Chapter 11 – Nico #2
She tugged her hands, looking about wildly. A step down the hall alerted me that we weren’t alone.
“Please! I have to get the rest of the stupid dessert,” she snapped.
Mannaggia. Touching her was a bad idea. But look at me.
I did it again. If I leaned in and kissed her, it would be astronomically stupid.
There were so many reasons she was forbidden.
She had to work here. She would regret it the instant it was over.
She might even hate me. But…I skimmed my fingers over her shoulder.
“How sweet is it?” I coaxed.
“How the hell should I know?” she retorted. “I would assume pretty sweet since it’s dessert, but do you even care?”
Fuck it. I brushed my finger over her lip. “I can’t wait to take a taste.”
She jerked away, and I let her go.
Watching her scurry away made me groan. I had to forcefully keep myself back. I wanted to chase her.
I wanted to play.
And now that I found her, the game was only beginning.
***
It took another hour before I escaped. To add to my misery, Rae never made an appearance after dinner.
The butler served the dessert and coffee.
Franky’s cake was not why I endured the incessant pestering of my grandmother, who liked to talk about the families and blue blood aristocracy as if they mattered.
The don disappeared into his office, not bothering to join us.
Which was probably for the best. I might be the picture of good health, but I doubted even my perfect blood pressure could take it. The whole hour, I schemed and plotted.
But every time my mind focused on work, flashing hazel eyes hollowed by a haunted expression filled my mind.
Was she getting enough sleep? Were they working her too hard?
Was there…something else? I’d found Tony Capello and removed his fingers before he’d hurt her badly.
She hadn’t seemed shocked by the brutality the other night, but maybe it terrorized her after the adrenaline wore off.
I had to know.
Instead of leaving, I snuck out back.
I had to see for myself that what my little thief was doing.
The humid night air was a delicious change.
Each breath drank in the heavy atmosphere.
It was a different heat than the suffocating rooms of the brittle mansion.
Even with the wet night wrapping around me, I felt free.
Creeping through the yard, I nearly missed the wisp of black.
Blending in with the surroundings, the shadow moved with eager steps toward the main house.
Going to steal something, little one?
I grinned. The enticing southern belle didn’t know it yet, but I’d caught her. There was no chance of her slipping past me. Never again.
Following her with my eyes, I watched as Rae changed her course, going to the side patio. I forgot to breathe when she stepped from the shelter of the trees and shucked her sweatshirt.
If there’d been moonlight, her tanned skin would have glowed.
As it was, I could see well enough where the ink decorated her arms, stopping for just a few inches before a black bathing suit covered the rest of her chest. I took a shuddering gulp of air as my gaze trailed down the bare expanse of her tummy, past the slip of black covering the strip between her legs—and those legs.
Long and lean, they were also decorated with images.
I cursed the lack of light that made the images a secret.
Rae lost no time slipping into the hot tub. I felt more than heard her sigh as she slid down, letting the piping hot water cover past her shoulders.
A gentleman would have let her have her peace. She’d earned it, after the hell of serving my family.
But I wasn’t the sort of man to let temptation pass me by. Not when I could reach out and take a taste.
I ghosted forward.
Rae’s eyes were closed. She didn’t hear me approach.
Didn’t notice me standing over her. I wanted to shout at her.
Scold her for not sensing the danger. But I bit my tongue as my fingers slipped the buttons from my shirt and then flicked the buckle on my slacks.
Bending to remove my socks, I waited for her to look.
She didn’t.
Not until I climbed into the tub and made the water rise to her ears.
“What the fuck—”
I surged forward, clapping my hand over her mouth. “Hush! Do you want them to find us?”
Her eyes were wide. My hand on her shoulder kept her pinned under me. She shuddered, breathing hard.
“Will you scream?” I hissed, looming over her.
She rolled her eyes but then shook her head.
“Good girl.” I pulled back. The sudden distance was nothing short of torment. I sat across from her, marveling at the physical urge to close the distance. No one had ever made me feel this kind of desperate need.
I hated it.
No…that wasn’t right.
I hated that it took away my control. Pushed my restraints. Distracted me.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Rae snapped.
Her gaze flicked over my body for the briefest of seconds before she continued to glare at me. Heat pulsed through my blood. Did she like what she saw? I wanted her to look again, but she didn’t.
I shrugged. “Same as you. Relaxing.”
She scrubbed her hands over her face, pushing them through her hair. “You shouldn’t be out here.”
I chuckled. “Pot meet kettle.”
Her hand smacked the water. “I’m serious. You’ll get me caught, and that will be way worse than me taking a dip in the hot tub.”
She sounded exasperated.
This is fun.
My dick twitched in agreement. She was beautiful all riled up. Actually….
“Was that makeup?” I asked, leaning forward.
Rae jerked back. “What?”
“The dark circles. I don’t see them.”
“Rude!” She flicked water at me with her fingers.
Why was I even asking? Such a dumb conversation starter. I blamed it on being this close to a beautiful woman.
No…no that wasn’t true.
I blamed it on being near her.
“Sorry, never mind,” I said with a wince.
Rae huffed and didn’t answer. Tugging at her hair, she undid the pins, laying them on the side of the tub. It fell in a frothy mess as her fingers continued to fluff it.
Mine itched to rake against her scalp. To kneed and massage the skin. Then, I would bring them lower, working the sore muscles of her neck and shoulders. Feeling her relax under my touch—
“So you still hate carrots.”