Page 39 of ‘I Do’ for Revenge

Now she looked curious. She saw the name on the box and sucked in a breath at the iconic jewellers. ‘Vito, this is too much.’

‘You haven’t even looked at it yet.’

She eventually took it and opened it and sucked in another breath. Vito had actually gone into the shop on a whim earlier, when they’d been stuck in traffic and he’d spotted it.

He’d noticed this necklace almost immediately and he’d known she would love it. It was a simple gold flower, with delicate petals and a lustrous pearl in the centre, on a gold chain.

For a second he regretted choosing something so...personal. Why hadn’t he just chosen a diamond bracelet or something more bland? Too late now.

Flora stroked it with a finger. ‘Vito, it’s lovely.’ She looked up at him. ‘How did you know?’

Now he felt a little exposed. He shrugged. ‘I saw it and thought of you, your name. Flora, flower.’

He took the box from her and took out the necklace, holding it up. ‘May I?’

Flora nodded and turned around, lifting her hair up and off her neck. Vito reached around in front of her and placed the necklace around her neck, closing the clasp.

When it was closed he brought her hands down and her hair fell back down. She turned around. The necklace sat just below the hollow of her throat on her pale golden skin. She touched it. ‘Thank you, you really didn’t have to do that, but I love it.’

Without even asking her, Vito already knew that her uncle and aunt had most likely been very negligent in giving her anything or marking occasions like birthdays. They’d been too busy fleecing her of her inheritance.

Vito put the empty box down and took Flora’s hand, leading her back towards the bedroom. He’d given up trying to put a boundary between them by using two bedrooms. Easier just to give into the inevitable.

In the bedroom, he stripped off with efficient speed and then he looked at Flora. The gold glinted against her skin. Vito found that, in spite of the sense of exposure, he liked seeing it there.

His gaze travelled down. The top of the slip rested just over her breasts. He could see the hard nubs of her nipples pressing against the fabric. He controlled himself though. It was important. To make him feel as though he weren’t fraying at the edges and losing sight of what was important to him. Making an indelible success of the Vitale name so no one would ever question his father’s integrity again. He couldn’t think of that now. He’d worry about that later.

He looked down and could see the darker shadow of where the honey-golden curls covered her sex. He imagined her already hot there. Damp.Ready.

‘Vito...’ she said a little breathlessly. ‘You’re killing me here.’

He looked at her and moved closer. ‘Good, because you’re killing me too.’

He cupped one breast covered in that slippy silk and bent his head to target and suck the hard flesh of her nipple into his mouth. She gasped and speared her hands in his hair.

He caught her against him and she wrapped a hand around his straining flesh. Vito almost lost it there and then but somehow he managed to get them onto the bed, roll protection onto his length and finally sink into her slick tight embrace. It was fast and he couldn’t control it. Vito felt Flora’s body contract around his and he gave in, letting the pleasure take him where it wanted—to oblivion. Their bodies were so entwined that he couldn’t have said where he ended and she began and, right then, he didn’t care.

The following afternoon Vito was aware of the meeting continuing behind him. But he was brooding as he looked out of a window that commanded breathtaking views of downtown Manhattan. Thisshouldbe a moment for him to really appreciate just how far he’d come and how successful he’d been in restoring the Vitale name.

But instead of feeling a sense of triumph he was distracted. Thinking of Flora’s expression earlier at breakfast when he’d shot down her request to do something for him, to make herself useful.

She’d said, ‘I had a nice time yesterday, it’s not that I don’t mind my own company, I’m used to it. But I just feel a bit...redundant. Maybe I could help? I’m good at office stuff, photocopying... I wouldn’t mind getting teas and coffees. I’m not too proud.’

Vito had leaned over to her and pressed a swift kiss on her mouth before saying, ‘You might not be, but I am. I’m not having my lover fetching tea and coffee for my staff.’

He’d stood up to leave. ‘I’ll be back in time for dinner this evening.’

Flora had perked up. ‘I could cook.’

He’d reminded her that they had a chef to cook. She’d tried to hide it but Vito had been aware of her disappointment.

Didn’t she get it? That it was enough for him that she be with him when he needed and in his bed when he wanted? That was all he asked of any woman he chose.

But she’s not like the other women.

Ha! As if he needed that reminder. He’d bought her that necklace. He still felt exposed just thinking about it.

She’d said to him that morning before he’d left, ‘I’m sure someone will have a use for me.’