Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,77

how that works out,” she throws over her shoulder before slamming the door closed.

Jesus.

I rake my fingers through my hair.

This woman might be the fucking death of me.

Emilia doesn’t fight me on staying in the hotel to work. She sets herself up in the library of the penthouse and, after making it clear she’s not happy about the situation, buries herself in her work.

After stressing the importance of Emilia staying in the suite, I leave Bruno in charge of ensuring that happens and head out to meet with some of my men.

Just after lunch, I receive a call from him.

“Got a problem, boss,” he says. “I was called away for five minutes to deal with something and Emilia convinced Johnny to drive her to her office.”

I work to control my anger, but it’s a waste of effort. “She’s at her office now?”

My tone is ice cold and Bruno doesn’t miss it. “Fuck, I’m sorry, Javier. And yeah, she’s at her office. I’m on my way there now, but I wanted you kept in the loop.”

“I’m ten minutes from her office. I’ll meet you there.”

I disconnect and tell my driver to make a detour.

Fucking hell, this is the last thing I have time for today.

Emilia’s office is in Midtown, not far from the hotel, on the 48th floor. My patience is non-existent. By the time I step out on her floor, I’m more frustrated with her than I’ve ever been. Livid as well. Does she not fucking understand that when I say her safety is in question, I fucking mean it?

“Javier,” she says when I barge into her office without waiting for an invitation. Her assistant scurries after me, trying to stop me. Nothing and no one could stop me today.

“Leave us!” I bellow at her assistant who widens her eyes at me like she’s never seen anyone this angry.

She glances at Emilia for permission, but it’s more than obvious she’d rather be anywhere but in this office.

Emilia nods. “Close the door behind you, Carly.”

At the click of the door, I advance toward Emilia, my fury consuming me. “I thought I made it clear you weren’t to leave the hotel today.” The words breathe out of me like fire. Fuck, they feel like fire too. My lungs feel like they’re fucking burning from the worry over her.

She swallows hard as she looks at me warily. It’s the first time she’s had the good fucking sense to do that. “Something came up and I needed to come in.”

I move closer to where she stands in front of the sofa near the floor-to-ceiling window that has a spectacular view over Manhattan. “You waited until Bruno was out of sight and then you talked your way into leaving with a man you knew you could twist around your finger.” I work my jaw as my eyes angrily search hers. “You’re playing with fire here, Emilia. Fire you do not want to be anywhere near.”

Her caution disappears and her fight returns as she erases any remaining space between us. Shoulders back defiantly, she says, “Yes, I waited for that opportunity, because something came up here that required my presence. You may not believe my work is important, but it is, and I won’t have you dictating when I can do it and when I can’t. Now, feel free to stand outside my office and protect me if you must, but I’m staying and getting done what I need to.”

I grasp her arms and yank her body to mine, still as fucking furious as a moment ago. “I never said your work isn’t important. What I did say is that your safety is important. I’d really fucking appreciate it if you listened to me.”

“And I’d really fucking appreciate it if you’d tell me what’s going on!” She resists me, her hands coming madly to my chest as she attempts to battle me.

“Fuck,” I growl, backing her against the window and caging her in. “Stop fucking fighting me, dulzura. I’m trying to fucking protect you.”

“Well, you’re going about it in an odd fucking way.”

Christ, her fight is both infuriating me and turning me on.

I press myself against her, seeking the friction I crave, and bring my mouth to her ear. “I told you that you need to learn to trust me. How long is it going to take for you to do that?”

She desperately wants the friction too. I see it clearly in her eyes and feel it in the grind of her hips. The moan that