The Banker (Banker 1)

Women slept over all the time, but they didn’t hang all over me like this. I needed my space, but with Siena, it never felt like she invaded too much of my domain. She seemed to fit beside me perfectly well, like a lock and key.

Her ponytail had come loose at some point, and now her hair spread across my chest. Dark like the wood of an oak tree, it was the most beautiful color. She had classic Italian features but with skin that was pale like a glass of milk. Some freckles dotted her cheeks and her shoulders, but the spots only added to her appeal. She was gorgeous but real. I watched her while I planned my day. I would head to the office in Florence and take care of business. Hopefully, I would be done before the late afternoon.

Siena was the only woman whose house I stayed at. I always had women come to my place because it was more convenient, but the second I visited Siena, I felt right at home. It was nice not to be waited on hand and foot by Giovanni, or to see armed men on my property on a regular basis. It was my home, but it was still a place of business. This house was a lot simpler. Made me forget about all the tedious aspects of my life.

When I couldn’t lie around any longer, I lightly shifted her away from me then got out of bed.

Her quiet sigh announced her annoyance. “Sneaking out?”

“Didn’t want to wake you.”

“You never mind waking me up.” She propped her head on her open palm and stared at me as the sheets were pulled over her chest.

“If I didn’t have somewhere to be, you know I would.” I went into her bathroom and brushed my teeth with her toothbrush before I put on the suit I’d arrived in. It was slightly wrinkled because I’d left it on the floor all night long, but I was too rich to care about my appearance.

I grabbed my watch from her vanity and slipped it over my wrist.

She stayed in bed, sleepy and sexy under the sheets. “I have to go to work too. But I could also stay here forever…” She pulled the sheets to her shoulder and closed her eyes. “It’s nice and warm because of you.”

I sat at the foot of the bed and pulled on my shoes. “That could save you money in the wintertime.”

“My heater is so old that it doesn’t really work. It’s impossible to get heat up here. I usually use the fireplace, but then I have to buy the firewood and then carry it up here… I’m pretty lazy.”

Sometimes I forgot what it was like not to have everything I needed at my fingertips. There was always someone there to fix my problems. “With me, you don’t need a fire.” Once my outfit was complete, I stood up.

She finally got out of bed and pulled on her purple robe. She ran her fingers through her hair and kept it out of her face as she came to my side. “I’ll walk you out.”

“That’s awfully polite of you. Normally, you don’t give a damn.” I slid my hands into my pockets as I looked down at her, seeing those plump lips that I spent all night kissing. She was gorgeous, so gorgeous it was actually painful to look at.

“I don’t.” She smiled at me, the playfulness reaching her eyes. “But I need coffee.” She turned away and walked out of the room, her bare feet hitting the hardwood floor lightly. Her hair shifted back and forth with her movements, the long strands reaching the middle of her back.

I stayed behind even when she was gone from sight, understanding just how transfixed I was by this incredible woman. It was lust combined with respect, and I’d never respected a woman before. I didn’t just like fucking her. I liked talking to her, I liked dropping all the bullshit and being myself. I didn’t have to be the coldhearted killer Cato Marino. With her, I could just be Cato.

I joined her downstairs and met her in the entryway. “Meet me for dinner tonight.”

“Aren’t you sick of me?” She crossed her arms over her chest while the corner of her mouth was raised in a smile.

I kept my hands in my pockets even though I wanted to grab her. I wanted to hold on to the back of her hair like a leash. Sometimes I wanted to be soft with her, but most of the time I wanted to be the dictator lover she’d turned me into. “Are you sick of me?”

Her smile slowly faded away, the seriousness entering her gaze. Something about my question struck her, chased away all the playfulness she had a moment ago. Her chest rose with the deep breath she took. “No…”