I frown, unsure if I like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”
“I mean Nicoli sees you as his,” Leandra says bluntly. “And try as you might, you will never get him to see it otherwise. He will fight you. He will infuriate you. He will try to manipulate you by kissing and making love to you. And he might even go as far as getting you pregnant and locking you in a bedroom to get that point across.”
We chuckle, and I say, “Making light of a situation that was actually really fucked up probably makes us as morally gray as the guys.”
“It’s in the past.” She smiles. “It can’t be changed.”
I take her hand and squeeze. “Just like the whole ordeal with Felix is in my past and can’t be changed. I won’t let it steal precious time from me by wallowing in it.”
“Good for you,” she says. “I’m proud of you. And I know Nicoli is, too. Can I give you some friendly advice from one Del Rossa wife to the other?”
“Please. I think I’m going to need it.”
She leans closer, mischief swirling in your eyes. “During the day, they want us to be queens at their side. But at night…” she grins, “they need us to be slaves at their feet. And at night, we have the power to make them give us what we want.”
I can feel my cheeks flush at her words. My heart races as what she’s suggesting sinks in. The thought of being at Nicoli’s mercy, of submitting to him completely, sets my body ablaze with a desire I can’t ignore. And if I can use that to my advantage…why not?
ChapterTwenty-Four
NICOLI
Iwalk into my bedroom and breathe in, unclasping the Rolex from my wrist. I look up and come to a screeching halt when I find Mira lounging on the couch, wearing nothing but one of my black ties and her sexy as fuck red stiletto heels. Her long legs are bent at the knee, and the silk tie draws attention to her firm breasts, which quickly rise and fall with excitement.
I slam the door shut with such force that the walls shake and the windows shudder in their frames.
Mira’s blood-red lips part slightly, her eyes darkening with desire as I approach her.
“Anyone could have walked in here,” I warn.
“Good thing it was you, then.”
I don’t take my eyes off her as I pull off my shirt in one swift motion, already hard at the sight of Mira’s luscious body. “What are you doing?”
“I moved my stuff into your bedroom just like you asked me to.”
“You did?” I don’t take my eyes off her to look around.
She nods. “I did take the liberty of changing your sheets.” Only then do I notice my old sheets are gone, replaced with red silk. “I don’t know about you, but I find sleeping on a pillow that smells like skank unappealing.”
I snicker, knowing she’s referring to Paula. I go to stand in front of her and run a finger along her naked shoulder, down her arm, and over the curve of her hip. “What changed your mind?”
Swinging her legs off the couch, she settles in front of me, her beautiful face staring upward. “As you said, we won’t be that couple who sleep in separate bedrooms. I decided to agree.”
I grab her chin between my fingers, the intensity in her eyes sending a shiver right through me. “What changed your mind? The truth this time.”
She licks her lips, and I’m clenching my jaw because I want to lick off the sheen her tongue left behind. “I’m done,” she says quietly. “I don’t want to play this game anymore.”
I ease her face to the side, studying every contour of it, then lift it more so I can l see the exquisite curve of her throat. “You were a terrible player, anyway.”
Her full, sultry lips curl up in a grin. “You weren’t at the top of your game yourself.”
“I was distracted.”
Mira sucks on her bottom lip, staring at me through thick black lashes as she loosens my belt. The snap of the leather as she rips it from around my waist has me snarling as I peer down at her.
“Anything distracting you now?” she asks, reaching inside my pants.
“Nothing I can’t handle.”