Page 9 of Alessio DeLuca

“Deadly.” I hold her gaze, letting her see the heat, the hunger, the fucking need that’s been growing inside me for longer than I care to admit. “So what do you say, Maty? You ready to take a walk on the wild side with me?”

* * *

Maty

I can’t breathe. Can’t think. Can’t do anything but stare up at him, my mind pounding with the implications of his words.

He wants to be my test subject? Wants to play at being my book boyfriend, my fantasy come to life? That’s insane. Ridiculous. Fucking impossible…

And what I’ve been dreaming of for longer than I can think.

But this is Alessio we’re talking about. My boss, the man who holds my entire life in the palm of his hand. If I let myself go down this rabbit hole with him, there’s no telling what kind of damage it could do to my heart, my career, my very soul.

And yet… I can’t deny the heat that races through me at the thought of being with him, even if it’s just pretend. Can’t deny the way my body responds to the dark promise in his voice, the wicked gleam in his eyes.

I know I should say no. Should shove him away and tell him to go to hell, that I’m not some plaything for him to toy with.

But the words won’t come. They’re stuck down my throat, impossible to choke out.

Because I want this. Want him, with a hunger so intense it scares me.

And maybe that makes me a fool, or a masochist, or just a really fucking bad judge of character. But in this moment, with Alessio’s hard body pressed against mine and his blue eyes burning into me, I can’t bring myself to care.

“Okay,” I whisper, the word barely audible over the pounding of my own heart. “Let’s do it.”

The smile that spreads across his face is devastating, a wicked curl of his full, sculpted lips that promises all sorts of delicious sins. “Good girl,” he drawls, his big hand sliding to cup the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my curls.

But even as he leans in, lips brushing against the shell of my ear and sending shivers racing down my spine, I can’t shake the feeling that I already do.

That I’m again making a deal with the devil, and before this is all over, I’ll be lucky if my heart is the only thing I lose.

But then Alessio’s mouth is on mine, hot and demanding and so fucking perfect I can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t do anything but surrender to the heat, the hunger, the overwhelming want. His full lips pressed to mine, delicious tongue sliding inside my mouth. The taste of him exploding on my tongue. His woodsy, masculine scent surrounding me. The heat from his tall, muscular body. The feel of him…

I let myself melt into our kiss, drown in the taste and feel and very essence of him. I can’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe… it might be worth it after all.

Five

Chapter 5

Maty

I can’t believe I’m doing this. Can’t believe I’m actually going on a date with Alessio fucking DeLuca.

A fake date, I remind myself firmly. A test run for my matchmaking service, nothing more.

We went through the motions, following the protocols I set up for the agency. Background check, psych eval, medical screening - we’ve done it all, just like any other potential matches. It’s a necessary step to ensure the safety and compatibility of our clients, even if it feels strange to subject Alessio to the same process.

But no matter how many times I repeat that in my head, no matter how hard I try to convince myself that this is all just business… I can’t ignore the butterflies rioting in my stomach, the electric thrill that zings through me every time I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

I look good. Alessio might prefer his women stick-thin and designer-clad, but I pulled out all the stops for our little “test run.” A figure-hugging black dress and sky-high heels that make my legs look a mile long. A swipe of red lipstick and a few extra coats of mascara. My natural curls tumbling around my shoulders in perfect spirals.

It’s not me, not really. I’m more comfortable in sweatpants, hoodies and a t-shirt, my hair thrown up in a messy bun and my makeup nonexistent. But tonight, I need the armor. Need the confidence boost that comes with knowing I look like a million bucks, even if I feel like a fraud on the inside.

I take a deep breath, smoothing my damp palms over my thighs. I can do this. I can get through one fake date with Alessio without losing my head or my heart in the process.

I hope.

A knock at the door startles me, and I feel my heart lurch into my throat. He’s here!

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