Forbidden Deception (Deception)

26

W ho the fuck is that guy talking to Venezia?

Why is he grinning, and why is she smiling back at him?

My hands clench at my sides as I watch Venezia smile and nod at him, grabbing the folders from him and making her way over to me near the elevators, but my patience this early in the morning is running thin.

Venezia gave me something she hasn’t given anyone else, and I’m addicted. She let me taste her, let me own her body, and I don’t fucking share.

“Mr Gustav, good morning,” she says when she joins me by the elevator. She nods politely like I didn’t fuck her brains out yesterday, like she didn’t suck my cock with those pouty lips.

“Good morning.”

I nod back, keeping my composure, willing for the burn in my chest at seeing her interact with other men to ease. I always dismissed it as me having unnecessary emotions, but those emotions have a label now, and Venezia is now mine more than ever.

Elevator doors open, and we both walk in.

The doors slide shut, and as soon as they do, I turn and grab Venezia’s nape and pull her lips to mine in a harsh kiss. I slam her against the back wall, and she tilts her face to deepen the kiss, a moan slipping from her lips.

Not only did those few days away allow me to see an unfiltered version of her; it also let me see parts of Venezia I didn’t know.

She’s needy, constantly wanting my touch, and while at times she denies it, she’s just as fucking horny as I am. And I love that. It’s why I know she loves it when I grab her in a corner, when I fuck her with my fingers at the printer room before someone walks in, or when in meetings my hand wanders to her lap and she doesn’t fight it.

The burning ache in my chest is soothed by the taste of her lips and the knowledge that no other man will ever get what she has given me, which is all of her firsts. Her first kiss, her first fuck, first dance, first everything. I pull back just in time for the elevator to ding, announcing our arrival to my office floor.

Venezia is breathing heavily by the time I let her go, and I turn and walk to my office, clearing my face of any emotion as I have always done. I stop in my tracks when I find Mikko and Eiran standing in my office.

“Good morning.” Eiran grins, and his eyes dart behind me.

“Venezia, good morning.”

I look to my left to see her smile and nod, hiding her shaking hands behind her iPad.

I’m glad the kiss rattled her as much as seeing her with that man downstairs did to me.

Eiran walks up to her, pulls her inside my office, and sits her down on one of the chairs. Her brows pull together in a frown, and she looks at me for clues, but I don’t know what the fuck is going on.

“I have some news for you. My father has family dinner organised at Rafael’s home this week, and he wants you there. We all will be there. I don’t think you met Mikko’s wife or daughter yet, right?” Eiran turns towards Mikko, who is standing to his side with his arms crossed.

“Khyros will be there, too. He is excited to meet you. Now that Rafael has decided he isn’t going to change assistants twice every month, it’s only fair you meet the fam.” He winks at her, making her laugh.

Something inside me tells me not to take her to my home, to just let her decide whether she wants to go, on her own. Warning bells ring at me to not let an intruder in, but Venezia hasn’t done anything to break my trust. She wouldn’t do that, and I’ve seen her look at me with trust in her eyes.

She trusted me to keep her secret knowing I am the most lethal with incriminating information, and she still told me. She asked about my past crimes, my history of blackmailing other, and she still didn’t falter.

How could I distrust her?

“Of course, I would love to! Feels like being invited to an exclusive club.” She grins wide, her glittering eyes on me.

I wink at her, and she does something I have seen her do only a handful of times.

She blushes.

And my heart fucking soars through the sky.

“You should let her decide,” I say, but Eiran waves a dismissive hand.

“Venezia is a nice woman. She’s sweet and would always be welcome in our home.” Mikko shrugs.

“See how reluctant he is? Weird idiot. I must say, you are my favourite though,” Eiran smirks making her laugh.

“I hope so, how many did you invite to your homes?” She crosses her arms and looks at them both.

“Well…” Eiran scratches the back of his head making Venezia narrow her eyes.

“I think…” Mikko makes a show of counting on his fingers.

“Oh God, I am not special. Fine, fire me. That’s it, I am quitting,” she sighs and a small smile pulls at my lips.

“They are being dramatic, you are the first they wanted to invite,” I chime in, walking towards her.

Mikko walks to her and sits beside her on the second chair in my office.

Venezia’s heart is on her sleeve as she is charmed by my brothers. She doesn’t realise just how far these men will go for those they value, for people they deem worthy of their devotion.

Venezia may have left her home to work here in Edinburgh. She may have a small apartment, but she is now surrounded by one of the strongest, most influential families in Britain. The Gustav name might be known for being harsh, but Venezia Campbell has turned us all into mush with her charm.

Life plays wicked games indeed.

And I am losing mine.