Despite looking like a humble eighteenth century cottage from the outside, it was actually extremely chic and eclectically decorated on the inside, not that I had much time to look around. Barone marched straight through open floor plan of the main rooms to the back main bedroom. He then flung me onto the center of the bed.

Keeping his eyes trained on me, he kicked the door closed as he reached for his belt buckle.

I took in a sharp breath. “What do you think you’re doing?”

His gaze roamed over my body as he smirked. “What I should have done the first time I laid eyes on you.”

He whipped his belt off.

“You’re crazy.”

He nodded as he kicked off his boots and pulled his shirt over his head. “Yes, I think I am. And it is you, dolcezza, who have made me so.”

I skirted back to the edge of the bed and swung my feet over. I then plastered my back to the wall as I inched toward the large glass doors which lead out to the veranda.

He nodded toward the doors. “Go ahead. I can f*ck you out there in the wild just as easily as in here on a bed.”

Taking my chances, I lunged for the door.

I didn’t make it.