Page 128 of My Italian Love Affair

She wants me. Shestillwants me.

Good.

“I’ve been thinking about you,” I murmur.

“Matteo…”

My free hand lifts to brush a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Tell me you’ve been thinking about me too,” I say, my voice low now. “Tell me you want this, that youfeel thisjust as much as I do.”

She swallows, shifting slightly.

“I - ”

“I’d kiss you right now if I could,” I cut her off, tilting my head down, my mouth just a whisper from hers. “But I wouldn’t stop there, Daphne. Icouldn’tstop. And I don’t think you’d want me to.”

She makes a small, strangled noise at the back of her throat, and my smirk deepens.

I fuckinglovewinding her up.

She straightens, squaring her shoulders like she’s trying to regain control, but I don’t let her move away.

“I hate you,” she whispers.

My grin is wicked.

“No, you don’t.”

Her breath shudders, and I can practically feel her resolve breaking.

But before I can push her any further, she does the one thing I don’t expect.

She lifts her chin, meets my gaze -

Andsmiles.

Not a real one, of course. A smug, knowing smirk.

“You’re going to have to work a lot harder thanthat, Rossi.”

And then, before I can react, she slips under my arm, unlocks her car, and slides inside.

She rolls the window down just as she starts the engine.

“Goodnight, Matteo.”

I smirk, watching as she pulls away, my pulse still hammering in my chest.

It’s decided.

The memory of her has haunted me for days, and there’s only one thing left to do.

Make her mine.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Daphne

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