A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

I shake my head at her, leaning back in my seat. "So who is this Enzo." Her face drops, and her mood darkens. She sits there staring at me, and I raise a brow at her.

"He is the man I will be marrying."

"Yes, I gathered as much. But who is he?" She shifts uncomfortably in her seat, giving off signs she doesn't want to talk about it, but I don't let up. I want to know who this man is. After a few minutes pass by, she sighs, dropping her shoulders.

"Enzo Vastili. He will soon be the head of the Chicago Outfit." My brows pinch as I try to recall anything I can about this name, but nothing comes up. I know of his father, but nothing of him.

"And why is it that every time he gets brought up, you get so angry?"

"I do not." She snaps at me. I raise a brow at her, proving my point. "I just don't like him, is all. I didn't get a choice in the matter, and he would be the last person I would ever choose."

"Who made that choice then?"

"He did, and my father said I couldn't refuse him, and now that I just agreed to stop fighting him." She sighs. "I have no choice." She folds her arms in frustration.

"And do you always do as daddy tells you to?" I say, trying to goad a reaction out of her, wanting to know what the deal is with all of this. Just as I knew it would, a fire lights in her eyes.

"No, I don't."

"Prove it, darlin'. You're just a goody good little girl who does as she is told all the while claiming she is so defiant and independent."

"And what would you suggest I do to prove it?"

"Kiss me." Her forehead creases as she is taken aback by my command. A slow grin tugs at my lips as she sits there, proving my point though I can't help being a little disappointed by it.

Seeing the smirk on my face, she narrows her eyes. Pushing up from her seat, she walks over to me. Climbing over my lap, she straddles me on both sides with no hesitation. I see the determination in her eyes as she reaches down, grasping my face with her small hands. She leans in, closing the distance as her silk-like lips brush over mine.

At feeling her warm breath caress me when she parts her lips I am sucked into oblivion. She moves her lips, against mine for a short moment before pulling away. "There, happy?" I feel her body shift as she moves to get off me. Shaking my head, I grab hold of her hips, holding her down tightly so she can't move. She turns and looks at me with a questioning look in her eyes.

7

GIANNA

"You're not going anywhere, darlin'." Moving his hands, he threads his fingers into the hair at my neck as he pushes me back down to him. Meeting my lips with his once again. Taking control, he moves his lips against mine roughly as he pulls me into his body. The desire I worked hard to contain as I first kissed him floods out like a broken dam. It rears to life under his touch like so many times I had imagined it. I can feel his force and strength as he holds me in place, feel the heat of his skin and hard chest against mine. My body comes to life under his touch. He moves his hand down my sides and over my bare thighs. I can hear the groan as I shift forward, feeling his hard length below me. I move my hips again, wanting to feel him against me when he grabs hold, digging into my skin roughly. Pulling from my lips, I hear him curse under his breath.

"Is something wrong?"

"We shouldn't have done that." His jaw is tight as he grinds out in a tortured voice.

My brows pinch at his words, and I'm suddenly confused. Wait, didn’t he tell me to kiss him, then proceed to pull me back? Hurt flares under his rejection of me. Remembering I am still planted on his lap, I push off, and this time he allows me to get up. Walking back to my seat, I plop down with a scowl on my face. I avoid his eyes though I can see him watching me.

"Gianna." He calls out, trying to gain my attention. I ignore him, not wanting him to see how he affected me just now with his dismissal. "Gianna, damn it! Why are you so fucking stubborn?" He forces out between his teeth.

"Why are you such a pompous ass?" My walls fly up, surrounding me once again, enclosing me and my vulnerability in safety. He shakes his head at me.

"It's just not a good idea, okay. Nico would have my balls if he found out."

"And do you do everything Nico tells you?" I say, mocking him, angry that I find myself wanting him still. He grinds his jaw at my jab to his pride and ego. "And here I thought the offer was still on the table." I tisk, reminding him of his words earlier.

"It is." His voice is dark and low, and I can tell I am pushing his buttons.

"Yeah. Sounds like it considering you can't even kiss me properly."

"If we play with fire, we're bound to get burned."

"Then don't fucking play with fire if you’re scared," I warned him back.

His eyes shine a molten amber at my attitude. I can tell he likes it by the lust in his eyes as he looks at me. We continue to stare at each other as tension seeps thick into the air. "Darlin', I'm going to warn you now. If you ever take me up on that offer. Know that you will belong to me from that point on. You will be mine. So before you go trying to stoke