Free Mistress By Blackmail: International Billionaires I: The Italians by Caro LaFever Page B

throat. His blood turned to heated oil. His cock hardened into a hot thrust of lust.
    The ruby-red dress wrapped around her body like a caress, highlighting her pocket Venus figure to perfection. A tight sash emphasized her tiny waist, the round curve of her hips. Her breasts were pushed high, displaying a surprisingly impressive cleavage to his ravenous inspection.
    “You fancy?” Her eyes danced as she spread her arms wide, showing herself off.
    The makeup had been expertly applied. He’d known it would be well done. What he hadn’t realized, hadn’t been prepared for, was how it deepened her eyes into mysterious pools of deep-night blue. How the bright-red color on her lips highlighted the plump appeal.
    She smiled.
    It hit him. A womanly weapon that nearly brought him to his knees. The smile lit her face with vivacity, filled her eyes with excitement.
    A giggle escaped her. “I think you like it.”
    A cold wash of alarm jerked him from her power. He turned his back on her, poured another shot of brandy and drank it down. “You’ll do.”
    A tense silence fell between them.
    “That's good,” she finally said, her tone cool. “I would hate to think the money you’ve spent would leave you disappointed.”
    He heard the click of her heels as she descended. He continued to stare at his empty glass.
    “Are you changing before we go?” There wasn’t any inflection in her voice to tell him what she was thinking and feeling.
    “ Si .” Without looking her way, he paced to the stairs.
    “I hope you’ll take some care with your clothes.”
    He stopped at her words.
    “I wouldn’t want to be disappointed either.”
    Allowing himself to glance at her, he ignored the desire lacing through his body. “ Carita , since I have never given you any expectations, how could you possibly be disappointed?”
    The blast of her fuming scowl heated his neck as he ascended the steps. The resumption of their battle felt good, felt safe. What did it matter if he also felt irritated once again?
    And also deprived.
----
    W ho was that woman ?
    Darcy peered around one of several tuxedoed men surrounding her. The men she’d charmed and corralled as soon as she’d arrived at the charity ball.
    To be left to her own devices.
    For all the talk about being seen together, Marcus La Rocca had promptly dropped her like a stone when they’d entered the lavish ballroom. He’d disappeared into the large crowd, leaving her standing alone. A million miles away from anyone she knew. A thousand miles away from anything familiar. In the middle of a seething mass of elegantly dressed, rich people. The type of people she knew nothing about.
    Driving to the ball, she’d worried and fretted over the paparazzi they were sure to encounter entering. Profound relief had swept through her when the limo had dropped them off in the underground parking lot.
    But the relief had disappeared along with La Rocca. A different kind of fear had attacked, trickling down the back of her throat, making it hard to breathe. How could she cope in this strange environment, with these polished, fashionable people?
    Then, like always, the fighter in her appeared to save the day.
    Grabbing a glass of champagne, she’d stuck out her chin and jumped right into the crowd. Within minutes, she’d flirted and charmed and laughed and teased with everyone surrounding her. She’d become the life of the party. It was inevitable. Did her blackmailer think she’d turn into some kind of wallflower, pitifully waiting for him to come to her side? He was in for a shock if that was the case.
    She watched as the woman slid a hand down his arm. The Great Man looked at the hand and then straight into the woman’s eyes.
    Something clutched at Darcy’s gut. Jerking her attention away from the interplay, she focused on the men before her. Who all smiled back when she smiled and flirted with her when she flirted. Who appreciated how beautiful she was. Much to her satisfaction, they were