Page 36 of The Mastermind
I shook my head, but the image of me pinned beneath Cesare, that beautifully inked gladiator’s body, and the thick cock whose imprint I still remembered all these years later, pounding into me wouldn’t dissipate.
His wicked laughter writhed through me like live electricity. ‘You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?’
He strolled over with measured strides, the glass dangling from his fingers. He stopped a foot from the edge of the bed, studied me with sizzling ferocity. ‘Do you want me to fuck you, Maddelena? Finish what you started in that warehouse that night?’ His voice was a husky rasp, shrouded in hot, dangerous promises.
I swallowed so hard, a cringe-worthyglurrksound left my throat. ‘No. Absolutely not.’
‘Liar.’
My thighs trembled with the urge to remain in place in the middle of the bed. ‘Finish whatever you have to say and leave. I have an early start tomorrow and a race to win.’
His gaze dropped to my death grip on the clump of sheets. ‘So damn sure of yourself, aren’t you?’
I started to shrug but the gesture froze when he slowly lifted his glass and took a sip. ‘Do you always drink before a race?’
‘Usually? Nah. But looks like you’ve driven me to drink too.’
A small bark of disbelieving laughter fell out before I could stop it. ‘Yeah, right.’
‘You don’t think so?’ I watched, helplessly and completely mesmerised, as he dipped two fingers into the amber liquid, my eyes widening when he reached out and swiped the alcohol over my lips.
Before I could stop myself, my tongue darted out and licked the liquor. It was no more than a drop or two and yet it flooded my system with warmth and insane intoxication, gathering a moan in my chest I barely managed to hold back.
‘I’d like a token to seal our new deal, which for the sake of clarity I’ll repeat. I call. You come. Or else,’ he said, his eyes fixed firmly on my wet mouth.
‘A token? Like… a handshake?’Or a kiss?
His gaze grew hot and borderline feral as it trailed over my face and shoulders to where my chest met the duvet. He took a step closer. Held out his hand.
Hesitant, because I didn’t trust Cesare Salvatore further than I could throw him, which was not far at all, I held out my hand.
He captured it, wrapped his bigger one around it. Then the bastard jerked me up with a merciless yank that unbalanced me. I fell into him with zero finesse, partially dislodging the sheets covering my body once more.
Me knowing and him guessing I was naked beneath the quilt was one thing. Having it confirmed raced flames over my skin. ‘Cesare! What the hell?’
He caught me easily as I scrambled to keep my dignity. But beneath the frantic tussle, I felt his stillness, the wave of hyperawareness that came with the insane attraction I felt around this man.
‘That’s the second time you’ve used my name,’ he murmured, his delectable mouth far too close to mine.
My face and body heated up faster. ‘I figure I’m due since you use mine with liberal abandon. Let me go!’
He ignored me and there was something baffling yet exhilarating about being pressed against his body and him showing absolutely zero interest in ogling me as most men would. Cesare seemed entirely content with reading my face while resisting my efforts to extricate myself with insulting ease.
That was, until he spoke. ‘Do you always sleep in the nude, Maddelena?’ His voice was thick, a touch slurred.
Only then did other things impinge on my senses.
He was hard.Insanely so.
Blood surged through my veins as his hips rocked against me, pushing the imprint of his arousal into my bare belly. Much as he’d done that night. His arm was still a cage of iron around my waist, but his fingertips moved ever so softly against my ribs, covering my skin in goosebumps.
‘N-no,’ I whispered before I wondered why the hell I was answering him.
‘Why tonight?’
Because I was hot. And horny. And I needed easy access to pleasure myself while thinking of you in your delicious race suit. Or dressed in all black. Or naked. With a cigar hanging from the corner of your mouth and a sexy smirk on your face.
I pressed my lips together, refusing to answer.
