Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

gleamed at her, a wicked amusement dancing in their black depths. "I may have become one since I met you," he answered her suggestively.
    She frowned at him. "I think you like to scare me with your wickedness, Don Scarletti, but in truth, I am not so easily frightened." It was the truth. No one else seemed to frighten her quite the way he did. "I… I have a need to speak with you… about your order to have your men taste my food and drink. I would not wish anyone to become ill on my account," she ventured, hesitant to bring down his wrath on little Sophie, preferring that he spend it on her first.
    Giovanni shook his head gravely. "I will not rescind my order, cara mia, not even to please you. But you knew that. I suspect you had another reason to seek me out."
    She regarded him steadily for a moment, tapping her foot nervously on the floor, considering how best to argue with him. He looked far too implacable. She sighed heavily. She didn't want to reduce Sophie's chances for freedom. But in any case, he was watching her with such unbelievable intensity, she wasn't certain she would be able to think clearly much longer. "I would like to take young Sophie with me into the courtyard. She is very sorry for her disobedience, and I have lectured her on the dangers of the passageway, although I think she could be given a demonstration from her zio Gino, as she respects him very much. In any case, I encouraged her to aid me. She should not be punished."
    He stared down at her for so long, she thought she might melt. Nicoletta was mesmerized by the hot intensity in his gaze. She was very aware of his body, too, so close to hers that she could feel the heat of his skin. Again a current seemed to arc between them like a lightning bolt, sizzling and dancing until her skin was sensitive and ached with need. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her body went weak.
    Butterfly wings brushed at her stomach; her body clenched, and heat pooled low within her. She honestly didn't know who moved first.
    His mouth fastened to hers, hot and exciting, sweeping her away with him. It was a dark promise, erotic, sensual, his tongue demanding her response rather than asking for it. She melted into him, boneless and pliant, her body molding to his, so that she felt his fierce arousal. Instead of pulling away as she should have, Nicoletta reveled in her power, wanting more, suddenly craving his dark secrets, aching with a need so strong she burned with it. Liquid fire. Molten heat.
    Her breasts swelled with desire, pushing into the heavy muscles of his body, straining for his touch. The thin material of her blouse seemed all at once too much of a barrier between them. Her mind was suddenly filled with images: her hands on his skin, his palm cupping her breast, his mouth blazing fire along her throat, lower, across bare skin to close, hot and moist, over her aching nipple. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
    Giovanni lifted his head, his hand still curled around the nape of her neck, her body resting against his. "I need you, Nicoletta." His voice was husky and sensual. "Dio! I do not think I can wait one more night.
    Go take the child into the courtyard, and do not find any more trouble. Keep Signorina Sigmora with you at all times; she is your only protection."
    She could feel his strong body trembling with the effort to allow her to go. A good girl would have been appalled at his conduct, shocked and horrified at her own, but Nicoletta suspected she wasn't as good as Maria Pia would have liked. She wanted the don's hands on her body. She knew he wanted her.
    Nicoletta. Not any other. She made him nearly as weak with wanting as he made her. She smiled up at him, trying desperately to find a way to breathe.

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    He groaned softly. "You cannot do that, piccola. You cannot look at me with such trust and need in your eyes." He kissed the top of her head. "I am not to be trusted around you. Go find your worthless chaperone and insist she stay attached to your side." Giovanni carefully put her from him. "I promise I will impress Sophie sufficiently to stay out of the passageway. Now go while I still have some respect for myself."
    Nicoletta didn't dare look at the two guards. She knew they would have smirks on their faces, and at the moment she didn't care. She looked up at the don, and for the first time she touched his shadowed jaw with her