by Dani Rene
“Mmm,” he murmurs as he pulls away from the green light. “Yeah, I can see that. But when you’re in the bakery, when you’re lost in creating sweet things, what music do you have pumping through the speakers? It can’t be classical.”
I shrug.
He laughs.
I smile.
He places his hand on my thigh and offers it a squeeze. “You don’t have to tell me everything. Not yet. But I like learning about you, knowing what makes you tick.”
I cast a glance his way, taking in his profile. The lightly stubbled angular jaw. The prominent features that remind me of a carved statue. He is everything a woman could want, and he could have any woman who crosses his path. And yet, here he is with me.
“I like pop music as well,” I tell him, feeling the blush on my cheeks. “And I sing along.”
“I knew it!” He chuckles, shaking his head. “I can’t wait to hear you sing.”
“Oh no, I only do it when I’m alone, or in the shower,” I admit, smiling at the light-hearted banter. “And if you ever hear me sing, you may change your mind about wanting to know me.”
His expression falls serious before he admits, “Nothing could make me not want to know you, sweetheart.”
Chapter 13
Rome
I don’t know why I said that, but I ignore her reaction as I pull up to the building. Killing the engine, I turn to look at her again.
“Let’s go see your new apartment,” I tell her before opening my door and exiting the vehicle. By the time I reach her door, I feel more confident at my admission. The war that’s raging within me is taking hold. I hate lies and secrets, but I also want her so much I can’t stop thinking about her.
What I told her earlier was true. I couldn’t get her off my mind. Even as I walked into the office this morning, all I could think about was being near her. When Bianca told me she had the apartment showing today, I jumped at the opportunity to see Elisabet’s face when she saw her new home for the first time.
I lead her through the foyer toward the elevator. The silver doors slide open, we step inside, and the sexual tension between us spikes. Being alone in a confined space does nothing to lower my need for this woman.
My cock is still hard. My veins are simmering with desire and lust to pin her against the wall and consume her, but I behave. For now. When we reach the third floor, the doors open, and I wait for her to exit first.
“I hope you’ll like this place,” I tell her, trying to keep my voice sounding neutral and not at all the husky growl it usually sounds like when I’m turned on. Focus, Rome. Focus.
“I like the building; it’s secure. Is there a security guard all day?”
“Yes, the doorman is here until six, and then you’ll have a guard downstairs until the early morning. Nobody is allowed up without signing in, and if you’d like, you can have them buzz the apartment with the name of the person visiting.”
She smiles, relief evident on her features, and I wonder who she’s afraid of. Perhaps this has something to do with her past. Maybe she’s on the run. The thought jolts me as I unlock the door and push it open.
Waving my hand, I gesture for her to enter. I follow behind, closing the door. I lean against it, watching her take in the space. It’s mostly open plan. The kitchen and living room are a large room, broken into two by the breakfast bar. The living room has floor-to-ceiling windows which overlook the city, and, in the distance, you can see the river.
It’s a beautiful view, and I know at night it’s even more spectacular. I’ve owned the penthouse in this building for a few years, and even though I don’t often stay here, I enjoy quiet nights with a drink on the balcony.
“I love this. It feels like home without being gaudy,” Elisabet says, dragging me from the thoughts of the past that consume me at times.
“That makes me happy. I had it furnished a week ago when you put in the request to view.” I usually don’t do the final touches to the apartments, but after meeting her, I knew I wanted to give her something special. Even though she’s buying it herself, that small touch is my gift to her.
“You’re far too kind, Rome,” she tells me before turning and heading down the hallway. I want to follow her, to walk into her soon-to-be bedroom and take her right there. I want to christen her bed, making her scream my name, but I wait until she calls to me. “Are you coming?”
“I didn’t think you would be inviting me into your bedroom so soon,” I tease. Making my way toward her, I offer her a smile.
Elisabet shakes her head, laughs, and turns to step over the threshold into the enormous bedroom with attached bathroom. On one side are walk-in closets enough for two, and the opposite end is a door that leads into a bathroom with a shower, bath, and toilet. The clean lines, white tiles, and bright, blue rugs I purchased make the place less clinical and more comforting.
“This is bigger than I imagined,” she says.
“I hear that from all the ladies.” I wink at her playfully, earning me a scowl. “What? You were the one who said it.”
“You knew what I meant,” she retorts, her hand landing on her hip as she regards me with narrowed eyes.
I nod, moving deeper into the room and pressing the button close to the window, which opens the electronic blinds. There’s a soft whoosh as they open, offering her a similar view to the living room, only this is a small size as there’s no balcony, but rather just a window seat.
“Oh my god, Rome,” Elisabet gasps in shock. “This is everything I could’ve asked for. I didn’t notice the window seat in the photos online.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure they managed to get a good shot of this,” I tell her as I step aside. She slides onto the cushioned seating and lies back. Her body looks languid and lithe, which doesn’t help my erection from calming down.
“I could see you lying there naked,” I tell her honestly. I don’t want this to only be about sex, but I know she’ll only put those walls up again if I said anything too sweet or romantic.
“Is that how you always see me?” she asks, arching a dark brow. Her long, dark hair is fanned behind her, making her look ethereal. But this woman is far from innocent. Her seductive nature is something that doesn’t need working on; she’s naturally sensual. And that’s where the problem lies. I can’t say no to her.
“Not always. Sometimes, I see you in lingerie; other times, I see you still dressed, but the hemline of your dress is around your waist while I fuck you against the window of your living room.”
I’m honest to a fault. Most times, it earns me a slap, but I can’t lie to a beautiful woman. Especially when it comes to the one in front of me right now.
Elisabet smiles, her eyes sparking with mischief when she pushes to her feet and walks up to me, closing the distance between us. She stops inches from me, her face tilted back, her eyes locked on mine.
“Why don’t you show me?”
Her words incite an inferno of pure lust as it courses through my body. Every inch of me is ablaze, flames of need licking against my skin. I lean in, reaching for the hemline of her black dress, and I push it up, tugging it over her head.
“I thought you wanted me in my dress?”
“I lied,” I murmur as my hands find her ass and I lift her against me. A whimper tumbles from her plump, red lips when she rubs up against me, feeling my cock throb at her center.
I walk through the apartment, making my way into the living room. When I reach the windows, I press her up against them, her body pinned between mine and the cool glass.
“Rome,” she whimpers, and my cock responds with a jolt of need. “Please,” she pleads when my fingers find her panties drenched.
“Were you turned on since lunch?” I ask, my tone taking on a low rumble as I taunt her pussy through the slick material. She nods, which makes me smile. “So, I was right. You were needy for me, thinking about my cock inside you,” I tell her when I push the panties aside and slip two fingers inside her. “Fuck, sweetheart, you’re drip
ping.”
“Oh god,” she cries out when I pump two fingers into her, in and out, slow and steady. Even when her hips roll to add friction to my touch, I don’t speed up. I’m teasing her, taunting her until she gives me what I want—her orgasm.
My thumb finds her clit, circling it as I continue finger-fucking her. The expression on her beautiful face is nothing short of heavenly. She’s so gorgeous. I can’t imagine having anyone else here in this position right now. My cock is leaking precum as my ministrations take Elisabet over the edge, and she shudders in my hold.
Her arousal drenching my hand, the scent of her intoxicating me more than any alcohol ever can. She’s my drug of choice, and I’m never going to let her go.
Chapter 14
Elisabet
When I open my eyes, Rome is looking at me like I’ve just come down from heaven. My body feels like it has. Pleasure is still running through every nerve inside me.
“You’re beautiful when you come,” he tells me in a rough tone as I feel him nudge my entrance. The slickness of my pussy and the precum from his arousal makes it easy for him to slide inside me. But still, the thickness of him makes me whimper.
“Rome, I . . .” My head falls back against the cool glass, but nothing can dampen the fire he’s lit inside me. My legs tighten around his waist as he holds me up by my thighs. My nails dig into his shirt, into the taut muscle underneath as his hips roll against me. The friction of him making me mewl as I feel another impending orgasm take hold of me. I’m teetering on the edge, but I need more. I want and crave everything Rome has to offer.
He doesn’t relent. His thrusts become fast and demanding. His mouth crashes to mine, and he swallows my sounds with a kiss. The heat of his tongue dancing with mine spikes everything I’d been holding back. I want to feel every part of him. I want to kiss and taste him, to feel him and touch him.
I’m utterly consumed by the desire coursing through my veins when he slams into me so hard, the window makes a shuddering sound at our lovemaking. Our fucking. Because he isn’t sweet and gentle. He’s brutal as he ravages me, and I revel in it.
“Fuck.” A low growl falls from his lips, and I tug the lower one into my mouth and bite down as he fills me one last time before I drench him in my release. Two more deep thrusts and his heat marks me.
Rome stops moving. My body is still shaking in his hold, and when I open my eyes, I see those beautiful orbs filled with want for me. He smiles, the corner of his mouth quirking into a smirk that makes my heart stutter in my chest.
“You’re something else,” he tells me before pressing a kiss to my lips. The heat of him engulfs me. He’s still fully clothed, but I’m slick with sweat from our session. Gently, Rome slips from my body, and I feel his arousal dripping down my thighs.
He steps back, giving me space, but his heated gaze locks on my legs and another dark expression crosses his features as he takes in his seed on my skin.
“Now that’s a sight to behold,” he tells me, holding out his hands for me. I accept his offer and close the small distance between us. “I didn’t mean to...,” he speaks but allows the sentence to falter into the silence that hangs around us.
“I enjoyed that,” I tell him. “Don’t treat me with kid gloves, Rome.” I look up at him, meeting his gaze. “I’m not fragile. Don’t think that I’m some prissy doll that you need to treat like I’m going to break.”
“Then the next time I claim that pretty pussy of yours, you’ll feel me for days after. And while you’re in your brand-new bakery, you’ll be squirming at the memory of my cock stretching you.”
“You have a filthy mouth,” I tell him, causing him to chuckle in response.
Rome leans in close, his mouth at my ear when he whispers, “That’s me being sweet and romantic. Just you wait until I get filthy, sweetheart.”
Heat burns my cheeks. I’ve never been with a man who was so confident in his words, and nobody has ever made me feel so wanted like Rome does. It’s been a short while since we met, but I feel like I want so much more from him.
“I need to get back to the office,” he tells me. “But I’ll see you later?”
“What about my car?”
He smiles, pressing a kiss to my forehead before he speaks. “I’ll have one of my drivers bring it back here.”
“And they know where I live?”
“Yes, because my apartment is on the top floor.”
His admission has me snapping my gaze to his, and I step back as my eyes widen in shock. “What?”
“I have an apartment in the building. I haven’t lived there in a few years, though.” Pain flashes across his face before he continues. “It’s not my permanent residence.”
“And you thought that me living here was a good idea because you could spy on me?” I cross my arms in front of me, and his gaze falls to my breasts that are still covered by the soft material of my bra.
When he meets my stare again, he shakes his head. “I bought it with my ex, she left, and now it’s mine.”
“Why do I have a feeling that’s not the whole story?”
“It’s not,” he agrees with a nod. “But like you said, it’s sex only. If I told you about my past, you’d have to tell me about yours. Unless you’re ready to do that?” His challenge is clear. Rome is holding his cards close to his chest, and he knows that I won’t confess anything about me.
Shaking my head, I smile. “Fine. I don’t need to know anyway.” I step by him, but he catches my arm, stopping me as I pass him.
“Don’t push me away,” he implores me. “I’ll tell you anything you want, but I need something in return.”
“You have my body. That’s all I can offer you.”
He considers this for a moment. My heart thuds wildly against my chest when he takes a step toward me. He pulls me into his arms, allowing his hands to roam my body before he releases me.
“Tonight, we’ll have dinner here, I’ll cook,” he tells me. With a quick kiss to my lips, he turns and leaves me in my beautiful new apartment. I head to the bathroom attached to my bedroom and strip off my underwear. I notice four bottles of various shower gels, including shampoo and conditioner, in the tray attached to the tiles.
I can’t believe Rome had this place furnished. He even included the toiletries. That can’t be a service he offers to all his clients. I want to think I’m special to him, but that’s what I don’t want. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
Twisting the taps, I wait for it to heat up before I step under the spray. The shower is big enough for two people, and I wonder if Rome and I would ever be in here together. The thought makes me smile as I close my eyes and allow the water to drench me.
I pick up the shampoo and fill my hand with a dollop before I massage it into my scalp. The tension in my muscles slowly eases as I inhale the calming jasmine-scented bubbles.
A thought comes to me as I rinse off—perhaps I can cook for Rome. I haven’t made a proper meal in such a long time; it would be fun to surprise him. I smile as I step out of the shower moments later and wrap myself in a white, fluffy towel.
The place is ready to move into, but I need to collect some things from the hotel and check out. I hope my car arrives soon so I can get ingredients for dinner.
Perhaps I’ll even bake something for dessert. My specialty is chocolate cake and muffins, but I wanted to try a new recipe with blueberries. I hope Rome likes them; the thought comes to me quickly. Normally, I’d push it to the back of my mind, but this time, I don’t. I allow myself to feel the happiness for a little while longer.
By the time I’m back in my dress that Rome discarded on the bedroom floor earlier, the doorbell buzzes, and the doorman informs me my car is downstairs. I lock up the apartment and head down to grab the keys.
On my way to the store, I’m thinking about dinner, dessert, and even what I could make for breakfast. That is if Rome stays over. The bubble I’m in bursts the moment I pull into the store’s parking lot, and my phone vibrates.
The name on the screen is one I didn’t want to see. Ever. But I know he won’t leave me alone until I’ve paid him back. Swiping the screen, I answer the call.
“Hello.”
“Elisabet,” he says in his thick Italian accent. “I trust your new apartment is as stunning as you are.”
“What do you want?” I’m not even surprised he knows about it. He must’ve had me followed. The thought of that doesn’t sit well, and my gut churns with anxiety.
“The payments will be moved up by a month,” he tells me. I can hear the smile in his voice, which makes tears sting my eyes.
“I haven’t opened yet. Once I’m up and running, that won’t be a problem. But you have to understand—”
“What I understand is you running around with that asshole,” he sneers over the line, and my heart kicks in my chest. Shit. “I don’t care who you spread your legs for, but the money must be in my bank account within the thirty days. Am I understood?”
“Si,” I answer in my mother tongue. He prefers me speaking to him in Italian, but I never want to placate him. Since he knows about Rome, I can’t anger him because he will do something I’ll regret.
“Good girl,” he tells me before hanging up. I sit in the car staring at my phone for so long I jump when a message comes through from Rome. Even though I want to open it, my heart isn’t ready to see his words. Not right now.
Sighing, I exit the car and make my way to the store. The happiness that held me earlier has dimmed to almost nonexistent, but I force myself to smile as I do my shopping.
I’m so tired of being ruled by men in my life. Since I was a child, I knew there would be rules to follow, but now that I’m a grown woman, I feel like I’m being held prisoner because of my name and family.
Chapter 15
Rome
