The Mistress That Tamed De Santis

But they watched. They all watched. And Antonio watched as Matteo told her. She stiffened and swiftly walked off the dance floor. Antonio stepped back into her office, anticipating.

‘You shouldn’t be here,’ she said, striding in only moments later and slamming the door behind her.

‘And yet here I am.’ And he couldn’t help but be aroused and amused as he drank in her energy. This was exactly what he wanted. Bella looking strong and fierce and crackling with fire.

‘This is my club.’

‘This is my country.’ He crossed his arms, forcing himself to wait for her comeback.

‘And you want to be seen here?’

‘I thought this was the place to be seen. Am I going to inhibit your guests’ pleasure?’

‘They’ll be thrilled to be in your presence. I’m sure they’ll bust out their best moves for you. Especially our female guests. Will you be joining them on the dance floor or just watching?’ Her eyes glinted.

He breathed in carefully, cooling his blood. But he was looking forward to the next twenty-four hours too damn much. It was all he could do not to reach for her now but if he did that, they’d never leave.

‘Or is this another snap compliance inspection?’ Bella smirked.

‘Actually, this is an abduction.’ He smiled back, hugely appreciating her not so subtle bite.

Her eyes widened. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘I’m taking you with me.’

‘Pardon?’

‘You don’t need to pack. We’re leaving now.’

‘I can’t leave now.’

Satisfaction thrummed. It was only timing she was concerned with? She wanted to come with him. ‘Either you come quietly and right away, or I have the whole place shut down.’

Her gaze met his. Her face flamed at the double entendre he’d intended. He shifted on his feet, releasing the tension that was streaming through his body.

‘Nothing like abuse of power, Antonio,’ she finally responded.

‘I have your best interests at heart.’

‘Really.’

‘Seriously.’ He admired her independence but it irritated the hell out of him at the same time. ‘We can leave quietly. Everyone is interested in the other celebrities on the dance floor.’

‘Getting good at plotting, aren’t you?’

‘You look tired.’ He frowned, because she did. And she looked paler than usual.

‘Way to make me feel attractive.’

‘When did you last get to bed before midnight?’ he asked.

‘What concern is it of yours?’ She shook her head at him. ‘You’re not supposed to start caring, Antonio. That’s not what you’re about.’

It wasn’t about caring. It was about having a very little more time for just the two of them. ‘You work too hard and sleep too little.’

‘So do you.’ She shrugged. ‘But that’s not the point. It’s no business of yours and I am not here waiting for your beck and call. I don’t live for your summons. I have my own life to get on with.’

‘Yes, you’re right.’ Every word she spoke was true. But there was something else equally true. He strolled up to her, framing her face in his hands and tilting her head so he could see right into her eyes. ‘But you want this as much as I do.’

Her expression altered, the defiance drained and disappointment brought those shadows back.

‘What I want doesn’t really matter, though,’ she admitted, a hint of sadness colouring her soft tone. ‘I can’t leave.’ She gestured to her laptop open on her desk. ‘Because I need to run the business. I need to understand it. I’m more than the face for it. I need to be the brains behind it. I need to make it work.’

Bella wasn’t about to admit it, but Antonio was right: she was so tired and in need of a break. And that he was here, that he’d come to her once more?

That stunned her. Delighted her. Distracted her.

But if she could stay focused for just a little while she could pull her life back on track, without relying on anyone else. No one was taking her career from her again. No one was taking anything. ‘I can’t go with you.’

His eyes lasered into her, branding her even as she tried to resist him. She lifted her chin. It wasn’t her problem if he didn’t like hearing the word ‘no’ for the first time in his life. But after a moment her heart starting skipping.