It’s a relief when the chef comes out to describe the tasting menu he’s created for us tonight. Each course will be paired with a specially chosen wine. I’ll be lucky if I can walk by the end of the night at this rate. At least once we’re eating, there will be something for Donovan to do besides flirt, if that’s what he’s doing.
All I know is I wish he wasn’t sitting so close. By the time we’re on the third course, I practically have to angle my knees away from him to keep out of his reach. It doesn’t seem to matter because he keeps finding ways to make contact.
I bump against Gianni’s knee, and his eyes cut my way, the corners of his mouth twitching before he rubs his knee against mine. He doesn’t get it, and I can’t come out and announce what’s happening. Tatiana’s oblivious, too, commenting on the little plate of lobster risotto and how well it goes with the white wine pairing. Roger only grunts his response. He’d help me, but there’s no way for me to signal for that help.
Finally, I’ve had enough by the time our plates are cleared, and the last sips of crisp white wine don’t do a thing to cool my anger. “Is anything wrong?” I whisper.
“What do you mean?” Donovan whispers playfully, like it’s a joke.
“Is there not enough room at the table? Because you keep bumping into me by accident.”
“Who said it was an accident?”
This guy is nauseating. “Aren’t you supposed to be here to get to know Tatiana?”
“If I have to marry her, I will.” I recoil in disgust when, instead of using his leg, he brushes his fingers over my knee. “But my free time is mine.”
“I’m not single. Please, don’t touch me like that.” I’m barely moving my lips, so afraid Gianni will hear and lose his mind. This deal has to be important to him. I don’t want to ruin it just because this guy is a piece of shit.
“You have no idea how many brainless brats there are in my world.”
“I could be brainless, too, for all you know.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” My stomach turns when he touches me again, this time grazing my thigh. “I already like what I see. I can’t wait to learn more.”
I don’t know what makes me do it. Disgust, rage, frustration at being ignored when I flat-out told this fucker not to touch me. I want to scream, I want to throw up, I want to slap him across the face in front of everybody.
Instead, I’m a little more discreet. I pick up the fork the server just placed in front of me for the next course and jab it into the back of his hand under the table, out of sight.
Only I think I did it a little harder than I wanted.
“What the fuck?” He shoves himself back from the table, holding up his hand so everyone can see the fork sticking out of the back. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
“What’s the matter here?” Jack demands.
“Caterina,” Gianni growls.
It’s Roger who speaks up. “He’s been screwing around with her under the table this whole time. She asked him to stop, and that’s what he got.” And unless I’m misreading him, he looks and sounds proud. Happy, even. I didn’t know he was watching that closely.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to Gianni, trembling under the weight of his stare. “I really am. I tried to make him stop.”
“She told you to stop touching her, and you did it anyway?”
Oh, shit.This isn’t my fault. I know it’s not my fault, but that doesn’t stop my heart from taking off like a trip-hammer, thudding against my ribs. I’ve seen that look on his face, and I was sure it meant he was going to kill me.
Only now, he’s glaring at Donovan.
“I was just fooling around.” With a grimace, he yanks the fork from his hand, then presses a napkin to it.
Gianni’s breathing hard, gripping the table with both hands. “You touched her? Do you know what I would normally do to a man who touched what’s mine?”
Double shit. I shoot a panicked look at Tatiana, who’s watching everything through wide eyes.
“Yours?” Jack asks. “Do you mean—”
“She is here with me. She is my date this evening and every evening. She’s… We’re together.”
Not exactly a declaration of love, but relief and joy wash over me. He came out and said I’m his. And if he were any other man in the world, I might stick a fork in his hand, too, since I don’t belong to anybody.
No, that’s not true. I do belong to him, and I always have. Now, for better or worse, everybody’s going to know. Maybe I should thank the grimacing, muttering pig next to me for forcing his hand. No pun intended.
Gianni stands, his eyes narrowed into slits that glare across the table. “This meal is over, and unless you’re willing to extend reparations for the discomfort Caterina experienced tonight, the deal is over, too. I’m going to need to give this some thought, and I suggest you do the same.”
“Let’s all take a breath.” Jack’s practically sweating, his voice shaky like he’s overwhelmed. “We can work this out.”
“Get him out of my sight before I turn you down flat,” Gianni warns. “Unless you would like Roger here to show you the door.”
Roger stands, straightening his tie, looking back and forth between the two men, who are now red-faced and sullen as they stand.
“And you, come with me.” Gianni practically pulls me out of my chair, and I have no choice but to stumble along behind him.
My head is spinning, and my heart’s about to explode. He stood up for me. He wasn’t afraid to tell everyone we’re together. I had no idea I would feel this proud when the time finally came. I was worried he’d keep me a secret.
We end up in an empty banquet room lit only by the lights outside shining through the windows. Even though I can only make out his profile, there’s no mistaking the rage that’s still tightening his features.
“I really tried to stop him,” I whisper with my heart in my throat. “I’m so sorry—”
All the breath leaves my lungs when he shoves me against the wall just beside the door and pins me with his body. He’s hard as a rock, pressing against my hip, and his hot breath fans across my face when he leans down.
“Promise me something,” he growls, sending a shiver up my spine. “Don’t ever suffer in silence again. Somebody’s touching you, fucking with you? You tell me.”
“I didn’t want to ruin—”
“Promise.”
“I promise.” The words have barely passed my lips, and his mouth is on me. His tongue thrusts against mine while he works my dress up over my thighs with shaking hands.
I can’t wrap my head around the way he claimed me out there, out loud, for everybody to hear. I’m his, the way I always wanted to be. My dreams have come true. Now nothing is standing between us.
“Fuck. I want to go back in there and kill him for touching you,” Gianni growls against my lips.
“No. Stay. I need you,” I plead, weaving my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.
“Who do you belong to?” he demands before he pulls aside my thong and sinks two fingers deep inside me. I gasp, pressing my face to his neck to stifle the sound while servers pass back and forth just beyond the door at my side.
“You.” I moan against his skin while he pumps his fingers mercilessly, rubbing my walls and massaging my g-spot until I hump his hand. All I hear is the rushing of blood in my ears and the wet, sloppy sound of his digits invading me. His fingers move faster and faster, and then his thumb presses against my clit, and I detonate.
I dig my nails into his shoulders, the pleasure so intense I’m pretty sure I stop breathing, but he doesn’t stop. Even now, when we could be discovered, he’s determined to prove his power over my body.
“Fuck me,” I whisper between gasps for air. “Please, I need your cock inside me…”
“Damn, you beg so sweetly, Caterina. My cocks already dripping cum from your sweet moans and cries of pleasure. If I had the time to tease you, I would, but I don’t, and my desire to be inside of you right now is my only thought.”
YES!