Chapter 5 The Bet

ROMAN'S P.O.V.

I have met a fair share of women in my life. At the age of thirty-three, I was already weary of them. They all wanted the same thing, love, affection, and all that romantic büllshīt, but that could never be me. I'm a practical man, which was why I took my shot when I saw an opening.

Calista Vitale.

My breath swooshed out my lungs when I saw her walk into my bar in the early hours of this morning, looking every bit of the Angel she is. Tall with tanned skin, silky mahogany hair that cascaded over her shoulders and stunning blue gray eyes that gleamed of innocence. The kind I was supposed to keep my tainted hands from.

I watched her for over an hour, I could tell something was off with the way she drowned the alcohol, not to mention the odd combo. It wasn't my nature to pry into the lives of strangers, no matter how breathtakingly beautiful they were. I was Romano Cappellucci, the aloof businessman or mafia boss, whichever you will.

My initial reaction would have been to ignore her, but there was something about Calista that pulled me like a sailor to a siren's call.

Beautiful, enchanting, disasterous.

I've seen cute women, pretty women, beautiful women. But there was beautiful, and there was her, I couldn't resist Calista, and hours later, we were married.

I was never one for sudden rash decisions- especially when said decisions would affect me for a lifetime. But here we were

A long sigh worked its way out of my throat; I tried to focus on the road rather than the captivating woman sitting beside me. Her soft floral scent, her short, cute sighs.

If this were a real marriage...there were so many ways I would have marked her, made her mine and mine alone. Starting with exploring the lushness of her lips and the sweet taste I can't get out of my fūcking mind.

"Dammit." I cursed, tightening my grip on the steering wheel. I shouldn't be thinking about her like this, I shouldn't be thinking about her at all. Calista is a means to an end. A way for me to get my.....

"Is something wrong?" her concerned voice plucked me away from my troubled thoughts. Calista's body may have been curved for modeling, but her voice was made for the radio, to be heard by everyone.

"No," I replied softly, which was a stark contrast to my personality. I was standoffish and blunt. Romano Cappellucci never spoke softly, unless it involved his wife.

I have a wife

Despite myself, I almost laughed. My Nonna has been on my neck for years, begging - demanding that I get married soon, and while I loved my grandmother and would do anything for her, I never indulged the thought. But seeing that opportunity in the early hours of this morning, the bride of my long-time enemy and a woman in need of my help, not to mention the perfect pawn for my revenge. It was the perfect convenience.

"You seem tensed," she said. My focus was on the road, but I could feel her stare burning through me.

"It's nothing." I took a bend, my eyes briefly snapped towards her and my breath caught in my throat. What is it about this woman that makes her look so damm enthralling each time I look at her?

"Callie." her nickname rolled out of my tongue before I could stop myself. She let out a soft gasp, and I swear it took all my self-control, and then some, to not park my car in the middle of the road and kiss her senseless.

This isn't good. I have never met a woman who made me almost lose my composure, and I've known Callie for less than twenty-four hours. I prided myself on being a man who was not carried away by women, and I wouldn't change that.

"Remember what this is," I said, my voice even; my mind was anything but. That small sound from Calista made me feel hot for no reason, it wasn't even a physical touch.

"This is a marriage of convenience. So do not expect fancy dates or sweet nothings. I do not indulge in useless romantic activities." I needed to set out boundaries clearly, for both our good.

Calista's eyes narrowed to slits. "Of course. How could I forget when you made it very clear at the bar." she threw me a small tight smile that didn't reach her eyes.

My lips twitched in amusement, so she had some fire. I suddenly had the sick urge to provoke her further, just so I could get a rise out of her.

"You have your separate room and I have mine. I know I said we would have no romantic relationship, but if you're ever in need of the physical ones, you could always ask or seek me out. I know I'm very irresistible." I said with a wink. Calista's expression morphed from shock to astonishment and then into indignation.

"I will not come to you for anything." she snapped. Her blue-gray eyes came ablaze with anger. "Be rest assured that I expect nothing from you except your protection."

I smirked at her cute mini outburst. Calista has spirit in her. I wanted to strip all her layers till she laid bare before me. An improper image popped into my mind about stripping her literally, but I quickly shoved it in a box.

"So women say. But by the time you come begging for my cōck, I will remind you of this." I was pushing us both, there was no way this would end well. The rational thing would be to keep her safe while I fabricated my plans, but a little teasing wouldn't hurt. Right?

Calista shook her head; her nails drugged into her palm in suppressed annoyance. "You would be the one begging for a taste of me first."

My lips twitched into a wicked smile. She said it with such self-assuredness I was suddenly ready to take her up on a challenge.

"How about a bet?" I proposed as I took another turn. We were in Chicago now.

"A bet," she repeated, looking uncertain. Calista reached out a pulled her hair out of her face. My throat worked with a delicate swallow. I could imagine those slender fingers wrapped around my...

"What kind of bet?" she sat up, getting more interested.

I tried to focus on what we were talking about "Instead of different rooms, we'll share a room. And the first person to lose their cool and make a move loses the bet." it was a stupid idea, something that would benefit us in no way, but I couldn't help it back down. I blame it on my competitive spirit.

"And is there a time frame for this bet?"

"A month." I could keep to myself for a month. A month was good.

Calista mulled over it for a moment. "Winner gets what?"

I hadn't thought about the prizes, but I found myself saying, "Anything. If you win, you can get anything you want. Whereas when I win, I get....epic bragging rights."

Calista looked at me incredulously "That's it? Bragging rights."

I nodded my head; my Villa was coming into view now, and after a full minute, Calista finally agreed.

"Deal. But what happens if it's a tie?"

I pretended to mull over it. There was no way it could be tied; every woman, except for family, who had ever been in the same room with me for twenty-four hours all wanted me. Calista couldn't be different, could she?

"If it's a tie, you can move out from my room, and into yours." I parked the car in front of my home. Calista stretched out her hand for a handshake. I took hers, and a sudden rush of sensation like lightning bolted through me.

It's just one month, I reminded myself. One long month with the most alluring woman I've ever seen.

"Deal."

She smiled at me, and my heart momentarily stopped beating

"Deal. "