Page 31 of Reckless Games

“I had a few callgirls,” he admitted. “But they had to follow strict rules—no touching, no kissing. I didn’t want any emotional connection like that with anyone.”

“No touching or kissing?” I mused, intrigued by his explanation. “How does that work?”

“It’s straightforward,” he explained casually. “From behind.”Oh. His words hung in the air, and I could not help but wonder where I fit into his guarded boundaries. He said he never wanted to develop that kind of connection with anyone. Was I a part of that? If I was, then why did he—

“What are you breaking your head about?” Lorenzo asked gently, sensing my inner turmoil.

“Nothing, just wondering,” I replied vaguely, unsure how to articulate my concerns. “You said you didn’t want that kind of connection with anyone,” I finally said, searching for clarity. “Then why did you...”

“Because you’re an exception,” he interjected firmly, his gaze locking with mine. “You’re theonlyexception.” His words washed over me like a warm tide, and my heart skipped a beat as I processed the weight of his confession. “I told you, you are special, Angela. Every time I see you, it’s like the world stops, and all I can think about is how incredibly lucky I am to have you in my life,” he continued, his voice filled with sincerity. “You consume my thoughts, my dreams, my everything. Loving you feels natural, like it’s what I was meant to do; what I was madefor.” I struggled to find my voice as his heartfelt declaration enveloped me in its warmth.

“I never knew I could feel such a deep connection with another person until I met you,” Lorenzo confessed. “You’ve touched my soul in ways I never thought possible. Loving you is the most natural and fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.” His words washed over me, leaving me breathless and speechless. Did he just say helovesme?

“Yes, Angel,” he affirmed softly, as if reading my thoughts. “I never knew what true love was until I met you. I’m irrevocably in love with you, Angela Thompson. And I’m not saying this to hear it back. I’m saying this so you know what you mean to me and never doubt your place in my life. I love you, Angela.”

***

Chapter 16

Angela

I was right. This placewasa feast for the eyes, with Lorenzo throwing orders like a true king.Shirtless. Now, I had always believed in the power of manifesting, but to see my desires materialize so quickly was a pleasant surprise. How can someone look so dangerous yet so beautifully appealing at the same time? It should be a criminal offense. A grave one. And I should sue him.

I watched in awe as Lorenzo effortlessly flipped one of his men like a sack of potatoes, catching his weak punch with ease and nailing him to the ground. He delivered a couple of swift punches, eliciting a groan of pain from the guy beneath him. “Fail,” he announced, and the man rose to his feet, blood trickling from his nose, lips, and forehead—practically his whole face—before slinking away from the center of the fighting ring. Gio quickly noted Lorenzo’s remark on the clipboard he held before calling out, “Next.” Just like that, Lorenzo had another opponent to defeat.

This was the eighteenth man he had failed. Yes, I was counting. Watching Lorenzo duel with his men, leaving them breathless and on the ground in no time, was an understatement of how thrilling it was. I probably looked crazy, sat on a desk in the corner of his training room, cheering like a lovesick cheerleader at a high school football game. But did I care?NO.

“Yes! Go, Lorenzo! Woohoo!” I screamed excitedly, my eyes glued to my man as he punched the lights out of his next opponent after flooring him with a powerful kick. “YES! That’s number 19. We are doing great! Hang in there, my man!” I yelled, popping another piece of popcorn into my mouth. Lorenzo glanced at me, his lips curling into a proud smirk, before he threw a wink in my direction.

I was sure all his men were looking at me like I had grown two heads, probably wondering who the crazy girl screeching like a love-struck puppy was. But no one dared to say anything. They could not. Instead, they avoided glancing in my direction out of respect for whatever my crazy ass was doing. I was pretty sure it was because they had strict orders from theirbig, badmafia boss. But who cared? I was fucking thrilled and enjoying the show. That was all that mattered.

“This is fucking shameful! Is this how you all plan to defeat the enemy without weapons?” Lorenzo barked after kicking his 20th opponent to defeat. “Send these amateurs back to the first round of training, Gio. I won’t take this batch with me on the next mission. We’ll stick to the previous ones.”

Gio nodded, making quick notes as Lorenzo turned his attention back to me. His eyes softened just a fraction—a look reserved only for me. As he approached, I could feel my heart pounding with pride and excitement.

Sweat glistened on his face and sculpted six-pack, making him look like some kind of Greek God. My heart raced as he stopped in front of me, trapping me on the desk by placing his hands on either side of my thighs.

"Enjoying the show,Dolcezza?" he teased. I bit my lip, my eyes shamelessly roaming over his chiseled chest and abs.

"Maybe," I replied with a playful smile tugging at my lips.

Without breaking eye contact, I grabbed the water bottle on my side and twisted off the cap, offering it to him. He tookit from my hands with a grateful smile, his fingers brushing against mine and sending a jolt of electricity through my body.

Lorenzo tilted his head back, chugging down a few gulps of water, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow. I watched, entranced by the sheer power of this magnificent man. He set the bottle aside, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before leaning in closer, his face inches from mine.

"Thanks," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.

I swallowed hard, my pulse racing as his proximity overwhelmed me. "Anytime," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze softened, and for a moment, the world outside this room ceased to exist. "You know," he began, his voice low and husky, "having you here... it makes everything better."

My heart melted at his words. "I'm glad," I replied, reaching up to trace the outline of his jaw with my fingertips. "I love watching you. You're... amazing."

He chuckled. "You're the amazing one, Angel. You have no idea what you do to me."

“If that’s the case, can I be rewarded for it?” I leaned in closer, my voice sultry, a playful idea popping into my mind.

“Your wish is my command, Ma’lady.” Lorenzo leaned in to close the gap, but I stopped him by placing my hand on his chest. He looked confused for a moment before I blurted it out.

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