Page 5 of Hook

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Can we change the subject?”

“Of course.” I sense a hint of disappointment in his tone. “Besides enjoying having dinner with me, what are your interests?”

His arrogance never ceases to amaze me, but of all the things he could have asked, that’s the one thing I wish he hadn’t.

“Well,” I pause before continuing, “I love nature and observing wildlife.”

When his expression remains neutral, I feel comfortable enough to continue. My dad has always called my love of wildlife photography silly and a waste of time.

“I find peace in taking photos of landscapes and animals.” There’s something extraordinary about capturing the beauty of this world which has existed for countless years. It’s when I’m surrounded by nature that I discover a tranquility that can’t be found in anything else, especially bird watching; there’s something magical about seeing a gorgeous bird soaring through the sky and witnessing the colorful feathers in motion.

“A photographer?” he asks, his eyebrow arching in intrigue.

I nod. “Yes.”

He grins. “How about you capture shots of me naked?”

My mouth dries and heat rushes through my body. Taking photos of this irresistible man nude? I can’t even begin to imagine how I’d focus. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say.

“Come on, relax. Tell you what, let’s take a stroll in the garden. It’s a lovely evening and you do like nature.”

I smile at the idea of getting some fresh air. “That sounds lovely.”

Piero stands, offering me his hand. “Shall we?”

I take his hand in mine and he pulls me to my feet, smiling at me.

“You are the most stunning woman I have ever seen,” he breathes.

My heart flutters at his words and I remember all the stunning models he’d been linked to in the past.

What an absurd lie.

“I hardly believe that’s true, considering all the models you’ve dated in the past.”

His past conquests are common knowledge and plastered all over the internet. It makes me wonder whether he can be a faithful husband or not.

“Nothing compares to you, tesoro mio.” His sexy accent does funny things to my insides.

I pinch my lips together and shake my head, struggling to believe him. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“My sweet Gwen,” he continues, gazing into my eyes with an intensity that makes me tremble. “They were nothing but pale, stick-thin ghosts with no personality whatsoever.”

The moon casts a soft light over us as we step out onto the stone patio, stretching around the house. “You’re a rare beauty with the best fucking figure I’ve ever seen. And you’re special, not like other girls your age.”

My stomach somersaults at his words as no one has ever payed me compliments like him.

Ahead of us stands an old fountain, gurgling peacefully in the night air. The stars twinkle above it, giving it a magical feel. “This place...it’s breathtaking,” I whisper in awe as he leads me closer to the fountain.

He steps closer, radiating heat.

“The sound of running water always calms me,” I say.

In a split second, Piero grips my hips and pulls my back tight against him. I can feel the hard bulge through his trousers as it rubs against my ass. His lips brush my earlobe as he speaks with a low voice. “There’s something else that’s calming…”

A shiver runs down my spine and I feel my heart skip a beat. “What?”

“Kissing,” he responds in a seductive tone before spinning me around and pressing his lips to mine in a passionate kiss.

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