Page 16 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

She frowned. No way was he putting all the blame on her. At least she’d had good intentions. Even if they hadn’t lasted past the offer of oral sex. So, she was weak willed.

She pushed herself off the table and wobbled over to where her bra lay on the floor. “You were the one who brought up blow jobs,” she muttered, grabbing it and slipping her arms in, reaching around to fasten the catch at the back. When she glanced up, his eyes were fixed on her breasts, a hot hungry expression on his face. His cock was still sticking up with an air of expectation, and a pulse started up between her thighs.

Not going to happen.

Sadly.

“Cover that goddamn thing up,” she said, waving a hand at his dick. She found her T-shirt slung over the back of a chair, pulled that on and down over her breasts. Now she was covered while he was still pacing the floor with nothing on at all, seemingly oblivious to the fact.

She crossed the room so she intercepted his route. “You’re still naked.”

He stopped abruptly. “Really? How observant of you.”

She sighed. “Look, I’m sorry about the condoms. But I really did come here to talk, and I thought…”

What had she thought? That with condoms at the ready she would have dived straight into bed with him and bugger the consequences?

Well, no one could say she didn’t know herself. Vito was clearly a weakness, one she now realized had been kept at bay by guilt. No way could she have had him while she was lying and in league with his enemies.

But once he’d come after her, things had changed.

This was the real her. Well, as real as she got. And seemingly, he still wanted her. That’s why she had succumbed so easily.

How sad is that?

But that didn’t mean he liked her. And it certainly didn’t mean he loved her. Sex and love were two entirely different things. He’d loved the old, fake Gabrielle. Hewantedthis new Gabby. It meant nothing—except maybe that under that Mr. Perfect exterior he was as screwed up as she was. And besides, there was still the fact that he had no clue of her connection to the Scarlesis, and she had no intention of telling him. Not yet, anyway. And not without talking to Luca first—which wasn’t happening anytime soon.

Christ, her life was a mess. She’d think it was getting better, that she was sorting her shit out, and then everything would fall apart again.

Keep focusing on the positives. Her brother was out of trouble, and her mother was responding well to treatment. After all, that’s what this whole thing had been about, and she refused to regret it.

“You’re thinking way too much.”

Vito interrupted her thoughts—still naked, still rampantly erect. She gave his cock a last longing look and turned away.

Pity.

He exhaled loudly. “I’ll go put some clothes on. Why don’t you order room service? I need coffee and food.”

She gave a weak smile. “I could ask for condoms. The Savoy probably has an emergency stash for frustrated guests. I’m sure somewhere they say they provide youreveryneed.”

He shook his head. “Probably not a good idea. I think the moment has passed.”

Tell that to your dick.

His erection clearly hadn’t caught up with the no-condom situation. She bit back a smile as he turned and headed into the bedroom then through the door opposite, presumably into the bathroom. He didn’t bother closing the door, and a moment later she heard the shower run.

She searched the floor, found her panties and pulled them on, then crossed to the phone. As she picked it up, her stomach rumbled. Mind-blowing orgasms had that effect on her—not that she’d ever had one quite so mind-blowing. Or two, really. It was a good job she hadn’t known just how clever he was with that mouth of his, or she might never have found the strength to walk away six months ago.

She called room service and ordered two full breakfasts then sat down on the scarlet brocade sofa. Thirty seconds later, she jumped up again, too restless to relax.

So far the morning had not gone as planned. But she could still get things back on track. She had her story down pat, basically no real lies, just a little…embellishment here and there. For his own good.

She’d dressed as slutty as she could manage in an attempt to show him clearly that she was not his type of woman. Vito would see the sense in what she was saying, and this timehewould be the one to walk away. He would get over her, and she could somehow lose the guilt that dogged her since she’d agreed to Luca’s crazy plan.

Ten minutes later—what was he doing in the shower all that time? —he came out fully dressed in faded jeans and a black T-shirt. He looked nothing like a business tycoon and it knocked her off-balance a little. Of course, he’d occasionally been sort of casual in Sicily, but smart-casual, and more often than not he’d been in full businessman, billionaire mode, dashing from meeting to meeting, but somehow finding time for her in his busy schedule.

This looked relaxed-casual, and he appeared at home in the clothes. A knock sounded at the door, and he crossed over, opened it, then stood aside to allow the waiter to wheel in the trolley. He set the food out on the dining table where she had so recently been pleasured—a twinge ran through her—and wheeled the trolley away. Vito pulled a bank note from his pocket, handed it to the man, and closed the door behind him.

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