Page 35 of ‘I Do’ for Revenge
Vito’s mouth quirked. ‘I hate to say it but probably not. I was so consumed with restoring my father’s good name and making sure I was on your uncle’s tail that I’m sure I barely glanced at this view.’
Flora felt a pang near her heart at the thought of Vito being so driven in his quest to mete out justice that he hadn’t even looked around him to see the beauty of the world he was conquering.
Her body still felt heavy and also sensitised after what had happened on the flight. They’d been asleep in the bed after making love and the attendant had had to wake them as they were due to land shortly. Flora had been so mortified at their decadence that she hadn’t been able to look any of the staff in the eye.
Vito had looked at her with a smile around his mouth, and the thought of him being amused because he’d done this a hundred times before with other women had had Flora picking up a magazine to throw at him. He’d merely laughed then.
Benji was zipping around on the terrace full of beans after the flight. Flora welcomed the diversion from thinking too much about how Vito made her feel. ‘Can I take him to the park for a walk?’ She had a sudden vision of Vito accompanying them. Like some sort of real happy couple.
Vito said, ‘Of course. You can do whatever you want, Flora. The city is yours.’ He put out a hand.
Flora gulped. The thought of being able to move around in a city like this as if she had some sort of right to be there and take up space was daunting.
‘I think I’ll just take him to the park...’ Feeling shy—which was ridiculous when she could still feel his hands on her body—Flora said, ‘Are you busy now? You could come with us...’
Vito shook his head, suddenly turning brisk. ‘I have to go straight to the offices to meet with the managers.’
It was early afternoon in New York and Flora’s stomach rumbled. She hadn’t eaten much on the plane. Vito said, ‘The chef here will prepare you some lunch.’
Embarrassed at her very normal bodily functions, Flora said, ‘It’s fine, I’ll find a hot-dog stand or get a pizza slice.’
‘You have your mobile phone?’
Flora patted her back jeans pocket. ‘Yes, sir, all programmed in with all your numbers and your assistant’s number.’
‘Call me if you get lost or if anything happens. Straight away.’
Flora looked at Vito and rolled her eyes. ‘I might not have been here before but I’m not completely clueless in a city. Rome is pretty big and cosmopolitan, you know.’
To her surprise he took her chin in his forefinger and thumb and planted a swift kiss on her mouth. It burned. He drew back, eyes dark, unfathomable. ‘I’ll see you later. We have a cocktail party to attend on the other side of the park. My house manager will unpack the bags and I’ve arranged for a glam team to come at five to help get you ready.’
Flora felt simultaneously hurt at the thought that she evidently needed so much help but also desperately relieved that she didn’t have to try and tame her wayward hair or do her own make-up.
‘Okay, see you later.’
And then he was gone, taking his force field of energy and charisma with him. Flora breathed out. The thought of a walk in the park and some respite from Vito wasn’t altogether a bad thing.
‘Stop fidgeting.’
Flora sighed at Vito’s admonishment and dropped her hand from the hem of the dress.
She whispered at Vito in the back of the car, mindful of the driver in the front. ‘It’s too short.’
Vito put his hand over Flora’s on her thigh and said, ‘It’s the perfect length. And you weren’t worried about the length of your dress when you went to that club looking for your first lover.’
Flora’s face burned. No, she’d been completely wanton. ‘This is different,’ she pointed out. ‘We’re not going to a nightclub.’
‘And you’re not looking for a lover any more.’
Heat filled Flora’s body. No, she wasn’t looking for a lover. She hada lover. The thought was still thrilling.
Vito curled his hand around Flora’s bare thigh. He said, ‘Want me to show you how perfect your dress is?’ His hand moved up her thigh, pushing the hem of the dusky pink cocktail dress up even higher.
Flora put her hand on his. She whispered, ‘We can’t, the driver.’ But an illicit electric charge was already making her ready for Vito’s touch.
He issued a command that Flora barely heard and within seconds a privacy window had gone up between them and the driver. He turned to face her and pulled her closer. Flora was only aware of him and this space cocooning them from the outside world.
Vito’s mouth covered hers and she allowed him full access, her whole body vibrating with desire as his tongue touched hers. His hand crept higher up her thigh and tacitly Flora opened her legs wider.