“I’m okay with that.” He caught her hand as she turned to get her clothes. “Where the hell is your engagement ring?”

“I can’t wear it to work.” She was horrified. “It’s worth a car or something.”

He was up in an instant, flowing out of the bed, every muscle coiled and ready to strike. He looked dangerous. Intimidating. He towered over her, and the very air pulsed around her with his anger. “Get. That. Ring. On. Now.”

Okay, bad move taking off the ring. She didn’t even pretend to hesitate. She knew he would never strike her, but she also knew when he had that much anger over something, it meant a lot to him. She took the ring out of her drawer and shoved it back on her finger.

“Don’t you ever fucking take that off again. You got me, Francesca? Are we clear on that? You tell me we’re clear. I want to hear the words.”

“We’re clear, Stefano.”

She heard the tremor in her voice and was instantly angry with herself. She didn’t want him to ever think she was a pushover and wouldn’t stand up to him. She put the ring on because it meant enough to him to be angry over it, not because she was afraid of him. Well. Not much. Well. Okay, maybe she was a little, or a lot, but in her defense, he could be very scary.

His hand snaked out, fingers curling around the nape of her neck and he yanked her to him, his mouth fastening on hers. It wasn’t a nice kiss at all. Brutal. Merciless. Savage even. He was claiming her all over again and she knew it. Reveled in it. Drowned in it. She loved his mouth and the way he could use it. She was fairly certain no one else in the world could kiss like him. She didn’t care if he devoured her. She wanted him to. She loved it when he got all macho and manly on her. Fear receded quickly when his mouth was on hers because inevitably, no matter how the kiss started, it always ended with her feeling as if he loved her. Wanted her. Even needed her.

When he lifted his mouth from hers, he pushed his forehead tight against hers. “You have to know how important you are to me, Francesca. My ring on your finger, everyone knowing we’re engaged, these are ways to protect you. No one can fuck with you and live. It just wouldn’t happen and anyone who knows me knows that. I need to know you’re safe at all times.”

“Emilio and Enzo will look after me,” she soothed, moving away from him to pick up her clothes. She had to get dressed and get to work before Pietro decided she was fired, Stefano Ferraro’s fiancée or not. “I won’t take off my engagement ring, I promise. But it does bother me that Emilio and Enzo are with me instead of with you. I know they always looked after you.”

“I can take care of myself, but you don’t have to worry. I have more than two cousins who work as bodyguards. Tomas and Cosimo Abatangelo will be working with me. Ordinarily, they keep their eye on Emmanuelle. She’s always giving them the slip and making them angry, but because of that, they’re very, very observant.”

“Why does Emmanuelle need a bodyguard?” She pulled on a pair of jeans. They fit like a glove and yet were very comfortable.

Stefano frowned at her as he began to dress as well. “Dolce cuore, wear that really beautiful skirt for me. The one with all the ruffles that falls to your ankles. I’ve wanted to see it on you from the moment I purchased it.”

She paused in the act of zipping up the jeans. Her eyes met his. His gaze had darkened. Was sexy. Sensual. Hooded. Speculative. He was up to something. She glanced toward the closet where the skirt hung. She knew exactly which one he was talking about. She loved that skirt, but it seemed a little too nice to wear to work. Still, if it meant that much to him, and she could see by his expression it did, then she didn’t mind in the least accommodating him.

She slid the jeans back down over her hips, watching his face. Watching the approval. The satisfaction. The sudden blaze of heat in his eyes.

“You won’t need those sexy panties with that skirt, Francesca.” His voice was pitched low, almost a growl. So sexy she felt the damp heat instantly.

“I’m going to work, Stefano.” She tried to be firm. She couldn’t just give him every little thing his heart desired, could she? He’d walk all over her.

“I was hoping to stop by work to see you, but I’ll have less than an hour. No panties saves time.”

She shivered. Her breasts ached. The heat between her legs burst into a full-out burn. Leaving her panties in place, she crossed to the closet and pulled down the skirt. “You could call me on that phone you gave me and give me the heads-up. I’ll go to the restroom and remove my panties and be all ready for you. That way, I won’t be dripping all day in anticipation.”