“Yes,” I giggled with my hand covering my mouth.
“I just turned twenty-seven.” I honestly didn’t have a good judge of age. If someone was really old or a lot younger than me, I could tell, but that was about it. The whole middle ground was a mystery.
“Five years.” That wasn’t as big of a gap as I expected this morning.
He caressed my hand and gazed into my eyes, gauging my reaction as he asked, “Is that too much for you?”
“Is yes even an option?” I challenged him. Something about Elio made me playful, almost daring. I’d known him for not more than a few hours. Yes, most of our conversation had been demands by phone, but he’d been more protective of me than my father had been in years. There was a sense of safety around him. I suddenly craved the comfort.
“It is, but it changes nothing. Well, except how I convince you that our age difference is insignificant.”
“How would you convince me?”
He leaned in and whispered in my ear with his dirty little secret. “I’ll have to show you when we’re alone.”
“Mr. DeSalvo, you’re starting to drive me nuts.”
“Starting? Woman, you have been driving me nuts since the moment I laid eyes on you.” His deep resonating voice and determined stare are so intense that I ached to be alone with him.
“Please stop with the flirting, Elio.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re confusing me. I shouldn’t be this attracted to you.” He scrunched his face and pressed his hand to his chest, letting out a gasp like I slapped him or something.
“We told you that you would be,” Peter said from the front seat. Elio tilted his head with curiosity.
“Now, I have to know what conversation you had.”
“She was afraid to marry you, so we explained that most women would gladly fall at your feet and not because you’re wealthy and powerful. It’s also cause you’re so purty,” Marco teased.
“God, you are a natural asshole,” Peter said, shaking his head at Marco who was funny. Of all of the guards, he put me at ease.
“I am. It also doesn’t help that I only slept three hours.”
“He’s a big baby,” Elio said.
“Don’t be mean,” I scolded him.
“Amore, you’re the only one that gets the nice treatment.” He wrapped his arm tighter around my waist and pulled me firmly against him, creating distance between Marco and I.
As soon as we pulled into the airport, he became stiff. “Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s just time to get you on the plane and I don’t want any problems.”
“I already told you I’d behave. I keep my word.”
“I’m not worried about you. I’d tie your pretty ass up if you gave me any shit.” Why was that a freaking turn on. We managed to board the private jet without incident. He sat me down in one of the plushest chairs to ever exist. I held my face tight, trying to hide the fact that I was in heaven. This was too much for me to handle.
“Is something not to your liking?”
“No, it’s great. Amazing actually.” Did I catch a quick glimpse of pride from Elio before his face stiffened again? I swear he had a smile.
“Are you thirsty?”
I nodded.
“Water please.” Elio summoned the flight attendant and had her bring us some drinks. It wasn’t long before we got up in the air. I pressed the glass tightly in my hands as we went up. Although I’d flown before it wasn’t enough to be comfortable.
