Page 71 of Bargaining

I couldn’t trust his promises or that arrogant smirk. He’d proven that. But death by orgasm at this man’s hands wasn’t a bad way to go.

Chapter 32

Cole

Dull buzzing woke me. I answered my phone quickly before Charlotte stirred.

“Rumor is Gabe’s going to be there sometime in the next few days. He’s organized some away time for his team,” Theo growled.

I blundered through the dark suite into the early morning sun on the balcony. What fucking time was it? It had been years since I’d slept in. “You’re sure?”

“He hasn’t accepted Philip’s offer. Apparently, he wants assurances there won’t be staff changes. He doesn’t want people to lose their jobs. It seems Mr. Rivers is a rare beast in this world. A rich man with empathy.”

Theo’s unspoken words rang loud.Unlike you.

I took a moment to process. This gave me a good chance in negotiation. I couldn’t give a fuck who worked here, as long as Philip didn’t get what he wanted.

“Also, I know why he’s selling. The hotel is hemorrhaging money. Those ancient tunnels cost a fortune to preserve. A lot of the art is on loan. Hotels were his father’s passion. Gabe’s sellingeverything up and plowing the money back into his football team. He likes this hotel the most. It’s one of the last to go.”

“Good to know. Thank you.”

Theo grunted. “Don’t ask me to do anything like this again.”

The line went dead. I could still taste Charlotte Ackroyd on my tongue. Pigeons cooed and church bells rang somewhere. The sun was rising over Rome, bathing its ancient domes and charming terracotta rooftops in soft light. The view out here had never looked more stunning.

I leaned on the balcony, drinking it in. I’d worked for hours out here, but never really looked across to the ruins of the Roman Forum. Now I allowed my eyes to feast on the panorama. A city over two thousand years old. An empire risen and fallen. It was phenomenal. My heart, which was usually racing, thinking about some work bullshit, beat a steady drum. It was like waking up to a new city. Waking up a new man.

Charlotte Ackroyd. I’d imagined making love to her so many times, but I’d never imagined it would feel so right. Sinking into her had been like heaven. My beautiful, funny, kind Charlotte. I hadn’t spent all that time with Roy because I’d cared about history. I’d learned a dead language just so I could sneak a glance at her. She felt so good and sweet, like toasted marshmallows and rolling green fields. Like riding my bike through the woods and meadows full of wildflowers. A different life entirely. One not shackled by pain and regret.

“Work already? You really don’t stop, do you?”

Charlotte appeared in the doorway. She had on my shirt and nothing else. I couldn’t stop my gaze from trailing up her irresistible bare legs.

“That shirt looks a lot better on you than it does on me.” I pulled her to me by the lapels. “But it’s going to look even better on the floor.”

My mouth covered hers, and I kissed her, drinking in her goodness.

Confusion flickered across her face as she pulled back an inch, her hands still resting on my shoulders. “Last night was fun, but I thought it was a one-night thing.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

She raised an unimpressed eyebrow, but her tone was indulgent. “We’ve been through this. Orgasms are not in the contract.”

“But they could be. We’re two consenting adults having fun.”

“I have plans this morning. I’m not traveling all the way to Rome and spending my time in the hotel room. Renata’s taking me to the Trevi Fountain.”

Slowly, I unbuttoned the shirt she wore, kissed a line down her body, and dropped to my knees. “Cancel your tour. Let me propose a new itinerary. It involves me licking you until your legs give way.”

Amusement danced in her eyes as she peered down at me. “That’s not what we agreed.”

“No, but are you open to negotiation?”

Cupping her ass, I peppered kisses over her inner thighs. She wasn’t wearing underwear, and it took everything I had not to zero in on her pussy. A little tease never went amiss.

She smoothed a hand through my hair. “But this is my chance to see Rome.”

I pushed her back gently against the glass doors that divided the suite from the balcony and nuzzled between her thighs, inhaling her. “I understand. But I have a desperate need to eat your pussy this morning, so I’m going to do that, and then I’m going to spend the day making you come in every position imaginable.”