Chapter 8

She woke up feeling lousy. Her head throbbed like it was about to burst, and her throat was parched. She dragged herself out of bed and slipped into the nearest thing she could find: his shirt.

She watched him sleep for a moment before heading into the tiny kitchen to pour herself a tall glass of water. She started the coffee maker, knowing Kyle would want a cup when he woke up.

His sudden mood swings still unsettled her. She glanced up as he walked into the kitchen, and she poured them both a cup of coffee, handing one to him.

Her heart pounded as she took in his shirtless form, his toned muscles still glistening from the shower he must have taken while she was brewing the coffee.

He didn’t meet her gaze as he accepted the mug from her and sat down. But when she approached him from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting kisses on his neck, he pushed her away.

“Enough with the act, kitten,” he said, the word kitten dripping with sarcasm.

Taken aback, she stepped back. “What?” she asked, moving around to face him.

“You heard me,” he retorted.

“I don’t understand. What act?”

He slammed his fist on the table, making her jump.

“Pretending that you enjoy what we’ve been doing. Do they teach you how to fake your orgasms and how to act like you’re enjoying being with the client? Do you think I’m some kind of idiot?”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “What’s gotten into you, and why are you talking to me like this?”

“When I was fucking you in that alleyway, you made a comment.”

“What comment?” she asked, struggling to keep her tears at bay.

“You said that’s why you’re here, to give me what I want.”

“Well, it’s true. That’s why you called the site and chose me.”

“So you were faking all along. You just stroked my ego. You let me believe you were enjoying it as much as I was.”

“Kyle, we’re instructed to give the clients whatever they want, to do whatever they say. We’re told to fake it, to pretend, but I wasn’t pretending with you.

“I came to you planning on doing so, but I liked being with you.

“I never once faked my orgasm, and as for having to give you whatever you wanted… Well, I wanted to please you, and not because they told me I had to.”

He watched as she walked over to the counter. Even though her back was to him, he knew she was crying. He stood up and approached her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

“I’m sorry. I should have talked to you about it before jumping to conclusions.

“You have to understand that even though I’m paying for your time, I still want to know that you’re being honest and also enjoying our time together.”

“The way you spoke to me, it made me feel cheap, like a whore.”

He spun her around to face him. “Don’t say that. You’re not a whore.”

She averted her gaze. “But you’re paying to have sex with me, so that does make me one, a prostitute.”

He cradled her face in his hand and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “No, you’re not. You don’t belong in this business. I can see that, and I want you to quit.”

“I can’t. They won’t let me.”

“What do you mean they won’t let you?”

“Kyle, please. Just drop it.”

Seeing how distressed she was and how pale, his heart ached for her. “You will tell me before we leave here to go back home. But now I have a breakfast meeting to attend.

“I’ll order you some room service, and then you go back to bed and get some rest. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I do feel sick from all that beer I drank last night.”

He pulled her into his arms. He felt like a jerk for the way he had treated her.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. I just need to talk to someone about the new machines that I’m considering for my casino.”

After ordering her some room service, he made her go to bed while he got dressed, and when her food arrived, he brought it to her. He gave her a kiss and left for his meeting.

Unable to eat much of the food, she fell back asleep, waking two hours later.

Kyle still wasn’t back, so she took a quick shower, and then, after drying off, she put his shirt back on.

Feeling more like herself, she went to make some coffee and to have a glass of water. She promised herself never to drink that much again.

She looked up from her coffee when she heard him walk in. In his hands were some flowers. Her heart fluttered as he walked over to her and gently touched the side of her face.

“You look much better than you did earlier. I’m sorry I took so long, and especially about this morning. I got these flowers for you, hoping you’ll forgive me.”

She put her coffee down and took the flowers from him, inhaling their scent. “They’re beautiful, but you didn’t have to get them for me. I had already forgiven you.

“Honestly, you did have every right to feel the way you did. I would have felt the same way if I were in your shoes.”

He took the flowers from her and placed his hands around her waist, lifting her onto the counter.

Positioning himself between her legs, he put one hand on her thigh, the other one around her waist, and pulled her close.

He didn’t say a word. He just started kissing her. He slowly continued kissing her as his hand moved to the buttons on the shirt she was wearing, undoing them until her breasts were exposed.

She arched her back when he moved to her breasts. He took one in his mouth and started sucking, nibbling on the nipple.

Feeling his hand move down between her legs, she spread them wider, allowing him to finger her. Leaning back, she moaned, her hips grinding against his fingers as he stroked her to climax.

She opened her eyes to look at him when he pulled out. Her eyes widened when he licked his fingers, grinning at her.

“You taste so sweet,” he said, then pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it aside before he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

A couple of hours later, he gently rolled off her, propping himself up on his side to gaze at her. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his hand tracing the curve of her breasts. He loved the way they felt under his touch, soft yet firm.

“Has anyone ever told you how incredible your breasts are?”

“No,” she replied, her eyes meeting his. His hand felt so warm against her skin.

“Well, they are. I had planned to take you on a wine tour, but after last night, I doubt you’ll be up for any wine tasting.

“So, how about we visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa instead?”

“I’d like that,” she responded.

After a quick shower and change of clothes, they headed out. Upon reaching the Leaning Tower, they climbed up to the viewing platform. She moved from one end to the other, taking in the breathtaking view.

“Kyle, the view from up here is amazing. You can see everything.”

He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Every time I visit Italy, I make it a point to come here. There’s a certain tranquility about standing here, looking out over the city. I knew you’d love it.”

She turned to face him, her arms looping around his neck.

“You were right. I never dreamed I’d be in Italy. Thank you for bringing me with you.” She pulled his head down, pressing her lips to his.

Kyle was caught off guard by her public display of affection, but he found he liked it—maybe a little too much, as he felt his cock harden.

“We should stop now, or I’ll be scouting for a place to do some very naughty things to you. As much as I enjoy the thrill of public places, this is a bit too public.”

She giggled when she felt his hardness pressing against her. “I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten since this morning.”

“What would you like?”

“I noticed a small pizza place when we were driving here. The smell wafting through the car window was mouthwatering.”

“Then that’s where we’ll eat,” he said, stealing one more kiss before they left to grab a bite.

The pizza place was a quaint little establishment run by an elderly couple who greeted them warmly and showed them to a table.

Kyle conversed with the man in fluent Italian. They chatted for a few minutes before he ordered a large deluxe pizza and two glasses of red wine.

The older man, affectionately referred to as Papa by everyone, kept engaging Kyle in conversation. Every now and then, he would glance at her. She was intrigued by their exchange and was soon to find out what it was about.

Kyle could tell she was curious. He leaned across the table.

“Papa asked if we were Americans and if you were my wife. I told him no, but that we are together. He wants to know if we’d like to go to the back and help make our pizza.”

“You’re kidding. Do they really let their customers do that?”

“I guess. So, do you want to?”

She smiled. “It might be fun. Let’s do it.”

After a brief exchange with Papa, they followed him to the back where they were introduced to his wife and their son, Marcel.

Kyle took one look at Marcel and wished he had declined the offer. The young man was strikingly handsome, with tanned skin and dark hair. And he was looking at her like he wanted to eat her up.

~Typical Italian, always flirting with women~, he thought to himself.

Marcel showed them how to roll the dough and place it on the pan, then instructed them to add the sauce and toppings of their choice.

He spoke to her in broken English, and with a laugh, he went behind her and guided her hand to spread the sauce.

“This is the proper way to do it,” he said, grinning at her. “You are very good. You like?” he asked her as Kyle watched.

Once the toppings were on, Marcel slid the pizza into the oven. Kyle took her hand and turned to the young man.

“Thank you, but we’ll be sitting down now,” he said in Italian. What he really wanted to do was punch the guy in the face, but out of respect for Mama and Papa, he held back.

“That was so much fun,” she said when they were seated, taking a sip of her wine.

“Which part? Making the pizza or having him stand behind you with his arms around you?” he asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

She looked hurt. She knew which part she enjoyed, and it wasn’t the guy.

“Couldn’t you tell that he was hitting on you?”

She looked down at her wine. “He was just being nice, and it was making the pizza that I enjoyed.”

She looked up at him. “I would have preferred having you behind me, but he was just showing me the right way to do things.”

He reached over and took her hands in his. “I was jealous when I saw how close he got to you. I wanted to punch him.”

“There’s no reason to be jealous. I’m here with you.”

“Marcel is a very attractive man. Are you saying you’re not even slightly attracted to him?”

“He is good-looking, but you are more handsome. I’m not stupid. I know he’s a player and was flirting.

“I don’t like men who come on to a woman when the man she is with is right there. It shows a lack of respect on his part.”

Just then, their pizza arrived, and Papa asked if they enjoyed making their own meal. Their positive response had him beaming from ear to ear, and he left them to enjoy their pizza.

When they were done and Kyle went to pay the bill, Papa refused to take their money. All he asked was that they come back and tell their friends.

As they were leaving, Marcel emerged from the back, and as he walked toward her, she moved closer to Kyle, wrapping her arm around his waist. She felt his arm drape over her shoulder.

They both knew that Marcel was about to hug her, or worse, kiss her.

Marcel stopped when he saw how they clung to each other. “I just wanted to wish you both a good evening, and I hope to see you again,” he said, his gaze fixed on her.

Once outside, Kyle pulled her into his arms. “Why did you put your arm around me?”

She beamed up at him, her eyes sparkling. “I just wanted to make it clear to him that I’m with you, and he doesn’t stand a chance.”

His eyes lit up at her words. “I like the sound of that,” he said. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a lingering, passionate kiss. “How about we head back to the hotel? I’ve got a whole lot of pleasure with your name on it.”