Then the elevator dinged again. This time it was my coffee and croissant. The guy was a welcome distraction. He’d barely handed me my coffee when Dante growled at him. What? I was already spooked, then he scared the hell out of me when he roared at me. One minute I wanted to lick his face, the next I wanted to smack it.
How dare he yell at me? I didn’t think, I threw the coffee at him. Angry at him for yelling, for making me spill my coffee, for ruining my sacred coffee moment, for making me want him and him turning out to be a complete fucker and not the gorgeous perfect man I had no idea I always wanted.
No, I don’t want him. Even if he’s the first man who’s looked at me like I was a tasty morsel he was starving for. Dante Sabatini is an unabashed manwhore so out of my league we don’t play the same game. Nope, not happening, so stop thinking about him. Stop it.
***
Dante
I can’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes all I can see is Bethany. My cock is hard all over again for what feels like the hundredth time since I saw her all of five hours ago. I’m not even able to count how many times I’ve beat off to the memory of her. This is getting ridiculous. No way is she as hot as I made her out to be in my mind. Snatching my phone off the bedside table, I open up a website I usually browse to waste time, but nothing interests me. There is no clear idea behind what I do next; it’s a compulsion I can’t explain.
Her name and number are saved into my phone, in here for almost two years yet never used. Che plugged it in, in case she ever needed something and couldn’t get a hold of him.
I apologize
Shit, it’s almost twelve thirty in the morning. Am I making it worse by waking her up? Or is she—
And...
Laughter comes out of me for the first time in ages.
I won’t yell at you again if you choose to run around half-dressed. I’ll just enjoy the view.
Then my phone rings. I don’t hesitate. She starts blasting me before I even have the phone to my ear.
“Worst apology ever, Dante Sabatini. You are a massive jerk. You had no right whatsoever to yell at me. I also wasn’t half-dressed. I was dressed.”
“You would have walked into the coffeehouse dressed the way you were?”
“If you don’t drop it, I’ll walk down Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt to Randolph dressed in the same outfit.”
After the way she threw the coffee in my face, I don’t doubt her. “I apologize, sincerely. No yelling, no judgement on your attire.”
“Apology accepted. I apologize for throwing my coffee on you. Two wrongs and everything. Will it come out of the suit?”
“Not likely, silk is an unforgiving textile.”
Her laugh is soft. “Textile, attire; you talk like Cesare, so formal. Where did you go to school?”
“An extremely unforgiving, strict Catholic school. Although formality comes from learning English as a second language, so I’m told. But only when we think before we speak to avoid using the wrong word. Usually, we aren’t formal. I’m only trying to prevent you walking down Michigan Avenue dressed the way you were earlier. I’m pretty sure Che would kill me.”
This time her laughter flows freely, sweet as cotton candy. I have no idea why I’m smiling at the sound. “So you can think before you speak. Good to know. I was wondering. Since I ruined your suit, I’m willing to replace it. How do you want me to do it?”
Hmm... Enzo was right, Bethany is young, yet she is also considerate and thoughtful. “Forget it. I’m willing to admit I earned it. Since you’ll be without a coffeemaker tomorrow, you can come over and use mine. It does espresso and foam in addition to regular coffee. I also have a few different types of coffee for you to choose from. I’m sure you remember your way around the place from when you stayed here.”
“I do, it’s where I fell in love with your coffeemaker. Thanks for the offer and the coffeemaker coming in the mail.”
“No problem. I’m sorry I broke the one I bought you. I’m out of practice where shopping is concerned.”
“You bought it? I thought the note was from Claudine.”
“You don’t have to sound so shocked. I’m more than capable of doing things for myself. Claudine took back the broken coffeemaker only they didn’t have any left in stock. I’ll admit I never thought about a card, just the coffeemaker. Interesting how judgmental you sound considering you’ve had your own form of a Claudine for the last two years. Che said you thanked him for Jessica every time he talked to you.”
“I wasn’t being judgmental. I was surprised because the note was from her. And yes, all I’ve heard is how Claudine does everything for you and Cesare to make your lives easier. Shock seems right.” She giggles, and it goes straight to my cock in a way I never would have thought possible.
“Haha, Alicia said you were a smart-ass as well as smart. I understand completely.”
“Whatever, you’re just not used to a woman talking back to you. Too many years of women smiling and nodding.”