Share
Chapter 24
Related chapters
Struck by Love Chapter 25
Laura’s breath caught in her throat. It wasn’t just that Angelo was with someone, it was who he was with and what was going on. She felt conspicuous, so she found a spot that would mostly shield her from being seen, but give her a good view of them. She downed the rest of her Prosecco and set the empty glass down on a wide window sill. Her heart was beating faster. She peered out. Angelo was engaged in deep conversation, but not with Portia. With Raquel. Laura didn’t know her boss was going to be here. Raquel hadn’t said a word about it, even though she knew something was going on between her and Angelo. She felt her face grow hot. That schemer, she thought angrily. She also felt angry with Angelo. How quickly his attentions could turn, she told herself bitterly. He hadn’t told her Raquel was going to be here and he'd said he’d come find her after he was done talking to Portia. It had been almost forty-five minutes now and he obviously hadn’t come looking for her.
Struck by Love Chapter 26
Angelo led Laura up to the 17th floor. He had booked an Emperor’s Suite with a view of Central Park. She was suddenly nervous again. She was quiet as they walked to the room. Angelo held her hand firmly. “What if I want to run away and escape?” she teased as they headed down the elegant hallway. He held her hand tighter. “You won’t get very far.” “What if I start to struggle?” He looked down at her, his blue eyes smoldering. Without a word, he scooped her up in his arms. She gasped, feeling a warm thrill at his strength and masculine dominance. Her heart was pounding in her chest. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said, his voice a low deep, growl. He marched them towards the room, her weight feeling like nothing in his arms. He set her down when they got to the room and opened the door. “Inside. Now.” She did as he said. He closed the door behind them. She was immediately taken with the spectacular grandeur of the room, but she was also e
Struck by Love Chapter 27
Angelo admired her nearly naked body, the feminine curves of her hips and backside, the way her red G-string dared him to touch her in her most intimate places. “Just you wait,” he said as he poured some of the fragrant oil in his hands and rubbed them together to warm them. He then spread his warm, massage oil-covered palms over her back in long, smooth strokes. His hands were large enough that it didn’t take many to cover her whole back. “Such a beautiful girl,” he said. “Mmmm, that feels so good,” she said. “The massage oil smells heavenly.” “Good, you just relax and enjoy the sensations,” he said, his voice low and silky. “You are too good to be true,” she whispered. “I just want to please you,” he said as he expertly worked the muscles in her back and neck. Laura was getting so relaxed she thought she could just melt into the bed. He worked the scented oil into her skin, moving slowly in long, firm strokes, even caressing her arms and hands. He was leading
Struck by Love Chapter 28
She smiled as she undid the buckle on his belt. Her heart beat faster with anticipation. “I’ve been dying to look at you…to see your body.” She could tell how swollen and hard he was underneath his clothes. He was breathing heavier as he watched her unzip his pants. Her eyes lit up as she saw his body respond, straining against his pants. “I don’t think these pants are going to fit you anymore,” she said, shaking her head. “I’d better take them off.” His parted lips curved into a smile. His eyes, half-lidded, closed for a moment as he inhaled sharply, while she lightly touched his bulging manhood through the now sticky and wet fabric of his underwear. She slid his pants off. She looked at his long, muscular legs, then back up at the black Dolce & Gabbana briefs he wore, which were stretching with his arousal. She felt her face redden and her pulse quicken with desire. “God, you're sexy,” she said as she reached up to the waistband of his briefs. His body sh
Struck by Love Chapter 29
Angelo headed back downstairs to the Dream Ball, which was still in full swing. “There you are,” a man’s voice called out. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” “Nikolas,” he said, going over to greet his brother. They briefly embraced, patting each other on the back. “Hey, man,” Nikolas said. “Where’d you go? We’ve been trying to find you.” Nikolas, a couple of inches shorter than Angelo, with a slightly slimmer build, had the same coloring and blue eyes as his older brother, but kept his hair shorter. Plus, whereas Nikolas always wore a tie to work, Angelo almost never did. Nikolas always teased him about his model-worthy bed-head look and how he should have a more polished business appearance. Angelo refused. He liked a few loose threads here and there. “Yeah, I know,” Angelo said, running his fingers through his hair. “Portia’s been texting me non-stop. What is it with your wife? I shouldn’t be on her leash.” Nikolas laughed. “She thinks anyone wi
Struck by Love Chapter 30
Laura had a long, sad ride home. She entered her apartment and was greeted by a very anxious and lonely Jasper. It was nice to be needed and know he was always waiting for her. She changed out of her ball gown, into baggy sweats and an old, worn out shirt. She carefully placed her diamond heart pendant and chain back in its box on her dresser. She looked at it for a moment, then over at the beautiful gown hanging in her closet. She thought of Angelo picking it out for her, then slipping it off her. Her heart felt heavy. She had been Cinderella for a short time at the ball, but now she was back in her small, humble home. Alone. This wasn’t the way she had pictured this night going at all. She fed Jasper and gave him some attention. She was exhausted. Physically and in every other way. It was going on 7:30 a.m. now and she hadn't slept. She felt like she had just been through an endurance race, having so much adrenalin pumping through her system over the last few hours.
Struck by Love Chapter 31
She sighed. She poured herself a second cup of coffee, took the phone, and went and sat back down on the sofa. She set the phone down beside her. She had a few sips of coffee then texted him back, ignoring his request to call him. She wasn’t ready: 'I’m at home, just got up. Sorry I missed your call. I needed to get back. I’ll call you later, k? xo.' Laura nervously hit send and then took another sip of coffee. She knew she was stalling, but she still didn’t have her mind wrapped around what she would say to him yet. She really didn’t want to get into an argument with him, and she was afraid that was exactly where this was heading. Still, she felt a bit cowardly. The seconds and minutes ticked by in agonizing uncertainty as she awaited his reaction to another of her rebuffs. Ten minutes later she got her answer as her home phone rang again. She set her coffee down and looked at the display. It was him. Presumably wanting to know if she was telling the truth about b
Struck by Love Chapter 32
After her conversation with Angelo, Laura made herself some breakfast and polished off her coffee. She was bagged. She jumped in the shower and changed into pajamas. She had some time before meeting Sarah, so she decided to try and get a bit more sleep. She felt more relaxed now that she had spoken to Angelo. Things weren’t perfect, but they were good enough for now. Besides, she thought, perfect and relationships don’t really seem to go together. She was very nervous about the presentation tomorrow and especially about telling Angelo afterwards that she had asked Sarah to look into the online attacks on his company. She hoped he wouldn’t be angry about it. But that was a battle for tomorrow. She was too tired to think about things anymore, so she curled up in bed, setting the alarm, just in case she was able to fall asleep. Jasper joined her. The two of them fell fast asleep. Laura’s alarm went off at 4 p.m. She awoke, feeling very groggy, but grateful she’d actually been
Latest chapter
