“Go get your ID,” he suddenly orders. “I need a copy for the contract.”
I walk to the bedroom and take the chance to dig a sweater out of my suitcase. After putting it on, I grab my ID from my handbag and return to Adriano.
I watch as he snaps a photo of the card before handing it back to me. Setting it beside my phone, I glance up at him, only to find him staring at me again.
Seconds tick by, stretching into an awkward silence, and feeling more and more confused, I eventually ask, “Is there something else you need?”
“No. I’m taking my time admiring you.”
Seeing he means every word, heat creeps up my neck, and I lower my eyes to his chest.
“Hmm…” The predatory growl rumbling from him is the same sound as earlier, all animalistic, making goosebumps scatter over my skin.
Adriano brings his hand to my face again and brushes his index finger over my flaming cheek. “Your skin turns warm when you blush.”
“Yep.” Feeling awkward, I rock on the balls of my feet. “Kind of feels like I’m on fire right now.”
He frames my face with his palms, the coolness from his skin easing some of the heat.
Slowly, something changes, tensing the air, and the next moment he strikes like a cobra, his mouth crashing into mine.
I gasp loudly, because even though I expected it a few minutes ago, I’m still caught by surprise. I grab hold of his sides and register the solid feel of him beneath my fingers.
At first I’m slow to respond, only able to take in that he tastes like mint and whiskey.
God, the scent of his cologne fits his dark aura.
His teeth tug at my bottom lip, and as a wave of tingles crashes through me, his tongue thrusts into my mouth and strokes mine hard.
An embarrassingly loud needy sound escapes me. I’ve never been verbally expressive during intimate moments, and I definitely haven’t felt the kind of tingles he’s making me feel.
My stomach dips and soars, my abdomen clenches, and my fingers fist in his shirt as his mouth roughly dominates mine.
There is nothing tender about this moment, and all I can do is go along for the wild ride as his lips nip at mine and his tongue sets fire to my mouth.
My breaths turn choppy, and every inch of my body feels like it’s buzzing.
Just as quick, Adriano frees my mouth. With his lips parted and glistening, his breaths rushing over them, he looks smoking hot.
I swear his eyes are black, lending a brutal quality to his beauty.
As my brain begins to function again, his expression softens until all I see is awe.
“Bellissima,” he murmurs as if he’s stuck in a trance. “Sei mia, mia piccola farfalla.”
My voice is hoarse when I ask, “Is that Italian?”
With his intense eyes still very focused on me, he nods. “I’m Sicilian.”
“Oh.”
I lick over my tingling and swollen lips, which draws his attention back to my mouth.
He closes the distance between our faces, and his lips tug at mine in a sensual way that makes desire rush through me.
It’s so overwhelming that I break the kiss and take a couple of steps away from him. Placing my hand on my chest, I croak, “C-can we slow down for a moment?”
I half expect him to remind me that he paid for me and can do whatever he wants, so I’m surprised when he lets out a heavy breath and says, “Of course. I didn’t come over to fuck you.”
