In the end, he carried her to the armchair, grabbed both her legs, and pressed his lips between her thighs.
Back at the penthouse, Livy finished dinner and pushed her plate away.
“Can I go to bed early?” Antonio looked up from his glass.
“Of course.” Livy stood, but before she could leave, he added calmly, “We’re sharing my bedroom from now on.” She stopped.
Her eyes widening.
“You’re out of your mind if you think I will…
I will…” “You will what?” Antonio asked patiently.
When she said nothing, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and set it beside his plate.
“I’m simply stating a fact.
There is only one bedroom you’re entitled to and one bed.” “I’ll sleep on the couch.” Antonio shrugged.
“Suit yourself.” Livy stared at him.
She had expected an argument, but he hadn’t given her one.
She turned sharply and walked toward the bedroom.
The couch was surprisingly comfortable.
She lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling as her thoughts drifted back to Nathan Cross.
She could still see the disappointment and hurt that had appeared on his face.
Of course he would feel that way.
They had grown close during the months she had spent under his protection.
Somewhere along the way, he had become a little more than her friend.
And they had shared a few intimate kisses.
A small smile touched her lips when she remembered the first time they kissed.
Cross had attempted to make macaroni and cheese for dinner.
Attempted being the operative word.
She had taken one bite, chewed slowly, and looked at him with absolute seriousness.
“Four out of ten.” He had stared at her in sheer disbelief.
“Four?” “I’m being generous.” He had laughed, shaking his head.
“You can’t be serious.” “And you’re a terrible cook.” “I’ll remember that the next time you ask me to cook for you.” “No you wouldn’t.” He had smiled at her, and for a moment, neither of them said anything at all.
Livy noticed the way he was looking at her, that shift in the air between them.
“What?” she asked softly.
He had leaned closer then, capturing her lips in a hesitant, tender kiss, as though he wasn’t entirely sure he was allowed to cross that line.
She sighed.
If she had told the Don this, she had a feeling he wouldn’t take it lightly.
She soon drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up the next morning, there was a cloth over her, shielding her from the morning chill.
Antonio must have covered her sometime during the night.
She stared at the ceiling for a moment, letting the sleep fade before pushing herself up from the sofa.
She quickly looked around, thankfully, Antonio wasn’t in the room.
She should take advantage of the opportunity and shower before he returned.
The only problem was actually finding the bathroom.
She walked around the enormous bedroom until her eyes landed on a digital control panel built into the wall.
Several symbols appeared across the screen, controlling the lights, windows, air conditioning, and other features.
One shower symbol caught her attention, it just might be the bathroom.
She pressed it.
A soft click sounded from the wall and a section of it slid open, revealing a doorway.
Livy blinked.
”Oh-kay.” Stepping inside, she found herself staring at a space that looked less like a bathroom and more like a luxury spa.
Polished black marble covered the floors and walls.
A massive soaking tub sat beneath a floor-to-ceiling glass window that offered a breathtaking, panoramic view of the city below.
Across the room was a huge rain shower.
Around it were stacks of soft, personalized bath towels and expensive soaps and shampoos.
It was stunning.
She looked around, her eyes narrowing.
Was there a camera in here?
She couldn’t see one, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one hidden somewhere.
She hesitated before slowly reaching for the hem of her clothes.
Even with Antonio nowhere in sight, a strange shiver ran down her spine.
What if he was watching her?
Heat rushed to her cheeks.
“Bastard,” she muttered.
She glanced suspiciously at the corners of the bathroom.
“If you’re watching me, enjoy the show.” With that, she quickly undressed and stepped beneath the shower.
She turned on the hot water, and within seconds, steam began filling the sleek glass enclosure.
She closed her eyes as the warm water cascaded over her skin.
A soft sigh escaping her.
It felt good.
Her body began to relax, and for a few precious minutes, she forgot about Antonio and his prison.
When she finished, she reached for one of the fluffy white bath towels stacked neatly on the marble shelf, only to freeze when she noticed the embroidery.
Stitched across the fabric in neat, elegant silver script was the name Livy D’Angelo.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered.
She glared at the towel, her anger flaring up.
The sheer arrogance of it made her blood pressure spike.
He hadn’t asked her.
He hadn’t given her a choice.
He was just acting like she already belonged to him, like she was his property.
She grabbed the towel anyway and wrapped it tightly around herself.
It was either that or walk out naked.
She hurried out of the bathroom, keeping one hand firmly on the towel.
The moment she stepped through the door, she bumped straight into Antonio.