Page 74 of Vicious Heir

“I couldn’t. I tried not to. But there were nights when I sat and watched you sleep.”

“You watched me sleep?” I close my eyes and bite my lip. “That’s actually creepy.”

“I know.” His arms tighten around me. “I don’t care.”

“I don’t either.”

“Just give me more time. I’m coming around. Finally emptying out the last of my father’s room feels like I’m getting there.”

I nod into him. I hate this. I wish we didn’t need to have this conversation, but I’ve been a mess without him. I can’t pretend anymore like I’m keeping myself together.

“I’m here when you’re ready.”

He tilts my chin up and kisses me. It’s slow and gentle, but just as hungry. I’d throw myself at him right now if he asked me to. I’d let him take me against the front door. Screw the neighbors. But I know that’s just sad and desperate.

“Soon, baby. Very soon.”

He kisses me again. Then he releases me and goes back into the house. I’m left on the porch hugging myself, feeling like that couldn’t have just happened. My husband couldn’t have kissed me, held me, and talked like he actuallycaresabout me.

I touch my lips. They’re still warm from his.

Chapter 26

Lucy

Two days pass. Nothing changes.

I keep expecting to find him around every corner, but Adriano’s gone. Donatella has no clue where he went. His guards keep their mouths shut whenever I try to get anything out of them. Luca seems like he wants to say something, but he only shakes his head. “Sorry, but I can’t,” is the best I get when I press him on where the Don has disappeared to.

I take a long, hot shower, thinking about the day we cleaned out his father’s bedroom. He seemed more like himself than he has in a while. The stress of this war he’s fighting is clearly getting to him, and losing his father only made it infinitely worse. But for a little while, I saw him, the man hidden beneath the layers of darkness and death, and I liked it. I wanted more. Even now I’m wondering when I’ll get another glimpse, and my stomach does little flips just thinking about his hands on my hips and his mouth against my neck.

I get out and wrap myself in a towel. I’m humming to myself, not thinking about anything but what I’ll have for dinner, whenI open the bathroom door and go to get changed. I’m oblivious to the world around me because I’m so used to being alone these days.

Which is why I don’t notice him until the towel is down around my ankles and I’m standing butt-ass naked in front of my walk-in closet.

Adriano’s sitting in bed with a book in his lap staring at me.

He doesn’t seem amused.

His expression is pure, burning, skin-melting lust. If I had clothes on, they’d literally explode off my body from the look he’s giving me.

“Oh,” I say, eyes going wide. I’m embarrassed and terrified and deeply,deeplyaroused. “Where didyoucome from?”

He sets the book aside calmly. “I was out of town.”

“Uh, okay.” I cover my breasts with both arms. Then I realize my bottom is bare, though luckily I’m freshly groomed down there, but decide to cover that with one hand. Somehow that only makes it worse, covering my pussy with one hand and my tits with one arm. I’m spilling out, and he’s looking at me like he’s about to devour every inch of my body. Ilovethat look. “You could’ve called.”

“I was touring a Canadian drug pipeline up in the northern provinces.” His lips quirk as he tilts his head. “There’s not much cell service.”

“Sounds super inconvenient. Do you mind if I just get dressed real quick?”

“I definitely mind.”

“Oh, no,” I say, backing into the closet as he slowly climbs out of bed. “You don’t get to kiss me, act like things are going to change, and then disappearagain, then come back and expect—” I trail off as he looms in my closet door.

“Expect what, darling?” His eyes are predatory, and there’s a smile on his lips.

My jaw grinds with frustration. “How come everyone acted like they couldn’t talk about where you went?”

---