I laughed into the kiss, loving the way it flavored his tongue.

“You are a bad influence, capo,” I scolded him, but I didn’t move away because he smelled like Amalfi lemons and ocean spray.

Because being against his massive body, cradled so gently in his man killing hands made me feel more like a princess than my designer gown or expensive diamonds ever could.

“It is you who looks too good to resist,” he chastised somberly, but his eyes danced. “We should go home immediately so I can peel you out of this gown and dress you again with kisses.”

Warmth pooled between my thighs at the thought of his tongue exploring every pleasure point on my body. It continued to shock me that just a few years ago I’d suffered from anorgasmia and now, the very thought of Dante sliding his tongue, fingers, and thick dick inside took me to the edge.

“Aurora is at Mama’s for the night,” I mentioned slyly just to hear his raspy chuckle. “It’s been a while since you played me while I played the piano.”

“We’re leaving,” Dante decided definitively, clasping my hand so he could begin tugging me back toward the grand staircase leading out of the ballroom.

I laughed as he started to weave through the bedazzled crowd, but I knew it was too good to be true. We had only been there for twenty minutes, said the requisite greetings to our hosts, the fierce-eyed Bryant and vacant-eyed Sarah Morelli, and I hadn’t even seen Tiernan yet.

But, when you speak of the devil he often appears.

“Dante, Elena,” he said, stepping in front of Dante smoothly, without flinching when my six-foot-five husband almost barrelled into him. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“We were just leaving,” Dante told him as he tugged me into his side and slid a heavy arm around my hips, his fingertips dipping too low, feathering at the top of my pubic bone through the velvet.

Tiernan raised a thick brow, eyes sliding down my figure coldly, devoid of appreciation. “I understand the desire, but I still need to talk with your wife. Samuel Patterson is here. I know you’ve been wishing to discuss a potential property acquisition with him. Last I saw, he was talking to my brother, Lucian, by the patio doors just over there.”

It was a clear dismissal and a lesser man might have taken offense, but the wonderful thing about my capo was that he rarely did. He was secure enough in his power and abilities to remain unmoved by most mind games.

“Va bene,” he agreed, easily. “But Tiernan, if my wife still does not wish to represent you after your conversation, I will have to…insist that you leave her be.”

A smile flickered around Tiernan’s scarred mouth. “Of course.”