Stella bites her bottom lip, in thought, and it takes everything inside of me not to rip it from her teeth, so I can do it instead. “Okay.”
All of my waiting is paying off.
“Let me come for you after work,” I suggest.
She shakes her head, a hint of defiance igniting behind her eyes. “No, I’ll drive to your place instead. I’d rather maintain some semblance of control over this situation.”
“If it’s control you’re worried about baby girl, then you’re screwed.” I run the back of my finger down her cheek. “Literally and figuratively.”
My words make her shiver. I want to feel her do that more.
And I will.Tonight.
“I’ll send you my address,” I tell her.
“Okay.” She nods. “I should probably get back to work.”
“Probably.”
As she turns to leave, I watch her walk away, her hair swaying down her back and her ass nearly sticking out from underneath the skimpy clothes that she has on – the clothes I can’t wait to rip off of her.
“See you tonight,” I call after her.
“Tonight,” she echoes.
21
STELLA
Istep out of Regency, my pocket full of tips. It’d been a good night… but my night is still far from over. I shiver, and it’s not from the cool evening breeze. It’s nerves, pure and simple, swirling through me in response to the decision I’ve made - the decision to go to meet Elio tonight.
I’m not an idiot. I know exactly what’s going to happen. I’m going to sleep with my ex’s dad…and enjoy every second of it.
“Stella!” Isobel calls out, waving me over to where she and a few other girls I work with are standing. “You sure you don’t want to join us for drinks? It’s so rare we all get a chance to spend time together.”
Even if I weren’t meeting with Elio, I wouldn’t have gone. The last time I’d drinken too much alcohol, I’d accidentally sexted the wrong man. Who knows what I’d do next time? “Thanks, but I have other plans tonight,” I reply, forcing a smile.
“Suit yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she says with a shrug before disappearing into a car with the others.
I walk to my own car, gripping the keys tightly in my hand.It’s not too late for me to cancel. I look down at my phone, at the text message he’d sent me with his address. I could just not show up…but I think that would just make Elio chase me more.
“ I have this bad habit of getting everything I want, and I’m not willing to make an exception for you. So accept my money or don’t, but I’m going to get what I want, and what I want is you to be screaming my name as I slam into you from behind. You may as well use me too.”
I’d replayed his words over and over again in my head all night. And to think I’d thought his sexts were hot…the man, in person, was something else entirely. Those words had made me wet all night, and if I said I wasn’t curious of what he’d do tonight then that would be a lie.
And besides…I needed the money. And I would sacrifice a little of my self worth if it meant that Leo would be okay.
This is crazy - reckless, even. But something about Elio Lombardi has me completely hooked, even if I would never admit it out loud. His undeniable charisma, the way he can command any room he enters... It’s intoxicating.
“Get a grip, Stella,” I tell myself, sliding into the driver’s seat. The car hums to life, and I take a deep breath before pulling into traffic.
With each mile I cover, the disbelief and nervousness grow stronger. But so does curiosity. What kind of man is Elio really?
I pullup to Elio’s mansion. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of the sprawling estate before me, a testament to his wealth and power. The grandeur and opulence surrounding his home is almost overwhelming, with its intricate stonework, vast gardens, and regal fountains.
What did I expect from a billionaire?
I step out of my car, my heart pounding, and close the door behind me. The gravel crunches beneath my feet as I approach the enormous, dark wood front door before knocking on it. Every inch of me feels alive, nerves buzzing with anticipation.