"You like it, don't you?"
"What?" I managed to breathe.
"The fear, Miss Night," he mused, "you crave it."
_______________________________________
Sabina Night owes Antonio Marafi her life.
But when he asks her to spy on the Russo crime family, Sabin...
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We took a moment apart to breathe, to look at each other and know that the moment we had been anticipating for months was within reach.
Don Russo and Marafi couldn't stop the collision between us. But Gio and I were as powerless as them, our bodies drawn to each other from the moment he entered Marafi's club. From the moment I negotiated that contract.
So we stared at each other, both of our chests rising and waiting for the cataclysm.
Gio turned and walked toward the kitchen, passing the half unpacked boxes with my belongings as he went. He retrieved something from the counter and gestured me over to the armchair he leaned against. He held out a small box with an expression that I would describe as bashful if I hadn't known him well.
"For you," he said.
I ran my thumb over the top of the box, my heart skittering a little bit. It wasn't— it couldn't be. It was too soon. He must have read the small expression of alarm on my face because his smile turned into one of amusement.
"It's not a ring. Though, later we should discuss why you looked so concerned."
I glared at him. "Because it would be—well, you can't just expect me not to— never mind."
Gio's grin grew, stretching across his face. He pulled me into his arms, my back pressed against his chest and nuzzled his nose into my neck.
He pressed a light kiss to my neck, lighting my whole body up. "Just open it."
I opened the box, trying to maintain the stern expression on my face. It faltered the moment my eyes rested on the dainty gold circlet resting on the small white cushion. A small red ruby dangled between two letters.
"You got me a bracelet with your initials on them?" I asked, looking up at him. Oddly touched.
His lips pulled up in the corner and gently he took the box from my hands. Pulling the piece out of its container, Gio dropped to one knee before me. Looking down at the dark, silky curls I was reminded of another image. One that had my cheeks flaring and my thighs squeezing together. As if reading my mind, he glanced up at me with a sly look in his eyes.
His fingertips brushed the skin on my ankle, like a whisper of cool wind. Then, a new cold feeling. I glanced down and the gold circlet was clasped around my ankle.
He pressed his lips against the skin just above the anklet, and I resisted a shudder. Golden eyes flicked up to mine, glancing at me through dark lashes.
"An anklet, then," I amended, somewhat breathlessly. Perhaps due to the large hands that were slowly making their way up the inside of my calves. Or the lips pressing against parts of my body that I didn't realize were sensitive until just right now. His tongue leaving hot caresses on the outside of my thigh, his thumb stroking circles into my skin.
