Page 35 of Sacred Blood

Instead, I read every one.

Twice.

The realization was irritating. I told myself it was my responsibility. That I was simply ensuring the safety of a potential witness. A woman connected to an active investigation.

A woman who might unknowingly hold information capable of starting a war.

The explanation sounded reasonable. But it was also complete bullshit.

If one of Romeo's witnesses spent three hours complaining about the quality of the coffee, I wouldn't care. Yet somehow I knew Gabriella had managed to convince Vincent to play cards twice, insulted Paulo's driving without ever meeting him, and attempted to negotiate for internet access three separate times. I knew because I'd asked.

The fact that I kept asking was becoming increasingly difficult to justify.

I rubbed a hand across my jaw and looked back out the window. A week should have been enough. Enough time to regain perspective. Enough time to remember who I was before she barreled into my life and turned it upside down.

Instead, the distance seemed to have the opposite effect.

I missed her.

The admission sat heavily in my chest.

And judging by Vincent's message, Gabriella had apparently decided she'd waited long enough.

My thoughts immediately strayed to Gaby. She frustrated me in ways no one else ever had. In all fairness, my time was so divided that seeing her had been shuffled to the bottom of the priority list, yet I found myself missing her anyway, which only irritated me further. I told myself the distance was practical. The fact that I checked the security reports every night suggested otherwise. She was a weakness I couldn't afford, or so I kept telling myself whenever I considered driving to the safe house instead of the hospital or Malvasia.

Why did I feel so drawn to that damn woman? A curvy woman’s body in a tiny frame like hers never held an attraction for me in the past. Yet now, her sexy little body had my cock straining in my pants. Add to that her huge mane of hair in my favorite color and the fire in her eyes.

Mamma Mia! She’d gotten under my skin in record time. Being with her was such a great pull that I’d purposely chosen a safe house that took some time to get to, just so I couldn’t drop in whenever the urge arose to sink my cock inside her hot little pussy.

We pulled up out front, my gaze immediately drawn to the light in her bedroom. I stormed inside, shaking my head in disgust at Vincent, and opened the door to the bedroom.

“All right, Miss Cala, what’s so urgent that you have to—”

The words died on my lips. Gaby stood naked on the bed with one leg wrapped around the bed post. Now I knew why she’d chosen the room with the birch bed, as it had almost ceiling-tall posts at all four corners.

“Tano,” she purred, her pretty red lips in a practiced pout. “It’s about time you got here.”

I closed the door and locked it, leaning against it with crossed arms. The little brat made a booty call through her guard. Fine, I’d play along.

“Play with your nipples, Gabriella.”

Using her leg to stay secure to the post, she cupped her large breasts. Her eyes narrowed and a whimper escaped from between her lips as she squeezed and massaged herself.

“Tweak those nipples, naughty girl.”

Her pupils dilated as she gripped her hardened buds between her fingers and tugged on them. With her leg cocked up, it was easy to see the excitement glittering along her swollen lips.

“Roll them, Gaby. Teach them a lesson. Show me what I would do if my hands were on you right now.”

A series of succulent sounds escaped those pert lips as she tugged and pinched her nipples.

“Slap your pussy. You have a naughty kitty. Spank it!”

Removing her fingers from her tortured nipple, she slapped her nether lips.

“Oh!” Her eyes widened in shock as the sting morphed into heat. “Oh god, Tano. I need you.”

“You were a very naughty girl, Gabriella. Do you deserve to have me touch you after what you pulled?”