Chapter 44

I like some darkness, even if it does come from Master Carrero. There is no one quite like him. For his flaws anyway, I have to say, he can be amusing. ‘‘Lucie is my biggest fan. He secretly adores me and is just jealous that you get to sleep up here with me every night. He totally imagines the worst.’’ I flutter innocent lashes and continue sipping my drink, exuding my sexual confidence with subtle little mannerisms that are as natural as breathing to me nowadays. Wasn’t so long ago I had to force each one to build this façade known as Camilla Walters.

‘’Possibly because Alexi tells him the worst.’’ Gino laughs and the little flicker of smug crossing Alexi’s face makes me wonder how much truth is in that joke. I have no idea how he got lumbered with Luciano other than through family but I don’t get the feeling he likes him at all and can completely imagine him using subtle hints to get under his skin. Lucie already thinks I’m banging the boss and that’s why I get preferential treatment, it would annoy him wholly if Alexi hinted at it too.

‘‘I get to cut him loose in three months when he hits retirement. Until then, I ignore him.’’ Alexi downs his drink and slides it on the table, tossing a cushion aside and gestures to me with a finger wiggle, patting the couch next to him suggestively and I just narrow my eyes. He actually smiles and the world does not self-combust. I hate that when he does it, even though it’s so rare it’s almost an endangered species; it makes me a little weak and weird for him. Alexi has dimples and a gorgeous smile when he flexes those muscles and I despise him more for it. It does funny things to my insides.

‘‘What? It’s not like you to want me so close … Are you drunk?’’ I watch him suspiciously, looking way too self-assured and chirpy for my liking, yet I get up and move anyway. I know underneath that almost happy look, he’s still brewing close to the pissed he was on the phone and don’t want to push my luck. He’s being non-Alexi and I should just tread carefully when he is not behaving as he normally does. Changes in character are usually a huge warning sign with any man and handling him with kid gloves is a must.

I walk over and sit down closer, about a foot away and nestle myself back into my cross-legged pose and try to exude my confidence and ease, even though I feel anything but. Alexi reaches out, putting a hand across my legs so he cups my thigh and yanks me a tad closer. It makes me jump and almost spill my drink all over him. It’s not like him to be so hands-on or want me glued to his side like this and Gino is watching with interest while depositing his own drink on the table.

I have a moment of alarm, a pang of doubt as I remember brothers from high school and how they were famed for group fucking the same girl; that was their kink—brotherly banging one girl at one time and my eyes dart from one to the other in alarm. If Gino likes that kind of thing, maybe Alexi is willing, even if he does have me on a sex ban.

Is that what twins deem appropriate because they are technically from one cell and half of one person?

I stiffen as he tries to pull my legs closer possessively. It’s only now that I am this close that I realise Alexi looks a little wired and even in the darkness of the room his pupils are tiny. Gino looks the same and it’s not a coincidence. I look around for tell-tale signs of cocaine but see nothing at all, trying to find any other reason why my normally cool and cold arsehole of a boss seems to be suffering from a schizophrenic personality.

‘’I want you to come closer, no reason.’’ His eyes lock on my mouth, he slides an arm behind me on the couch to rest along the back behind my head and this time I know for sure something is up. I feel incredibly uncomfortable and look to Gino for answers. Alexi looks like he wants to devour me, eyes honed on me in a way which says ‘’I will fuck you right here, right now.’’

Alexi made it clear he does not ever want to cross this line so there is no way in hell he is in his normal frame of mind. He’s so close I can feel his breath on my cheek and his body warmth is taking over me. I tremble with the waves of testosterone oozing my way.

‘’Are you coming to our opening night?’’ I try to keep the nerves out of my voice, fixating on Gino but Alexi running a finger down my throat to the open neck of my shirt dress makes me flinch. I’m not sure what to make of his sudden attention and smile his way adoringly, trying to ignore what he’s doing as he angles close enough to dip and lick my neck if he so desired. He angles so close I think he actually might and swallow hard, palms instantly clammy and trembles ensue.

I am trying to read this sudden sexual interest in me and not react like I want to get up and run. I know how to play the game and I endure his touches with little outward reaction, as though having a cougar like him size me up for the kill is normal daily work routine.