Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

“Why wouldn’t I choose you, Grace?” He didn’t want her to step away. The tips of her breasts were just above his cock and he wanted the two scant inches between them gone, so he could press against her.

“You have to remember where I work, Vittorio. I’m an event planner. I’m hired to put on events for your family. We move in completely different circles. You date movie stars and I carry around a serial killer.”

She made an attempt at humor, but he didn’t like it.

“I know you don’t think you’re in any way beneath me.”

She dropped her hand to her side and ducked her head.

He caught her chin. “You don’t get to hide from me. That’s part of our rules. We’re honest with each other, even brutally so. Am I wrong in thinking you have high self-esteem?”

She pressed her lips together. For a moment he caught a flash of amusement in her eyes. “Evidently too high. I considered you to be a spoiled playboy with too much money. I kind of put you in a category of super-beautiful, but a little useless.”

His eyebrow shot up. Truthfully, he wanted to laugh. “Useless?” he echoed.

“Not as bad as some of your brothers,” she added hastily.

He did laugh. She was priceless. “Some? Which ones of my brothers were more useful?”

She did laugh then. “I can see no matter what I say, I’m going to be in trouble. I’m extremely thankful you aren’t really heavily into whips.”

“My hand, however, is wondering how your very pretty ass will feel under it. And remember, gattina, I like it when you blush. Red looks good on you.”

“It definitely doesn’t. I’m a natural redhead, and we don’t ever wear red. It would clash.”

He spanned her waist with his hands and lifted her onto the bed. “Sit right there for a minute and tell me what was different about climbing into bed last night, from tonight.” He shrugged out of his shirt and very carefully laid it over the back of one of the two chairs in front of the long built-in fireplace.

“I’m naked.”

Deliberately, he ran his gaze over her body. Her breasts rose and fell with each breath. She looked vulnerable and excited, so perfect he could barely contain his desire, and he was an extremely disciplined and controlled man. “You are naked. I just noticed.”

She laughed, and the sound of her laughter played over his body like the touch of fingers. His cock felt as if it might shatter into a million pieces. He didn’t care. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world when he had never felt quite like it with anyone else. She made everything new and different. She was well worth the long wait and the worry that he’d never have anyone right for him.

“You’re not.”

“I’m not, am I?” He touched the front of his pants, rubbed over the thick length of his burning cock. The heat was tremendous, his need of her growing every moment he was with her. Still, he took the time to be playful with her. He wanted her on edge, slick with hunger, but he didn’t want her afraid. Sometimes being a little fearful could heighten her pleasure, but not this time. Tonight, he was going to take his time and make love to her. He’d meant what he’d said when he’d told her he didn’t want to ever see her hurt or with tears in her eyes. He knew never was a long time, but he would still do his best to make that promise count.

She laughed just as he knew she would. “You have a beautiful body, Vittorio. I noticed you at all the functions you attended. I couldn’t help watching you. You’ve probably had several stalkers and I’m fairly certain I could be counted among them.”

He liked that. He liked that a hell of a lot. “You noticed me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Every woman notices you. I think the men do, too, even the straight ones. You’re that good-looking.”

“But you took great care to stay out of my way.”

“Spoiled useless rich boy, remember? I had fantasies. Hundreds of them. I couldn’t take the chance that you would ruin even one of my illusions.”

He stepped close to the bed. “Widen your legs for me.” She did so, and he stepped between her thighs. “What else went on at these events that I didn’t know about in reference to me or my family?”

“You want me to tell you event-planner secrets?” There was laughter in her voice, but he heard the underlying reluctance. She thought he wouldn’t like what she might say.

He ran the pad of his finger from her collarbone to the top of her breast where he traced back and forth. “There aren’t any secrets between us.”

“You have secrets.”

It was a challenge. His Grace was more than intelligent. She was very quick. “Yes, but I intend to tell you every single one of mine. What’s the harm in telling me about anything to do with me?”