Sensing my determination, he admits, “There’s a tracking device in your purse. I put it there.”
My gaze darts to the Fendi on my arm. Of course he’d plant trackers on me, why the hell not? He’s exactly that kind of man. And I’m sure he did itfor my safety. Whatever.
“If that’s true, then you should have found me much sooner. What have you been up to for the past three days?”
He glances away, pink tinges the tip of his ears. “That’s not important.”
“I think it is. Answer me.”
Maximo stalks toward me, and I step back until my back hits the wall. He cages me in, his large frame enveloping my smaller one as his intense gaze pins me in place. My stomach flutters—not from fear. I glance at his lips.Does he taste as good as he smells?
He presses closer, his breath tickles my hair when he speaks. “Watching over you. You shouldn’t be chatting up strange men in bars.”
I gasp. Maximo ran off that guy last night?
“Protecing you, whether you like it or not. That’s what I’ve been doing every day and every night. You’re mine to protect,bellissima.”
The conviction in his raw voice has my knees growing weak. A soft moan escapes my throat without my permission.
I turn my head and we’re so close that our lips brush. Awareness and need thrum through every cell of my body.
Tentatively, his mouth moves over mine, like he’s asking and pleading at the same time.Kiss me, please. I hear the words though neither of us spoke.
In the next moment, I’m not sure which one of us moved first, but my fingers are in his hair, his lips crush against mine. We’re touching and moaning, our bodies pressed together in desperation. His tongue teases at the seam of my lips and I let him in. He tastes like sweet liquor and earthy mint.
His knee parts my legs as he slides his thigh up to my core. He gently rocks and I gasp. Heat pools between my legs. He does it again, slowly at first, then picking up speed. I grab onto his broad shoulders to steady myself.
Without breaking our kiss, he lifts my leg, spreading me wider and I’m slightly embarrassed by how hot and slick I am. But I can’t tell him to stop. I don’t want him to stop. I desperately need this release.
He grinds his thigh against my clit and I moan into his mouth. Pressure builds low in my belly. What I’m doing is completely reckless, with the wrong man, but right now I don’t give a damn. I’m tired, lonely, confused, and he feels too good to resist.
“Come for me,” he says against my lips. “Just let go.”
And I do. I let it all go. I fall apart in ecstacy.
His pure masculine rumble of satisfaction sends me over the edge a second time, leaving me trembling in his arms.Oh my god.
Gradually coming back to earth, I gaze into his lustful blue-green eyes.
Oh god, what have I done?
He straightens my glasses and kisses the tip of my nose before pulling away. “Are you ready to come home?”
I’m not sure what to make of this version of Maximo. Is he actually sweet when he wants to be?
I clear my throat, attempting to stand on wobbly legs. “I’m ready to return to Manhattan. But I’m still not going to marry you.”
He smirks, his thumb brushing over his swollen lips. I did that to him. A mix of mortification and satisfaction swims in my stomach.
CHAPTER 13
Elena
We travel by private jet back to New York, though it’s not a comfortable trip. Maximo spends his time purposely ignoring me, scrolling through his phone, and pretending like we never kissed, that I didn’t just come on his muscular thigh.
Even though we barely utter a word to each other, the tension in the air crackles like a brewing storm. Our individual purposes are still at odds. I may be returning with him, but I have no intention of staying trapped in his penthouse forever. Nor will I ever marry him.
So what do I plan to do now? I’m not entirely sure. California wasn’t the answer, but I now realize that Italy never gave me the sameick. Moving back to Italy seems like a reasonable first step. I’ll see Ravenna and Arianna’s babies then say my farewells as I originally planned.
