The woman leads us to a table in the center of the room, right in front of the dancefloor and mere inches away from the stage. “I hope this table suits you, Mr. Valentino. It’s reserved for our most honored guests.”
“It’s fine, thank you.” He offers her a cold smile.
“If there’sanythingelse I can do for you, my name is Mitsy.” The emphasis on the word anything has my hackles rising.
“Noted. However, I’m certain my date will be more than capable of tending toallmy needs.” She blanches and skitters away as a smile tugs at the corner of my lip. He turns his back to a quickly retreating Mitsy and pulls out my chair. I have to clench my jaw to keep it from dropping. When did the mob boss become a chivalrous gentleman?
I’m about to call him out on it when a muttered curse tumbles from his gentlemanly lips. I look up, following his line of sight. A murderous expression hardens the sharp lines of his jaw as they raze over Dante and a leggy blonde.
Luca whirls at me and jerks me out of the chair. “Let’s dance.”
CHAPTER21
DIRTY DANCING
Stella
Luca’s fingers latch onto mine, his hold nearly punishing, as he drags me to the dancefloor. For a second, I forget I’m supposed to play the role of doting girlfriend, but a sharp tug quickly reminds me as he jerks me against his chest. I crash into him, my hand escaping his, and both palms press against the fine silk of his suit.
His breaths are uneven, ragged spurts vibrating his ribcage.
“What the hell is wrong?” I hiss.
“Nothing.”
“You just had an overwhelming desire to dance with me?” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.
“Yes,” he growls. “You’re mine, remember? To do with as I please until the end of the month.”Dio,this man’s mood swings are giving me whiplash. He peels my hand from his chest and spears his fingers through my own, then his arm tightens around my waist, bringing me flush against him.
I clench my teeth to keep the faint gasp from escaping. He’s all over me. His scent tickles my nostrils, his chest presses against mine, his arms caging me in. My body’s reaction to his is unfair. Perhaps, he’s not the only one with an erratic mood.
He’s all I see, all I sense, all-consuming. I can barely focus on keeping time with the music, not when each point of contact violently thrums between us. Luckily, he’s a masterful dancer, another completely unexpected quality of the mob boss, and he guides me across the gleaming parquet like a puppet on a string.
Luca’s eyes are locked on mine, every twirl, every dip, they never deviate. Heat consumes the minute space between our bodies. The anger flashing across those bottomless irises slowly wanes, replaced by something raw and far more dangerous. Something shifts between us, something I’m too terrified to name. Because what I feel for this man is not normal. No one should feel this way about someone who’s keeping them prisoner.
The melody continues in a blur, one song merging into another and another. I’m held captive in that dark gaze, that firm hold that makes my blood sing. Minutes or maybe hours pass. I have no concept of time beyond this intense moment between us.
He leans his forehead to mine, our lips only a heartbeat away. “Oh, princess…,” he murmurs, the rough edge to his tone accelerating my pulse.Dio, I want to capture those lips, to taste him just one time. It’s fucked up, and I’m well aware what that means for my own sanity, but I can’t seem to bring myself to care.
With the shitshow my life has been over the past few months, I need this. A little release. Who cares if I’m being reckless? I’ve been responsible my whole life, and tonight, I want to lose myself in this man.
I press my body closer and grind my lower half against him. His arm tightens like a vice around my waist, hand skating toward the curve of my ass. I can feel him hardening against me, and fiery heat rages between my legs.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, princess,” he whisper-hisses in my ear.
I rock my hips against his erection, too far gone to heed his advice, and another sharp hiss seeps through his lips. Everything else around us disappears, muddled in the background and drowned out by the mad roar of my thundering heart.
Dio, I’ve never wanted anything more.
The tune morphs into a slow, sultry one, and he leads us into a smooth transition. We sway to the sweltering rhythm, his cock rubbing dangerously close to my center with the additional height the stilettos afford. He licks his lips, our heated breaths mingling.
Luca’s hand digs into the hair at my nape and tugs, exposing my throat. The scrape of his teeth across the sensitive flesh sends goosebumps cascading down my arms. A faint moan escapes, and a wicked grin flashes across that clean-shaven jaw.
“If you keep making sounds like that I’m going to lose it.” He runs his hands down my ass and cups my soft curves.
It’s hard to remember we’re in public as I shamelessly grind against him, but with his strong arms around me, I feel like no one can touch us, like we’re in our own private bubble. Luca has that quality about him, that all-powerful aura that no one can match. He oozes authority and dominance, andDio, it’s so damned sexy.
I lift my chin and meet that devastating gaze. “What if I want you to?” I breathe out.
