This was supposed to be the lull after the storm.

But Rosa felt anything but restful.

From where the goateed blonde had been shot all the way to the door, a trail of blood stained the black marble floors of the VIP room. Rosa was surprised that the gunshots hadn't sent a barrage of security guards to their door. Then, it hit her: Most likely, Cristiano had paid them off ahead of time. It seemed like something he would do.

She could feel the weight of Cristiano's gaze on her. Tightly wound agitation thrummed from his being. The fierceness of his displeasure wasn't visible to the eye, but it could be felt by everyone in the vicinity. Under the laser-like intensity of Cristiano's scrutiny, Rosa almost forgot that nine other pairs of eyes were also watching her.

She tried to quiet the nerves ruling over her pounding heart as an eerie, anxious calm settled over the room.

"Come here, Rosa," Cristiano beckoned in soft tones. "Let me introduce you to everyone."

His tone was so steady. So calm. It felt all the more unsettling because Rosa was almost certain that the bastard was beyond livid with her. Yet, a man's control over his temper, Rosa learned over the years, was often a good gage for his true character.

She took a tentative step towards Cristiano, not knowing what to expect from him.

As though nothing was amiss between them, Cristiano gestured to the brown-haired man, the one with a lisp, and declared in brusque, all-business tones, "Marcello works all the tech angles for me. He is also the one who hacked the hotel room key for your assignment."

Rosa smiled at Marcello and murmured, "Thank you. You are fucking brilliant."

Blushing a little, Marcello mumbled back, "It was nothing."

Clearing his throat loudly, Cristiano pointed at the mean-looking bruiser. "This is Giorgio. I have known him since I was a boy. He can kill a man with his bare hands. I bring him everywhere."

For a second, Rosa considered whether or not Giorgio might have a higher body count than her?

As one killer to another, she gave Giorgio a polite nod of acknowledgment. "Enchantée."

Nice to meet you.

He nodded back.

Cristiano glanced at the two blonde dancers. "Clarisse and Evita work at Vosa's clubs back in Catanzaro. They came along this time to help in Madrid."

Rosa offered them a warm greeting. "You were both very impressive tonight."

"Likewise," Evita, the green-eyed blonde, purred in a flirtatious manner. "You handled yourself very well."

Clarisse, the brown-eyed blonde, was much less friendly, grunting, "Hmph."

Over the next few minutes, Rosa learned from Cristiano that Favio, Manolo, and the younger man with tattoos, Raul, were his most trusted allies in Madrid, and Lola was Vosa's ex-girlfriend, who now oversaw various parts of his businesses around Europe.

Cristiano then proceeded to present Rosa to the group. "Everyone. Meet Rosa. She will be working with us now. Show her respect. Or answer to me."

"You got it, boss," grunted Giorgio.

"Your wish is our command, Massera," drawled Lola.

"Il rispetto va guadagnato," Clarisse remarked under her breath.

Cristiano cast Clarisse a dirty look. "What the fuck did I just say?"

Clarisse flashed him a simpering look. "Sorry. Slip of the tongue. It will not happen again."

"Make sure it does not," Cristiano advised in hard tones.

From there, the ten of them stayed a while longer. Rosa felt as though she was standing in the middle of a board meeting rather than a gathering of criminals. Cristiano talked more business with Favio, Manolo, and Raul. The others updated him on the progress of their individual assignments. He gave them his feedback. Rosa sensed Cristiano's aggravation simmering beneath the veneer of his composed exterior, but, through it all, he remained the consummate professional.

Another storm was coming for her, though.

She was sure of it.

Finally, around 1:00 am, Rosa and Cristiano left the Pigmalión. During the cab ride back to their motel, Cristiano's behavior was somewhat withdrawn but otherwise normal. Whenever they spoke, however, he addressed Rosa as her employer. Her superior. Not as a friend. Definitely not as a lover.

He didn't mention a word about the velvet bra and panty set.

Or the fact that she had called another man 'mon beau' in front of him. Twice.

In fact, save for the occasional tick in Cristiano's perfectly chiseled jaw, one might presume that everything between them was fine and dandy.

The bastard's self-control unnerved Rosa.

Certainly, his sense of restraint far exceeded hers. Once their taxi neared the motel, Rosa couldn't hold in her dread any longer.

What did Cristiano have in store for her?

She blurted out, "If you are upset with me, then just fucking say it. Please. I cannot live with this suspense."

At last, a shred of his poise fell away.

Cristiano turned to her with a villainous gleam in his dark eyes.

He taunted, "Why do you think I am upset with you?"

"Because there is an angry tick in your jaw that will not go away," she muttered.

His jaw clenched once more. "Ah, that."

Glancing over to him, Rosa prompted, "Well?"

"You will find out once we get back to our room."

His stern, unrelenting demeanor was beginning to make Rosa feel more and more like a naughty schoolgirl being ushered to the headmaster's office.

She demanded, "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means," Cristiano explained, "that you have given me a lot to consider and reconsider tonight."

"Again, what the hell does that mean?"

He smirked. "Like I said—you will find out once we get back to our room.

Her amber eyes grew round.

Shit.

This didn't bode well at all. Rosa's anxiety shot up some more. For the rest of the drive, Cristiano didn't say another word. His silence did nothing to ease her nerves.

The moment the two of them entered their motel room, Cristiano ordered, "Get on the bed, Rosa."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Why?" she challenged in a light, breathy voice.

"Just do it."

His gaze found hers. Dark, intense, foreboding. Rosa felt as though the bastard had cast a spell over her. She couldn't find the will to deny him. Rosa's legs seemed to move on their own accord as she shuffled towards the bed. Transfixed, her eyes never left his face as she took a seat on the edge of the mattress.

He trailed closely after her. Cristiano's tall, imposing form stopped inches away from Rosa, him standing, her sitting, and bent down to place his palms upon her knees, spreading her thighs apart so he could kneel between her legs.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"What do you think I am about to do?" he echoed her again in a low, intimate voice.

'Thud-thud-thud' went her heart.

Rosa answered honestly, "You are impossible to read at times like this..."

"Should I spell it out for you, then?"

She nodded. "Please."

He smiled faintly. "I want you to be mine. Only mine."

Shock crossed her face. "What?"

This didn't sound like him.

Yet, Cristiano's admission called to Rosa in a way that made her feel emotions she didn't dare examine up close. Hope could be such a hurtful, fickle bitch. Rosa was scared to feel too much for this man, but her heart couldn't seem to stop itself from fluttering with joy.

An intent look settled over his features. Cristiano reached over to cup her face. Tenderly. There was no trace of anger or spite in his touch. His thumb brushed along her cheek. She shivered under his whisper-light caress.

Oh là là!

If this was to be her punishment, then she would happily accept it.

He leaned forward, then, to kiss her. Consumingly. Crushing his mouth to her lips. In contrast to the lightness of his palm on her cheek, there was nothing gentle about his kiss. Right away, Cristiano's tongue slipped inside her mouth to dance with her tongue. She released a moan. It was a soft and needy sound. His unrestrained passion set Rosa's senses ablaze. Her breaths quickened with each passing second. Heat and desire engulfed her core, casting aside all rhyme and reason in her mind.

They fell back on the mattress together with a light bounce. Cristiano crawled over Rosa, caging her body beneath his large, muscular frame. His hands began to pull and pluck at her bra and panties.

"Off," he growled.

"I thought," Rosa muttered in a breathless manner, "you were never going to fuck me?"

"After your little spectacle in the Pigmalión," Cristiano muttered as he unhooked her bra and tossed it aside, "you leave me no choice."

Her underwear disappeared next.

"No choice?" Rosa repeated wryly.

"I realize, now, that you are the kind of woman who needs to be fucked well. And often. By a man like me."

His mouth descended upon her nipple.

Rosa gasped in pleasure as his tongue swirled around her hardening bud. Lust bloomed within her. "Oh, mon beau..."

Cristiano pulled away Rosa's breast to glare at her. His hand snaked down to her sex to toy with her clit. He gave the delicate nub a hard pinch.

Rosa's head snapped up. She glared back at him. "Aïe!"

Ouch!

Cristiano grimaced. "Good. You deserve it for what you said to Rodrigo. If I ever hear you call another man a name that belongs to me—"

Rosa scoffed a haughty scoff, interrupting him, "Is that what you are doing right now? Punishing me over Rodrigo?"

His reply confirmed her accusation in a roundabout way.

"Do not worry," he drawled, "I will make sure that you enjoy your... penance."

Instantly, Cristiano's touch gentled between her legs. His fingers trailed up and down her slit to explore her slickening folds. One finger dipped inside her. She was already very, very wet. He used her own essence to fondle her clit, taking his sweet time to worship the tender nub.

Rosa groaned in delight even while she protested, "I do not think that I deserve any sort of penance."

Cristiano's hand continued to draw lazy circles around her clit, around and around, until her flesh grew slippery and swollen with lust. "You owe me an apology."

"For what?"

Almost sullenly, he grumbled, "For not wearing the corset. For flaunting yourself in front of my enemy."

With a naughty chuckle, she retorted, "I owe you nothing except my services for your money. You are the one who said we had no future. You are the one who is always so obsessed with business, business, business!"

Cristiano started to unzip and remove his trousers. "I have changed my mind. I want it all from you."

She chided, "Greedy, hypocritical bastard!"

He laughed at her insult. "You have no fucking idea."

A second later, his massive cock sprang out. Hard, thick, veiny. Rosa became mesmerized by the sight of his raring erection. It was already red and glistening with precum at the rounded tip.

She whispered in awe and vindication, "So, you intend to fuck me after watching me give another man a lap dance?"

Cristiano didn't miss a beat as a hot, possessive gleam entered his dark eyes. "Yes."

❧

Il rispetto va guadagnato.

Respect must be earned.