Chapter 4

Rose

Giovanni was a very powerful man with a dark and twisted mind, much like Nikolai. I wished I didn't like the way his sexy voice sounded or the way his cologne drifted in the air. I fucking loved the way it smelled. I knew it was wrong to feel an attraction to my boss, but it was impossible to ignore it. The way his smoldering gazes lingered throughout the day made me want him to kiss me again.

I sniffed the shirt he had let me borrow and sighed. It smelled just like him. I lay in the bed, unable to sleep. All I could think about was Giovanni.

What was he doing right now?

I sighed as I grabbed a pillow, bringing it to my chest and imagined it was Giovanni. Closing my eyes, I slept better than I had in years.

The next morning, I was awakened by the one of his maids shaking me awake. “Miss Rose, Mr. Lucchese wanted me to bring you a clean pair of clothes.”

“Thank you.” Isabella smiled, placing the dress on the bed. She turned and stepped out the door, leaving me to clean up.

I threw the covers off and rolled out of bed. A frown formed when I picked up the dress. It revealed more than I was comfortable wearing. It was a one piece dress that came mid-thigh. The black silk was thin, but covered the chest area enough. The length of the dress was a different story, though. Within thirty minutes, I had showered and dressed. My makeup had been perfectly applied. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, the dress was low-cut in the front and the bottom came up to my mid-thigh. I sighed smoothing down the dress and made my way downstairs.

Stepping into his office with a cup of coffee Isabella gave to me, I watched as Giovanni was deep in a conversation with Luca. When our eyes met, he froze and stopped talking. It was like he was under a spell. I blamed the revealing dress. My heels clicked on the hardwood floor as I made my way toward him. I placed the cup of coffee on his desk and walked away.

“Good morning, Rose. You look absolutely breathtaking.” Luca flashed me a smile, bringing my hand to his mouth. He kissed my knuckles and released my hand.

“Good morning.” I lowered my eyes and began organizing the files that I didn't have time to finish yesterday.

“Luca,” Giovanni hissed. “Don't you have a job to do?”

I didn’t understand why he had to be so rude to Luca. He didn't do anything wrong. All he did was told me good morning. I could feel his breath on my neck as he leaned over me. “Rose, I don't want you talking to him.”

“Sir, I don't understand.”

Why was he acting like this?

“I don't like to share what belongs to me.”

Damn you and that sexy voice, Giovanni.

I clenched my thighs together and whispered, “I don't belong to anyone, especially not to you.”

“You're my secretary, so that makes you my possession. Mine,” He leaned down further, pressing his chest against my back. I gasped when he slammed his hands on each side of me and whispered in my ear. “I don’t like the way he looks at you, Rose.”

I turned my head and found myself leaning in. “How does he look at me, Giovanni?”

“Like he wants to eat you up.” I knew I was pushing him, but I was secretly enjoying this little interaction. I wanted to test his limits and find out what he would do with me.

Would he bend me over his desk and spank me, or would he spread my thighs to claim my body?

“What if I like to talk to Luca?” My nipples hardened, protruding through the white fabric.

He spun my chair around and pushed it against the desk. He narrowed his eyes and gripped my hips. “Try it and I won't be responsible for my actions.”

“S-sir!” My eyes widened when his lips connected with mine. I gasped when he dug his fingers in my sides, allowing him to claim my lips. The kiss was what I had desperately wanted last night. Instead of kissing his cheek, I wanted to press my lips against his. I deepened the kiss, trailing my fingers down his chest and gripped his tie.

“I shouldn't want you so fucking bad, but I do,” he rasped as he spread my thighs.

“Giovanni, have you seen...” Luca had a bewildered look in his eyes, and he froze. Giovanni pulled away from me and straightened his suit.

“It's on my desk.” He smiled as if he had accomplished something and walked back to his desk.

Holy shit.

Giovanni did that on purpose—knowing damn well Luca would be coming back for his phone. He wanted to prove a point to him. Giovanni wanted to let Luca know I was off limits.

Luca raised his eyebrows as he picked up his phone and whispered as he walked past me. “Seems like the boss has claimed you as his. I'm just glad he's finally getting over his wife.”

His wife?

He was a married man, and he was coming onto me, claiming I was his. I'm going to tell him exactly what I think of him the next time he tries to call me his. I should have never pushed him and melted under his touch. Should've broken away and rejected his kiss.

Watch out, Giovanni—don't make me call Nikolai.