Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Stepping up to me, he held out a cookie. “Eat.”
My mouth watered at the thought of the rich, buttery, sweet pastry and spicy filling. Tightening my stomach muscles so it wouldn’t growl, I shook my head. “I’m really not hungry. Too full from dinner. Speaking of which, the others, especially my father, will wonder where we are. I don’t want any hints of impropriety.”
“You father doesn’t give a damn where you are. He is with his cronies in the billiards room discussing business, and your sister snuck away with that asshole Alessio.”
My back straightened. “I’m sure it’s not what you think.”
“And I’m equally certain it is exactly what I think. But your sister is my problem for later. Right now, my concern is with you." He tempted me with the cookie again. "You’re lying about dinner. Now eat.”
I pulled my lips through my teeth and turned my head.
He sighed. “Have it your way. But remember, I tried to be a gentleman about this.” He threw the cookie back in the can and tossed it aside.
Then, before I could react, he swooped down and pulled me into his arms before lifting me high and taking my place on the cushioned seat. He then settled me on his lap.
Immediately, I tried to jump off, but his arm tightened around my lower back. His fingertips dug into my hip.
Just like last night.
Stop thinking about last night!
He retrieved the cookie and broke it in half. The scent of orange zest and cinnamon permeated the air as he placed one half between his lips and chewed. “Mmmm. I can see why you like these. The pastry is almost creamy, and the filling has just the right amount of sweetness with only a hint of dark molasses.”
My stomach growled. Gasping, I tightened my arms around my middle, praying he hadn’t heard it.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Gotcha.”
He held the second half of the tempting cookie close to my lips. “Now be a good girl and open your mouth.”
Sciatiri e matri!
The sharp sting when he pulled on my hair and growled, “Open your mouth, babygirl.”
I swallowed, keeping my lips tightly closed.
He tightened the arm around my waist, forcing my shoulder against his chest. “If you don’t obey me and open your mouth, I’ll have no choice but to toss you over my knee and spank you like the bad girl you are being until you do.”
My mouth opened on a gasp. “You wouldn’t dare!”
Except, of course, he had dared. Last night.
My mind was too agitated to determine if it was better or worse that he had threatened my sister with the same punishment for disobedience last night. Although, strictly speaking, he threatened me.
Except, was it still only a threat if he actually went through with it?
Was he cheating on my sister if he now knowingly was trying the same punishment on me, even though he’d already done that move last night?
Or was it just part of his arrogant, domineering, entitled Cavalieri confidence to simply assume he had a right to order any woman within his reach about?
A stabbing pain increased in my temple as my round-robin thoughts brought on a headache, which wasn’t helped by my low blood sugar and stress levels.
“Brava ragazza.”
He pushed the sweet into my mouth.
Reflexively, my lips closed around his fingertip. The salty taste of his skin bringing back even more embarrassingly intimate memories.
I yanked my head back to remove his finger as I slowly chewed.
He watched me closely. “Now is not the time, but soon, you will explain to me why you are depriving your body of vital nutrients.”
I swallowed. “I’m not your responsibility. What or how much I eat is none of your concern.”
Something flashed across his eyes.
There it was! That fleeting glimmer of darkness. A sinister shadow.
He pushed his right hand into my hair, brushing the side of my neck with his wrist as his gaze never wavered from my mouth. “Buon Dio, donna. You shouldn’t have said that.”
My palms pushed against his chest as my eyes widened. “No! Wait! Don’t!”
I was not strong enough to hold him back.
His mouth crashed down on mine. With a gentle yet persistent squeeze to my throat, he forced my lips open as his tongue thrust inside. He tasted like burnt sugar, butter, and red wine.
He pressed his palm between my shoulder blades, pulling me closer, his tongue ravaging my mouth.
At some point, my hands went from pushing against his chest to twisting into the lapels of his tuxedo dinner jacket.
He groaned against my mouth. “Fuck, you taste sweet. Good enough to eat.”
His hand moved to the hem of my dress as he caressed the top of my thigh.
My inner thigh muscles clenched, and a surge of heat pooled low in my abdomen at just the thought of his fingers inside my pussy again.