He stepped over to the tub, and I leaned back, covering my breasts. He didn’t touch me, though. Instead, he sat on the edge and dipped a hand in the water.

“You and Luke good friends? I saw the way he looked at you at the church.”

“He’s my cousin.”

“Not by blood.”

“What are you implying? What, are you jealous?” The moment I said it, I knew there was truth to the statement. I saw it in the slight shift of Salvatore’s eyes. In his momentary hesitation before answering.

“I want to be sure you realize you’re as good as a Benedetti now. Want to be sure your loyalties are where they belong.”

“Just because I was forced to sign that stupid contract doesn’t mean my loyalties suddenly shifted. I am not a Benedetti.”

He snorted, shaking his head. “Water’s cooling.” He rose to stand. He wiped his hand on a towel. “Get out of the tub,” he said, without looking at me.

“I’m not getting out with you here.”

“I want to have a look at what I own.” He said the words purposefully and unfolded one of the plush bath towels. He held it out before him but remained several feet away, so that I’d have to walk toward him to reach it, giving him a full view.

“What exactly is this? What do you want, Salvatore?”

“Just what I said. I want to see you. Naked.”

“You want a look at what you can’t have?” Flimsy words, and I knew it. He could take whatever he wanted. I just, for reasons that had no basis in reality, didn’t think he would. And I was determined not to give him this particular power over me. My heart pounded against my chest as I slowly rose, suds clinging to me as I stood. “You want to see?” I asked again, seeing how his eyes darkened as they raked over me before returning to mine. His attraction to me, mine to him, this cruel sort of push-pull between us, I would use it. I would be stronger than it, and I would use it. I climbed out onto the bath mat and stood before him. “Have a look, then. Get your fill,” I bit out.

Salvatore’s throat worked as he swallowed. Without a word, he stepped toward me, held my gaze, and wrapped the towel around me. His hungry eyes held mine, meeting my challenge, posing his own as he dried me, his handling of me rough, the soft towel now scratching at my breasts, my sex. Once he finished, he stepped back, letting the towel drop to the floor.

“Now I can have a proper look.”

He did, gaze pausing at breasts and belly, hovering at my naked sex. Again, he swallowed, then met my eyes once more.