I don’t know why I said that, and it stops us both. I never realized I was into dirty talk. Then again, I never realized many things before Carlo took me.
But it makes sense. Such perfect sense. Like something finally slotting into place. Like a fog has been lifted.
It’s all him. The one missing in my life. The one I didn’t know I was searching for.
“Say that again,” he says huskily.
“Daddy.”
10
CARA
My eyes flutter open and Carlo's ruggedly handsome face is the first thing I see. I feel safe and protected in his arms like nothing in the world matters as long as he’s here by my side.
Images of last night flash through my mind, and a blush creeps up my cheeks. Even though my whole body is sore and exhausted, I don’t regret any of it.
Carlo stirs slowly and wakes. He sees that I'm already awake, and he smiles at me before letting out a wide yawn. Everything about this man is amazing, and I still can't believe I got to experience that side of him yesterday.
"Good morning,principessa. Did you sleep well?" he asks, sleep still heavy in his voice. He knows fully well that we hadn't slept much at all.
“Of course. I was too exhausted after all.”
Carlo laughs and pulls me closer to him. He licks the shell of my ear and asks, "How about another round?"
I don’t even get to respond because his lips are on mine and memories of where his mouth has kissed my body make me wet with need. Already. I know we won't get much sleep today either.
As much as I want to continue, to give him my body to do whatever he wants to do with it, I pull away from him and sit up on the bed, splaying a hand on his chest. "Why don't we get some food first?" I suggest. It’s almost noon and I’m already starving.
Carlo smiles a knowing smile at me like he’s also just aware that he’s hungry. “Okay, get ready. I'm taking you to my favorite restaurant. Then we’ll come back here for dessert."
Carlo and I quickly get dressed, our clothes already dry-cleaned by the hotel management. Good thing I was wearing something semi-formal yesterday.
We leave the hotel and make our way to a 5-star restaurant, a gorgeous historic building located in the heart of New York City. It’s a beautiful stone structure, with intricate carvings and a large arched entrance. The exterior is made of polished white marble, and large windows adorned with black wrought-iron railings add to its spectacular design. Well-manicured gardens surround the building, and the entrance is lined with faux palm trees that give it a luxurious and tropical feel.
The restaurant is even more breathtaking on the inside. As we walk in, the sounds of soft jazz music permeate the air. The walls are painted in a muted gold color, and the floor is made of expensive black-marbled tiles. There are plush velvet armchairs and leather booths, all in shades of deep burgundy and forest green. The lighting is dim, with delicate crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the entire place.
We walk past the elegant bar, where bartenders stand in crisp white shirts and black aprons mixing cocktails with precision. The bar itself is made of dark mahogany wood, with a polished marble top and golden brass accents. The shelves behind the bar are lined with bottles of exquisite liquors and old and expensive bottles of wine.
Carlo takes my hand and leads me to a cozy corner booth, where we both settle in comfortably. The table is set with crisp white linens, silverware, and delicate crystal glasses.
"You know, Carlo, I never took you for a man who enjoyed the finer things in life."
Carlo throws his head back and laughs. “I don’t actually. I just figured this is the right place to bring you. I don’t come here often since I just have my favorite foods delivered. When I told you it’s my favorite, I meant I only eat via takeouts and deliveries.”
Our moment is interrupted by Carlo's phone ringing.
“I’m starting to hate this phone,'' I pout, crossing my arms over my chest. Carlo just laughs and plants a soft kiss on my nose before excusing himself to take the call.
When Carlo leaves, a waiter appears by my side and hands me a cocktail.
"We didn't order any cocktails. Why are you giving me this?" I ask, confused.
The waiter gestures towards a man sitting at the far corner of the bar, pretending to sip his drink. "It's from that gentleman over there," he explains.
I look in the direction the waiter was pointing at and see who it is. He’s huge and old, and he reminds me a lot of Lucas. They can pass off as brothers, to be honest. When he sees me watching him, he smirks as he raises his glass in a toast. I feel a wave of disgust wash over me and I can't resist making a snide remark. "Go throw this drink on his face so he can get a reality check," I say loudly to the waiter, raising my glass in a mocking salute.
The smile on the man's face disappears as he hears my words, anger flashing in his eyes. He gets up and ambles toward me. "What did you say to me, bitch?" he growls in a chalky voice.
