Out of the corner of my eye, I surveyed her: the hair, the makeup, even her outfit for the night all screamed, look at me.
Look at me, but don’t touch. She was a goddess, so far above the riff raff outside that I was tempted to tell the driver to turn around and take us home so I could touch her.
The only thing that stopped me was the fact that I had business to discuss, and such conversations always went better in a more casual setting where the drinks were flowing.
“Ready?” I asked and was rewarded when she smiled at me.
“Sure, but I think I’m a little…”
Reaching for her face, I skimmed my fingers across her cheek to the back of her head so I could pull her toward me. Our lips met. Soft at first, and then harder as I lost myself in the feel of her tongue against mine and the minty freshness of her breath.
“You look amazing,” I whispered against her mouth. “I told you that, right?”
If I hadn’t, then I had meant to, because from the second she had stepped out to meet me, with her face flawless and her hair all glossy, dressed in that pink dress, I had been speechless.
Sophia had gone from beautiful to goddess in a single afternoon.
“Yes, you told me once or twice.” She giggled, and it was a girly sound. I hadn’t heard her laugh like that since she was fifteen.
“Well, let me tell you again.” It was taking everything I had in me not to pull her onto my lap and take her. The windows were tinted, no one would see, and the driver would make himself scarce if I demanded it.
“You look absolutely,” I nipped at her bottom lip, drawing it between my teeth until she whimpered, “edible.” I lowered my voice. “In fact, I am not sure I can wait to eat you in that dress, Sophia. Ever fooled around in a nightclub before?”
She rolled her eyes at me, her lashes fluttering as pink dots appeared high on her cheekbones. What had I said to make her blush, like that? Because whatever it was, I was going to keep saying it.
“I haven’t been to many clubs.”
I squinted in shock. “Well, let’s get you into this one and then we can find a quiet spot to fool around.” I winked. “So you can have the full clubbing experience.”
Exiting the car, I reached inside and helped her out, and for a second, we stood on the sidewalk together and just stared at the line.
“You did it,” she whispered.
Entwining her fingers with mine, I pulled her hand through the crook of my arm. “Yeah, I did.”
I didn’t need to ask her what she was talking about. Back when we had been sneaking around, we had talked about the future. All our hopes and dreams had been laid out.
One of mine was this club. I was good at running a criminal empire, but this had always been my own, personal dream.
And she had remembered.
“I’m so proud of you, Matteo,” she whispered.
I was proud as well, but not for the same reasons as she was. “I’m glad you are here with me tonight, Sophia,” I said in a hushed whisper.
Now that was the truth. When I’d dreamed of this night, I’d always been with her.
“There is no one else I would want to be here with me.” Drawing her hand up to my lips, I pressed a kiss to the back of it, and then led her forward. “Stay close to me, okay?”
Being outside with her was making me nervous. Sophia might not have a target on her back, but I sure as hell did, and being with me would definitely put her in more danger than I liked.
Security on each side, we had barely taken three steps, when a loud cracking sound split the air. I moved on instinct. My body curled around her much smaller one.
The men on either side of me moved, their weapons drawn.
“Inside,” I hissed, my arms around her, and I ushered her through the now-open red rope and inside. It was only when we were in the dark, cool confines of the club that I let myself breathe again.
“Matteo.”
