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CHAPTER 7
‘Just breathe…’ she said to herself avoiding looking in Federico’s direction. ‘You can’t cry in front of him… or anyone else, for that matter. You can show any kind of weakness, or they’ll eat you alive.’
Ava composed herself with an effort and resumed her seat at the table as if nothing had happened. She picked up her glass of water and drank several mouthfuls, conscious of Federico looking at her with a frown beetling his eyebrows. She set her glass back down.
“You said you had something to discuss with me over lunch about the orphanage,’ Ava reminded him coolly.
She pointedly looked at her watch, making it clear she was on a strict timeline, and, more to the point, he wasn’t important enough to her to adjus
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She dropped her gaze from his and closed her eyes. Awful memories from that night came down on her like a flock of eagles, ready to tear her apart. Ava didn’t want to keep remember those moments, but she also knew they would hunt her for life. She opened her eyes, ready to go once again over everything.“What happened is… Uh… We started to argue,” she answered in a flat emotionless tone. “I hardly remember what we argued about now… it all seems so muddled and foggy in my head. As usual, he was shouting at me, and I was shouting back at him. And then…” Again, Ava closed her eyes tight, mentally skipping over that distressing scene until she felt she had control again. She reopened her eyes and carried on as if discussing the weekend weather.“Suddenly he was lying at the foot of the staircase
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The first brush-like stroke of his mouth on hers was cautious, even a little hesitant, a bit like a goose feather. It was so soft Ava wondered if she had imagined it. The second was firmer, with a hint of growing urgency, but the third tasted of desire hot and strong, rocking Ava straight to the core. She opened her mouth to the searching glide of his tongue, her insides turning to jelly when that deliciously erotic contact was made. The kiss became more urgent, more passionate, more out of control and Ava was swept away with it. It felt so wonderful to be held in his arms again, to have his hands at her waist, holding her trembling body against the heat and strength of his. Federico was hard and getting harder as every second passed, the hollow ache in her body echoing the pounding of his blood against her
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Federico came across to where Ava was standing, and, taking her chin between his thumb and index finger, lifted her face to meet his gaze.“So, at this time, there is no man in your life,” he mused. “What other lies have you told me, hmm?” Ava felt her heart kicking erratically behind her chest wall. Her mouth dried up, her throat locked tight and her breathing came to a shuddering halt.“Just that one…” she replied, mentally calculating how many lies she had told him within the space of less than twenty-four hours.“I wonder what other little secrets you are keeping from me… from everybody,” Federico continued, still holding her gaze with the piercing scrutiny of his. “Like where you live, for instance.” She swal
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‘You arrogant prick!’ Ava thought and clenched her hands by her sides, her fingertips digging into her palms almost painfully.“You can do or say whatever you want, but I’m not going to be another name on your list of whores,” she hissed with a last stand of pride. “I’m not going to. Okay, you’re the future King… whatever… Take your best shot at me! Because I’d rather be locked up again for life than suffer this fate.” He had the gall to laugh.“Oh, you’re so feisty! And these harsh words… Ava Marie, do you have any idea how foolish you are being right now?”“It can’t be any more foolish than agreeing to lie on my back for you to paw me whenever you like,” she shot back.“Do you think I want it to be this way?” Federico asked as a flicker of anger lit his gaz
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“Your Serene Highness, I have that information you requested,” Francesco said a couple of days later, as he brought in Federico’s coffee. Federico lowered the newspaper he had been reading and gave his aide his full attention.“Tell me everything.”‘Miss Antonini is living at a small flat in Marconi Lane with a former drug addict, a woman by the name of Teresa. Apparently, they met in prison but the other woman was released two years ago. She works at one of the local hotels as a housemaid.” His eyebrows came together.“Is there a man?” he asked.“There is no man. However, there is a small child, a boy around five years or so.” Federico straightened in his chair, a cold hand of unease disturbing the hairs on
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“Chris? You mean the little boy who drew me the picture?” Ava blinked at him, her brain whirling and spinning out of control.“Um… He’s… Teresa’s little boy,” she finally managed to croak out. Federico gave her a quizzical look.“I thought the boy’s name was Nicola,” he said. “Or at least that’s what Francesco said it was, but then he could have got it wrong.”“N-no, that is right…” She hastily mortared another lie into her wall of deceit.“Teresa’s son is called Nicola but… but he prefers his second name…”“Like my sister prefers Tori instead of Victoria,” Federico added.&nbs
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He was still frowning at her.“Whatever you were thinking about must have been extremely distressing for you,” Federico told her. “Was it something to do with your time in prison?” Ava sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. She was as close to crumbling as she had ever been, but some tiny rod of pride kept her spine upright.“You seem to be rather fascinated with my prison life,” she speculated. “Is that because you harbor some sort of fantasy about an ex-criminal? Sex with someone from the slammer… It has a sort of ring to it, don’t you think?” Federico felt his desire for her rise in his body with the force of an earthquake. It rumbled through him, it shook him, and above everything else… it challenged him. He would have her. It didn&rsquo
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The moment she stepped into Federico’s private study, Ava felt extremely nervous and excited at the same time. Her senses were heightened by his light touch as he took his jacket from her shoulders and laid it over a chair. Federico came back to stand in front of her, his dark gaze meshing with hers as he took both of her hands in his.“Are you feeling better?” She shook her head, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips.“Yes… I’m a little bit better… thank you.” Federico settled his hands on her waist and brought Ava up against his body.“I think I should pour you a cup of coffee… or tea…” he said slowly, looking down at her mouth. Ava felt her li
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