Page 8 of Empire of Seduction

Her brows pinched together in adorable confusion. “Vito, I came twice. You came. It was amazing and now it’s done.”

“Did you not hear me say that I plan to fuck you all night? Bella, we’ve only just begun.”

“Really?” She popped another piece of candy between her lips as her eyes did a very slow sweep of my body. My dick stirred to life under her thoughtful brown stare. “Because you look pretty worn out.”

I pushed out of the chair and hoisted her up over my shoulder in one smooth move. She squeaked and the brown bag dropped to the carpet. “My candy!”

“Don’t worry,” I said as I carried her to the bedroom. “I’ll find something else to put in your mouth.”

three

. . .

Now

Vito

Fiorentino Winery, New York

I watchedthe brother’s face, flush with embarrassment, his mouth unable to form the words. Delivering bad news was a specialty of mine, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.

“What he is trying to tell you,” I told her calmly, “is that he has lost your winery. To me.”

I watched her struggle with that information, comprehension slow to dawn on her face. I could wait. Patience was also a specialty of mine.

It also gave me time to wrap myself around her presence at the winery.

Have a plan. Then have a backup plan. It was how I functioned, how I survived, but this—her being here—hadn’t been part ofeitherplan.

I like women a lot, but unwanted attachments and expectations were not ideal for men in my world. I learned that as a teen when I fell for the wrong woman. Now I did everything possible to avoid repeat performances.

Except Maggie was here, in my new winery. If her shock wasn’t completely genuine, I might’ve suspected she and her brother had dreamed up this scheme to trap me. But she hadn’t known. I’m very good at reading people and her surprise was one-hundred-percent real.

As if to prove my point, she balled up her fist and punched her brother in the stomach.

Michael doubled over, holding himself as he groaned. Maggie whirled toward me. She was no longer stunned. She wasfurious.

And beautiful. I shouldn’t have noticed, especially now, but it was unavoidable. She was a fantastic lay, one of the best I’ve ever had, and I liked the t-shirt and jeans she now wore, showing a woman comfortable in her own skin. It reminded me of her confidence that night, how she wasn’t afraid to ask for exactly what she wanted.

Fuck me hard, Vito. I want to feel it tomorrow.

But there was no lust in her expression now. Instead, she was taught as a wire, her eyes snapping green fire. A tiny dragon ready to eat her enemy—me—alive.

“You can’t have it.”

I remained cool, logical. There was no place for emotion when it came to business. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that, signorina.”

“I don’t give a shit how it works,signore. I’m telling you that you can’t have my—ourwinery.”

Normally, I wouldn’t explain myself. But after our night together, I figured Maggie deserved an explanation. “Fair is fair, no? I put my money into the pot and your brother put his—andmy—money in the pot. He lost. Therefore, everything in the pot is now mine.”

“No, it’s not. And nothing about this is fair.”

I sighed. I had hoped this would go smoother. “I assure you the game was fair. It is not my fault that your brother wagered an amount he couldn’t afford to lose.” I shrugged. “But he did.”

“We’ll give you money,” she said. “We’ll pay the debt.”

“Maggie.” Michael’s voice sounded tired. “You know we can’t.”

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