“Glad you could join us,” I say coldly. Mateo aims a look at me. Raoul is heading in her direction, hands outstretched.
“Bella!” he says enthusiastically. “We have not been formally introduced. I am Raoul Caraldi. Come…sit…”
Oh, hell no!
I step round in front of him and reach her moments before he does. Now Raoul is looking at me strangely, too.
Fuck him.
I put a hand beneath her elbow and steer her to a seat at the table. The one to the left of mine, which is at the head.
“Nikki will sit beside me,” I say crisply. Raoul is grinning like a motherfucker who doesn’t know he’s about to get a beating.
She sits gingerly, and it occurs to me that her ass is probably still tender. I give her a small smile and watch as her cheeks turn pink.
“That way, she can talk to Dani,” I say, turning to the others. I see her press her lips together. My son is sitting across the table from her. He beams broadly, and I realize that she’s worked her magic on him, too.
What do I mean by “too”? I don’t care about her goddamn magic.
“What’s for dinner tonight?” Raoul asks. His eyes are on Nikki’s tits. I’ll rip them out if he continues. He looks over at me, and I know what’s on his mind. Sibling rivalry is something that gets worse between half-brothers – particularly when one of them believes he has something to prove. Raoul spends too much time trying to best me.
“Carlos is trying something new,” I reply. “He’s decided that my palate has become jaded.” I don’t know what the fuck that means, but my cook never disappoints. He’s just back from some new course, and I’m guessing we’re about to be surprised.
The table is set with gleaming silverware and crystal glasses. I reach for a wine bottle that’s set to the side of the table and fill Nikki’s glass, then my own. She toys with the stem as I focus my attention on Mateo and Raoul. Manuel has quickly emerged and is taking the bottle down to tend to their glasses.
“Pardon me, sir,” he says discreetly. I ignore him. My eyes are on Nikki’s wrists. There’s a faint blue line across her forearm, and I realize it’s from my belt. I hadn’t fastened it tightly. The mark wouldn’t be there if she hadn’t squirmed so much. I’m not one for fetishes, but seeing her trussed up like that had made me want to explode. And the way her cunt tightens when I spank her…Jesus Christ!
“So, what do you say? Dario?” Mateo’s voice snaps me back to reality.
Carlos has arrived, pushing a trolley. It bears five plates, each covered with a silver dome. As he and Manuel move briskly about the table, the scent of coconut and lemongrass waft around us.
“I don’t know,” I reply to Mateo. I wasn’t listening to him. Who could blame me?
“You don’t know?” he seems surprised.
“But it’s my birthday party!” Dani adds. I blink.Shit.
“Dani was saying he wants a clown,” says Nikki.
“Sure. A clown,” I agree. “Whatever. Get two.”
“And a pony? Can we have pony rides?”
Fuck it.I’ve been swept into planning a party for a six-year-old. Of course, I want him to have a good time. But I have enough on my plate.
“Tell you what,” I say to my son. “Why don’t you and Sister Lovie plan it together.” He bounces in his chair.
“SisterLovie?” says Raoul. I silence him with a stare.
“Great idea, Papá!” Dani’s caught up in it now. I’m looking down at a bowl of steaming coconut soup with what looks like shrimp bobbing in it. I’m pretty certain there’s a good helping of chili in it, too. I scoop up a spoonful and a moment later, my men follow suit. Dani’s bowl is filled with chicken broth, which tells me that our option is on the spicier side. As Nikki takes a mouthful, I hear her give a small cough and put a napkin over her mouth. I look up and see her cheeks going pink.
“Good session today, bro,” Raoul says. We’d spent an extra half hour on the mat this afternoon. I’d had an urge to work some issues out of my system. This woman is drawing too much of my attention. Clearly, my efforts didn’t work at all. I see her reach for her wineglass and tip the entire contents into her mouth.
Manuel steps up briskly and refills it, only for her to down the next one just as quickly.
“Hot!” she gasps, fanning her face. “Hot!”
Dani’s grinning. “Did you bite down on a chili?” he asks. She nods vigorously. It’s adorable.Dammit.
