Page 53 of Empire of Seduction

A muscle popped in his clean-shaven jaw. “Stay out of my personal life.”

I couldn’t resist pushing him. “That wasn’t what you wanted at the casino. As I recall, you were telling me how I was the best?—”

“That’s enough,” he snapped. “No more wine for you.”

While I was day-drunk, I wasn’t dead. I still had a backbone. “You don’t get to order me around, Vito.”

His smile turned slick, an evil tilt of his lips that caused butterflies in my stomach. “That wasn’t what you wanted thenight at the casino,” he repeated, using my words against me. “As I recall, you were begging me to tell you?—”

“Knock it off.”

“—exactly what to do. You liked it when I ordered you around.”

A thrill raced down my spine, and my nipples shamefully hardened into tight little points. God, Vito had been extremely bossy in bed and I’d loved every minute of it. From the way he dressed, to the way he walked and talked, this man was like competence porn on steroids. But I didn’t need any memories to resurface right now.

“That was before I knew what a dick you are,” I said.

I thought he might get angry again, but his smile didn’t diminish in the least. In fact, it grew. He appeared . . . relieved. Amused. Almost happy. Like he’d been waiting all along for this exchange.

Shifting in my chair, I tugged the edges of my jacket closer to cover my nipples. “Are we done? Because I’d like to go and join them.”

“Eat.” He pointed to the plate in front of me. “And then you may go. You need more food in your stomach.”

“What I need is for you to leave me alone,” I said under my breath, popping a piece of prosciutto and parm in my mouth.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” I swallowed. “Why were you late today? Mafia business?”

“Worried about me?”

“No.” I ate some more. “I couldn’t care less about you or your whereabouts, Vito.”

“You are a terrible liar, bella.”

“Really? Because I convinced you that you’re good in bed. So, who’s a bad liar now, hmm?”

He sipped his wine, eyes dancing with smugness. “Unfortunately for you, I can count. And seven orgasms do not lie.”

Whether it was the wine or Vito’s words—or just sitting close to him—I could feel myself growing wet between my legs, my body getting turned on. And that was un-fucking-acceptable. I didn’t need any reminders of that night or how amazing his dick was. I was done with this walk down memory lane.

Grabbing the plate, I stood up. “Drop dead, Vito.”

I heard him chuckle as I walked away.

ten

. . .

Vito

Squinting in the low light,I let my eyes adjust to the main room. The smell of disinfectant assaulted me, the bass rattling in my chest. The sun was shining outside, but you’d never know it inside this dark windowless room. Lights flashed and the party atmosphere was desperate to catch on. A guy yelled on the microphone, promoting drink specials to the half-dozen men scattered around the room.

“Welcome to Sparkles,” a girl said, approaching me, Cesare and Tommaso. She held a tray up near her ample tits and eyed me up and down. “I haven’t seen you here before. Want a table, honey?”

I nodded and the three of us were given a horseshoe-shaped booth facing the stage. One dancer gyrated and twirled around a pole, while two other girls worked the floor. I needed to talk to some of the girls first before I approached the owner.

We ordered drinks and the girl left to get them. “I’ll talk to a few of the dancers,” I told Cesare and Tommaso. “Keep ordering drinks but don’t drink them.”

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