“No.”
One word. Bored. Monotone. Controlled.
“Come on.” I stepped forward, collapsing on the seat next to him. “I’ll do anything. I’ll move out of New York. Away from America. I’ll even work for the Camorra!” I offered desperately. “You can use all of my connections. Even the Keatons.”
“No.”
My chest heated with rage and frustration.
“There must be something we could barter.” Gone was my game face and cool facade. I was desperate and didn’t care if he knew. “Something that you want from me.”
“There is something I want from you,” his low drawl confirmed. “But it’s too late to get it now.”
His cool gaze swept down my body, top to bottom, his meaning clear.
Oh…
Of course.How had I not thought of that? Achilles never got over the fact we hadn’t consummated our teenage crush. Back when we were together, he was too worried about my delicate sensibilities. He’d barely touched me. I had to initiate every make-out session we ever had.
“Is this what you want?” I grabbed his wrist and placed his hand on my right breast. His rough palm pulsated heat through the fabric of my dress. My nipple tightened immediately. My heart stuttered, but no longer from panic. I’d missed his hands on me. “Because I can give it to you, Achilles. I can make your wildest fantasies come true.”
His free hand clenched next to his body, and his eyes, usually so black they carried the blue sheen of a raven’s feathers, dimmed with yearning.
He always called me a whore, and in the end, I’d offered to become one for him. The sour taste of self-loathing exploded on my tongue.
But I didn’t have time to mourn my pride. I’d save myself today so I could destroy him tomorrow.
I’d be his Delilah.
Seduce, abuse, abolish.
“You know you want to. Go on. Claim what’s yours,” I said, coaxing, guiding his hand from my chest, down my stomach, and between my legs through my dress. I squeezed them closed. “Me. On my knees. For you to do anything you want.”
At the end of the day, it wouldn’t matter. My only way of getting in bed with someone was to completely disconnect from my body to a degree we were two pieces of flesh milking pleasure from one another. Feelings and sex were completely different entities to me.
He leaned closer, his intoxicating scent taking over my senses as his knee pried my thighs open with its sheer power. Rugged fingers clamped around my thigh, his pinky brushing a hint of my panties as he squeezed my leg. His lips found the shell of my ear. “What I want to know is where you’re hiding your weapon, since you’ve given us a striptease and I’ve yet to see it.”
A smile tugged the corners of my lips. He knew me too well. I turned my head to whisper, “Give me a full-body check and find out for yourself.”
“A fuck for a throne?” he asked flippantly, sitting back, his face dripping amusement. “You give yourself too much credit, sweetheart.”
“A fulfilled fantasy for a small setback.” I dragged a fingernail along his chest. “We both know your father isn’t going to choose Luca. He hasn’t yet, even though Luca played by the rules and married an Outfit princess to appease him. Luca is too cool, too safe. And Enzo? He doesn’t have your bite. Your father will be mad, but he’ll get over it.”
I had no idea if what I was saying was true, but I always had the uncanny ability to bullshit my way out of a paper bag when needed.
“You know Don Vello so well?” Achilles sneered.
“I know human nature.” I hitched a shoulder up. “And your father is human. A very flawed one at that.”
He was quiet, which meant he was contemplating this, which meant that Ireallyneeded to drive the point home.
“You can have one night with me. To do whatever you want. All you have to do is turn this plane around.”
“The weekend.” His stance was lazy, but the devious glint in his eyes promised mayhem.
“I—what?” I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly. My proposition was a shot in the dark. I’d never expected him to take me up on it. I didn’t even know if I’d be able to move forward with such a barter if he agreed.
He drew his hand from between my thighs, collecting himself. “I’m not turning back the plane—not enough fuel. Plus, I have business in Naples until Monday. Let me fuck you through the weekend, and we’ll square it off.”
