3

Raella's POV

“More?”

His hand was already around the glass when I realized what he meant. His fingers brushed mine, and I jerked back like I’d been shocked. The only reason the glass didn’t fall was because his reflexes were like something out of a superhero movie.

“No, that’s okay.” I shook my head, cheeks burning. “Thanks, though. For the drink. The first one.”

And for sending that groper off. And for the jacket. And for not kicking me out of here in nothing but pasties.

Mr. Cool was fiddling around behind me at the bar as I stepped over the remains of my dress and out onto the balcony. The evening air was warm and balmy. The crowd below was a constant buzz of laughter and clinking glasses.

“I haven’t seen Vincenzo once since I got here. I doubt he’s even here. Men like him never actually show up to their own parties.”

Mr. Cool grinned wider. “I did. I’m Vincenzo Marinelli. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Vincenzo. The man everyone else wanted to be alone with.

“Wow. Uh, okay.” My mouth went dry. “Well, it was great to meet you, but, uh, I think I should go. This isn’t really my scene.”

“All of a sudden?” He stepped closer. “You didn’t recognize me before. Even now, you say this isn’t your scene. What’s your game, Carmela?”

“I’m just here for... fun,” I stammered.

“How convenient.” He smirked and closed the distance between us, sealing the moment with a kiss.

He tasted like vodka and bad choices. I tangled my fingers in his dark hair as our bodies pressed together. His knee slipped between my legs, and a shiver ran down my spine.

“I thought you weren’t interested,” he taunted.

My eyes were closed, my head spinning. I felt drunk, though I hadn’t had enough to drink to be that way.

This was reckless.

This was crazy.

His hands slipped down to my hips, grinding me against his thigh. My breath hitched. “You’ve got me on the edge of my seat, princess. What’s this?”

He called me “princess,” but I wasn’t that. I wasn’t the girl who got her Prince Charming and lived happily ever after.

But I could have this, couldn’t I? Stolen moments with a dark prince all to myself.

A brief glimpse into the glittering world I’d escaped.

“A fairytale,” I murmured. “It’s all just a fantasy.”

Vincenzo took a step closer, guiding me backwards until my back was pressed against the wall. His hands slid beneath the lapels of his jacket, brushing over my heated skin.

“Lucky for you,” he said, his voice low, “fantasies are what I’m good at.”

Desire curled tight in my chest. “Is that so? Have you been fantasizing about this?”

He nodded without hesitation, his stubbled cheek grazing my face. “Since the moment I walked in and saw you standing in my office. It was the perfect plan, honestly.”

“Get naked and throw myself at you?”

“Get naked and tell me you don’t want me. Then I have no choice but to prove you wrong.”

His finger slid up my inner thigh, teasing its way through my wetness. When I opened my legs for him, he slid that finger into me, inch by slow inch. My body rocked with each pulse. I bit down on my lip, desperately trying to hold back, but the pressure was building—fast, fierce. I was sure I’d shatter when it finally broke free.

His lips were on my neck, just below my earlobe. His other hand pinched my nipple, sending waves of sensation through me as he guided my hips to ride his palm.

I was tight—every inch of me wound so tightly I could snap. And then, with a gasp, I broke. “Oh, God,” I gasped, the rush of release crashing over me. Thank God he was there to hold me up, or I would’ve crumbled to the floor.

But he wasn’t done.

“Now,” he growled, his voice dark and full of purpose, “let me show you how wrong you are.”

His hand found its way to his pants, and before I could react, he was free. My breath hitched as I wrapped my hand around him. He was big—unnervingly big—and I couldn’t help the twist of fear that curled in my stomach. There was no way that was going inside of me...

Right?

My body trembled, not from the cold, but from the raw tension coursing through me. Adrenaline was pumping, my vision blurred.

I pressed him against me, felt him tease at my opening, and I couldn’t stop myself from moving against him. He slipped in an inch, then pulled back, leaving me hanging, desperate.

So close.

So damn close.

And yet, it felt like the worst decision I could make.