Page 159 of The Art of Ruin

“That’s because we love you.”

The words are said so sincerely they catch me slightly off guard.

Before I can answer, Letty appears at Elena’s side wearing mismatched socks and absolute determination.

“Daddy says I’m not allowed glitter before school anymore.”

“I’m sure your dad has his reasons,” I say carefully.

“He said he’s sick of finding it on his big work clothes.”

I roll my lips to hide my smile. “Well, he needs to look a certain way, so people know he’s the boss.”

“But shouldn’t bosses sparkle too?”

Elena presses a hand dramatically to her chest. “Finally, someone understands. I’ve been saying for years that all bosses should sparkle.”

The kitchen dissolves into chaos after that.

Matteo arrives with Rossi to pick up Adi so they can go to some meeting together, already arguing with someone on speakerphone in rapid Italian. Rossi steals half a piece of toast directly from Elena’s plate and nearly loses a hand for the effort, and somewhere in the middle of all of it, Adriano walks into the room, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt and every coherent thought immediately leaves my body.

It’s deeply embarrassing at this point.

Two weeks together and apparently, all it takes is rolled sleeves and smiling eyes for me to forget how to speak.

His gaze lands on me instantly across the kitchen. Then softens into something deeply personal and just between us. A hundred words are unsaid, but none are needed anyway.

Warmth blooms low in my chest anyway, heat working its way over my skin. How is it we had sex a few hours ago, and I want him again so soon?

“Morning,” he says.

The word is simple. The look accompanying it absolutely is not.

“Morning,” I manage, trying and failing to keep up the charade that I didn’t wake up with his head between my legs this morning.

Matteo glances between us once before muttering something in Italian under his breath that makes Rossi laugh into his coffee.

I’m choosing to ignore all of them.

Adriano crosses the kitchen toward me without hesitation, one hand settling automatically at my waist as he leans down to kiss me softly.

Not rushed or hidden. It seems he’s given up the pretense and I’m ok with it.

Kissing me in front of family should make me feel awkward but it doesn’t. It makes me feel like his. “You’re staring again,” I murmur softly against his mouth.

“You’re wearing my shirt again, Tesoro.”

I blink once and glance down.

Right.

I stole this from his room three days ago and have zero intention of giving it back. It’s soft and smells like him. “So, we’re kissing in front of your family now?”

His lips dip to my ear, and he bites lightly on the lobe, making me shiver. “It will have to suffice. What I really want to do is strip you naked and eat out your pretty little cunt until you scream my name.”

Oh my.

Adriano chuckles and kisses my shoulder. “I love making you blush, Tesoro.”