Chapter 1
The night air in the hotel room was electric with tension.
Avery Vaughn straddled Matteo Ferrari against the mattress, her palms pressed against his sculpted chest. "Nice body," she murmured, the simple touch causing both their breathing to quicken.
Her fingers traced the ridges of his abs, moving downward to untie his silk robe when his hands clamped around her waist.
"You're playing with fire," he warned, his voice a husky rasp. His calloused fingers against her skin sent sparks of heat radiating through her body, the contact feeling like lightning—intoxicating and dangerous.
Avery's lips curved into a challenging smile. "Am I? Your body seems pretty eager to get burned."
She'd never been one to back down from anyone.
Tonight, she'd been drugged—a setup orchestrated by someone else—and now her skin burned with need, the drug at its peak effect in her system.
"Baby, you talk like you're in the mafia," she teased, "but I'm not interested in roleplaying. I'm interested in this." Without hesitation, she yanked open his robe.
The heat radiating from his bare chest sent a shiver through her.
Looking at the brazen woman before him, Matteo's Adam's apple bobbed visibly. "If you don't stop now, there's no going back."
His voice was dangerously rough. Matteo knew perfectly well they'd both been drugged with something potent. Before determining whether this was a trap, he should have eliminated Avery as a threat.
Instead, her direct seduction had awakened something primal in him.
Avery tossed the belt carelessly to the floor. "Really? Why don't you show me what 'no going back' feels like?"
As the words left her mouth, she settled herself fully onto his lap. They both groaned at the contact.
Matteo's crimson-tinged eyes darkened with desire. "Fine. You asked for this."
In one fluid motion, he flipped her onto her back. From this angle, he could see her face clearly—her teeth capturing her bottom lip, the glistening moisture there making him want to bite down.
He lowered his head and claimed her mouth. Before Avery could process what was happening, her head was pressed against the headboard, her gasps swallowed by his demanding kiss.
The temperature in the room skyrocketed as they surrendered completely to passion.
When Avery opened her eyes the next morning, every muscle in her body ached deliciously.
Memories of the previous night flooded back. Her half-sister Chloe Vaughn had drugged her and even arranged for someone to assault her. Avery had escaped and accidentally stumbled into this room—known as the models' rest area in the hotel.
She turned her head to study the still-sleeping Matteo. In daylight, she could fully appreciate his silver hair, chiseled features, thin lips, and striking bone structure.
Last night's dim lighting hadn't done him justice. Her one-night stand partner wasn't just blessed with an incredible body—he was gorgeous. Definitely several leagues above her cheating husband.
The thought of her husband made Avery's expression harden. This betrayal wouldn't go unpunished.
Looking at the trail of love bites across her skin, Avery had to admit Matteo had been like a beast—wild and insatiable, his lovemaking skills so exceptional her legs still felt like jelly.
"Decent performance," she muttered. "Just not very obedient."
After dressing, she pulled a thick wad of cash from her wallet and placed it on the nightstand before walking out of the hotel room. She had a score to settle with Chloe.
The moment she stepped outside the hotel, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. Chloe's name flashed on the screen.
"Avery? You haven't answered your phone all night. What happened?" Chloe's voice dripped with fake concern.
Avery's laugh was cold. "Drop the innocent act. We both know what happened last night."
Chloe maintained her façade. "Avery, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
While speaking, Chloe's thoughts burned with hatred. She'd gone to so much trouble to have Avery drugged, but her hired thug had failed—Avery had escaped!
"Don't understand? Let's discuss it face to face. Right now." Avery's voice turned to ice. "If you have the guts, stop hiding behind Owen."
"Avery, Owen is your husband. How could I possibly be hiding behind him?" Chloe's sweet voice carried a hint of gloating. "By the way, we're at W Bar right now. Want to join us?"
As she finished speaking, Avery could hear Owen Walker's voice in the background. They were whispering intimately to each other.
Soon, Owen took the phone. "Avery, since you're coming over, pick up some hangover medicine. My friends drank too much."
His tone was detached, as if speaking to a servant. "After you drop it off, you can leave. Don't ruin our good time."
Avery couldn't help but laugh bitterly at his words. Apparently, Chloe's presence didn't spoil their fun. Only Avery's did.
Worse, she could hear others in the background jeering:
"Owen, you're amazing! Your wife is so obedient!"
"Which wife are you talking about?"
"Sorry, forgot Chloe was here. Whoever Owen likes is his wife, I guess."
"Owen and I are just friends. Stop joking around," Chloe protested weakly.
The group's laughter felt like a slap across Avery's face. How blind she'd been. Three years of marriage only to discover Owen had changed his heart long ago. Now he was trampling her dignity underfoot.
"Do you really think I'll never leave you?" Her icy words silenced the laughter instantly.
Owen finally realized he'd forgotten to hang up. Still, he made no attempt to explain.
"They're just joking. Buy the medicine and get over here," he ordered before ending the call.
Throughout their three-year marriage, they'd broken up and reconciled numerous times. Each instance, Avery had forgiven him and returned. Owen was confident nothing would change this time either.
After the call ended, Avery stood numb outside the hotel. Bright sunlight bathed her skin, yet she felt no warmth.
She and Owen had grown up together with a seemingly perfect connection. In high school, when Owen confessed his feelings, they became the couple everyone envied. After college, when Owen wanted to start a business, she had stood faithfully by his side.
But everything changed after the company went public and he became wealthy. He stayed out all night for "business," and eventually became entangled with her own sister.
Avery felt sick with disappointment. One thing was certain—she wouldn't swallow this insult!
Back in the hotel room, Matteo reclined against the headboard, his muscled torso bare and marked with fingernail scratches that only enhanced his raw sexuality.
He examined the cash in his hand with a blank expression. Minutes earlier, these bills had been tossed carelessly onto his chest—clearly the woman's parting gesture.
She really was audacious.
Thinking about last night's wild encounter, a rare flicker of interest crossed Matteo's eyes.
"Have you discovered what happened last night?" he asked his kneeling assistant, Ricci. His voice was calm, but danger radiated from him.
"A bartender slipped the drug. He's tight-lipped—we couldn't extract any information," Ricci reported, stealing glances at the intimate marks covering Matteo's body.
Did his boss actually sleep with a woman? The evidence of intense passion was unmistakable on Matteo's skin. The poor woman—was she even still alive?
"The only suspect is my half-brother. No one else would dare," Matteo said with a cold smile, standing to secure his robe. At nearly six-foot-seven, his presence was overwhelming.
"Standard procedure—chop up the bartender and feed him to the dogs," he stated as casually as discussing breakfast options.
Ricci nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."
As he turned to leave, Matteo added: "Also, find everything you can about the woman who entered this room last night."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "I want her complete profile within twenty-four hours."
Ricci couldn't hide his surprise. The woman had actually left alive? And Matteo seemed intensely interested in her?
"Yes, Mr. Ferrari."