Page 25 of ‘I Do’ for Revenge
She stopped moving and looked up. And gulped. His gaze was on fire. His face was stark. Jaw clenched. Flora put her hands on her hips. ‘I’m not leaving.’
‘Yes, you are.’
‘No, I’m not. I’m having sex tonight and if you don’t want it to be with you then please get out of my way.’
‘You will not be having sex tonight with anyonebutme,’ Vito breathed.
The music was almost deafening but Flora heard that as clear as a bell. Her heart thumped. ‘What did you say?’
He reached for her and put his hands on her waist. He tugged her closer until their bodies were touching. She could feel the ridge of his arousal. Her heart rate went up to a million beats a minute. He was still wearing his work clothes, white shirt and dark trousers. He should have looked ridiculous. He was the sexiest man there.
He said succinctly, ‘You heard me.’
She had heard him but she didn’t quite believe him. Maybe he was just trying to get her out of this den of iniquity.
‘What are you saying exactly, Vito?’
Vito moved his hands around to her back, hauling her closer. His hands were on her bare skin. She was throbbing. And down between her legs, she was damp.
He said, ‘I want you, Flora.’
‘But you didn’t want to be my first lover.’
‘Let’s just say I’ve reconsidered.’
Flora could see the day-old stubble on his jaw darkening it, making it look even harder. She reached up and touched him there, feeling the short bristles, imagining how it would feel on her skin.
He took her hand and pressed his mouth to her inner palm, darting out his tongue. Flora’s legs nearly gave way. Vito held her up. He took her hand and said, ‘Come on, we’re leaving.’
He started to pull her off the dance floor and Flora’s insides were somersaulting. At the last second, though, she stalled and he looked back at her, impatience stamped all over his face.
For her.
She said, ‘Can we just...stay for one more song? I’ve never been to a nightclub before.’
Vito looked at her and something flickered over his face—surprise. But then he nodded. ‘One song.’
Flora tugged him back onto the dance floor, the beat of the music in time with the pounding of her pulse. For the first time in her life, as she danced—inelegantly, she was sure—in front of a man who was looking at her as if she were the only thing on the planet, she felt young and free. Vibrant. Alive.Seen.That revelation made her stumble a little. Vito caught her. She didn’t want to think about that too closely, how it felt to be seen for herself and not as someone who was just tolerated. It made her feel emotional, and she didn’t want to delve into emotions. She wanted the physicality that Vito was offering.
She looked up at him and said, ‘Okay, I’m ready to go.’
The journey back to Vito’s apartment was made in silence. Once again he drove with a quiet confidence that impressed Flora. Even more so when she thought of those hands and what they would shortly be doing toher.
Her whole body felt as if it were vibrating. Maybe the after-effects of the club and the music but more likely the effects of Vito’s hands on her. His eyes.
She sneaked a look at his profile as he pulled to a stop outside the building and the concierge came out to park the car. His face was still set in those stark lines. She felt a prickle of unease. ‘Vito, if you’ve changed your mind—’
He looked at her and she stopped talking. He said, ‘I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.’
Flora licked dry lips. ‘What’s that exactly?’ Because if he was about to say that he wasn’t going to do this then she was jumping straight into a cab and going back to the club.
‘You and me. I am the only first lover you will know, Flora. You’re mine.’
A thrill so electric went through her at his possessive declaration that she quivered with it. ‘I... Okay.’
He got out of the car and tossed the keys to the concierge, and came around to help her out. He kept hold of her hand, leading her into the building, to the elevator. The doors closed. Flora took the opportunity to slip out of the shoes, picking them up with her free hand. She muttered, ‘I don’t know how women wear these all the time.’
The elevator doors opened and before Flora could take another breath, Vito had taken her shoes, thrown them aside and she had her back against the wall beside the elevator doors and his hands were either side of her head.