Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
I looked at him, seeing the tiredness etched on his skin. His gaze was dark and intense. Filled with something I didn’t expect. Didn’t understand.
Need.
“What’s happening?” I asked quietly.
“I have no idea, but I’m not fighting it. Stay. Please,” he added.
I knew that wasn’t a word he used a lot.
“Yes.”
CHAPTER 11
ALDO
Ihadn’t been able to get her out of my mind since I had left her in the suite. Memories of the hours we’d spent together played on rewind in my head. How well suited we were. How incredible we were together. She was beyond sexy, and I loved being inside her. Having her talented mouth on me. Everywhere. I liked everything about her. Her laughter, teasing. Her intelligence and how easy it was to talk to her. She’d asked me questions, and I had answered honestly. I had told her about my parents and growing up with Roman, omitting a lot of details, but still sharing.
“Is he, ah, mafia?” she asked quietly. “Are you?”
I met her gaze, her hazel eyes a soft blue in the low light of the room. “We’re dangerous,” was how I replied. “Powerful. Roman, especially.”
“You protect him.”
“And I will until I die.”
“Would you die for him?”
“Without a thought.”
She pressed herself to me. “Then be extra careful, Aldo. I like you in one piece with your heart beating.”
The urge to tell her my heart hadn’t really beat until she came into my life was strong, but I resisted.
“My heart or my cock?” I teased.
She slid her hand between us, touching my chest, then wrapping it around my thickening erection. “Both.”
I had observed her leave last night, standing unseen in the shadows as she got in her old car and drove away. It took all my willpower not to stop her. I worked until the early morning hours, Roman prowling by my side. Our managers often handled everything, but Roman liked to make an appearance, never maintaining a consistent schedule. It kept everyone on their toes.
Tonight, I had seen Vi arrive, looking weary. As weary as I felt. I stayed clear of the deli but studied her via the security feed. She was quieter than normal, not as animated with the customers. It bothered me knowing she was tired. I frowned as I stared at the screen, wondering when Vi had become someone I worried over.
Roman had interrupted me, his voice over my shoulder. “What are you staring at so intently?”
“Just looking.”
“You’ve been staring at the feed for ten solid minutes.” He narrowed his gaze. “At the woman. Violet.”
I stayed quiet.
He lifted his eyebrows. “Was she the date? The one you kept the room for?”
I shut down the feed, shuffling some papers. “Maybe.”
“Are you hitting that? She must be a good lay if you got a room for her.”
“Hey,” I snapped. “Show a little respect.”
Roman looked startled. “Aldo,” he said. “What is going on?”
“Nothing.” I scrubbed my face.
“Something, I think.”
I shook my head. “Damned if I know.”
He muttered something about the water and sat down at his desk. “First Luca, now you.”
“It’s not like that.”
He chuckled. “I’ll remind you of that someday.”
I chose to ignore him.
Later, I was crossing the floor when I saw her again. She was outside the deli, leaning against the wall. Not doing anything but standing there. Her hands were behind her back, and she looked at the floor, her shoulders bent. She seemed to be staring at her feet. Then she rolled her shoulders, shook her head, and wiped under her eyes. Something pulled at my chest. Was she crying? Why was she crying? I felt my hands curl into fists, and I wanted to rush across the lobby, storm the deli, and find out why she was upset.
But I couldn’t. If there was a problem, Wanda would deal with it. If I raged in and caused a scene, Vi would be furious. She was strong. Independent. Those were two of the many traits I found so attractive about her.
Instead, I went to the front desk and got a passcard for my room. My personal room.
And now here we were.
She was beyond exhausted. I could see the weariness etched on her skin. The dullness of her eyes. That she agreed to stay pleased me. I held out my hand.
“I’ll fill the tub. We can relax, then sleep. I’ll get you food if you’re hungry.”
“I’m just tired. You’ll stay?”
“Yes.” Roman had looked shocked when I’d informed him I was gone for the night, but he simply nodded and said he’d handle it.
She slipped her hand into mine, and I pulled her to me. She came willingly, resting her head on my shoulder, her body aligned with mine perfectly. She was the perfect height for me, I decided.
I pressed a kiss to her head. “Let me take care of you tonight. Just tonight, baby.”
She hummed in agreement. “I’d like that.”