Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“The night is young,” I said. I was going to work. I had no fucking intention of going back to the strip club, but I needed to become an asshole for Lenora. It would be the only way to create distance.
“You’re not going to stay for the big announcement?” Rosie asked.
“I don’t even want to stay for that announcement.” Lenora groaned, looking around. At least I don't have to entertain him, " she muttered when she spotted Adriano talking to a group of women who looked like they’d drop everything and go home with him. “At least I don’t have to entertain him.”
“I’ll be at Scarab. Call me if you want to come by for a cigar later,” I said to the guys and waved a big goodbye to everyone. I smiled at Lenora. A friendly smile, nothing more. “See you tomorrow, Principessa.”
I walked away quickly. I needed to get out of there before the engagement announcement was made. It was awkward enough that I had a constant hard-on for the bride-to-be. It would be fine, though. Tomorrow, she’d get to Scarab at 8, I’d get some work done while she came up with cocktails, and then it would be over. Maybe I should tell Veronica to come over at 8. She lived close enough and her wife was out of town for work anyway.
“Rocco.” Lenora’s voice rang through the hotel lobby, bringing back my indigestion. I stopped walking and shut my eyes. This was not happening right now.
“Yeah?” I turned around. Fuck. Even the way she walked was turning me on. I needed to put an end to this. I stepped aside to let a family walk to the elevator and stood behind two marble columns.
“I just wanted to say thank you,” she said, stopping in front of me.
Too close to me. She smelled like rose petals. I wanted to inhale her. My eyes dropped and I could see her pert nipples. Jesus, I needed to leave. Why was she cornering me? She tilted her head to look me in the eyes, and I fought the urge to lean over and lick the spot where her pulse beat.
“You don’t have to thank me.” I plastered on a friendly smile. “Anything for you, Principessa.”
I saw her face shift from politeness to something else. She seemed flustered, aroused. She took a step closer to me. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. What was she doing? Didn’t she know she was playing with fire? Hadn’t she been warned to stay away from men like me? She flattened her hands on my chest and I felt them gliding up until they reached the lapels of my blazer. There was no way I could deny the attraction between us. I kept my gaze fixed on her deep brown eyes, waiting to see what would happen next. And then something I could never have predicted happened: she grabbed the lapels of my jacket in both hands, stood on tiptoes, and kissed me. Her lips were soft and full, and even without tongue, the sensation of them on mine made me groan with pleasure.
I didn’t kiss her back. As difficult as it was to restrain myself, I wouldn’t. But I couldn’t resist biting her lower lip. Her responding moan traveled straight to my cock. I almost lost it, then, almost gave in. I didn’t, though. I didn’t let her deepen the kiss even though I wanted to grab a fistful of her hair and accost her mouth. I wanted to pin her against the column, lift that dress to her waist, and fuck her until her throat was strained from screaming my name. But she wasn’t for me. She was meant for the man inside the doors behind her. I wasn’t sure what the marriage agreement entailed, but knowing how men in the old country operated, I assumed she was still a virgin and was to remain one until marriage. Instead of giving in to my desire, I remained still. I didn’t even trust myself to bite her lip again. If I did, I wouldn’t stop.
She pulled back, took her hands off my jacket, and let out a harsh breath, brown eyes searching mine. If she apologized for what she’d done, I’d be pissed. She didn’t but the sadness was clear in her eyes. I hated myself for putting it there, but she had to know this couldn’t happen. I would have pretended I wasn’t attracted to her if I were a better man. Then again, if I were a better man, I wouldn’t want to fuck my best friend’s little sister. But I’d never claimed to be good, and certainly not better. At least, not where morals were concerned. I would try, though, because it wouldn’t be fair to anyone for me to break this girl’s heart, and that was exactly what would happen, because I knew if she did this again, I’d cave. She was too tempting, and I’d never been one to deny myself anything. I brought my hand up and ran my thumb underneath her lip, wiping her smeared lipstick. I cupped her chin to tilt her neck.