His Wicked Temptation

Chapter Twenty-Five

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nouveau chapitre
(m.) new chapter

EMILIANO

"So do you even know Rosabelle's favorite food?" Rafael de Luca, Rosabelle's brother, sat beside me, his gaze narrowing on Rosabelle and me as we exchanged conversation. A mischievous grin on his face as he casually asked.

I turned to face him, returning his smile. "What do you expect?" I replied playfully.

He chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I expect you not to know. She hasn't shared her favorite food in twenty years even with me. I'd feel betrayed if she told you," he said with a hint of sadness, but Rosabelle rolled her eyes at him. "I told you, I don't have a favorite food. I like anything that's considered food."

"Liar. Everyone has a favorite."

"I'm not everyone, Rafe."

I watched their dramatic bickering for who knows how long until their older brother, Romario de Luca, silenced them.

His demeanor screamed of everything that indicates he was a mafia heir. The way he demanded, the way he sat, and the way he talked, everything about him felt imposing.

I didn't like him. And it seemed mutual.

His dark gaze briefly met mine, then turned away in irritation, and I couldn't help but smirk.

It would feel good to get on his nerves sometimes.

"Sis, if your big man ever leaves you, just tell me," Rafael's sudden words pulled me back into their conversation, his expression quite serious for someone who smiled and laughed like a maniac even on the day of our conflict, and Rosabelle was taken aback as well. Then he continued just as Rosabelle began to speak, "I'll take him."

My poor muse nearly choked on her food, her expression held disbelief as she gazed at her brother. He raised an eyebrow, as if wondering if he said something wrong.

"In a fight?"

"What did you think?"

Bastard.

I smirked at Rosabelle when she looked at me, and sent a wink her way. "Don't worry about his words, Belle. I can be very loyal as well."

"God, you two are unbelievable."

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Romario's little, almost vague smile at his sister's gestures, but when he felt my glare, his smile vanished.

But I saw what I needed to see.

Rosabelle had a wholesome family, and I was happy for her.

Then the room fell into pin-drop silence as Rosabelle's father, Gabriel de Luca, entered the place, his demeanor exuding as much authority.

Some of my men who were present in the room didn't take long to prepare themselves for any potential danger, their posture changing in a second. After all, I didn't fully trust the de Lucas.

The negotiations began afterward.

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"Emi," Rosabelle gasped as I bit her earlobe, my tongue grazing the soft flesh. "Someone will see. Stop, please."

"Why should I listen to you, Belle?" I smirked against her neck, savoring her scent. "Did you listen to me?"

I kissed her lips before she could open her mouth in protest, preparing herself to give the same excuse she's been giving for days.

I'm sorry.

She repeated the words until I couldn't help forgiving her anymore. My forgiveness didn't matter though; I would have taken Rosabelle for myself, forgiven or not.

She melted into the kiss, relaxing in my arms as I sat on the railing of her balcony, caging her frame against mine.

"You know you can't come here like this, right?" She said between kisses. "I do. But do I look like I care? No."

She chuckled, and then pulled away to catch her breath but couldn't escape my embrace. Her chest heaved up and down, and my hand trailed from her waist to her chest, touching the soft mound of flesh.

"Emi," she whined again, only to not continue what she wanted to say. Guess, my muse was forgetful as well. "What is it, Bella?" I teased with a grin before kissing her neck again.

"Come into my room, please," her hair swayed in the wind, and she shivered a bit. "I thought you were afraid someone would see." I chuckled as she whined again, pulling me close by my nape. "Let them. I don't care."

"Aww, really?"

"Emi!"

I descended from the railing, lifting her by the waist as she wrapped her legs around my hips. I kissed her again, leading us into her room.

The room was filled with the fragrance of candles, everything befitting for a mafia princess. Hints of pink, a king-sized bed with off-white sheets, and a flower vase on her nightstand.

"Seriously, how do you even get in?" She murmured, her voice oddly low for someone who claimed not to care if anyone saw her with an unknown man in her room.

I smiled against her skin, laying her down on the soft mattress. "You've got weak security, Belle."

"No way. I'm damn sure it's one of your tricks." She played with my shirt buttons as I hovered above her, tracing her curves.

Then I took her hand and kissed it gently. "Quite the right assumption, darlin'."

I had been sneaking into her room for a few days by hacking their security system. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't the hardest either.

"Are you sure the door is locked, darlin'? Nobody will walk in?" She rolled her eyes, already knowing that I was saying these only to increase her nervousness "You're a menace, really."

"Thanks, darlin'."

Then she asked something that made me pause. "How do you feel about the meet and greet today?"

I groaned immediately, already irritated by the reminder that I had to wait a week to have Rosabelle by my side. "Your papa is fucking lucky I listened to his decisions. I'd have cut the deal off had it been not for you." Nobody gets to deny my demands. Only my pretty muse's papa could. And I think I'd forgive him for that.

"Maybe you agreed because you'll be his son-in-law," she teased. "After all, Emiliano Nikolayev follows etiquette dutifully."

I laughed a little, and she places a kiss on my jaw, pulling me closer once more. "Didn't know you were so excited to marry me, Belle," I joked in return, knowing fully well that she'd blush like a rose now.

And she did.

Then I kissed the sweetness of her delicate lips, savoring the taste. And savoring her.

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