Page 21 of Heart's Temptation
Nicolette’s costume consisted of a skintight white tunic and shorts. There wasn’t much hidden from view, her beautiful muscular legs seemed impossibly long as she leapt across the stage. I quickly looked around to see who was staring, but everyone was, including my brothers. Romeo caught me glaring, and smirked defiantly.
Bastardo! He knew exactly what I was going through. Marko was glowing like a proud Daddy, and I wanted to punch him so hard. Didn't he see how everyone was coveting what was ours?
“Stop trying to threaten everyone and watch her. She’s amazing,” he chastised me.
I swiveled my head back to the stage in time for her movements to shift from classical to modern style dance. She swirled her hips and performed impossible bends with her body that had everyone in the audience gasping. She was a star, and I decided right there and then that I would do whatever it took to get her on every stage in the world if that is what she wanted.
I’d beelined to the backstage the moment her dance ended and found her bent over, trying to catch her breath…
Niki had stopped dancing and was leaning on her drenched thighs just like she had been backstage that night, her breath no less labored than it had been back then. She’d never looked better than right now, her body slick with sweat, and her chest heaving from exertion. I was reminded of the similarities with a long night of me and Marko putting her through her paces…
My cock thickened in my silk pants, remembering her on her back instead of her feet. Back in the day we could go all night, and I wondered if that magic was still there, or was it destroyed along with the plans we’d made?
The pain I’d buried and hadn’t felt in years erupted in my chest. What I’d worked so hard to forget slammed into my consciousness like an anvil. Memories of my broken heart that I’d worked hard to subdue, and had successfully shuddered, all came to light as she ripped all my carefully laid band aids to shreds.
The words my father said in the wine cellar that night came back to me like it was yesterday. “When she returns, try not to be too harsh with her. Listen with an open mind before you demonize her, but also make it clear that it will never happen again. Vitale women don’t run. Capiche?”
To hide both my wounds and my appreciation of her, my face remained neutral when I reached out my hand to help her hop off the stage. “Amazing, Niki, great job.” The praise came out so naturally it took a minute for my carefully crafted façade to drop back into place.
She placed her delicate hand in mine and stepped down. “Thanks. Don’t worry I’ll quickly get cleaned up and be ready for dinner.”
Dinner? Right, I’d said dinner was at six.
“Don’t be late, tesorina, or there will be consequences.” I quickly stalked away before I said anything else that could get me into trouble. We hadn’t even kissed and already I was done for. Her presence chipped away at my resistance.
I placed an order for her favorite dish at Vincenzo’s restaurant and had one of my men pick it up. I was just uncorking a bottle of red from my family's vineyard when she entered the room dressed in a body-hugging white minidress with no bra, and it was all I could do to keep my jaw from dropping.
Her long hair was dry and hung loose in silky waves down her back. Her expression was a 180 from when I’d slammed the door on her earlier. Her practice session had revived not only her body, but her spirit as well.
I was contemplating kissing the smirk off her face and sending her back to the bedroom to put on more clothing when the elevator pinged with the arrival of dinner. I moved to grab the bags of takeout from my guy, but instead of Alfonse, my youngest brother, Vincenzo, stepped out, holding the takeout bags in his hands.
“What are you doing here?” I blurted, completely surprised to see him.
He smirked. “I’m here to see the fair Nicolette of course.” He pressed the bags into my hands and caught my Niki when she came barreling from the dining room and leapt into his arms.
I couldn’t help rolling my eyes at both the welcome he gave her, and her enthusiastic response. If things were different, I’d be the one holding her right now. I pushed that thought away, and suppressed the desire tenting my pants.
“Vincenzo. Oh my god, look at you. You're so big!”
He laughed and kissed her on the cheek before lowering her to her feet. I stood there with steam practically coming out of my ears. How dare they look so comfortable with each other while I was a bundle of nerves; a pile of anger with a heap of desire inside chafing me raw. ‘Traitor’ I tried to impart with eyes as I glared at my younger brother.
“You were just a kid when I last saw you, and now look! You're a handsome man. I always knew you’d turn out gorgeous.” She winked at him, and my heart rate spiked up.
“If you two are done fawning over each other, it’s time to eat.” I jostled the bags in my arms impatiently.
“Oh no. Don’t go!” Nicolette pouted at my brother. “I want to catch up.”
I was ready to tear Vinnie to pieces if he didn’t stop eyeballing my woman. My Niki.
“Mama wants you to come to the house on Sunday for dinner.”
Son of a?—
“I’d love to! See you then,” Niki replied with way too much enthusiasm.
Vinnie took in my murderous expression and smirked even more. Bastardo! He was purposely egging me on and about a breath away from eating that smirk he wore.
He hugged her one more time, keeping his eyes on me and was almost laughing when he pulled back and got in the elevator.