“More?”
“No, I think I’m full finally,” she said. “I’ll do dishes.”
“That can wait a minute. I have something to ask you.”
She wasn’t looking forward to this. He looked serious with his knitted brow. “Go ahead.”
She wanted to lie, even without knowing what he was going to ask, but she promised herself she had to be honest with Amedeo. He was taking care of her. He’d taken her into his home. Without knowing much about her. For all he knew, she could be a thief.
“I talked to Tory today. She said that she found out that you’ve been in jail. I wanted to hear your side of the story.”
Her words froze in her throat. She couldn’t lie, but that had been when she was a teen. No one should have been able to access that. What had Tory done to get that information? Was it going to color how Amedeo saw her?
“Uh.”
“Are you denying it?”
She wiped suddenly sweaty hands on her pants. The past threatened to come back up so she swallowed hard in an effort to keep it down. She didn’t need to be sick. “No.”
“You want to tell me the story?”
“First off, how did she get this information?”
“I don’t know.”
“I was a juvenile when it happened. Those records are sealed.”
“Tory knows some influential people. I’m sure she did something bad to do it. So it’s true?”
Violet swallowed again. “Yes it is.”
“Tell me what happened?”
He put a hand on hers. She needed his warmth. He didn’t seem mad, only curious. She licked her lips. Here goes. “My boyfriend robbed a convenience store. I had no idea he was going to do it. He said he was stopping to get a soda. I was waiting in the car. I was driving because I had just gotten my license.”
“He robbed the place. Was he an adult?”
“He was eighteen at the time.”
“You must have been scared,” Amedeo said.
“I was. My mother had no money for bail so I spent two weeks in the juvenile detention hall.”
Amedeo wasn’t mad? He squeezed her hand. “What happened to the guy?”
“He went to jail. I never saw him again. I never wanted to. That time in jail scared the crap out of me. I wasn’t going to depend on a man.”
“Ironic that you have to depend on me,” Amedeo said.
He sipped his wine. Violet watched as his Adam’s apple went up and down.
“Yes it’s difficult.”
“You can stop worrying. I believe you. I’m going threaten Tory with a restraining order to leave us alone,” Amedeo said.
Not only had he believed her, he was siding with her. Tory was going to be history. Violet let out a breath. The food settled in her stomach. She smiled at Amedeo. “Thanks for believing me.”
“Not a problem. You haven’t lied to me yet.”
She nodded. “Shall I do dishes?”
“I have something better in mind.”
He led her to the bedroom. Her body was ready just thinking about it. He undressed her like a fragile doll. No one had ever seen her that way. She felt cherished as he kissed her up and down. He lit fires as his lips touched her.
“You’re so soft, Violet,” he whispered.
His voice came out ragged. She liked that she could do that to him. She had barely touched him. She took his erection in her hand. He gasped. He was hard. “You’re so hard, Amedeo.”
“Then things are as they should be,” he said, chuckling.
“I can’t wait any longer. Get inside of me.”
He braced himself over her the slid into her. She arched up to meet him. This man who was powerful, but so vulnerable when she was naked. She knew he couldn’t resist her. “I want to be on top.”
He rolled them both so that she was straddling him. She set up a slow, torturous rhythm. His eyes fell closed. She couldn’t help smiling. Then she was close. Damn. She’d done that. He lifted his hips to meet hers, but she was in control and her orgasm was just on the horizon.
She had her hands on his chest her hips moving up and down, faster now that she was close. He put his hands on her to move her fast. She fell off the cliff as he scrunched up his face and followed her. She slumped onto his chest.
They were so good in bed. How would she ever leave him?
***
Amedeo left Violet sleeping in his bed. He liked that she would be there when he returned. He shouldn’t get used to her being there. Her presence was temporary. He had to remember that. Not that he would fall in love. He doubted he’d ever love anyone again. Not after how Tory had treated him.
He had to insist that she stop harassing him. He had his driver take him to her apartment. This was done. After his visit, she would either agree to leave him alone or he would get a restraining order. He didn’t want to see her again and he didn’t want Violet to be upset. Not in her condition. He wanted his child happy and healthy.