“Morning,” he quipped dryly, that hint of amusement lurking in his almost smile.
Oh, hell.
I sat quickly, hoping my movement would prevent him from seeing how deeply I was blushing.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked a moment later after letting the silence stretch between us. It was tense and awkward on my part, but he was at ease. Calm. Like this was just any other day, not the morning after some of the most intense sex possible. That was what it was like forme.
My reply was a one-shouldered shrug. Ihadslept well. Deeply. The kind of thorough slumber that often came after an intense and hard workout.
I could barely meet his eye, much less say anything else. I could hardly manage to eat, my fingers clumsy as he continued to watch me. When I dropped a bite of eggs off my fork three times in a row, I gave up and let the utensil fall. It clattered to the plate. Needing something stronger, I picked up my coffee mug with both hands and brought it to my lips.
“Don’t tell me that you’ll be shy now…”
Jerking my face up, I narrowed my eyes at his taunt. But facing him so directly was a punch in the gut.
How? How can you just look so… good? How can you be so good and bad for me?
Shame crept through me at the memories of how he’d fucked me so brutally last night. More embarrassment filled me at how much I’d enjoyed it. Horrified that I’d surrendered so easily to him, I struggled with this latent desire that provoked me to want him all over again.
“I’m not shy,” I replied as coolly as I could. The coffee helped chase away the lingering drowsiness. He really had fucked me silly.
“Good, because I’m hoping to talk.”
Ah, fuck.
I didn’t. I most certainly didn’t want to have a conversation about last night. Surprised that he would want to elaborate on how he’d fucked me, I wondered if he was just made differently.
Well, youknowhe is.I lost my virginity back in college, and I’d had a few flings here and there. I couldn’t guess if it was his age and experience or what, but I knew from just one time last night that this Mafia man would ruin me for anyone else.
“About how soon I can leave?” I asked.
He smirked. “I’m not buying that.”
“Oh.” I arched a brow, feeling confident with the snark that filled my head. “You think that last night has changed me?”
He only smiled. “It doesn’t matter if it’s changed you. It’s changed me.” He pointed at my neck. “Because I think I can get very used to seeing my mark on you.”
On instinct, I lifted my hand to press my fingertips to the abrasion on my skin. Recalling the hot, hungry pressure of his lips there teased me anew.
“I want to talk about you. Your background.”
I furrowed my brow. All traces of seduction and desire fell away. “Me?” I huffed. “What could you possibly need to know aboutme?”
“I need to look into everyone who comes into my inner circle.”
“Whoa.” I held my hands up. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. No. I’m not in any circle. You said it yourself. I’m just a guest, right? Someone you brought here because of that man trying to kill me to get to your nephew at the hospital.”
“Do you think you’re just a guest after last night?”
I gaped at him. “Do you think that just because we fucked, you can own me?”
His lack of a reply was chilling. He did think that!
“I’m only trying to get to know you, Claire.”
“You got to know me plenty last night.” Again, my cheeks warmed up at the memories that raised.
“Yes, but I can’t fully protect you unless I know what I’m dealing with. Who I’m dealing with.”
