on the other side.
“Luca!” I say, relief spreading through me. At least there’s one familiar face I can count on seeing here.
“Miss Katie,” he answers.
“Please, just call me Katie,” I say.
His gaze darts to Michael. I step directly between them.
“Don’t look at him. Look at me.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Michael give a small nod. Luca’s attention snaps back to me.
“I asked you to call me Katie,” I say. “I don’t care what he says.”
“Do what she says,” Michael says at last.
“God, you are so controlling,” I say, as I drive my elbow into his side.
Marco appears beside us as Michael exhales through his teeth and steps back, rubbing the spot while glaring down at me.
Marco moves closer. “Boss?”
“I’m fine,” Michael says, still rubbing his ribs. “I’m taking Katie to breakfast.”
Michael’s eyes shift to Luca. “I was about to ask him to get the car ready.”
“Yes, Boss,” Luca says. He exits, and it’s just Michael, Marco, and me.
Marco’s eyes flick between Michael and me. This is insane.
I give him a tight smile.
“Michael doesn’t need his bodyguard right now.”
Marco’s gaze moves automatically to Michael. Holy shit. He really is his bodyguard.
He gives a small nod. “I’ve got it handled. You can go.”
Marco hesitates, his attention shifting to me again. Michael steps forward and draws me slightly closer to him.
“Go.”
“Yes, Boss,” Marco says, and excuses himself.
I’m ready to question Michael to the fullest extent when he pulls me against his chest in one swift motion. I let out a startled gasp.
“I need you to understand something,” he says, lowering his voice to my ear. “Luca. Marco. Sal. Every man in this house answers to me.”
I stare up into his dark eyes.
“What you just did—and the way I responded—made something very clear to them.”
He leans in closer, and I suck in a breath.
“You outrank me.”
Fuucckk. What does that even mean?
Before I can say anything, his mouth claims mine in a kiss that’s fierce and all-consuming, igniting a fire that spreads through my veins.
His rough hands slide to my hips, lifting me effortlessly off the ground.
My dress scrunches up around my waist as I wrap my legs around him.
My fingers tangle in his thick hair, pulling him closer.
He presses me back against the cool wall. His body is a solid wall of heat and power as his lips trail down to the curve of my neck, then lower to my chest.
“Oh, god,” I breathe, my voice trembling with the intensity of it all.
His breath is hot in my ear. “I’m going to fuck you, Doll. Make you mine completely. But tonight, I’ll hold back for your boundaries. Soon, though, it’s happening.”
Holy fuck.
Gently, he lowers me to the floor, his touch lingering as he smooths the fabric of my dress back into place. He adjusts the collar of his shirt. Then takes my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine as he walks towards the front of the estate.
We pull up to Amato Plaza a few minutes later. Luca circles around and opens the door. Michael steps out and offers his hand to me. I take it, stepping down onto the sidewalk. His palm settles lightly against the small of my back.
I refused to sit next to him in the SUV.
Absolutely refused. Which meant I ended up in the seat facing him instead, and honestly, that was worse.
His ridiculously long legs stretched out across the floor so they landed on either side of mine, and he spent the entire ride sitting back with his hands loosely folded in his lap.
Do you have any idea how difficult it is not to look at a man’s lap when he’s sitting directly across from you? Especially when he’s wearing perfectly fitted black slacks that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.
The second we step into the plaza, the entire staff seems to materialize out of nowhere.
“Mr. Amato, what can we do for you?”
“Mr. Amato, we didn’t expect you this morning.”
“Mr. Amato, can I suck your dick?”
Okay, that last one may not have actually been said out loud, but the vibe was there.
“We’re on our way to The Orchid Room for breakfast,” he says coolly.
Several employees glance at each other, a flicker of nervous energy passing between them.
“Of course, sir,” one of them says quickly. “Right this way.”
I slide my arm through Michael’s and lean in closer as we start walking.
“Why is everyone so afraid of you?” I whisper.
“They’re not afraid,” he says calmly. “They want to impress me.”
“Right. They all look like they’re about to piss their pants.”
Michael’s mouth curves. He pulls me closer against his side, and suddenly the intimidating billionaire disappears. This is the Michael I like.
He pulls out my chair and pushes it in once I sit down, just like he did last night. The only difference is that now we’re sitting in his restaurant, and I’m fairly certain every person in the room has clocked our arrival. Michael takes his seat across from me, and I lean across the table.
“Why is everyone staring at us?”
“Katie,” he says calmly, “I’m very important in the business world.”
That’s it? That’s the explanation? Michael raises one finger, and a server appears at the table so fast it’s honestly a little alarming.
“Yes, Mr. Amato.”
This is some weird shit.
“Katie, what would you like to drink?” he asks, and the server turns her attention to me.
“Um, orange juice?”
“Same for me,” Michael says, wrapping his fingers loosely around mine. “And you wanted the crepes, right?”
I nod. “Blueberry, please.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the server says before stepping away.
I watch her go, mildly confused. She’s definitely older than I am. Not just a little older either, and yet she called me ma’am. I glance around the dining room again, very aware that this entire place orbits around the man sitting across from me.