The Billionaire's Sweet Revenge

SIX

Taking a controlling breath, she threaded her fingers through her hair. So she messed it up. Oh well. She had to do something to shake the images out of her mind.

She blew out a sexually frustrated pent of air. "So, how about those Dodgers, huh?"

His eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"You know. The famous baseball team from Los Angeles, California?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "What does that have to do with what we were talking about?"

"Nothing." She pushed away from the table and rose to her feet. "Which is why I brought it up. I wanted to change the subject."

He finished his cup then stood. "You are a strange woman, Valerie."

"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment."

He walked beside her and took hold of her elbow. She glanced at him and grinned. "Why are you doing that?"

"I'm trying to show you what a gentleman I am."

"Oh, so that's what it looks like." She chuckled.

"Yes."

She didn't want to admit his warm hand on her arm felt nice. What was wrong with her? She really didn't want to have to fight him off during her trip. Yet, she never had this problem before, and it was rather nice to finally have it. Fighting off a man made her feel like a desirable woman. Gabriele treated her like a goddess. And yet he hadn't fully kissed her.

She needed to be a lot stronger, or she would be putty in his hands.

They still had some time to kill before boarding, so she excused herself and walked to the gift shop, declining his assistance. She had to buy something to keep herself busy during their long trip.

She grabbed a notepad and pen first, then a couple of magazines, and a thick romance book. Yes. This would definitely keep her busy so Mr. s*x-On-His-Mind would leave her alone.

As she paid for her items, the call to board came over the loud speakers. She hurried as fast as she dared toward the gate, hoping Gabriele would have already boarded. But he stood beside the ticket booth waiting for her.

Would she ever get rid of him? Then again, she really didn't want to. Especially when he took special care to guide her onto the plane.

As she walked up the aisle, she saw her sister sitting on the front row of the second class passengers. Just as before, her twin was asleep.

Once she was seated in first class, she pulled out her romance book. Thankfully, their seats were not together, and she prayed someone would sit next to her. But the more the plane filled, the more she could see today was not her lucky day.

It must be destiny.

Gabriele wasn't where she could see him this time, which relieved her slightly. She turned on her overhead light and opened to the first page. After ten minutes passed, she realized she was still on the page two.

Grumbling, she tried again, determined not to think about Gabriele.

The flight attendants welcomed everyone and gave emergency instructions. Within minutes the roar of the engines started, and her heart raced with anticipation. It was at this time when she expected Gabriele to show up and distract her.

But as the airplane started down the runway, she realized he wasn't coming. Had he found another pretty passenger to seduce?

She frowned. Just her luck. She played hard to get and then he disappeared.

The story of her life.

She crouched lower in her seat and opened her book again. This time she read, ignoring the disappointment sweeping through her from Gabriele's absence. Soon the steady noise of the plane relaxed her. She closed the book and rested it in her lap, and then shut her eyes. Sleep was finally taking over her body from the long, stressful day.

Even with her eyes closed, she could see Gabriele. He wouldn't leave her thoughts. So handsome. So sexy and dreamy. So unattainable.

Why was she hoping for a man who didn't belong in her world? He was more like Val and associated with the same people. He probably lived for parties. Adrianna couldn't stand them. Give her a quiet room and a good book, and she was happy.

The seat moved beside her and she blinked her eyes open. Gabriele laid a blanket over her and handed her a pillow.

"Believe me, these are necessary when trying to sleep on the plane."

Her heart accelerated again and she smiled. He's here! "Thank you, Gabriele."

He helped her stuff the pillow behind her head then tucked the blanket underneath her arms. With his fingers brushing her body, she burned with yearning—and then she quickly scolded herself for feeling this way.

"Are you comfortable now?"

"Yes." Now that he was here, anyway.

He reached up and turned off her overhead light. They hadn't dimmed the lights in the cabin since the flight attendants were still serving drinks.

Smiling, he stroked his thumb over her eyelids, helping her to close them. "Now sleep. When we reach Italy you will be too busy to rest."

She peeked at him from under her lashes. "I don't remember agreeing to hire you as my tour guide."

"Oh, you did, just not in so many words."

She chuckled and closed her eyes again. "If you say so."

"I do, mia cara." His voice was low, seductive.

She peeked at him again. "What did you just call me?"

"I am calling you my darling one."

"Mmm..." She smiled and shut her eyes. She could get used to his kind of pampering.

Not another word was said, but Gabriele remained close to her as he stroked her hair. Curses, he was good. Scary thing is he knew it, too.

Whatever he was doing worked. The stress of the day left her, and relaxation spread over her like a warm, comforting blanket. A charming, incredibly gorgeous hunk was by her side. What more could she ask for?

"Good night, mia cara."

His whisper touched her skin mere seconds before his mouth claimed hers. The surprise made her gasp, but his tenderness made her sigh and accept. He cradled her face while his mouth moved across hers. He nipped at her bottom lip until she opened her mouth. Tilting his head, he slipped his tongue inside. She didn't know what to do with her hands, so she grasped his arms, hanging on as she enjoyed the ride of seduction.

Would he be able to tell how innocent and inexperienced she was? Hopefully if she copied his actions, he wouldn't think otherwise.

Just as she was getting the courage to take over, he pulled away. The lights in the cabin had finally been dimmed, making it impossible to see the shade of his eyes. Had he enjoyed it as much as she did? Or was he disappointed?

Then he smiled and her heart melted, giving her the reassuring answer she needed.

"Good night, Gabriele," she whispered then closed her eyes.

But this time was different. Now she couldn't sleep. Excitement bubbled in her chest, and his kiss had created havoc throughout her body. Never in her life had she had a mind-changing, earth-moving kiss like he had given her.

She wanted more.

Peeking under her lashes, she looked to see what he was doing. Gabriele had snuggled in a blanket and relaxed his head on a pillow, too. And his eyes were closed!

How could he sleep at a time like this?

Could she possibly make this man want her? Adrianna—not Valerie. This was her chance to try. Although she looked like Valerie, she would act like herself while around him. Being an unsophisticated woman, could she make him jittery as he'd made her? She wanted to make him experience the longing that formed in the pit of her stomach and clenched every time he touched her.

Was her goal even possible at all?

Regardless of the odds, she would try.

* * * *

A small pain shot through Adrianna's back, pulling her out of her semi-conscience state. She'd dozed, but obviously, not for long. Groaning, she shifted in her seat. How was she expected to sleep when a gorgeous man sat right next to her?

The plane was quiet, except for the occasional snore from someone down the aisle. Even Gabriele was abnormally quiet.

She adjusted in her seat so that she could study him. His smooth face was shadowed by the outline of stubble. Curses, he sure looked yummy like this, too.

His oblong face held a slightly square chin, and all his other features fit perfectly as if Michelangelo sculpted him by hand. Gabriele's dark brows were shaped nicely, his nose was straight but not large. And his lips tempted her to press her mouth against him and enjoy. Since she'd had a small taste of him, she knew it was pleasant.

His mouth parted as heavy breaths blew out. He was still as sexy asleep as he was awake. She had never taken the time to study a man like this, and she rather enjoyed it. She could examine him to her heart's content. Well, until he woke up, anyway.

She wanted to take the chance she'd never taken before and experience things she'd only dreamed about. Would it be so bad to touch him? If she kept her hand gentle, he wouldn't know.

This kind of opportunity wouldn't have been given to her back in the States. Adrianna never did anything like this. But then she wasn't herself now. She was her bold, beautiful, and free-spirited sister, Val. And being forward with men was definitely something Val would do.

What would it be like to touch such a man in a personal way or be in a lover's embrace with someone so powerfully sexy? Briefly, she closed her eyes and inhaled his tantalizing scent. His cologne was expensive. She didn't know the name, but she'd only detected this scent on the wealthier men. But whatever it was, he smelled like Heaven...and hell. She wanted to press her face against his chest just to know what it would feel like.

Adrianna moved her focus from his handsome face down to his large chest. Would it be as muscular as it looked? Cautiously, she reached toward him, keeping watch to see if he opened his eyes.

Her heart pummeled faster, anxious to feel the sensation of touching him. She prayed he'd remain asleep.