I woke up the same way I'd woken up yesterday and the day before—with a painful hard-on. Growling out a curse, I rose from the bed and walked into the shower cabin. If only jerking off could lessen the thirst I felt. It sure as fuck didn't work this way, and Catherine Duncan was the one to blame.I wanted those rouge, heart-shaped lips wrapped around my cock. I wanted to watch those stunning green eyes widen as she took me in. I dreamed about it and about everything I would do to her once she became mine. I wondered if she knew how badly she had gotten under my skin. I bet she had no idea.I couldn't fully comprehend it myself. At first glance, she wasn't much different from other pretty faces I had met before her. Perhaps it had been that wild determination in her eyes or the way she'd tried to fight in my office. I could still hear her breathy little moans… Fuck, I was hard again.I'd just walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my hips, when my phone rang. I snatched it
CATHERINE“And this will be your bedroom.” Marcello Salvo, the maggiordomo, opened the door and gestured for me to enter.I gave him a nervous nod before passing the threshold. My breath caught at the sight of a beautiful chamber filled with light. A slow smile rose on my face as I took in the large, dark wooden floor, cream-white furniture, large canopy bed, and carefully chosen accessories. My feet moved on their own, heading to the row of arched windows. They overlooked the stunning garden. God… I could paint this place for hours and hours.“I hope you'll find this place comfortable,” Marcello's voice sounded behind me. Only then did I realize he was still here, waiting for my reaction and perhaps acceptance.I turned around and smiled at the gray-haired man. “This room is amazing. This whole place is mesmerizing.”Marcello slightly bowed at the waist before pointing at the door on the right. “The bathroom is over there. I took the liberty of filling it with a few cosmetics worthy
CATHERINEI stared at the three giggling idiots in front of me and kept asking myself how in the world I ended up in this situation. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be sitting in this white-leather booth in the VIP zone of the wealthy-snob-only club. I shouldn't be drinking stuff that cost more than half of my usual paycheck. And I certainly shouldn't wear that stupid pink, glittering veil on my head, like a goddamn Barbie bride!“Your turn to spin, Portia!” Naomi gestured at my half-sister with her drink, spilling more than a few drops on the table.“God save me,” I murmured, taking a cautious sip from my glass.Devilishly grinning, Portia placed the bottle on the table and spun it. I exhaled slowly, leaning against the seat. I still couldn't believe that my father made me come here, made me pretend I was happy for her, and that I was grateful she picked me as one of her bridesmaids. As if the fact that she was going to marry my ex-boyfriend—the guy I'd once wanted to marry and have
My reason evaporated. All the fears, shyness, and restraints were gone too. The only thing that remained was him, his tongue dancing along with mine, his hands running up and down my back, the warmth and firmness of his body...There was no logical explanation for why my hands slid up his broad shoulders and circled his neck. I didn't think I had ever been more daring, more reckless, more utterly insane. I was vaguely aware that we were in the club, that others were watching, but I couldn't make myself care. Not when his fingertips traced a line down my spine. Not when his tongue precisely stroked all the right nerves. Not when a powerful surge of heat made me realize no one had ever kissed me this way. I might have moaned softly against his lips. He might have responded with a breathy chuckle. My toes curled, despite the uncomfortable stilettos I wore. I didn't want this to end. I wanted more. I needed more—A wave of realization came like an icy wind, coating my skin. This had to s
HUNTERMy eyes drifted to the empty booth in the right sector of my club, and my lips curved into a faint smirk. Women had always been a way to disarm the rising tension within me—a pleasant but momentary distraction. I rarely cared for their names. I had never bothered to remember who they were or even what they looked like… But not this firecracker. Her image had already imprinted in my mind.A delightful blend of fear and excitement—that was what I'd seen in her big emerald eyes. The taste of her was like the most powerful drug. Had I died from overdosing her, I would have died a happy man.“She left,” Rowan grunted as he caught me staring at the booth again. “She wouldn't if you didn't ignore that other one.”I turned to him and gave him a meaningful look. I had been around dumb sluts and gold-diggers for far too long not to recognize one even from a distance. That blonde in the pink dress easily met both categories.Rowan chuckled and ran his fingers through his blond hair. “You
CATHERINEThe banging on the door forcefully dragged me out of my sweet unawareness. I opened my eyes and regretted it in an instant. My head throbbed like it was about to explode. Or maybe it had already exploded, but I had yet to acknowledge the fact I was dying. It certainly felt like I was about to die from that freaking headache. This was my price for trying to survive the night with Portia. Now someone decided to torture me even more, taking away my much-needed sleep.“Ms. Catherine! Master told us to wake you up immediately!” The maid's voice boomed through the door. “The reporters will be here in less than an hour. We won't go away unless we know you're up!”They had to be fucking kidding me! Cursing under my breath, I crawled out from under the warm duvet and swayed my way to the door. The banging on my door continued, perfectly matching the pounding inside my head. I wouldn't mind swallowing a ton of aspirin for breakfast.“I'm up,” I growled, opening the door and glaring da
A hysterical laugh broke through my throat. “You're insane! You're going to marry my sister, for fuck's sake!”His brows rose, his lips curving into a cold smirk. “So? You know I don't care about Portia. She will be my wife in name, but nothing else. The one I want in my bed is you.”My mouth opened, but I struggled to come up with any response. I had already learned how cold and calculated he was, but this? Every word he said filled me with sheer disgust.“Think about it, Cat,” he went on. “This can be a perfect arrangement. We can still be together.”Fury heated the blood in my veins. “Together? What makes you think I could ever become your mistress?” I strained through my teeth. “You broke up with me. You humiliated me. Why do you think I would let you touch me again?”“I didn't have a choice back then!” he growled, and I stiffened, repressing a flinch. “You know how my mother is. I could have never married someone like you... It doesn't mean I didn't love you.” He took another ste
My heart fluttered faster than a hummingbird's wings as I stared at the man in front of me. Giulio still groaned in pain, writhing on the ground. Hunter barely spared him a glance before locking his eyes on me.“Thank you,” I rasped, folding my arms over my waist. “If you didn't show up... That man… He—”“He had it coming,” Hunter said simply before snapping his fingers.A heartbeat passed, and two men in black suits materialized beside him. Hunter motioned his chin at Giulio, and the two men grabbed him and started dragging him further away from the main venue.A shudder rushed through me. “Where are they taking him?” I asked, my voice shaking.A cold smirk tugged at his lips. “Don't worry about it.” He slowly scanned me from head to toe. “Are you hurt?”I shook my head, suddenly feeling the cold ground beneath my bare feet. I noticed my stilettos a few feet away and quickly snatched them from the ground. He moved as if to help me put them on, but this whole situation rattled me enou
CATHERINE“And this will be your bedroom.” Marcello Salvo, the maggiordomo, opened the door and gestured for me to enter.I gave him a nervous nod before passing the threshold. My breath caught at the sight of a beautiful chamber filled with light. A slow smile rose on my face as I took in the large, dark wooden floor, cream-white furniture, large canopy bed, and carefully chosen accessories. My feet moved on their own, heading to the row of arched windows. They overlooked the stunning garden. God… I could paint this place for hours and hours.“I hope you'll find this place comfortable,” Marcello's voice sounded behind me. Only then did I realize he was still here, waiting for my reaction and perhaps acceptance.I turned around and smiled at the gray-haired man. “This room is amazing. This whole place is mesmerizing.”Marcello slightly bowed at the waist before pointing at the door on the right. “The bathroom is over there. I took the liberty of filling it with a few cosmetics worthy
I woke up the same way I'd woken up yesterday and the day before—with a painful hard-on. Growling out a curse, I rose from the bed and walked into the shower cabin. If only jerking off could lessen the thirst I felt. It sure as fuck didn't work this way, and Catherine Duncan was the one to blame.I wanted those rouge, heart-shaped lips wrapped around my cock. I wanted to watch those stunning green eyes widen as she took me in. I dreamed about it and about everything I would do to her once she became mine. I wondered if she knew how badly she had gotten under my skin. I bet she had no idea.I couldn't fully comprehend it myself. At first glance, she wasn't much different from other pretty faces I had met before her. Perhaps it had been that wild determination in her eyes or the way she'd tried to fight in my office. I could still hear her breathy little moans… Fuck, I was hard again.I'd just walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my hips, when my phone rang. I snatched it
HUNTERI stood by the wall-to-ceiling window, looking at the sun setting over Manhattan. I should have been celebrating. The first part of my plan had succeeded. Instead, the mix of emotions I felt put me on the edge.The sun was bloody as if to emphasize the recently spilled blood. Exhaling slowly, I looked at my hand and the itching skin on my healing, still-reddish knuckles. A faint smile stretched my lips. At least one good thing happened today. One piece of shit less in this fucked-up world.The door behind my back slid open, and Rowan stormed into my office. “The news about the police finding Marchetti's body is now everywhere,” he said through his teeth. “I bet that the old fucker is already heading here.”I could feel the incoming headache. I glanced at my hand again and turned around to face Rowan. “How much do you think he knows?”Rowan dragged his hand over his face and slumped down on the sofa. “He knows that Giulio was last seen at the wedding. Apparently, Giulio told one
I was still in a daze after our quite intense kissing, but I was conscious enough for all kinds of questions to appear. I stared at him in silence, processing everything he had told me before blurting out, “I won't bear you a child.”Amusement danced on his lips. “Never say never.”My hands fisted. “We're not going to add a child into our deal.”“There won't be any deal.” He leaned forward, his lips forming a sly smirk. “You will marry me because you want to, and I will pay for your mother's treatment out of the goodness of my heart.”I huffed out a laugh and folded my arms across my chest. “Are you serious?”His smirk turned into a sultry grin. “Deadly serious. My friend, Rowan, will drive you home and give you a few documents to fill out. I'll need them to take care of your mother.” He leaned back in his chair and glanced at his watch. “Now I'll have to ask you to leave. I'm having an appointment in a few minutes.”I studied him in absolute disbelief. “You really mean what you said,
My stomach turned to lead. He refused. This was a script from my worst nightmare. I could feel the blood draining from my face. Had I been too arrogant in thinking he might agree? Perhaps I was only fooling myself. I wasn't presentable enough. I had no true value to him. Still, I wanted to know. I needed to hear it. “Why?” I choked out. “Is it because I'm not Italian?”He shook his head. “If I'd wanted someone to act as my wife, I would have hired an actress.” His cold voice echoed through the room.“Then what else do you want?” My hands shot up in frustration. “You want me to become your assistant? Your personal maid? Or maybe you want me to bake you fucking cookies?!”His lips curved, but the smile that formed was dark... feral. “What you offer is still only the wrapper. What I want is the whole package.”I swallowed, suddenly feeling naked despite the layers of fabric covering my skin. “There are limits to what I am willing to sell,” I gritted out.A soft chuckle escaped him. “Do y
I stared at Ace, having a hard time acknowledging his words. Did he truly suggest I should marry Hunter Thorne?“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Fifi burst out, glaring at Ace. “That man is practically a Mafia Don! Not to mention that he has a long line of enemies waiting to kill him... and his wife!”Ace gave her a look. “Don't be so dramatic. You're forgetting that he also has the biggest number of soldiers at his disposal. I'd say he's pretty well protected. I'm also certain he'd make protecting his wife a number one priority.”Fifi worked her jaw. “He's doing a lot of illegal… stuff!”“Well, no shit!” Ace snorted. “May I remind you your family deals with all of the Italians, Russians, Chinese Triads, and Yakuza and is quite OK with taking money from them?”Fifi rolled her eyes. “That's… different. We don't get to pick our clients.”“Spare me that bullshit, Fifi.” Ace gave her an unimpressed look. “And may I remind you that Cat can either marry a sadist or... choose someone equ
I must have gone absolutely insane. There was no other explanation for why Hunter Thorne's name had flown out of my mouth. Why had I even thought about him?! It felt like my mind had gone blank for a second, and his name was the only two words that existed.I didn't know if Grasso and Thorne knew each other. What if he called Hunter right now and asked about his engagement? This lie might cost me a lot… Seriously, I might have dug my own grave.I inched back, keeping my eyes on the deadly predator in front of me. I braced myself, awaiting some kind of crushing response, but both, Grasso and my father, fell silent. Grasso worked his jaw, anger flaring in his dark eyes. “It seems that your father failed to mention this little detail,” he gritted out.He believed me. He bought the lie. My body nearly rattled in relief, but I restrained any signs that could betray my bluff. “My father was never interested in whom I dated, and I didn't feel obligated to tell him,” I said, my face blank.Be
CATHERINEIt was nearly six o'clock. I walked through the long hall, heading to where the limousine had already been waiting. My wavy hair swayed from side to side as I tried to keep my walk steady. I was dressed in a black fitted dress that ended right above my knees. Not the most conservative look I could pick, but at least it had a shallow neckline and no inappropriate slits.The chauffeur opened the door and helped me inside the car. My father was already there. I slid to sit beside him and gave him a tight smile. He slowly looked me up and down and gave me a curt nod of approval. “Relax, Catherine. Would you like a drink?” He smiled and pointed at the small bar between our seats. “You seem tensed. A few drops of alcohol might help you calm down.”My eyes widened in disbelief. Was that truly my father? Was he actually trying to be nice? I watched him take two glasses and pour a thin layer of whiskey into both. He grabbed one glass and gestured for me to take the other one. God… th
HUNTERI pushed through the broken doors, entering the Desiderio Club—MY fucking club. Steaming rage slowly filled my veins as I surveyed the damage, estimating the costs. The broken glass screeched under my shoes. It was hard to find the tiniest spot on the floor without it. I kept stepping between the blood puddles, marking the spots where three of ours had been stabbed and a few of those fuckers gutted. The security had been too tight for them to carry the guns, yet they'd skipped a few knives, and so the bloodshed had begun…I walked over to the bar, staring at the pile of broken bottles and spilled liquor. “I will fucking kill them,” I gritted out, grabbing a half-broken bottle and smashing it against the wall.“Someone's in the mood,” Rowan muttered, stopping beside me. “It's not the first time someone tried to ruin our club. So what pissed you off that much?”I blew out a breath and massaged my temples. “Maybe I'm just tired of renovating the clubs over and over again.”“Nah.”