“Jealous, princess?”
I smile and shake my head ‘no,’ taking the beer Siena hands me. “I don’t get jealous.”
“Really? Because that looked like jealousy to me.” He’s enjoying this, I can tell. He’s enjoying making me squirm.
“Pull up, Vin. You’re in a crash and burn situation.” Matti claps him on the back, then blocks Siena as she reaches out to smack Vin again.
“God damn it, Vin!” Siena snaps. “Take your bullshit somewhere else. She’s way too fucking good for you.”
Matti scoops Siena up in his arms. “Alright, we’re going to go over here before you put my wife into early labor.”
I watch them go with a spike of longing so sharp it hurts. I guess I lied. I definitely feel jealous watching Matti carry Siena away, looking at her like she’s his whole universe. And crestfallen as well, because I’m sure Vin will follow them.
But he doesn’t.
“So if you don’t get jealous, what does that look mean?”
His attention is on the antipasto, and I realize the food is probably why he’s not leaving, but I’ll take it.
“I look some kind of way?” I try to keep my voice light, sneaking glances at him and blushing with pride as he eats my food.
He nods and glances at me. “Uncomfortable.”
I laugh. “Uncomfortable sounds about right.”
“Why are you uncomfortable thinking about me with Valentina? Sounds like jealousy to me.” He gestures for me to hand him anothersfogliatelleand I do, my fingertips brushing his.
“More like…” I search for the right word. “Disappointment.”
Vin’s lighthearted expression fades and his brow furrows. He almost looks offended, and I immediately feel guilty. “‘Disappointment?’ Like you’re disappointed in my choices?”
Before I realize what I’m doing, I reach out and place a reassuring hand on his forearm, needing to smooth over whatever damage I just caused. His skin is warm under my palm, and I can feel his muscles coiled tight beneath.
“No. Not disappointed inyou. Disappointed because you’re busy and I wouldn’t mind spending time with you. I’d feel the same if you were busy working or…I don’t know, putting together a puzzle.”
The surprise on his face is almost comical. His eyebrows shoot up, his mouth opens slightly. It makes me laugh despite the tension crackling between us.
He glances down at my hand before deliberately shrugging it off. “A puzzle, huh? I don’t do a lot of puzzles. Unless you mean the kind of puzzle where I’m fitting my dick inside that ass.”
He grins and I can’t help but laugh even as heat floods through me at the mental image.
“Okay, sure. You’re busy putting togetherherpuzzle tonight. I’ll catch you another time.”
I look around for Siena, ready to make my escape before I embarrass myself further, but Vin catches my sleeve and tugs me back.
“I have some time right now. I could… put togetheryourpuzzle if you want.”
Adrenaline spikes through me so hard and fast I feel dizzy. My mind floods with images: him pushing me up against thewall, his mouth on my neck, him bending me over the counter, his hands gripping my hips hard enough to leave bruises. But I’m not interested in being another three-minute conquest
“Mmm, see, there are a lot of pieces to my puzzle, so it takes some time.”
He shakes his head, leaning his elbows on the counter again and grins at me. “You haven’t been with me yet. You’ll find out that I’m a master…puzzler who can put your puzzle together in record time.”
I’m dripping wet thinking about him throwing me up against the wall and pounding into me. With his strength, I bet he can hit the level of roughness I secretly crave, forcing my thighs apart, shoving my face into the bed, calling me his dirty little—
“No, thank you. I’m sure you’ll have fun playing with…that puzzle, though.”
I nod toward Valentina, letting her be my shield. But Vin’s gaze is locked on mine, and while his eyes are still sparkling, there’s something predatory in his expression as he comes around to my side of the counter and blocks me into the corner.
