Chapter 9

Just an FYI... this chapter has some steamy stuff in it so, just warning you. It is short, but I will just write a couple more chapters. Enjoy!!!!!

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CHAPTER 9: Natalie woke slowly. Her body ached and was stiff, but at the same time she had never felt more comfortable. She remembered what had happened and still felt a wisp of fear that soon went away when she realized Giovanni had protected her...He had protected her. Why? Wasn't she disposable? He had toppled on top of her when the first gunshots rang out and she had expected him to shove himself behind her, but he...proved her wrong and she couldn't believe it. That is when she first noticed the beginnings of fondness for the man that held her captive.

She knew it was wrong and she tried to banish them, stomp on them, throw them, burn them, but no matter what she did it was still fluttering around in her chest like an aching lost butterfly.

She turned and found herself face to face with the man of her musings. He looked just as beautiful awake as he did asleep, she noted almost absently. He still had a furrow in his brow, though, even in his sleep and she wondered what plagued him so deeply- wanted to take the burden of that away.

NO!

She couldn't think like this.

Yes, this was her life now and it would be easier if she just fell in love with him but he had taken her away from her OWN life.

She slowly and hesitantly lifted a hand to caress his face with light fingertips. It was almost as if electricity shot through her as soon as their skin made contact and she shut her eyes tightly at the pure delight that fizzed through her system. She ran her fingers over his brow, his sculpted, perfect cheekbones, his jaw and then his lips.

She let out a yelp of shock as his hand shot up to grip her wrist in a vice-like grip. Slowly, his eyes opened and she found herself staring deeply into them.

He stared into hers, too, and his gaze moved over her face making her feel it like a hot physical caress. His own eyes dropped down to her lips and she hated the lust that warmed her belly, hated that just a gaze from this man could send her into a puddle at his feet. She bet he could do that with a lot of women. That was the thought that made her reel back from him like he was poisonous. She couldn't deal with him cheating on her. Just the thought of him with another woman had jealousy a bitter and cruel acid in her veins.

He sighed heavily and sat up. "Good afternoon, mi amour." He said, his voice like crushed velvet stroking over her skin.

She shivered and pulled her knees to her chest, watching as he sat up, and watched as his face twisted in pain. Her brow furrowed and only then did she realize the bandage covering his shoulder. She let out a small gasp and crawled over on her knees next to him.

He glanced at her, surprise momentarily etching his features as she set a hand on his shoulder and inspected it.

"You... You were shot!?!?" she almost shouted and his lips twitched.

"Just a graze. Why? Worried about me, mi amour?" he asked and she blushed.

"N-no!" she spluttered and got off the bed.

A wave of dizziness washed over her and her head throbbed. Giovanni's hand shot out to grip her by her waist and she ended up practically in his lap, his arm pulling her close and her chest close to his face. Her skin suddenly felt too hot, too tight at their closeness.

Giovanni slowly looked up at her through dark eyelashes with even darker eyes. Heat ran through her at the hot gaze he sent her way and only then did she realize the...vulnerable position she was in when Giovanni's jaw rubbed up against her breast. She took in a sharp breath as he looked up at her through his eyelashes again and kissed over the top of her right breast. She let out a small moan, unable to stop it. Then as he moved his hand upwards, anticipation curling through her, was there a loud knock on the door. It was as if a cold bucket of ice water had been splashed over her. She stumbled back and Giovanni's mouth thinned as he growled.

"WHAT?!" The door opened and the younger man from before stepped in.

"Sir. Sorry to interrupt." He said as he took in Natalie's flushed skin.

Giovanni merely grunted as he stood.

"We need to...speak about what happened and what we have found." He said.

"Okay. I will be down in a minute." He told him as he walked to the closet.

The man nodded and stepped out. Natalie took in a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak when Giovanni beat her to it.

"You can leave now."

Rage pulsed within her at the few words.

They had just shared something intimate and he was just dismissing her. She stomped over to the closet where Giovanni was pulling out a black cashmere sweater that she just knew he would look divine in. He grabbed a pair of dark jeans as well and stalked past her. She followed him, glaring daggers into his back.

"Just leave?" She growled and he nodded as he set the clothes on the beautiful marble bathroom sink and turned on the shower.

"I need to shower. So, if you want to watch me strip then you are more than welcome, but you are no longer needed here." He said and she couldn't move due to the anger pulling at her so she just stood there.

He grinned at her and moved his hands for his pants.

She finally snapped out of it and spun away from him. "Fuck you!" she spat and heard his low chuckle, but it sounded hard to her ears. "Please...do." He murmured in his silky voice.

She trembled with rage as she stalked out of the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her. She slowly made her way back to her room and got some clean clothes out as she turned on her own shower.

She took in her bandaged head, grimacing.

She shouldn't be glad that Giovanni saved her, she decided. It was his fault in the first place that she was even shot at. Why they were even shot at in the first place? Sure, Giovanni was a part of the mafia and had enemies, but she couldn't help and think that there was something more to it.

So, as she showered and then dressed, she left the room her shoulders set, her jaw tight as she made her way through the house.

She was going to get some answers and she was getting them. Now...

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Done! Next chapter! I hope you liked! XX :)