Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles 5)

The way I could feel the low vibrato of his voice between my legs, I feared he was right, but I wouldn’t let him get the upper hand, not this time.

“Get off me. I’m tired and want to get ready.”

“Of course,” he said as he straightened his knee, lightly brushing my crotch. I twitched at the spike of pleasure, my eyes widening, my breath halting.

Savio smiled knowingly as he straightened. With flushed cheeks, I took in the bulge in his pants, then quickly tore my gaze away.

I tried to sit up, but the dress prevented that. Sighing, I held out my hands. “Can you help me up?”

“Only if you can help me get this down,” he said with a nod toward his crotch.

“I could kick you between the legs…”

Savio shook his head with a chuckle. He finally took my hands and tugged. I came to my feet, bringing us once again close. Savio’s eyes made me swallow hard.

“I thought you wanted to get ready,” he murmured, making the words sound way dirtier than they were. I wasn’t sure how to stand a chance against him in this battle of wills, because it was completely out of my comfort zone. I had no experience in the game of seduction.

I took a step back from him. Savio was too much to handle for me, but I wasn’t someone who gave up easily.

“Will you at least allow me to get you out of this dress or will you deny me this too?” He was joking. I didn’t miss the darker note in his voice, though.

I’d need his help to get out of the dress anyway. The heavy fabric was closed with hooks and buttons at my waist and over my butt. I nodded.

“Does that mean I’m allowed to undress you?”

“Yes,” I said quietly, even as my heart beat in my throat. The most I’d ever showed a man was my stomach. No one had ever seen me without clothes.

Savio caressed my bare back, making my breath hitch. Then he loosened the hooks and helped me pull down the top. Even facing the other way, I felt exposed. I brought my palms up to cover my breasts when Savio slowly dragged my skirt down until I could step out. I wasn’t sure where he was, but aware of his gaze as he saw me in only white lace panties.

I was torn between the urge to run into the bathroom and turn around to see his expression.

Suddenly, I felt him behind me and he pressed the softest kiss to the nape of my neck. “My God, Gem, you’re killing me.”

A smile tugged at my mouth at the longing in his voice.

“That makes you happy?”

Biting my lip, I hurried into the bathroom and closed the door. My heart was hammering against my ribcage. Forcing myself to calm down, I took in my surroundings. I’d never had a bathroom for myself, always had to share it with every member of my family. The Falcone mansion probably harbored a dozen bathrooms, all of them as splendid as this with the granite floors and walls, floor-to-ceiling showers and endless vanity counters.

I took a long shower before I removed my makeup and let down my hair. Then I began brushing my teeth.

“Getting ready can’t possibly take this long, Gem. I’m coming in.”

The toothbrush wedged between my teeth, I grabbed a robe from a hook and put it on. My clothes were still outside.

My fingers around the brush tightened when Savio walked in completely naked and with a boner that drove heat into my cheeks. I stopped brushing and froze.

Savio didn’t show the slightest hint of shame. Of course not, he’d been naked in front of so many women, it wasn’t anything special.

His eyes flashed with amusement when he noticed my expression. I had seen him naked before, that one time, but this couldn’t compare. He was bigger than I thought possible. The bull definitely added to the intimidation factor.

Chuckling, he stepped inside the shower and curled his hand around his erection.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

“Jerking off since you refuse to take care of it for me.”

“I’m sure you have a girl on speed dial who’d gladly help you.”

Savio’s gaze was pure fire. “No other girls, Gem.”

I spit out the toothpaste, wiped my mouth and fled the room.

Ignoring the nightgown that I was supposed to wear tonight, I grabbed a pair of Savio’s sweatpants out of one of the dressers and put on one of my tank tops. That way I’d feel more like myself. Being in a bed with Savio was bad enough.

A few minutes later, Savio came out of the bathroom in sweatpants not unlike the ones I’d put on, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. He walked over to the bench in front of the bed, took the ridiculous piece of silk and held up the flimsy negligee with a cocked eyebrow. “What? No sexy nightgown for me?”