But he’s not acting like a player.
He’s acting like a boyfriend.
Now I wish I’d stayed the night at the Bellissimo.
“Thank you. It… it means a lot to me what you’re doing.”
I hear Stefano’s exhale through the line. “Tomorrow night, amore. You can show me your appreciation.”
My laugh sounds husky. I lie on my bed and bring my hand between my legs. “I can do that.”
“And expect punishment. You don’t leave me blue-balled without paying penance, bella.”
My pussy clenches. “I’m sure you’ll make it a good lesson,” I purr.
Stefano curses softly in Italian. “You kill me, you know that?”
“It’s mutual,” I murmur. “See you tomorrow.” I end the call and fall back on my pillow, working my fingers between my legs as I picture my sexy as hell lover.
It’s definitely mutual, Stefano.
Chapter 11
Corey
“Why don’t you just move in here?” Stefano asks me a few weeks later. We’ve been seeing each other most every day, either at work or when he takes me off the schedule and brings me out on the town with him instead. Thanks to his continued interest in showing me what’s possible, I won ten thousand dollars last week playing poker.
This morning, I’m leaving his suite to go home for the day and he’s grumpy about it. I spend the night in his suite three or four nights a week, but he’s starting to put the pressure on.
“What’s in your shitty little apartment that you don’t have here?”
“Don’t be a dick,” I mutter, hopping to put on my high heels from last night.
“No really.” He knots his tie, completing the male model look and nearly drawing a sigh from me. “What is it? I want to know.”
“Well, a fully stocked kitchen for one.”
His face clears. “You like to cook?” He looks so happy, I almost blush.
“Yeah. I like to know exactly what I’m putting in my mouth.”
He smirks. “Ah. I get it. You need to control what you eat.”
I pick up one of his balled up socks from the floor and throw it at his head.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Shut up.”
He grins. “So you want a kitchen. We’ll kick Leo and Tony out of the top floor and move back into my place up there. Then would you stay?”
I flush some more. I’m still not ready to make that kind of move with Stefano. This is too intense. Too fast. I’m not someone who’s quick to trust and I definitely don’t give my heart away easy. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever given it up. I probably have my dad to thank for that, too.
Stefano’s smile fades. “Pack your shit, you’re moving.” His voice turned into Demanding Asshole Boss tones.
“You ordering it doesn’t make it happen,” I snip back.
“Cuore mio.” He walks toward me, his voice soft and dangerous, his tread like a panther’s. He picks me up by the waist and sits my ass on the desk. “It’s going to happen.” He pushes my thighs open and brings his thumb to my clit through my jeans. “The less resistance you provide, the greater the reward.” He pinches one nipple through my shirt and bra. His teeth graze my shoulder. “You give me trouble? There’s going to be punishment. The clock starts now. You have forty-eight hours to get your shit packed and ready. Every hour you delay after that? I’m going to make you pay.” He nibbles my earlobe. “Think about it, amore.” He cups my chin and kisses me, hard. “You need help packing, I’ll send some guys over. Just say the word. But this is happening.”
I blink up at him. Part of me wants to give in. What’s holding me back, anyway? But getting tangled up with Stefano feels way too scary. What happens when things go south? I won’t have my own place to live in. I’ll be out of a job.
He rubs my clit and tugs my nipple in time together and I spread my knees wider, needing more now. I reach for the bulge in his pants and squeeze.
Stefano works the button of my jeans open and pulls me off the desk to shimmy my jeans and panties down below my butt. He presses a finger inside me, then a second. I squirm as he resumes his torture of my nipple, thrusting his digits at the same time. When he brings his thumb to my clit, I clutch his hand, trying to shove his fingers deeper.
He withdraws them and puts them in his mouth, tasting me.
I wait, panting. I’m sure he’s going to fuck me now. Pull his cock out and give it to me rough and hard, like he always does, but instead he gives my pussy a slap. “No orgasm for you, and don’t you dare try to give yourself one. This pussy belongs to me.”
A spike of white-hot anger zips through me. Yeah, redhead. I glare as I yank my pants up. “Fuck you, Tacone.”