Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess (7 page)

That did it. Heat shot through Nathan’s entire body and he tensed, an orgasm hitting him by surprise. His hips jerked forward against her hand, and he bit down on his bottom lip, grunting as she made him come in his pants. Carter didn’t let up, either. She continued her assault until she knew he couldn’t take any more.

Nathan fell back on the bed and threw one arm over his face as he caught his breath. Carter, still straddling his body, looked down at him with a smug smile.

She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I’m sure you need some time to freshen up,” she said in a bright tone and crawled off the bed. She gave Nathan’s thigh a light slap. “See you downstairs, Bubby,” she sang as she skipped out of their bedroom.

Nathan chuckled.
What the hell just happened?

Once Carter made it downstairs, she hesitated before going into the living room where she knew everyone would be. She needed to figure out how she was going to apologize for her episode yesterday. Carter was still semi-embarrassed about all of it. Of course, that shit would happen to her— she always seemed to find herself in embarrassing situations, and it really, really sucked. She was dreading this. She didn’t know what they would say and hoped to God they still liked her.

Carter tiptoed toward the living room entrance, hiding behind the wall. Leaning over, she peeked in the room to see who was there.

The Originals
, Carter thought. Angelo, Cesare, Alessandro, and Bruno sat in the living room, hard at work once again. Déjà vu from the previous morning, except this time she knew who they were. She’d always referred to them as the Originals because they had created an empire, an organization, that was pretty incredible— like the original vampires on her favorite TV show. It was very “fan-girlish” of her, but she thought it was funny. And this way, she didn’t have to say all of their names. When they were all in a room together, all she had to say was
Originals
, and they knew to whom she was talking. It was genius.

She took a long deep breath and prepared herself for whatever happened next. She walked through the large entrance into the living room and her eyes widened in amazement.

This house is bad-ass.

Carter couldn’t believe she lived here, that it was hers. Nathan had done a damn good job decorating. It was perfect. She slipped off one shoe, feeling the plush carpet against her toes. Damn, so soft. She wondered how much it had cost to get all of this finished so quickly. But then again there was no point in wondering. Nathan was the “spare no expense” type of spoiled rich kid. When he wanted something, he got it. For some reason, Carter thought that was the sexiest thing ever, but it might have been because she was hornier than ever right now. She still couldn’t believe Nathan had refused to give it up. He’d better be happy she dealt with it as nicely as she did. She had wanted to beat his ass, but that would have been wrong— he was just worried about her health. But she really did feel fine. Carter’s only discomfort right now was Doritos withdrawal. And speaking of Doritos—

Carter’s thoughts were interrupted when she heard a throat being cleared. She looked up from where she had been staring deep in thought and tensed. Shit! She’d been caught up in her damn thoughts again. The originals were looking at her, brows furrowed and amusement in their eyes.

Carter worried her bottom lip.

Maybe she should open with a joke, try and lighten the mood a bit. No. She couldn’t do that. She was no comedian, and if they didn’t laugh, it would make this so much more awkward. Clasping her hands together in front of her, she slipped her shoe back on. Deciding to just go with being adorable, she smiled innocently. “Heeeyyy, Originals,” Carter sang, rocking back and forth on her heels. “Life’s crazy, huh?” Carter smiled.
God, it was so embarrassing.

The Originals chuckled and stood. Angelo was the first to extend his arms. Carter smiled wide, ran to him eagerly, and jumped into his arms. Angelo laughed as Carter hugged him tight and chanted I’m sorry over and over again.

“Carterina, you don’t have to apologize,” he said as he continued to hug her.

Carter pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Yes, I do. I’m always causing trouble.”

Angelo chuckled and pinched her cheeks. “And you’re worth every bit of trouble you cause, child,” he teased. Then he pinched her nose.

Carter giggled, squirmed out of his arms, and ran over to Alessandro. “Uncle!” she yelled excitedly and jumped into his arms. He hugged her and laughed softly.

“Il mio bel po’ mia nipote.
You gave us quite a scare,” he said softly. Carter loved Alessandro’s voice. It was as sweet as a lullaby, just like him. Well, to her he was sweet at least. But much like his son, Alessandro was a ticking time bomb. But Carter never had to worry about his or Lucca’s temper— they both seemed to have a soft spot for her, which she loved.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was being a total bitch.”

Alessandro chuckled softly, “Carterina, stop apologizing for events you couldn’t control. We are all a bit more understanding than you think.”

They broke their hug, and Carter smiled at him. “You are the most amazing man Alessandro Salerno.” She kissed him on the cheek “Now sit back down while I finish my hugs,” she commanded in a teasing tone.

“As you wish, princess,” he said sweetly with a bow.

Carter giggled and did a quick spin, turning toward the most challenging Original, Bruno. The class clown and the complete opposite of his quiet, laid-back son, Dante. Carter sighed, clasped her hands together, and narrowed her eyes on Bruno. “Go ahead, Bruno.”

Bruno chuckled. “Why must you always assume I have something mean to say?”

Carter pursed her lips. “Because you do always have something mean to say, Bruno.”

Bruno feigned offense and gasped. “I do not!” he said, his hand on his chest, and Carter tried not to smile. “I would never. Now you have to apologize to me for two things.”

Carter laughed. “So you want your apology, huh?”

Bruno nodded. “I do. I was very much stressed yesterday when you tried to kill me …”

Carter laughed louder.

“I can’t even concentrate now on the very important financial work I have to do for business in Vegas.” He let out an exaggerated sigh. “If only I knew a math genius who could do this work ten times faster than I can. That genius would definitely get first pick of the new line coming to my jewelry store next w—”

“For free?” Carter asked with raised eyebrows. Because she would definitely become the genius he needed if that were the case. Bruno had the best jewelry at his boutique in Las Vegas. Nathan had gotten her some of her best diamonds there.

A wicked smile appeared on Bruno’s face, and he nodded his head. Carter squealed, ran to him, and hugged him tight. He laughed.

“You’re the best hustler in Vegas, Bruno,” Carter said with a sigh.

Bruno chuckled. “I resent that. I’m not a hustler— I’m a business man.”

Carter leaned back and pushed him until he fell back on the couch, laughing. “Business man, hustler— same thing, Bruno. You know that,” she said with a wink. “Now, if you’ll excuse me …” Carter locked eyes with Cesare Valente and smiled her sexiest smile. “… I need to have a talk with my sugar daddy.”

The men burst into laughter. Cesare put his hands up as if it would keep Carter from advancing on him and fell back in his seat, shaking his head.

Carter licked her lips and smoothed her hands down her pants. She adjusted her shirt to show a little cleavage and slowly removed the hair tie holding her long hair, never taking her eyes from his. His sky blue eyes were bright with amusement, and that sly Cesare Valente smile was ever-present on his drop-dead gorgeous face.

There are some things that need to be understood about Cesare Valente. Carter had never in her entire life crushed so hard on a man over the age of forty until she had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Cesare Valente.

When she had first met him, she could tell it was difficult for him to look at her or talk to her. Carter was positive it was because of Anastacia, but she quickly got to the point of not giving a shit. She had desperately wanted to get to know Kyle and Mickey’s dad, so she’d pretty much bulldozed her way into the man’s life and made him love her. It hadn’t taken Carter long to fall deeply in lust with Cesare. He was, hands down, the sexiest man to have ever walked this planet. His voice was silk, his crooked smile was sly, and there was a constant wicked smile ever present in those ridiculously beautiful eyes of his. Oh God his eyes! He had natural bedroom eyes. He constantly looked as if he was ready to screw.

Now, Carter loved Nathan Salerno with her entire heart— and her fiancé was hot as all hell. She wanted to marry him and have adorable Salerno babies with her dangerously sexy, blonde, Italian-Russian Zeus of a man. But there was no way in hell he could ever have expected her to be immune to the charms of Cesare Valente. She was only a woman, for Christ’s sake. Even when Cesare wasn’t flirting, he was still flirting. It was the tone of his voice. Carter was convinced that the man couldn’t help it. He was a victim of his own sexiness. Women constantly hung all over him, and he had literally thousands of girlfriends. The poor guy couldn’t get a moments rest, but Carter had always made herself available to him whenever he needed a hug or a kiss— and sometimes both.

Carter ran her hands through her hair and shook it out in a way that rivaled the models in Pantene commercials. Cesare smiled, biting his bottom lip. Carter knew it was just another one of the sexy reflexes he couldn’t control, but she liked to imagine he did it for different reasons. God, he looked so freaking hot sitting back on the couch like that.

“Lovely Carterina, I thought we had already had the discussion in which I explained to you why I cannot be your sugar daddy.”

Carter’s jaw clenched as she fought back a shiver at the sound of his sexy, accented voice. She sauntered over to him and sat in front of him on the coffee table.

“I have absolutely no idea to what discussion you’re referring, Cesare.” Carter crossed her legs and continued her flirtation. “I don’t think that particular memory has returned,” she lied. God, how she loved teasing Kyle and Mickey’s dad. “But there’s no need to repeat the discussion. Let’s just move forward from here.”

Cesare let out a low, sexy chuckle and leaned further back. One of his long arms extended over the back of the couch— she both loved and hated these sexy reflexes of his. He was confusing! Did he find her sexy, or did he find her annoying, Carter would never know! He brought a hand up to his face, running it over his five o’clock shadow, and then licked his lips. Ugh! This was pure torture for Carter.

“You remember the discussion, Carterina.”

Carter shook her head vehemently. “No, I don’t, Cesare,” Carter said with a mischievous smile on her face.

“You do. But you’re going to pretend you don’t because you’re a very naughty girl, aren’t you?”

Carter groaned. She was positive he had no idea that everything he said to her sounded suggestive. “You really don’t make this easy for me, Cesare. It’s all your fault that I’ve chosen to repress that dreadful conversation,” Carter whined.

Cesare laughed. “How is it my fault, Carterina?”

“You keep being …you know …yourself …and stuff,” Carter stammered, playfully tugging at his pant leg.

Cesare laughed and moved his leg. The men in the room were thoroughly enjoying watching Cesare sweat. They thought little Anastacia’s crush on Cesare was hilarious. If the real Anastacia had been as enamored with him back in their younger days, Cesare probably wouldn’t hate her so much now.

“I’m happy to see you are feeling better,” Cesare said. Carter hoped her brown skin would hide her blush. “Come here and give me a hug.”

Carter climbed onto the couch next to him and hugged him. He smelled amazing and his body was so incredibly strong. Sweet Lord in Heaven— Jesus! She could feel every one of his muscles through his shirt. Carter sighed.

Then Cesare did something that he knew would make Carter faint like some fan girl seeing her favorite boy band for the first time. He gripped her chin, turned her face to the side, and pressed his lips to her cheek. When Cesare chuckled at the look on her face and the way her body tensed, she was positive her complexion didn’t hide the furious blush that spread across her face.

“Oh, hell no!” a deep voice boomed from the entrance to the living room. Carter knew exactly who it was, too.

She gripped Cesare’s shirt frantically. “Oh no, Cesare! He’s coming to pull us apart again!” she cried frantically.

Cesare laughed.

“Carterina Stone! Hell, no!” he yelled. She felt big hands grip her waist and yank her up from the couch. She had no choice but to let go of Cesare’s shirt. But that didn’t stop her from reaching for him, much to his amusement and everyone else’s in the room. Well, everyone except the bastard who had pulled her out of the arms of her sugar daddy.

The man put Carter’s feet on the floor. Carter turned and stepped up to stand on top of the coffee table so she could be face to face with this jerk. She was relieved he was a few inches shorter than Nathan so they could be eye to eye.

“Carter, how many times do I have to tell you this? This sick thing you have for Cesare has to end. I won’t put up with it anymore. Absolutely not. It’s over. Do you hear me, woman? I have spoken, dammit!” he said, wagging a finger in her face.

Carter glared at Kyle. “How many times do I have to tell you that there’s nothing you can do about us, Kyle!” She looked at Cesare and smiled at him longingly. “Our bond is unbreakable.” Carter sighed softly.

Cesare laughed and shook his head. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered as he ran his hand down his face.

Kyle made a sound of disgust and then placed his hands softly on both sides of Carter’s face, turning her to face him.

“No,” he said firmly.

Carter whimpered and tried to glance at Cesare, but Kyle wouldn’t let her. God, he could be such an ass. It wasn’t her fault that she had a crippling crush on his dad.

“No, Carter.”

“Kyle,” she whined.

“No!”

“Kyle, you’re not the only guy in the world with a hot dad. People who have a hot parent just need to suck it up and deal with it when their friends have a connection with said hot parent. So deal with it!”

“You do
not
have a connection with him, you crazy woman!”

“Yes, I do,” Carter pouted.

A smile pulled at Kyle’s lips, “You’re nuts. You know that, right?” he asked.

Carter bit her lip and nodded yes. “It’s not my fault, Kyle,” she said, trying not to laugh.

“Yes, it is,” Kyle said, battling his laughter as well.

Carter shook her head innocently. “It’s not my fault that your dad is …”
Fuckable, incredibly fuckable
was what she wanted to say out loud, but she sent the message to Kyle with her eyes instead.