“I’d love to know how you’d diagnose that problem,” I murmur, flicking my thumb at Savio.
“I have a pretty long list of symptoms,” she whispers back. “Massimo.”
The way she says my name makes my dick tingle.
I can only imagine the effect it would have if she was screaming it out loud.
She turns and runs up the stairs and I follow Savio out the door to my Range Rover parked across the street since part of my security role also involves chauffeuring his ass around.
He’s waiting for me on the front stoop and grabs my arm as soon as I walk out the door.
“Don’t fucking belittle me like that ever again,” he hisses. “You know what’s at stake here, and I expect you to remember it or else I may have to come up with a painful way to remind you of who is actually in charge here, son.”
Chapter Five
KRISTINA
Dark, delicious, and oh so dirty.
Those words loop through my mind as I bounce up the stairs, headed toward my sister Sofia’s bedroom. Heat floods my insides as I bask in the memory of Massimo’s eyes raking over my body.
I’d very much like to play Doctor with him and finish my diagnosis in a decidedly more carnal way.
I don’t know what’s come over me today.
I’ve never had these kind of fantasies before, but something about Massimo just awakens my inner sexual goddess.
I thought she was in permanent hibernation mode, but it seems that she just needed the right person to jostle her into consciousness.
And he’ll be back here tonight.
Pulsating electronica vibrates the floor beneath my feet and I smile as I push open the door to Sofia’s bedroom.
It’s an absolute wreck, and my OCD flares up like a bad case of herpes once I take a tentative step inside. High-heeled shoes of all varieties are strewn all over the dark wood floor. Dresses and skirts of every color are draped over the plush comforter and the oversized recliner in the corner of her room.
And Sofia and Maria are dancing around in the center of the mess, not paying the slightest bit of attention to the fact that I’ve just appeared in the eye of the fashion storm.
When they finally take a break from twerking, Sofia spins around, her eyes wide. “Kristi!” she shrieks, running over to throw her arms around me. Maria grabs me around the waist from behind, both squeezing the life out of me.
It’s the best feeling ever.
“I’ve missed you guys so much!” I say, my voice muffled by their screams.
“You look amazing!” Sofia yells, spinning me around. “But that dress. It can use some serious cleavage.”
I give her a playful push. “It’s just fine, thank you. I don’t need my boobs on display.”
“I wish I had a quarter of your boobs,” Maria scoffs, patting her nearly flat chest. She and Sofia were blessed with my mother’s gymnast body genes. Talk about hitting the body lottery. I’d give anything to be long and lean instead of short and curvy.
I shake my head at Sofia. “I can’t believe we’re celebrating your eighteenth birthday. Where the heck did the time go?”
She laughs. “You act like you haven’t seen me in years. It’s only been six months. I haven’t changed that much.”
I sink down on her bed, careful not to wrinkle my skirt. “I know. It’s just been so hectic at school. I feel like I’ve missed so much back here, you know?”
“You don’t always have to stay at school,” Maria says. “You can come home to visit once in a while. Mom and Dad would love that.”
My heart clenches.
How much longer can I ignore the big ass elephant in the room?
I’ve let six months go by because I can’t bear to look my father in the eye.
I tried to put it all behind me but it’s always there, taunting me.
I paste a smile on my face, ignoring her pointed statement. “Tell me about your last gymnastics meet. How’d you place?”
“Like you need to ask,” Sofia says, her eyes lighting up. “She came in first, of course. Her floor work is incredible.”
“Of course it is,” I say, giving Maria a little squeeze. “Your body is like a speeding bullet exploding out of a gun when you take over that floor.”
“I’d really love it if you came to one of my meets. Maybe for states?” Maria’s eyes are hopeful.
I nod. “I’ll be there. I promise.”
Just as long as I don’t need to cut open a cadaver for an assignment or else Nick will turn me into said cadaver.
“Have you seen Dad?” Sofia asks, picking up a flimsy black jersey…dress? I furrow my brow as she shimmies into it.
“Where’s the rest of that dress?”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be an old fart. This is very in style.”
“Oh, you mean the ass cheek look? Because that’s all I see when you turn around.” I stand up to pull it down only to have the fabric ride up just as quickly. “You honestly cannot wear this, Sofia! It’s completely indecent! Mom will have a coronary!”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you have another turtleneck grandma dress I can wear?” she snips, a mischievous smile on her face. “But not in white because I’m gonna get dirty.” I give her arm a playful slap and she erupts into laughter. “Oh hey, speaking of getting dirty, there’s a guy here dressed all in black. I have no idea who he is, but holy shit. I am here for all of that!”
Sweet Jesus. My little sister.
Massimo would have had her pegged right in a hot second if given the chance.
There’s nothing that screams louder than her desire to get dirty.
Not in that getup, anyway.
“His name is Massimo,” I say. “He’s Savio’s new head of security.”
“Oh, that kind of takes away from his hotness factor. Savio is such a disgusting pig. I catch him leering at me a lot. I mean, gross. Like I’d ever. He’s old.” Sofia does another little shimmy and I smack her ass, making her squeal.
“Who got their paw all over you, anyway?” Sofia says with a daring grin, pointing at the spot on my dress.
“Oh, yeah. I saved a dog on my way through the neighborhood. She was running away and I caught her…and her paw.”
“Such a Girl Scout.” Sofia smiles. “You’re not even a dog person.”
“No, but I do have some humanity.” I tease. “You know, it comes along with the whole ‘I want to save lives’ calling.”
“I’ll take care of the mark for you,” Maria says. “Sofia will just make it worse.”
We giggle, agreeing on that last point. Maria grabs my hands and twirls me around, and my gaze is tugged out the window where I can see a blacked-out Range Rover parked across the street from our house. My stomach flips when I see Massimo standing against it, phone in hand. Goosebumps pebble my skin as the memory of his muscled biceps wrapped tight around me takes hold.
“Damn,” Sofia says, peering out the window next to me. “Okay, I can just forget the part that he works for Savio. He’s still hot as hell. Happy birthday to me.”
I giggle. My little sister has zero filter and about the same amount of shame.