Sighing, my best friend rises and nods. “Fine. I’ll go. You get yourself all dolled-up for the pretty Italian,” Dom taunts, and I’m ready to knock him the fuck out. It won’t be the first time we’ve come to blows about something. But as many times as we’ve fought, we’ve always remained friends.
“Don’t be an asshole, Dominic,” I retort with a smirk.
“I’m not trying, that comes naturally. I’ll head out and find some pretty girl to entertain me tonight. Don’t get too caught up in this woman. She’s a client,” he warns, his eyes sparking with amusement.
“Go get your dick sucked or something, Hale.” With a loud guffaw, he stalks out of my office, leaving me to my thoughts of what I’m going to be doing with the delicious little Elisabet.
Grabbing my keys, wallet, and phone, I head out of my office, shutting the door behind me. As soon as I’m in the elevator, I push the button for the parking garage. Without thinking, I tap the call button on the phone, and after three rings, her soft voice comes across the line.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Rossi, I’ll be at your place to pick you up for our dinner in twenty minutes. I trust you’ll be ready?” Her silence makes me smile. I love to challenge a woman, make her think, heat her blood, and make her body quake. It’s not how big your bank balance is or how hard you can fuck her. It’s how you make her quiver with a whispered word or a small gesture.
“Mr. Donovan—”
“I take that as a yes. See you soon.” I don’t wait for her to respond. Instead, I hang up as the elevator doors slide open, depositing me on the ground level. Once in the driver’s seat, I settle back, start the engine, and turn on the radio.
My body is tight with tension, sexual tension, and I am definitely planning on releasing it on the statuesque woman this evening. Dinner, a bottle of champagne, and my fingers trailing over her tanned, silky skin.
A perfect night.
Chapter 8
Elisabet
When the knock comes, my heart leaps into my throat. This isn’t a date, I remind myself, but my body doesn’t agree. I take a deep breath before opening the door. Once it swings wide, my gaze drinks in the man before me. Rome Donovan is the epitome of sex. He’s raw, primal, and he’s standing on my doorstep.
“Ms. Rossi,” he says in that rich baritone that seems to caress my skin as much as it savors my name. “You look lovely.” Those eyes, the color a blend of blues and greens, trail over me. Slow and methodical. From the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Fire blazes in them, and I know my choice of dress was a good one.
The black and silver of the knee-length sleeveless dress hugs my curves. I’m by no means skinny. I’ve always been self-conscious about my appearance, but the way Rome’s gaze pierces me, I don’t just feel beautiful, I feel like a rare gem. Exquisite and striking.
“You don’t look so bad yourself, Mr. Donovan.” I smile, offering him an olive branch. He didn’t need to take me to dinner. This could’ve been done in his office, but I decide right then and there I’ll enjoy tonight.
His suit jacket is black with a silver tie against a charcoal shirt. His slacks match the jacket, and they hug his muscular thighs like they’ve been custom made just for him. When my eyes reach his face, a satisfied smirk graces his lips. Caught staring at the man I’m meant to be doing business with.
“Since you’re ogling is complete, shall we go?” He gestures with his head. His dark tousled hair makes my fingers tingle. I want to run my hands through the dark curls.
“I don’t ogle, Mr. Donovan,” I retort, stepping out of my hotel suite into the hallway. Once I’ve ensured the door is locked, we head out toward the staircase, which will lead us down to the exit. His body is close to mine. So close, in fact, I can smell his spicy cologne wafting toward me. It’s a scent I’d love to bathe in, to smell on my clothes after he’s pinned me against the wall.
Shaking my head, I allow him to open the door for me. When the fresh air hits me, I find my body cooling, only until his fingers find the small of my back. He guides me with the slightest of touches toward his car.
“Tonight, I trust you’ll enjoy the dinner for what it is,” he murmurs in my ear. His lips feathering along my hair, causing goosebumps to rise all over my body.
“And what is that, Mr. Donovan?” I ask, fearing his answer, but also needing it. Hungry to be wanted by a man again, I turn to him, waiting for more.
“Time to get to know each other,” he says simply, but there’s desire dancing in his eyes, and I know this is so much more than a damn business dinner.
“Why is it that you need to get to know me? All I’m doing is buying property from you. After that, there’ll be nothing more between us.”
“Oh, I beg to differ, Ms. Rossi,” he says, casting a quick glance my way. “Or can I call you Elisabet?” He coos my name in his thick English accent, which only accentuates his full lips as he pronounces it. The way he says it sends a warm shiver over me.
“You’re welcome to call me by my first name, but since this is a business dinner...,” I respond, allowing the words to trail to nothing. His eyes shimmer in the dimly lit car. Amusement. Mischief. And desire.
“Since this is a get-to-know-you dinner. . .,” he counters slowly, allowing his explanation to fall between us. It hangs heavy with innuendo, and I find myself wanting to play along. I want to flirt with him. I must give him that. He’s good.
I shrug, glancing at him swiftly. “Only if I can call you Rome,” I quip playfully. His easy nature has calmed my nerves, and I relax back into the seat.
“Darling, you can call me anything you like,” he smirks. “As long as you enjoy your evening, I’ll ensure you have that building in your possession within the week.”
“What do you get out of it? I mean, besides the money,” I question. His mouth curls into a sinful grin as he pulls into a parking lot. Once he kills the engine, he turns to me fully.
“I get you.” It’s a simple statement. Three words. But they do something to me. They make my stomach flutter with excitement, and my nipples harden with desire. The need to feel his lips on my skin heats my blood, and my panties are dampening by the minute.
“That’s only if I give in. And I’m not easily swayed, Rome Donovan.” My retort earns me a chuckle. His eyes dance with mischief.
“I can be very persuasive.” He shrugs nonchalantly.
He exits the car easily, rounding the hood, opening my door, and offers his hand. As soon as I slip mine in his, a current of electricity shoots through me, causing me to gasp. Our eyes meet in a moment of knowing. This is obvious. There is something between us that seems to magnetize me to him.
Everything about him is perfect. I know that nobody can be, but with Rome, I may just believe the unbelievable. His suave walk, the way he moves, how his fingertips trail down my spine, all those minor things seem to gather, making him irresistible.
“And you enjoy watching women fall to their knees for you?” I ask as we head into the restaurant. “Making them do whatever you’d like with a few words from your silver-tongue.”