Decadent

by Alexx Andria

  “Uva Persa...what does it mean?” I asked, intrigued.

  “It means ‘lost grape,’” she answered, smiling with pleasure.

  I knew she had a hit on her hands. I could feel it in my bones. A success of this sort would make wrestling Castello di Baroni out of the Baroni family’s hands nearly impossible. If that happened I would have to face my father without his prize.

  I swallowed, my supportive smile frozen. I didn’t want to hurt Alessandra but Uva Persa succeeding...would mean my failure.

  “That’s pretty impressive,” I said.

  “I’ve done small tastings here and there, and so far it’s been a huge success. Sophia tasted it for the first time, without knowing it was my label, and she raved about it.”

  “Does Sophia have good taste?” I teased.

  “The very best,” she answered with a resolute nod. “Sophia’s palate is sophisticated. She and Enzo would’ve made a formidable team in the wine business.”

  I drew her to me so I could kiss her forehead. “That’s pretty damn incredible,” I said without guile. Why did she have to be so amazing? “I’m sure you have the next big thing on your hands.”

  “I hope so,” she said, worrying her lip. “The truth is, my father was not supportive of my desire to cultivate the tenerone. He refused to invest with me. If it weren’t for my grandfather, I never would’ve been able to put my dream in motion.”

  “Why didn’t your father want to invest?”

  “He is very old-school. He doesn’t believe a woman can have such big ideas. If the idea had come from Enzo, he would’ve praised him for being innovative, but because it came from me, it was reckless and foolhardy.”

  I prickled at Alessandra’s sharing. I couldn’t imagine anyone treating her so poorly. She was a force of nature. The fact that her own father... Hell, this was a fight I knew too well. My father rarely took anything I said to heart either. “Sorry, but that’s bullshit,” I said with perhaps too much of an edge. At her sharp look, I added, “Look, I know you love your dad and he’s probably a great father but if he’s too narrow-minded to see what’s right in front of him, fuck him.”

  Was I still talking about Alessandra’s situation or my own? I wasn’t sure, to be honest. Alessandra’s slowly spreading shy smile warmed me in places that I hadn’t known existed. She squeezed my hand in solidarity and we dropped the topic.

  She’d finally shared something of incredible value with me. Alessandra trusted me.

  Now the question was, what was I going to do with that information?

  Did I find a way to exploit it or did I walk away, forgetting all about leverage and my need to please my father?

  I didn’t have an answer—but I needed to make a decision fast.

  The launch might be my only chance, and that window was closing.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Alessandra

  I TOOK A chance sharing my secret with Dante but I didn’t regret my decision. With Sophia by my side and the launch around the corner, I was confident that nothing could throw me off on this venture. Besides, the more time I spent with Dante, the less I saw him as a threat. I was starting to think of him as much more than that.

  “Did you really take a walking tour of Siena?” Sophia asked, incredulous. “You?”

  I shared her incredulity, hardly able to believe it myself. “Yes, and you know, it was quite lovely. I’ve always taken for granted the beauty of the city. Seeing it through someone else’s eyes really opened mine to the splendor that we are blessed with.”

  Sophia chuckled. “Okay, you practically have stars in your eyes. Are you going to try to tell me that you still don’t have feelings for Dante? I mean, you can try but I’ll see right through your nonsense so why bother?”

  Sophia was right, I couldn’t hide the fact that I’d not only come to care for Dante, but that I might be falling for him. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment my feelings had deepened, but I knew yesterday’s walking tour opened my eyes to more than just the beautiful architecture.

  “It felt good to share with him my journey with Uva Persa,” I said, shocking Sophia. “I know I haven’t known him long but I wanted to tell him, and I felt I could. He’s a good man.”

  There, I’d said it. I hadn’t wanted to fall for Dante. I’d fought my feelings tooth and nail but some things were out of your control. Like when my nonna and nonno fell for each other. It was fate.

  “I’ve never seen you so lit up. Your face is glowing. It’s a good look on you,” Sophia said. “I’m assuming that Dante feels the same?”

  I shook my head, still trying to find my footing. “Well, I’m fairly certain he feels something for me. We haven’t actually talked about it. We don’t do too much talking when we are together.” I frowned as I heard myself. “Which probably means that we should do some talking before things roll out of hand. I need to know if we’re on the same page or reading a different book.”

  “Oh, I just love when you use metaphors,” Sophia said, laughing. “Reminds me of university.”

  I chuckled but Sophia had drawn attention to a very good point. Dante and I hadn’t talked about our feelings for each other in actual words. I felt our bodies spoke eloquently to one another but there was plenty of room for misinterpretation when basing feelings only on the strength of one’s orgasms.

  Oh goodness, just thinking of Dante’s touch made me weak. No, focus. Words. “I’m supposed to meet him at his hotel tonight. I am thinking of inviting him to the Uva Persa launch. I’d love for you to meet him officially.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Sophia said. “But if he’s not good enough for you, I won’t hesitate to be honest.”

  God, I loved her. “You will adore him. He’s dreadfully charming,” I admitted. “Seems like a deadly skill. I’m sure he’s left a swath of women in his wake.”

  I didn’t want to be one of those women crying after Dante. If he didn’t feel the same way about me, I wasn’t going to chase him.

  We attended to our tasks but my mind was elsewhere. It should’ve been with the launch—confident as I was, everything I’d ever cared about was tied up in the success of Uva Persa. Yet all I could think of was how Dante would react to my admitting that I had feelings for him.

  Would he push me away? Would he laugh? Or would he admit that he, too, had fallen for me?

  My ego assured me that Dante had fallen as hard as I had, but that kernel of insecurity planted by my father that I somehow wasn’t good enough worried at my confidence.

  By the time I left for Dante’s hotel, I was a nervous wreck, which was unlike me.

  I didn’t like this uncertainty. I wasn’t accustomed to feeling off-kilter or out of control. I prided myself on being in control of any given situation and I excelled at grabbing the upper hand.

  Not so now, and I hated it.

  I might’ve been a tad grumpy by the time Dante opened his room door, all smiles and sexiness, which became evident when I snapped, “I’m starving, please say you ordered food.”

  “Hello, honey, nice to see you,” he said, grinning at my sour attitude. “The question is, do I fuck the bad mood out of you or just stuff your face first?”

  I couldn’t quite stop the smile threatening. Why was he so damn perfect? “Kiss me, you idiot.”

  “How can I resist?” Dante closed the distance and pulled me into his arms, sealing his mouth to mine. His lips were perfection, the absolute best combination of firm yet soft. I’d never noticed a man’s lips before Dante’s. His tongue touched mine, encouraging a dance, and I eagerly obliged. It wasn’t long before the heat between us ignited and he was carrying me to the bed.

  I knew I came to talk, to have a serious conversation, but it was so difficult to remember why it was better to talk first, have sex later when he was devouring my body and I was writhing in his arms, happily losing m
y sanity.

  “I missed you today,” he said against my thigh as he nipped at the sensitive flesh. “I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I love fucking you. I got so hot and bothered I had to jerk off just so my cock didn’t split in two.”

  “You poor thing,” I said, sucking in a tight breath as he traveled toward my aching pussy. My slit was already damp and ready. “And did you come hard?”

  “I’m surprised I didn’t put a hole in the wall.”

  I managed a laugh before he descended between my legs, feasting on the tender flesh with the skill of a master. My fingers curled into the sheets, my breath coming faster as he worked me without mercy. I craved this release only Dante could provide.

  He pushed me to that edge and I tumbled into my climax, crying out as I shook like a leaf in the wind. Without giving me a chance to recover, Dante flipped me to my belly and worked his cock between my cheeks, sliding his length inside me. I groaned as he filled me completely. There was always a bit of savagery in Dante’s lovemaking that thrilled me senseless. He took complete control, even when I was riding him, and I found that incredibly sexy.

  “Alessandra.” My name exploded from his mouth as he came and I quickly followed with a second orgasm, rasping into the sheets as I drew great, big shuddering breaths. Dante rolled off me and we were both left breathing hard but sated. Dante rose slowly to get us bottled water, something I’d come to find very sweet of him, and gazed with unabashed interest in his naked body. He was magnificent. I accepted the water bottle and cracked it open, drinking deeply. I was wondrously relaxed. I didn’t want anything to ruin this bliss. Perhaps our conversation could wait.

  “Are you busy this weekend?” I rolled to my side to ask, loving how well formed and masculine Dante’s body was. I could spend a lifetime staring at that body. Dragging my gaze back to his eyes, I smiled when he caught me adoring his manhood.

  “Depends. What did you have in mind?” he asked.

  “I’d like to invite you to the Uva Persa launch as my date. Officially.”

  “Officially?” he repeated, his gaze inscrutable. “You mean, I’m no longer your dirty little secret?”

  I laughed. “Exactly. I think I can clean you up sufficiently to pass you off as respectable for an evening at least.”

  “That’s a tall order.”

  “I think I’m up to the challenge.” I shifted on the bed to sit up, sliding my robe over my body and tying the belt. “Do you want to be official?”

  I’d thought to wait but the question came up organically so I figured I might as well just go with it.

  His strained chuckle sent chills down my arm. This wasn’t exactly how I imagined he would react. “What are we talking here?” he asked. “I live in New York, you live here in Italy. Long distance isn’t really my thing.”

  I stiffened, hearing the rejection in what he wasn’t saying. “Of course. I wasn’t expecting you to relocate.” But maybe I was, because the minute I said it, disappointment flooded my breast. I wanted him to want to be with me and if that meant relocating, I wanted him to jump at the chance. Maybe that was my ego speaking but my heart felt pretty bruised, too. “I simply asked you to be my date for the launch, not marry me.”

  “Good, because I’m not the marrying kind,” he said, and I was quick to add my own salt to that dish with a snapped, “Neither am I, as you know.”

  “Glad we got that sorted out,” he said, rolling from the bed to get something stronger than water. He poured two glasses of wine and brought me one. “Look, we’ve got a good thing going right now. Let’s not ruin it with talk of official whatever. We’re fantastic in the sack, and I say we keep doing what we’re good at.”

  I smothered a laugh at the irony. Hadn’t I said those very words to men who wanted to get attached? Oh, fate was a bitch. I sipped my wine. “Of course.” But I didn’t want to keep fucking just to pretend that we didn’t feel more than just physical pleasure together. However, I wasn’t going to act the part of the jilted lover, wailing and carrying on with a broken heart. The plan had been to stay the night but I didn’t want to sleep beside him if we were just fucking.

  Snuggling was off the table.

  Sighing, I rose and began to dress. Dante’s immediate frown gave away his surprise. “What are you doing? You said you were going to stay.”

  “Plans change.”

  “All because I said I don’t want to relocate to Italy?” he asked, incredulous. “That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

  “Don’t flatter yourself. I simply don’t feel like playing house. We both got what we wanted and now I want to sleep in my own bed.”

  “Seriously, Alessandra?”

  I smiled coolly as I dressed. “Let me know about the launch. If you’re not interested in being my date, I will invite someone else.”

  “Wow, that was cold. I get the message loud and clear—I’m easily replaced.”

  I tsked and wagged my finger at him. “You don’t get to play the victim. You stated your position and I respect it but I’m also not going to chase you, so if you have other plans I’ll make my own plans, as well.”

  “I didn’t say I wasn’t going,” he growled. “Are you seeing anyone else you’d consider inviting?”

  “I’d say that’s privileged information that doesn’t concern you, now, does it?”

  “Alessandra,” he warned, his temper beginning to flare. Good. Served him right for trying to play me. “Knock it off. Yes, I’ll go, but you’re not leaving.”

  “Oh?” I was amused by his machismo. “And why is that?”

  “Because you know damn well that you’re going to sleep beside me tonight so stop playing games.”

  “I’m not the one playing games. We aren’t dating. We are fucking. Thank you for making that very clear. I just needed to know the rules before going forward. Your clarification is quite appreciated.”

  “I didn’t say we were just fucking,” he said, irritated. “I just said...” But he’d boxed himself with his own words. I smiled when he realized he’d screwed himself and he was going to sleep alone tonight.

  I left him like that.

  As I said, and Dante would learn... I chase no man.

  Even if I wanted that man more than any I’d ever known in my life.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Dante

  I COULDN’T BELIEVE Alessandra had left.

  My plans for the evening were shredded to shit all because I couldn’t lie to her. I should’ve just played the part she wanted me to play, said whatever she wanted to hear, and everything would’ve kept moving along smoothly.

  But I couldn’t lie to her.

  What future did we have together? None.

  Why pretend otherwise?

  My life was in New York, hers was here.

  My father was expecting me to deliver Castello di Baroni. If I decided to make that happen, I would ruin any chance I had with Alessandra. If I didn’t deliver the winery as expected, I could piss off any chance of ever gaining my father’s respect.

  I had shit options.

  Now that I knew Alessandra’s weakness, I knew I could exploit the situation to my advantage. Uva Persa was the fulcrum point for this entire operation. I could sabotage the launch, ruin her chances of catapulting the Baroni label into the future and crush Alessandra in the process.

  My father would be proud.

  So why did the idea make me want to puke?

  To take this victory from Alessandra felt wrong on so many levels. My father wanted this winery on a whim. The only reason he was pushing so hard was because he was a bored old man who found the opposition stimulating. He wouldn’t elevate Baroni in any way like Alessandra would. Under my father’s hand it would wither and disappear, a legacy gone.

  My father could not care less about the future of Castello di Baroni, he just wanted
the bragging rights of returning a familial property to the fold. He wanted to be able to boast to his old cronies that he had a European castle in Italy.

  All the money had gone to his fucking head. He needed a better hobby than just spending money for the hell of it. For the first time ever, I questioned what my family had been doing that was good for anyone aside from ourselves. This fucking existential crisis crap was getting on my nerves but I couldn’t stop the questions that hounded me from all angles.

  So what was I supposed to do? The answers weren’t so clear. I’d worked my entire life trying to earn my father’s respect and always come up short no matter what I did. What happened if I crushed Alessandra by delivering the winery to my father and he still treated me like shit?

  I’d snap and kill him.

  I’d like to say that was just talk but I had some unresolved rage when it came to my father. We all dealt with our childhood traumas differently. Luca had funneled his anger into making the Donato legacy something less distasteful. Nico chose to be a charming playboy until he’d met his wife, and now he was the consummate husband and father. Where did that leave me? Dangling on the thin thread of our father’s affection, desperately hanging on for dear life.

  Not the best place to be.

  How long was I going to chase after the scraps of my father’s attention?

  God, it was pathetic.

  But just as pathetic was dropping everything I’d ever worked for just to chase some pretty, exotic pussy, pretending that the fairy tale was real just because cannolis and espressos tasted so much better in tiny Italian cafés.

  What was I even thinking? Moving to Italy? Becoming Alessandra’s boy toy? Her arm candy?