Francesca turned into Emilio’s arms, smiling up at him, relieved in spite of the fact that she knew why he was there. He moved his foot and stepped right onto hers. She bit back a sharp little cry of pain and made a face at him until he realized what he’d done and lifted his big foot away. He didn’t dance, just swayed. It was a far cry from the man who had so perfectly matched steps with her.

“Is there a reason you interrupted my perfectly wonderful dance with that gentleman, or did you just want to step all over my feet?” She had to look up at him and raise her voice over the music. The rhythm was slower, and a little mellower, but it was still loud.

Emilio leaned down, very close, putting his mouth against her ear. He actually hissed his disapproval. “For fuck’s sake, Francesca, are you trying to get someone killed? What are thinking, dancing with another man?”

Francesca matched his scowl. “What other man? I danced with one man and he was a superb dancer. You cut in and stepped on my toes. I don’t want to hurt your feelings or anything, but I prefer his dancing style to yours.”

Without warning, a hard hand shackled her wrist and Stefano yanked her away from Emilio and into his arms. “What did I tell you about other men touching you?” he snapped.

She glared at him, struggling to put an inch or two between their bodies, but it was impossible. The more she fought to get free, the tighter he held her.

“Stop fighting me or we’re going to have a very public scene. There are paparazzi in here and I can guarantee we’re already on their radar.”

His anger was palatable. Intense. Surrounding her with heat and fire. Still, as upset with him as she was, her body reacted, flooding her with need. She kept her face down, refusing to look at him even when she subsided, forcing herself to relax into the warmth of his body.

“Now tell me what the fuck you thought you were doing.”

Even with her giving him what he wanted and letting him hold her close, his anger hadn’t lessened in the least. That spiked her own temper. “I wasn’t arranging to have sex with three men, if that’s what you thought. Your little harem is here, waiting for you.”

“Damn it, Francesca, we talked about this. I can’t change who I fucked. I told you that was in the past and you have to accept that, because as much as I would like to have been different, I’m not a magician. There isn’t any taking it back.”

“Is that what you like? What they said? All three of them at once?” She hissed the query through clenched teeth, her heart pounding out of control.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

There was a long silence while the music hammered at them. Created a cocoon of pure heat. His anger swamped her, but it only served to make her hotter. Her body felt liquid, breasts aching for his touch, nipples hard, pushing against the material of the dress in an effort to get closer to him. The junction between her legs was on fire, her clit pulsing with the beat of the music and absolute hunger. She knew her thong was already damp with hunger for him. She hated that she couldn’t control her needs with him. He was angry, and that just added fuel to the growing fire in her.

“Is that what you think of me? That I would need three women at once to satisfy me? Is that really what you think of me, Francesca?” His voice was low. Furious. A whip that struck at her with more force than a leather one would have.

She inhaled sharply and drew him deep into her lungs, her face remaining pressed tightly to his jacket, right over his heart.

His hand came up under her chin and pried her loose. “Fucking look at me, dolce cuore. Now. I’m not fucking around with you.”

Two F-bombs in under a second. He was more than furious. She had no choice but to lift her chin, but she kept her eyes childishly shut tight, afraid if she looked at him, she’d be lost. She was more hurt than she’d realized, hating that the other women had had him before her.

“Look at me.” With an effort he softened his voice, but it was still every bit as commanding. Impossible to disobey. “Open your eyes and look at me.”

She bit down hard on her lower lip and lifted her lashes until her gaze met his piercing blue one. His eyes had darkened into a vibrant, intense color that screamed danger. Once she locked gazes with him, she couldn’t look away. Her heart pounded harder than ever. Her stomach did a slow somersault. Deep inside her core, her muscles spasmed and then clenched hard in reaction.

“Do you really think I play with three women at the same time, Francesca?”

There was a promise of retaliation in his voice. Instead of scaring her, as it should have, she felt shaky with need—with hunger that seemed to be growing out of control. Of course he was going to force her to answer. Slow color stained her cheeks.