Page 63 of Italy Can Bite Me

Idon’tknowwhereI’m going, only that I need to get away before I lose what control I have left.

My dick is so hard it could drill through concrete, thanks to Katie Crawford’s teasing fingers. What the fuck is she doing to me? My pulse pounds in my ears, and every step away from that table feels like a battle I’m barely winning.

I need to walk this fire off. Away from the torture of watching her lips wrap around her wine glass while pretending I wasn’t imagining those same lips wrapped around my cock.

“Matteo!” Her voice slices through the vineyard.

Don’t turn around. Don’t look at her.

“Slow down!” Katie’s sandals click against the stone path. “Where are you going?”

I round the corner of the villa where the ancient vines cling to the walls. My feet betray me, halting mid-step. I spin around so fast she crashes into my chest with a surprised gasp. The contact is brief before she stumbles back, but it’s enough to make my body roar to life.

Her scent overwhelms me—strawberries, always strawberries—wrapping around my senses like a silken noose. I drink her in: tousled hair wild from her sprint, cheeks flushed with heat, and those lips parted like she’s daring me to close the distance. Her dress dances along her thighs in the evening breeze, taunting me. Testing me.

Madonna santa, I want her. The weight of it terrifies me.

“What’s gotten into you tonight, principessa?” My voice is low, edged with frustration.

“Hopefully you.” The words slip out before her eyes go wide and she claps her hand over her mouth.

Sweet fucking torture.

“Is this about Jared?” I grind out his name.

“No.”

“Cristo, what was that back there, Katie? Another calculated move in your grand plan.” I gesture toward my cock, which strains against my zipper like it’s trying to break free and run to her. “Seduce the tour guide to get back at your ex? Because if that’s your goal—congratulazioni. You succeeded.”

She bites that full bottom lip like she always does when she’s trying to stay in control.Scopami, I want to taste it.

No. Professional distance.

“What do you want from me, Katie?”

“I want to know what it feels like!” she shouts.

“Per favore,help me understand.”

“To be wanted.” Her voice falters, but she doesn’t look away. “Really wanted. With Jared, I never… I mean, we did, but I never…” She groans, covering her face. “I’ve never had an orgasm.”

Everything inside me goes deadly still.

The confession ricochets through my skull like a bullet.

She pulls her hands away just enough for me to see the flush creeping down her neck. “God, this is so embarrassing.”

Embarrassing?My jaw tightens and hot, sharp anger floods my system.

Not at her. Athim.

No pleasure? None? From a man who had the right to touch her every night for years? How dare he? How fucking dare anyone have this bellissima donna in their bed and not satisfy her? Not discover every sound, every sigh, every tremor of satisfaction she’s capable of making?

My fingers twitch at my sides.

“Never?”

“No. It was always about his needs.” She huffs out a bitter laugh. “I thought that’s just how it was. Or maybe I thought I wasn’t capable. Like maybe something was wrong with me.”

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