Chapter five

"You’re playing a dangerous game," I whispered, my voice shaky but teasing, my hands sliding up his chest as if daring him to go further, but he grabbed both my hands and pinned them above my head, restricting my movements as he peppered kisses down the junction between my bare shoulder and neck. He wanted to be in control.

His eyes that were already as dark as obsidian darkened further. "I thrive on danger, little red.” My heart raced as I felt him press closer, his body dominating mine. The space between and around us felt nonexistent at this point as it seemed to fade away, the pounding music and flashing lights nothing but a blur in the background. All I could focus on was the feel of the man before me, the intoxicating scent of him, the way his hands moved over me like he already owned my body.

And maybe, just for tonight, I wanted him to.

"Tell me you don’t want this."

My body trembled as the heat between us reached a fever pitch.

My lips parted, my voice barely a whisper. "I do."

That was all the invitation Vincenzo needed and he pulled me in for a snaring kiss, the kind of kiss that was both passionate and desperate, a kiss that was full of hunger. Demanding. Sending a shock wave of pleasure straight through me like electricity. His fingers intertwined with mine, as he tilted his face to deepen the kiss. Quite literally, he stole my breath away.

By now, the world around us faded away completely, and all that existed was the fire between us, the undeniable attraction that had sparked from the moment I had stumbled into his arms.

When he finally pulled back from the kiss, his breath ragged, eyes smoldering with desire. His lips hovered just inches from mine as he looked down at me with a slow smile.

"Parli Italiano?" he asked, his voice husky, laced with that dangerous allure that had pulled me in from the start.

I blinked, dazed from the sensation of his lips that still lingered on mine. The question was unexpected, but the way his voice wrapped around the words—smooth, seductive—made my head spin. Vincenzo’s Italian wasn’t thick, but hearing him speak his native dialect sent a shiver down my spine. I had a thing for Italian.

I bit my lip anxiously. A bad habit I picked up on ever since I was a child. "only just a little," I managed to whisper.

Vincenzo’s lips curled into a teasing smile. His hand slid back up my back, tracing the outline of my spine as I leaned in closer again, his mouth brushing against my ear as he whispered something in Italian again—something I couldn’t fully understand, but the sensual cadence of his words set my body on fire all over again.

"Ti faro inginocchiare e chiedere pieta questa notte," he murmured, his voice low and full of promise.

Even though I didn’t fully understand the words, the meaning was clear. The heat in his gaze, the way his hand held my body with possessiveness—everything about him told me exactly what he wanted.

My breath caught in my throat when our eyes locked once again. I couldn’t deny it any longer—I was completely and utterly captivated by this dangerous man.

"Sono Tua," I flirted back, my body aching for more.

Vincenzo’s eyes darkened with approval, his grip on me tightening as he pulled me even closer, his lips hovering over mine once more. "Then we won’t stop until we’re both satisfied."

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Grabbing Lena by the arm, Vincenzo led her down the other exit of the club. He knew this place like the back of his own hand. Club Nero wasn’t only a club, it was one of his own private hotels situated in the heart of New York. A seemingly legitimate business on the surface. His steps were filled with urgency and poise as he led Lena down the long stretch of hall, his expensive leather shoes clicking against the rugged tile leaving behind the vibrant neon colors and loud music behind.

"I can’t wait any longer."

Lena, breathless and flushed, could only nod. She didn’t care where they went, and as they approached the shiny elevator doors, all she could think about was the buzzing feeling in her chest, she didn’t care where he took her as long as she didn’t have to stop feeling this—this wild, intoxicating need that had taken over her senses.

The atmosphere behind the elevator doors changed almost instantly the moment the doors closed. With just the both of them in here, Lena could feel her pulse quicken as they exchanged heated glances. Vincenzo, however, managed to keep his breathing steady as he faced Lena now. He never let go of her, as though she would disappear if he did.

"You’re dangerous a dangerous man, Vincenzo," she whispered when he stepped closer, her voice barely audible as she bit her lower lip, trying to regain control of her wildly beating heart.

Vincenzo’s smirk widened and without breaking eye contact, he trapped her flat against the metal walls. "You have no idea, Cara mia."

Before Lena could respond, his lips were on hers again, fiercer than before. Lena melted into the kiss, her hands wandering over his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt.

Lena’s head spun with the intensity of it all when Vincenzo pressed his body into hers. His kiss was overwhelming, a mix of raw hunger and dominance that left her breathless. She ground her hips against his, feeling his hardness press against her stomach, her heart raced, and a moan escaped her lips as he deepened the kiss. Everything about this felt reckless, dangerous—and yet, she couldn’t stop. She didn’t want to.

Vincenzo pulled out a small rectangular black card and swiped it over the touch screenpad beside her. The ride to the top floor felt too short for Vincenzo's liking when the elevator doors finally dinged open for them to get off, but he reminded himself that he had this woman named, Clarice all to himself. When Vincenzo finally pulled back, both of them were panting, their bodies still pressed close. The door opened, and Lena was greeted by the sight of a grand private hotel room that took her breath away. The interior was massive, its sleek decor illuminated by the soft glided glow of the lights that lined the ceiling above. The luxury slapped her in the face, but she had little time to take it all in.

Vincenzo stepped out first, and before Lena could gather her thoughts, he scooped her into his arms, his strong hands encircling around her waist as he carried her effortlessly toward the large bed. She let out a soft giggle but didn’t resist, her body still thrumming with desire. He dropped her on her feet. The height difference between the two was obvious, but standing before him, Lena hardly felt intimidated.

But her breath hitched as she watched him begin to peel off his jacket, throwing it over an armchair, then his fingers worked on his buttons, revealing the hard lines of his chest and the intricate tattoos that covered his warm olive skin. It wasn't hard to not notice the scars underneath those tattoos, Lena knew that these scars were anything but normal flesh wounds. Each mark, each design, was intimidating, a testament to the dangerous life he lived. The ink that tattooed his body extended from the right side of his chest, going down his toned abs and spread down the sleeve of his forearm.

Lena’s heart pounded as she took him in, her eyes lingering on his chiseled body. He was the epitome of raw masculinity, and the sight of him made her feel giddy. She swallowed hard, unable to tear her gaze away as he stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers.

"Still sure you want to do this?" Vincenzo asked Lena again, his voice was low, teasing, yet the look in his eyes were anything but joking.

Lena didn’t need to think. She was far past that point by now. With a small, breathless smile, she nodded, stepping closer to him. she placed a delicate feather like touch on his shoulder, feeling the heat of his skin, then traced the lines of his tattoos down his forearm as her body pressed against his seductively. She wanted this, perhaps more than he did. More than she liked to admit