The Billionaire's Sweet Revenge

THREE

Gabe unbuckled his seatbelt and moved to the empty seat next to her. The jarring movement made her eyes snap open as she looked at him.

"Hello, again." He grinned. "I hope you do not mind some company?"

"Uh...um..." Her gaze flew over his shoulder towards Trudy. "What about your girlfriend?"

He shrugged. "She is not my girlfriend, and she will be fine without me."

Valerie wrung her hands and nodded. "I'll be all right, I promise. I just don't like flying."

"Really? Is this your first time?" He had to act like he didn't know her in order to accomplish his revenge.

She released an uneasy laugh. "No. I don't know why I'm not used to it yet, but I hate takeoff."

He nodded. "I think that is what I dislike the most about flying, too." He rested his hand on her knee, his thumb softly caressing the cotton material. If only he could move the garment up a half-inch, he'd be able to touch her bare leg... But perhaps he shouldn't get too pushy until she could know him better. "But all you need is a little distraction."

She nibbled on her bottom lip as her breathing became ragged again. Obviously, he made her nervous. He liked that. Maybe seducing her wouldn't be hard after all.

She chuckled uneasily and pushed his hand from off her knee, which made her dress move up where he wanted.

"Although I need to be distracted," she said with more energy in her voice, "I don't think I know you well enough to have that kind of distraction."

"Then let me introduce myself. I am Gabriele Marcelli, the Conte of Gaeta."

"Nice to meet you." She smiled and nodded. "What exactly does Conte mean?"

"In your language, it means Count."

Her eyes widened. "You are royalty?"

"Yes."

She narrowed her gaze on him. "Are you just saying that to try and impress me, or are you really a Count?"

He laughed over her remark. Usually women took his word immediately. Perhaps this woman wasn't as naïve as he'd hoped. "I'm really a Conte."

"Well, I've never met a Count before, so I'm very honored to meet you."

He leaned closer, trying to give her his smoldering gaze. "And what is your name, mio dolce?"

"I'm...Valerie Olsen." She gave him her quizzical look again. "What name did you just call me?"

"It means, my sweet."

"Oh." Her cheeks grew red. "Well, I thank you for thinking I'm sweet."

"So now we know each other." He placed his hand back on her knee. Her skin was warm and smooth. He stroked his thumb across her flesh and it rose in goosebumps.

She covered his hand with hers, clutching it as to remove it, but just then the engines roared louder. Instead of pushing his hand away, she clamped onto him, her nails digging into his skin.

"No need to worry, mio dolce," he coaxed as he lifted her chin, making her look at him. "Keep your eyes on me."

She nodded. Her bottom lip quivered, so he rubbed just underneath it with the pad of his thumb. Her throat constricted and her tongue slipped out to slide across her full lips. A mouth definitely made for kissing.

He continued to caress her knee with one hand, and her lips with the other, as her body relaxed. Slowly, she rested her head on the headrest in back of her. Her blue eyes remained on him, just as he requested.

Curses, she was beautiful. The way her eyes begged for help, and her body cried out for comfort, made him want to be her rescuer. He especially enjoyed how she acted innocent, but he knew she was far from it.

Soon her hand relaxed over his. Taking a chance, he slid his palm up her leg another inch. Valerie sucked in a breath, but didn't stop him. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her mouth parted as gushes of hot air escaped.

The urge to lean closer and cover her lips with his became overwhelming. Would they feel as soft beneath his kiss as they did when his thumb rubbed across them?

But this wasn't the place to seduce her. Not with everyone's eyes on them.

Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly pulled away. Her shoulders sagged and she smiled.

"There," he said. "Do you feel better now? The color in your face has returned, so I expect you are going to be fine."

She nodded. "Yes. I think I am."

The air between them sizzled with s****l awareness. Perfezionare. Just as he'd wanted.

"I will return to my seat now. If you need my help, please do not hesitate to ask."

"All right."

After he settled himself in his own seat, it surprised him to see Trudy had slept through the whole ordeal. That was all right with him. How else could he begin his seduction with Valerie with Trudy always watching him? She would definitely complain the whole time, too.

Thankfully, in another two hours, Trudy would get off at their layover stop in Atlanta, and he and Miss Olsen would be alone until they reached Italy.

If he had his way, he'd take the lovely Miss Olsen to his condo right from the airport and show her what real passion was all about.

He grinned. His plan was within reach. He would avenge his friend, and satisfaction would be very sweet.

* * * *

Oh, my goodness... Oh, my goodness... Adrianna repeated the words as she focused out the window. Night had swept across the city and lights decorated the ground as the plane took off. But sightseeing was not what was currently on her mind.

It was the sexy Italian across the aisle.

The nerve he had touching her like that! She should have slapped his face and screamed for help. Unfortunately, she was playing her sister's part, and Valerie would have welcomed the gorgeous man's attention.

His sexy brownish-gray eyes that had captured hers while he tried to distract her from thinking about takeoff, had been unnerving. It had worked. She didn't want to stop staring into his intoxicating, and dreamy eyes. She even enjoyed the warmth from his palm as it rested on her knee, although it was very inappropriate.

Just thinking about it sent shivers of delight through her body again. She really needed to stop feeling this way. Although she had to act like her sister, she wasn't Valerie. Adrianna glanced up the aisle to where Valerie was sitting. Her twin had removed her sun glasses and her eyes were closed.

Sighing, Adrianna wished her sister could sit in first-class, instead. Adrianna had no idea what to do up here.

She glanced back to the sexy Italian, and her heart did a silly flip. So what if this had been the first hot guy to show interest in her? So what if he was richer than anyone she knew and was part of the royal family? So what if he thought she was her sister...

That was the problem. He thought she was Valerie. Never had someone so gorgeous hit on Adrianna Olsen. Especially when he discovered what her sister did for a living.

Before the plane had started to board the passengers, Adrianna and Val had hurried into the bathrooms in preparation of switching identities. Adrianna wore one of her sister's dresses, and Val wore Adrianna's clothes. Sadly enough, her clothes looked downright ugly on a super-model like Val. Thankfully, they had returned to the plane just as it was boarding.

Now she wished it had left without them. Adrianna was going to fly all the way to Italy with this incredible hunk in first class. A man who was obviously interested in her...or who she portrayed, anyway.

Her heartbeat quickened, making her throat dry again. When she agreed to play her sister, she had no idea it meant fighting off men, too.

Gabriele was definitely a man that would cause problems. It would be hard, but she must not give into temptation. She mustn't let him get near her again. If he knew Valerie was a super model, or had been, he might want to make her his next target.

Adrianna couldn't let that happen. Val couldn't have this kind of offer made to her, especially now. And Adrianna must play the part no matter how enjoyable it would be to have him hold her in a passionate lover's embrace.

Only in her dreams.

The television monitor on the screen in front of her said they'd be in Atlanta, Georgia in two hours and fifteen minutes. The flight attendant walked by and took her drink order. Although alcohol was an option in first class, it wasn't something Adrianna indulged in very often, so she ordered a diet cola.

Her nerves were too jumpy to rest. Besides, the next leg of their flight would be the longer one, so she might as well wait and get some sleep then.

Magazines and brochures were stuffed in the pouch just under the screen, so she rummaged through them, skimming the pages. Nothing held her interested. Except for...

Slowly, she turned her head toward Gabriele's seat. He'd already received his drink. Water, it looked like. But he wasn't reading or watching the mini television screen in front of him. Instead, his head was turned toward her, and he caught her looking at him.

He grinned and gave her a wink. Her face heated again. She tried to give him her best smile before turning back to the magazine lying on her lap.

Her heart sank. Had he been watching her this whole time? This could not be happening. How could she do anything with his sultry eyes on her that practically undressed her?

The flight attendant brought her drink, which gave Adrianna something to put in her hand. How much longer until they land? Gads, being useless was going to drive her insane.

From the corner of her eyes there was a movement, and she switched her attention in that direction. Once again, Gabriele moved from his seat and sat in the empty one right next to her.

I'm in big trouble!