CATERINA
Now I understand why Tatiana was dead set on getting dressed up tonight. We’re both wearing cocktail dresses and sky–high heels when we enter the upscale restaurant Gianni owns.
I have to remind myself to not look like too much of a rule as I try to take everything in, the sleek, dark interior, the shining bar spanning, one wall, and the open kitchen further back. The crew works like a well–oiled machine, moving quickly but smoothly through the process of creating food that smells good enough to make my stomach clench with hunger.
“Right this way,” the perky hostess beckons with a smile. “It’s been a long time since we last saw you, Mr. Rossetti, But we Inow you’re a busy man.”
And let’s be honest,” he replies with a charming prin. “Nobody whits to work with the owner looking over their shoulder.” She blushes and giggles, which makes me want to scream. Where did that come from? That sudden, blinding rush of rage? 1 never thought of myself as a jealous person, but maybe I was wrong
I want to wind an arm around his waist and silently tell her he’s mine, but I will not sink to that level.
Besides, I’m waiting for his move. He might think I’ll let our earlier conversation go, but he has another thing coming. He can’t expect me to show up on his arm without being willing to make a public commitment, so right now, I’m merely his guest.
The whole situation leaves me conflicted as Gianni pulls my chair way from the table so I can take a seat at his right hand. His fingertips skim the nape of my neck before he pulls out Tatiana’s chair across from mine. Even though it’s still humid and threatening to storm, we’re both wearing shawls to cover our respective bruises.
I guess all it took was her coming clean with me to pick up her spins because her eyes sparkle with genuine warmth even when Ruger sits beside her. He leaves plenty of space, as usual, but she doesn’t sneer at him the way she normally would. “You got roped into eating with us, huh?”
“I do what the boss says.” As usual, he’s not one for big conversations
“I guess there are some perks that come with the job.” Anybody could hear the undercurrent of snarkiness, but all he does is blow out a deep breath through flared nostrils. He’s not taking the bait tonight.
The chet comes out to greet us, clasping one of Gianni’s hands in both of his before we’re joined by a pair of tall, slim men dark suits. The older of the two is handsome in a silver fox kind of way, his salt and pepper hair and icy gray eyes in contrast to his tanned skin. Both men share the same long, thin faces and cleft in their chins,
Father and son, the Moronis Gianni told us about them on the way here.
“Look who it is,” Roger murmurs as he pushes his chair back. “Your future husband.” Tatiana flushes, shooting him a tilthy look before he stands to shake hands with the men.
Gianni nods to Tatiana “Jack, Donovan, this is my daughter, Tatiana. ”
I hold my breath, my skin tingling before Gianni’s gaze falls on me “And this is her friend, Caterina.”
I force an overly wide smile, nodding to the men before they both plant a kiss against the back of my hand. Donovan sits to my right, while his father sits opposite Gianni at the rectangular table. We’re seated close to the kitchen, the chel’s tasting table, partly secluded by a low wall separating us from the rest of the dining room.
This would be like something out of a dream if it wasn’t for the disappointment that’s slammed into me. What did I expect? For Gianni to stand on his chair and announce to the entire restaurant that I’m his woman? I don’t even want us to be public yet- not until figure out a way to explain it to my dad without him having a stroke over it.
But here I am, ready to sulk, feeling like the poor girl who wants to sponge off her rich friend
Stop projecting. Don’t ruin this. I stiften my spine and murmur my thanks to the server, who p
pours me a glass of wine.
+25 BONUS
“Caterina “Donovan’s voice is low and rich as he toms my way in his chair. He’s handsome like his father but just as smarmay There’s an intimacy in the way he whispers to me. “Do you have a st name?”
L
“Sure, I do.”
“Not going to make it easy for me, are you?”
I’m not sure what he’s talking about, so I don’t say anything. When I glance at Roger, he’s glaring openly at Donovan, but looks away when Gianni clears his throat,
Heel like I walked into this situation without knowing all the facts.
“Tatiana, it really is a pleasure to meet you,” Jack says, raising his glass like he’s toasting her. “Lunderstand you spent a good portion of this summer in Europe.”
“It was a gradisation present,” she explains. Considering she bitched to me for hours about this dinner at home, she’s putting on the performance of a lifetime. Nobody would guess how unhappy she is to pretend.
“And what do you plan on doing after this? Any Jobs lined up?” He laughs indulgently, winking at Gianni. “I’m sure your father could pull stine strings.”
“Tatiana will go her own way,” Gianni informs him. The tightness in his voice is obvious. This guy needs to tread lightly, or any deal between them is going to die before it goes through
“And what about you? Donovan asks in a whisper meant only for me. “Did you tour Europe, too?
“No, I had a job lined up already.”
“A hard worker.” His leg brushes firmly againstmine under the table “I like that. Too many girls nowadays expect a take care of them. All they have to do is sit around, look pretty, and get their nails done.”
Cool. Dinner with a side of misogyny Exactly what I was in the mood for.
man to
It’s a relief when the chef comes out to describe the tasting menu he’s created for us tonight. Each course will be paired with a specially chosen wine. I’ll be lucky if I can walk by the end of the night at this rate. At least once we’re eating, there will be something for Donovan to do besides flirt, if that’s what he’s doing
All I know is I wish he wasn’t sitting so close. By the time we’re on the third course, I practically have to angle my knees away from him to keep out of his reach. It doesn’t seem to matter because he keeps finding ways to make contact.
I bump against Gianni’s knee, and his eyes cut my way, the comers of his mouth twitching before he rubs his knee against mine He doesn’t get it, and I can’t come out and announce what’s happening. Tatiana’s oblivious, too, commenting on the little plate of lobster risotto and how well it goes with the white wine pairing Roger only grunts his response. He’d help me, but there’s no way for me to signal for that help.
Finally, I’ve had enough by the time our plates are cleared, and the last sips of crisp white wine don’t do a thing to cool my anger. “Is anything wrong?” I whisper.
“What do you mean?” Donovan whispers playfully, like it’s a joke
“Is there not enough room at the table? Because you keep bumping into me by accident.”
“Who said it was an accident?”
This guy is nauseating “Aren’t you supposed to be here to get to know Tatiana?”
“If I have to marry her, I will.” I recoil in disgust when, instead of sing his leg, he brushes his fingers over my knee. “But my free time is mine.”
“I’m not single. Please, don’t touch me like that. I’m barely moving my lips, so afraid Giant will hear and lose his mind. This deal has to be important to him. I don’t want to ruin it just because this guy is a piece of shit.
“You have no idea how many brainless brats there are in my world”
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+25 BONUS
“I could be brainless, too, for all you know.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” My stomach turns when he touches me again, this time grazing my thigh “I already like what I see. Tran’t wait to learn more.”
I don’t know what makes me do it. Dispusi, rage, Inistration at being ignored when I flat–out told this fucker not to touch me. I want to scream, I want to throw up, I want to slap him across the face in front of everybody.
Instead, I’m a little more discreet. I pick up the fork the server just placed in front of me for the next course and jab it into the back of his hand under the table, out of sighti
Only think I did it a little harder than I wanted.
“What the fuck?” He shoves himself back from the table, holding his hand so everyone can see the fork sticking out of the back. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
“What’s the matter here?” Jack demands.
“Caterina,” Gianni growls.
It’s Roger who speaks up. “He’s been screwing around with her under the table this whole time. She asked him to stop, and that’s what he got.” And unless I’m misreading him, he looks and sounds proud. Happy, even. I didn’t know he was watching that closely
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to Gianni, trembling under the weight of his stare. “I really am. I tried to make him stop.”
“She told you to stop touching her, and you did it anyway?”
Oh, shit This isn’t my fault. I know it’s not my fault, but that doesn’t stop my heart from taking off like a trip–hammer, thudding against my ribs. I’ve seen that look on his face, and I was pure it meant he was going to kill me.
Only now, he’s glaring at Donovan.
“I was just fooling around.” With a grimace, he yanks the fork from his hand, then presses a napkin to it.
Gianni’s breathing hard, gripping the table with both hands. “You touched her? Do you know what I would normally do to a man who touched what’s mine?”
Double shit. I shoot a panicked look at Tatiana, who’s watching everything through wide eyes.
“Yours?” Jack
Jack asks. “Do you mean-
“She is here with me. She is my date this evening and every evening. She’s.. We’re together.”
Not exactly a declaration of love, but relief and joy wash over me. He came out and said I’m his. And if he were any other man the world, I might stick a fork in his hand, too, since I don’t belong to anybody.
No, that’s not true. I do belong to him, and I always have. Now, for better or worse, everybody’s going to know. Maybe I should thank the grimacing, muttering pig next to me for forcing his hand. No pun intended.
Glanni stands, his eyes narrowed into slits that glare across the table. “This meal is over, and unless you’re willing to extend reparations for the discomfort Caterina experienced tonight, the deal is over, too. I’m going to need to give this some thought, and I suggest you do the same.”
“Let’s all take a breath.” Jack’s practically sweating, his voice shaley like he’s overwhelmed. “We can work this out.”
“Get him out of my sight before I turn you down flat,” Gianni warms. “Unless you would like Hoger here to show you the door.”
Roger stands, straightening his tie, looking back and forth between the two men, who are now red–laced and sullen as they
Stand
“And you, come with me.” Glanni practically pulls me out of my chair, and I have no choice but to stumble along behind him.
+25 BONUS
My head is spinning, and my heart’s about to explode. He stood up for me. He wasn’t afraid to tell everyone we’re
‘re together 1 had no idea I would feel this prood when the time finally came, I was worried he’d keep me a secret.
We end up in an empty banquet room lit only by the lights outside shining through the windows. Even though I can only make out his profile, there’s no mistaking the rage that’s still tightening his features.
“I really tried to stop him,” I whisper with my heart in my throat.’m so sorry”
All the breath leaves my lungs when he shoves me against the wall just beside the door and pins me with his body. He’s hard as a rock, pressing against my hip, and his hot breath fans across my face when he leans down.
“Promise me something,” he growls, sending a shiver up my spine “Don’t ever suffer in silence again. Somebody’s touching you, fucking with you? You tell me.”
“I didn’t want to ruin
#promise.”
“I promise. “The words have barely passed my lips, and his mouths on me. His tongue thrusts against mine while he works my dress up over my thighs with shaking hands.
I can’t wrap my head around the way he claimed me out there, out oud, for everybody to hear. I’m his, the way I always wanted to be. My dreams have come true. Now nothing is standing between us
“Fuck I want to go back in there and kill him for touching you,” Gianni growls against my lips
“No. Stay. I need you,” I plead, weaving my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.
“Who do you belong to?” he demands before he pulls aside my thong and sinks two fingers deep inside me. I gasp, pressing my face to his neck to stifle the sound while servers pass back and forth just beyond the door at my side.
“You.” I moan against his skin while he pumps his fingers mercilessly, rubbing my walls and massaging my g–spot until i hump his hand. All I hear is the rushing of blood in my ears and the wet, sloppy sound of his digits invading me. His fingers move faster and faster, and then his thumb presses against my clit, and I detonate.
I dig my nails into his shoulders, the pleasure so intense I’m pretty sure 1stop breathing, but he doesn’t stop. Even now, when we could be discovered, Jae’s determined to prove his power over my body.
“Fuck me,” 1 whisper between gasps for air “Please, I need your cock inside me…”
“Damn, you beg so sweetly, Caterina. My cocks already dripping cum from your sweet moans and cries of pleasure. If I had the time to tease you, I would, but I don’t, and my desire to be inside of you right now is my only thought”
YES!
