Page 27 of She Belongs to Me

“You’re jealous,” I stated and couldn’t help but continue laughing. He instantly bristled.

“I’m not jealous, for God’s sake.”

“Oh, that’s right. You can have any woman you want, even ten at a time. Right?” I didn’t care if I pissed him off. His behavior had been childish.

I wasn’t certain if he wouldn’t jerk the car to a stop, berating me before spanking me all over again. When he did nothing but toss me a tight-lipped look, his jaw clenched, I knew I was right. On top of his nasty attitude, the electricity in the car was reaching a boiling point. If that was possible.

“I don’t date.”

I was honestly more surprised by his statement than I could ever imagine I would be. “You’re likely the most eligible bachelor in all of Italy and you don’t date? Do you expect me to believe that after all the tabloids I’ve seen?”

“You were checking up on me.”

“Didn’t you do the same with me? Didn’t you discover all the nitty gritty things about my life? Lurking on my social media?” Jesus. I was right. There was no lying in the man’s eyes. “You’ve had one woman after another on your arm, all beautiful and if I had to guess, all from fabulously wealthy families. I’m surprised you’re not married by now.”

When he swung around a curve with enough speed the tires squealed, I knew I’d pushed every last button, but around him, defiance came naturally.

“Jesus. That really pissed you off. You don’t mind keeping me at arm’s length, but you don’t want anyone to have me? Is that it?”

Nico slowly exhaled, his breathing more ragged than before. “I don’t date because the women I come into contact with are all the same. They want a name of worth attached to them, their pictures posted in every local rag and to be treated like a celebrity. I’m not into that shit.”

Why was it that I could easily tell there was more to his story and his anger? He’d had someone special in his life. Right now, I wasn’t certain I gave a shit.

“Well, you set yourself up for that fall,” I told him.

“Why?”

He was genuinely curious. I folded my arms, making him wait before I answered. “You drive fancy cars. You allow your photograph to be taken and you’re always in designer clothes. You live in a fucking mansion and if I had to guess, you eat caviar on a regular basis. Don’t you think most women would get the wrong idea? Maybe they think of you as a sugar daddy. Meanwhile, I don’t own a designer piece, unless you consider early TJ Maxx haut couture.”

Well, I’d shocked him. Oh, goody.

His anger remained and he twisted his hand around the steering wheel, once again picking up speed. We were back at the house in no time and the way he pulled into the garage was likely supposed to terrify me. He managed to stop barely an inch from the back wall, immediately throwing open his door and climbing out.

I took my sweet time, gritting my teeth while doing so. He’d already disappeared and I was ready to scream after him that he was an impetuous child, but I held off.

He was leaning against the building when I exited, not bothering to look at me. As soon as I was outside, he yanked his wallet from his back pocket, handing me a pricy looking credit card. “Purchase anything you want from any store. You’ll know if they deliver to my address.”

“Which is?”

I had no freaking idea.

He recited it and I did the same thing in my mind a few times. “Fine. Any special requests?”

His look was entirely different, completely possessive. Carnal. Whew. The man could burn down buildings with his laser eyes. “Purchase a few dresses and heels.”

The request wasn’t strange except for the timing.

“Fine.”

“I’m headed to a meeting. Do not leave the grounds.”

He started to walk off, and bad girl that I was, I shot him my middle finger. He stopped short, turning around slowly and I was fairly certain he noticed my repulsive gesture. What did I care?

The man could stare like no other, burning holes in my retinas. “For the record. I don’t eat caviar.”

With that, he walked away.

What a freaking child.