I don’t even know how long it is until he leans down and whispers in my ear, “We still have two more days, butterfly. Go inside and get some rest. I’ll pick you up for breakfast in the morning.”
He takes a step backwards, releasing me.
I’m too hungover from the orgasm to be embarrassed. Emanuel watches me carefully as I dig into my clutch and pull out my hotel room key. On shaky legs I turn and step inside, pausing to give him one last look. He’s watching me with a hooded gaze and dark look in his eyes. I shake my head, thinking I’m just imagining things before turning and shutting the door behind me.
Leaning back against the door, I listen to his footsteps as they retreat down the hall to his own room.
I sigh in relief. Had he asked me to come inside, I probably would’ve let him, given the state I was in. And I know I’d wake up tomorrow regretting it. Somehow, I sensed he knew that. Closing my eyes, I let out a breath, before smiling at the anticipation of seeing him the following morning.
Chapter Four
Emanuel
She would’ve regretted it, I remind myself as I lay in my bed the following morning, staring up at the sky.
The cresting waves and saltwater breeze entering my room through my opened balcony door isn’t enough to wipe away the memory of the night before. She was primed and ready. If not before, then definitely after the orgasm I gave her with just my fucking hand. And never in my life, had the idea of how a woman’s feelings for me would change afterwards, stopped me from getting my dick wet.
I wasn’t the longterm kind of guy and I had no qualms about letting it be known. But Nadine …
She had me thinking differently.
And I knew that wasn’t even her real fucking name.
I grunt in anger when the phone on the nightstand by my bed rings. I can tell by the ring that it’s not a call from inside of the hotel. And there’s only one person who has my room’s direct number.
“What?”
“What the hell crawled up your ass?”
“You. What the hell do you want, Christian? It’s barely seven o’clock.”
“Oh, am I interrupting quality time with the next lady in your life?” He snickers.
“Fuck off.” Sometimes my cousin is just as bad as the guys at the fire station.
He laughs again before clearing his throat. “There’s been a change of plans.”
I sit up in the bed. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, yeah. But there’s been a delay on the family’s arrival. Something about the brother of the groom and his cakes or whatever the fuck,” he mumbles. “Anyway, I need to fly back to the States, to help figure out how to get all of his shit down here before Emilio and his bride arrive.”
I frown. Emilio is Christian’s older brother. And there’s something he isn’t telling me. I don’t prod. While we may be related by blood, I didn’t come up with these family members, nor do I work in the family business. While Christian and I are relatively close, Emilio and I have only met a handful of times because he lives full time in Palermo.
“Anything you need me to do while you’re gone?”
“No. It’s all being taken care of. If there are any problems with your room just let the front desk know. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. He tells me a few more details before we hang up.
Emilio is getting married here in Cabo in a few days. While his soon-to-be wife is from the U.S. and he is from Italy, she wanted to get married in what she called aneutrallocation, so they chose Mexico. The truth is, however, that there is no neutral location where Emilio and the family are concerned.
Even in Mexico, people bend to the Genovese family name. It’s a sight I’m still getting used to after six years, especially given the way I grew up.
I blink, turning my head to focus on the ceiling again, pushing old memories out of my mind. Folding my arms under my head and staring upwards, my thoughts once more float back to the night before.
Nadine.
Not her real name. I could easily find out her real name but I tell myself for the hundredth time that I don’t want it. This isn’t anything that will extend past the next two days. I don’t want it to.
