Mob Princess

Chapter Eight

Alice

“Hungry?”

I glanced over at him, perfectly in profile with the sun streaming in around him. It made him seem like he was glowing.

“I’m fine” and my tummy rumbled loudly in protest. Truth was I didn’t want this drive to end. The easy conversation. The way he kept touching me with his fingertips.

“Let me feed you, Italian?”

I burst out laughing but shook my head. “No not Italian. I don’t think I should eat pasta with what Casey has planned for us to wear tonight, not if I want it to do up anyway”

His eyes narrowed as he stopped the engine, turning in his seat to face me fully. “And what exactly will you be wearing?”

“Knowing Casey, something totally inappropriate” I admitted finally not quite meeting his eyes.

“Well it’s a good job, I plan of staying close then isn’t it” His fingers lifted my chin and his smile was disarming. “Just in case you need protecting from all the men that will no doubt fall at your feet”

I rolled my eyes, blowing out a breath. He was so ridiculous. Charming yes but ridiculous. Acting like I was the kind of girl who men turned to stare at when she walked into a room. People barely noticed me. Especially people like Luca Moretti.

“You don’t even know beautiful you are do you?” He was so close I could smell the gum on his breath and for a second I was sure he was going to kiss me. My eyes fluttered closed and my lips parted. I wanted to kiss him or more accurately I wanted him to kiss me. Just so I could say I did it.

But his lips never came, and I was left blinking up at his face and I had to close my mouth with a snap. How embarrassing.

“What’s this blush for?” His fingers traced my burning cheeks.

“Sorry, it’s not something I can control”

“I think its adorable, but you didn’t answer the question Alice, what just happened that made you flush?”

I shook my head, no way I was going to admit to him that I was ready and more than willing to be kissed by him. Maybe more. It had taken less than twenty-four hours for him to change my mind about getting physical with him.

“Because I didn’t kiss you?” His voice was steady, but his hand had stilled on my cheek. Cupping my face. “Did you want me to kiss you Alice?”

I felt my head nod once. My neck feeling like jelly.

“Are you sure? “His voice was rough, as if he was battling the same urges I was.

“I think so”

“I need you to be more than sure Baby, I need you to want it because things are going to get complicated as soon as I kiss you”

I giggled. How could a kiss with a man I would never see again make things complicated?

“Is that right?”

“Yeah its right, you’re going to fall in love with me if I kiss you Alice”

Was he for real? I had never heard such arrogance and my laugh was mocking. “Is that right” I raised an eyebrow at him and his lowered in return.

“It’s right”

“Then you best feed me instead Casa Nova because I don’t feel like falling in love  today”

“And what do feel like?”

I bit back theurge to say you and flashed him a demure smile. “I feel like burgers”

His laughter echoed through the car, but it wasn’t mocking. “Seriously, you are in Vegas. With a man who can get you a table at any restaurant in the city and you want a burger?”

I nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah a big greasy burger and maybe some hot wings as well”

“Hot wings?” His eyes swept over my body, as if he couldn’t believe anything I was saying.

“What can I say I like burgers and hot wings are my favourite, especially when I have a hangover” I admitted and finally he dropped his hand from my face.  Had he never met a girl who liked to eat before?

If he thought I was going to be the kind of woman who picked at a salad and asked for my dressing on the side, he was going to be disappointed.

“Good job I thought of here then isn’t he” His eyes crinkled as he motioned for me to look. The diner was non-descript. I would have walked straight past it. “Best burgers in the city”

“How did you know?” I let him help me from the car. It was much harder getting out then it had been getting in without flashing the entire street.

“I didn’t, but I was hoping you would say a burger. I’ve been craving a bacon cheeseburger for weeks”

I let him lead me by the hand, not exactly as a couple would more the fact, he was leading me and I had a few moments to admire his back and round backside, perfectly encased in tailored charcoal grey trousers.

Was there any part of this man that I didn’t want to bite.

“Are you checking me out?” He stopped so abruptly that I almost waked straight into him and his arms slid around my waist loosely.

“Yep” There was absolutely no point denying it when I had been caught red handed.  “Can’t blame a girl, I’m so hungry I would take a bite out of just about anything right now”

“Cheeky girl, if you’re not careful I’m going to take a bite out of you” His arms tightened.

Suddenly I couldn’t breathe.

“You wouldn’t?”

“Oh, baby I would” His mouth lowered, hovering just above my jaw. “Maybe here” His face moved “Maybe here” He brushed his thumb over my lips and I felt something deep inside me snap.

God, I wanted him.

“Yeah I think I would defiantly start here” His arms tightened, it seemed he was fighting so internal battle. “Screw this”

His lips were soft, so unbelievably soft and I felt my self-melt into the kiss. My arms reaching for his shoulders to steady myself. His lips parted mine softly and I felt the tip of his tongue touch mine sending shock waves coursing through my body.

I plastered myself to his chest, though his hands were loose on my hips. He hadn’t drawn me to him. I had done that all by myself.

“s**t” His eyes were darker, smoldering.

“Oh my god I’m so sorry I shouldn’t have done that” I took a step back, my fingers pressed against my half-parted lips.

“Well this is going to complicate matters” His voice was dead pan and I couldn’t help but glance his way. Had I just screwed this up. Ruined a friendship before it had even started.

“It doesn’t have to; we can just forget it”

“Are you crazy I’m never forgetting it” He held the door open wide allowing me to slip through. “It’s just going to get complicated because after that kiss I’m going to fall in love with you”