Page 84 of Empire of Seduction

He released my arm and propped his elbows on the edge of the jacuzzi. “Stroke my cock. See what you do to me.”

I reached back in the water and found him, thick and hot. I gave a few rough tugs, loving the feel of him. It wasn’t enough, though. I needed him deep inside.

His hand dipped between us and his thumb instantly found my clit, rubbing it expertly. Gasping, I squeezed his shaft as my eyes closed. “Oh, god.”

I felt his mouth close around one of my nipples, followed by glorious suction. He let me go with a wet pop. “Tell me why you were upset today.” Another lick sent a tremble through me, his thumb circling the hard bud of my sex. My heart pounded inside my chest, desire gnawing in my lower half, thanks to his perfect rhythm.

Just when I thought he’d forgotten, he asked, “Why did you go off alone?”

“Let’s go inside,” I panted.

“If you want me to fuck you, angelo mio, tell me why.” His voice was low and coaxing, his thumb continuing its steady, maddening pace. “I want to know why you were crying today.”

I went for a distraction, instead. Giving him a strong tug, I whispered, “Wouldn’t you like to slide your big cock inside me? Show me that I belong to you?”

A shudder went through his body and a surge of triumph filled me. It was short-lived, though, because he rubbed me faster. My clit throbbed, all the sensation focused right in that tiny bundle of nerves. I released his shaft to grip both of his shoulders. “Oh, god.”

His mouth met the shell of my ear. “Who do you think can last longer? Me or you?”

I whimpered. We were outside, under the stars, his hard muscles under me, and the orgasm was quickly building in my belly. The water, his thumb, the steam . . . “Fuck,” I gritted out.

His chuckle was dark as he slowed his thumb to a torturous, feather-light crawl. “You will not win this battle—and as soon as you tell me why, I’ll let you come.”

“Maybe I had a shitty day.” I tried to chase his hand with my hips. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.” He gentled his tone. “You crumbled today and it can’t be about Beppe. I want to know what happened.”

“Vito.” My voice was a pathetic whine. The fever clawed and scratched, a need so forceful that I was having trouble stringing two words together.

He grabbed my jaw in one of his palms, his gaze taking in my face. “You think I don’t care? You think I wasn’t worried sick when you disappeared? Bella, I will tear this goddamn town apart with my bare hands if someone looks at you the wrong way. You get hurt? I will burn it all to the ground without a second thought.”

I shook my head, my thoughts jumbled. He wasn’t helping. I just wanted an orgasm while he whispered filthy Italian words in my ear. “Touch me, please. I need you so badly.”

His lips pressed softly to my cheekbones, over my nose, up to my forehead. “So sweet. Keep going. Tell me what went on in your head earlier.” His thumb stroked harder, tight little circles that curled my toes. “Let me make it better.”

“Right there, don’t stop.”

He indulged me for a few seconds, then withdrew. “Tell me.”

I sank my nails into his shoulders, the will to battle with him receding. What did it matter if I told him? He couldn’t change any of it. And I was dying for his dick to show me a good time.

I floated away from him and he let me go. I bobbed in the swirling water and tried to think how to put it. “It’s all too much. Losing the winery, feeling like I disappointed my father. My brother, who definitely has a gambling problem. Everything sucks. And then there’s you.”

“What about me?” he asked when I paused.

“Well, in one breath you’re telling me this is a short-term thing, but in the next you’re ordering me to say I belong to you. And now I have a guard but you won’t tell me why, even though it’s clear there’s trouble. Then Maz is telling me about all the orgies with models the two of you used to have . . . ” Sighing, I shook my head. “Look, we both know this is just sex and that’sfine. So don’t try to make it more, okay? It’s messing with my head.”

He brought a hand up to rub his jaw. I’d come to learn this was Vito-speak forI need a minute. Letting the jets work their magic, I waited and enjoyed the water.

“Maggie, I do need to return to Toronto. When I say I’m here for only a short time, this isn’t a lie.”

“I know,” I said. “I get it, really.”

“No, you don’t. I—” He scowled at the water, then looked at me again. “I can’t stop myself from giving you orders and bending you to my will when we’re in bed. I won’t even try—it’s too addicting. But there’s more happening and I can’t explain it. The jealousy I feel, the possessiveness. The need to protect you, the need to fuck you every minute of the day. I’m also losing my mind, capisce?”

He reached for me under the water and found my ankle, then tugged me toward him. I went willingly and ended up on his lap again. Using his thumb, he smoothed my damp eyebrows one at a time. “What I said in the alley is true. You are turning me inside out.”

I wasn’t sure this made me feel any better. So we were both fucked?

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