Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
On the third floor, I could hear Dante’s low timbre, and as I was studying a large bowl, he came out of the office with two of his managers. They shook his hand and went downstairs. He came up beside me. “You like that?”
“It’s pretty. A little, ah, fussy for me.”
“Not into cloisonné, Little Bee?”
“No.”
He indicated a set of vases on another shelf. “What about those?”
I studied them, noting the brilliant colors, inset jewels, and gold. I nodded. “I like those. They’re pretty.”
“Enameled glass. All done by hand by a master. Not as valuable, though.”
“I still like them.”
“Then if you were buying something, I would advise you to buy those. You buy what you love, what moves you, not for the value.”
“Which do you prefer?”
He laughed low in my ear. “The vases. Because they are mine.”
“Is the landscape painting on the stairs yours as well? And the gold and green bowl?”
“Yes.”
I felt his arm go around me, pulling me close. He pressed a kiss to my head. “You have a good eye, Brianna. And you know me well.”
I smiled up at him, pleased to see my Dante wasn’t as far away as I thought.
“Have you looked enough?”
“Yes. I thought I’d go and do a little browsing.”
“Okay. I’ll need a couple of hours. Don’t go too far, and we’ll have lunch.”
“Where will I meet you?”
“I’ll call.”
“Okay.”
In his office, he helped me tug on my coat and slipped my wallet into the inside pocket, along with my phone. “Keep your eyes open and be vigilant. Pickpockets love tourists.”
I lifted one eyebrow. “Spoken from experience, Light-hand Luke?”
He chuckled and pulled me close, kissing me warmly. “You’re getting much too mouthy for a prisoner. I’m going to take away some of your privileges.”
“I have some?” I asked with a grin.
He smacked my butt. “Go, before I do something totally out of character.”
“Such as?”
“Fuck you at my desk as I look into the gallery. Take you hard and fast while people are considering paying a small fortune for a piece of art. Staring up at the window, wondering what’s behind it, as I make you come all over my cock.”
I blinked and nodded rapidly. “Okay, I’ll be going now,” I mumbled and walked into the doorframe. I stumbled and righted myself, turning to see him leaning on the desk, his arms and feet crossed, looking at me with so much tenderness and desire I had to swallow.
I ran.
I could hear his laughter follow me right down to the street.
Chapter Twenty
BRIANNA
My meandering started off well enough. I looked around some of the lovely shops adjacent to his gallery. I had a delicious latte while sitting in the morning sun watching people. Then I moved to the little café across the street and had a raspberry gelato. After all, I was in Italy and needed to taste all the wonders it had to offer. A third shop smelled heavenly, and I got a slice of still-warm focaccia studded with rosemary and goat cheese and munched it as I strolled. I browsed through a couple of clothing stores and bought a pair of wide-legged pants that had some incredible embroidery on the bottom from one boutique that carried some more casual-type clothing. The pants were made of linen and in a deep blue, and I thought they would look cute with one of my T-shirts. A slight change from my overalls. Although I did notice Dante liked to use the straps to haul me close and kiss me anytime he wanted.
Just the thought of his mouth made me warm. I had to shake my head to clear my thoughts.
I found another one-piece bathing suit in the same shop, as well as a new pair of sunglasses I liked. It was always bright here, it seemed, and I was constantly squinting. I had left my pair in the apartment so I needed these. Between the sunglasses and the hat Dante had insisted on buying me, I felt very chic. Then I caught sight of myself in a mirror and chuckled. I looked like a tourist. No one would mistake me for a local. The women here were effortlessly stylish. I was just…me.
I hesitated when I saw a pretty red dress hanging up in the corner. It was flowy and different from anything I had ever worn. The back dipped low and crisscrossed with the red silk. Pretty sleeves and a drapey skirt that would sit mid-calf, I judged, made it elegant but still sexy. The slit in the skirt added to the effect. I bit my lip. I had nowhere to wear it. At least, not right now. I knew I had a couple more dinners to attend with Dante. It seemed a little fancy for dinner, though. I was about to leave when his words came back to me.