I heard his voice outside, sending similar orders to the men, and then all went quiet. I stood close to the front door, one hand on the wood, lightheaded.
A trembling breath left my mouth, and two seconds later, the jacket was removed from my shoulder. I felt a caress down my arm that made me take a breath, like I’d gone without one for much too long. His touch always felt like a brand on my skin. Hot and deep at the same time.
“Saverio,” I barely got out.
“Mia,” he said with a heavy Italian accent. It was my name, but when he said it, there was no doubt he was using it in the way intended.Mine.
“It’s not like you to enter through the back door,” I said. Though he was smooth, there was no doubt that when he felt something belonged to him, he became a wrecking ball to get to it.
He took a step back. My body silently cried out when even the small distance came between us again. I turned at the same time that soft lights lit the interior of the house. They glowed instead of being harsh, which made us seem like we were surrounded by candlelight. The scents of lavender mixed with his cologne floated in the air, along with a slow song that started to play.
When he took deliberate steps to reach me, my hands instinctually went to the wood behind me to keep me steady. He towered over me, looking down. His eyes were amber, like whiskey in a glass at sunset. Paired with his tan skin and black hair, the color made them hypnotic.
“What are you doing here?” I said, finally finding my voice. I knew the answer, but I needed to buy time. I needed to guard myself against him.
He stared into my eyes so long that I almost started to squirm. He could reach places inside of me that no one should be able to touch. Defenses or not, he easily bypassed them. He knew it, too.
He grinned, and my knees didn’t seem to exist anymore.
“We both know why I’m here,” he whispered. Then, leaning down, he claimed my mouth, and when my knees gave out, he carried me to the bedroom.
Chapter4
Mia
There was no guard I could put up that was strong enough to stop this—us.
No matter how hard I tried to fight it, the pull was too strong. When he kissed methatway, and touched methatway, before I knew it, nothing else existed in the world but him. It was like I lived for these moments.
For the moment of surrender.
Even though I resisted him emotionally as much as I could, I couldn’t deny the pleasure his body gave mine. Giving in was much too sweet.
“This changes nothing.” I barely got the words out as his warm mouth kissed a trail from my shoulder to my neck. I moved some to give him access, and a shiver stole over my body.
“You want this as much as I do,” he said, his eyes hard on mine. “You need this as much as I do.”
I couldn’t lie, so I said nothing, letting my hands do the talking. I peeled the white dress shirt from his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. My hands reached out instinctually, wanting to bring him even closer. He smelled so good. The scent of his skin, along with his cologne, was an aphrodisiac that made me lightheaded.
He groaned as my hands drifted over his wide shoulders and chest, down to the muscles that veered into an impressive V. I unbuttoned his pants and watched as he kicked his shoes off and undressed the rest of the way. Before his slacks hit the floor, he removed a silver knife out of one of the pockets. It glinted in reflection to the soft lights.
I breathed out at the sight of him naked. Saverio Macchiavello was one fine man. Tall, dark, and definitely dangerous. And not only to me.
I took a step back when he took a step forward with the knife in his hand.
“Scared of me, Tiny Dancer?” His grin came nice and slow, like oozing honey.
So did mine. “I fear no man, or woman, for that matter.”
He took another step toward me. I took another back.
Out of all the dances I’d ever had, this one was my favorite and the most frustrating.
“You fear no man, or woman—” he took another step forward “—because they seemebehind you. I’m always with you. I’ve always been with you. I’ll always be with you.Mia.” He pointed to his chest. “Mine.”
His body crowded mine, and this time I refused to move. There were no steps left but one.
My eyes closed without permission when the cold steel in his hand glided up my leg, leaving a trail of goosebumps along my skin. When he reached my dress, he pulled down with one hand while the other sliced right through the fabric. My throat felt tight when the blade came so close, but I refused to let him see it.
