Apparently, telling him she was spoken for had the opposite effect as he snarled and then pushed her against the shelves with his body. “You’re mine, and no one touches what’s mine!” His hand crept up to her throat, collaring it loosely. The dominant move made her tremble, but not with fear. Lust surged hot inside her, and her body went limp.
“I don’t belong to you or anyone.”
“Really?” he challenged. “Maybe you need a reminder.”
The whimper that escaped her throat never made it out as his mouth swallowed it up and any other protest she could have made. Not that she had any. No, her traitorous body immediately responded, her breasts thrusting up against him, and her arms wound around his neck.
It was just so unfair that he could do this to her. That even though her brain reminded her that he’d walked away from her, she could still want him. It was that damned True Mate instinct.
His hands captured her wrists and placed them above her head, on the highest shelf she could reach. “Hang on, princess,” he murmured against her mouth.
Hang on? What did he— “Oh!”
Ransom hooked his hands under her knees and pulled her up, the skirt of her dress hiking up to her hips. He wrapped her legs around his waist and slid forward, thrusting against her so she could feel the significant bulge under his jeans press against her panties before capturing her mouth again.
Her body seemed to work with muscle memory as she thrust her hips at him, the friction against her pussy sending shocks of pleasure throughout her body. His hands moved to her ass, holding her steady against him. The containers on the shelves shook, but neither of them noticed or cared. He pressed deeper, harder, while his mouth and tongue followed the same rhythm.
Their bodies moved frantically, using their instincts and desire to set the pace. She shuddered as pleasure began building inside her. She pulled her mouth away from him, causing him to growl in protest, but he let out a groan when she clutched at his head to turn it so she could lick and nibble at his neck. His scent was most potent there, and she wanted to bathe in it, be covered in it.
When his erection hit her just right, she muffled the scream that threatened to escape her by biting at his shoulder. He tensed but didn’t stop her, instead, encouraged her with filthy words and lewd suggestions that only made her burn hotter and bring her to the peak.
As her body shook with her impending orgasm, it only seemed to fuel him more. Tubs of flour and pasta dropped all around them, but neither noticed as he thrust against her harder, rubbing his bulge against the front of her panties, stroking her clit until she couldn’t think of anything else but the orgasm razing her body. She clung to him, whimpering and sobbing as pleasure made her shake and shudder, until all strength left her body and she hung limply from his arms like a wrung-out towel.
Her brain was screaming at her, telling her she shouldn’t have done this with him. But she just couldn’t deny how much she wanted and enjoyed it. His arms loosened around her, and he bent his head to nuzzle at her neck.
“I’ve missed this,” he said, inhaling. “Missed you. Isabelle—”
“Ransom,” she choked out. “Please, we—”
“What the fuck is going on in here?”
“Who—Isabelle?”
Time seemed to slow as the words and the familiar voice sank into her brain, then it sped up as she and Ransom pulled away from each other.
Gio Muccino stood at the doorway, hands on his hips, brow furrowed. Beside him was Frankie, jaw hanging open as she stared at the scene before her.
“This isn’t what you think, Gio, Ma!” she shouted at her cousin and mother as she pushed the hem of her skirt down. Beside her, Ransom was adjusting the front of his jeans, though it did nothing to hide the evidence of his desire. Maybe later she could relish the thought of him having blue balls, but for now, she somehow had to save this situation.
“Oh, really?” Gio’s mismatched green and blue eyes narrowed at her. “Care to tell me what it is I could possibly be not thinking, hmm?” When neither spoke, he rubbed his temples with his fingers. “Goddammit, people really need to stop fucking in my restaurant.”
“Wait, people fuck in here a lot?” Ransom asked.
“It’s a restaurant,” Gio said with a shrug. “There’s a lot of fucking going on in here. People think they’re so original. I swear, someday, I’m gonna fuck where people least expect it.”
Frankie seemed to finally have found her composure as her arms crossed under her chest, fingers drumming as she raised a brow at Isabelle. “Not your type, huh?”
Oh, good Lord, let the floor open up and swallow me whole! Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her hair down with her fingers. “Did you guys need something? How did you find us anyway?”
“I searched everywhere when you didn’t come back, and I remember I used to come here, too, when I needed to cool down,” her mother replied. “And Gio was on his way here.”
“Did you need me for something?” Isabelle asked nonchalantly.
“I was looking for you because Lucas, Julianna, Duncan, and your father just arrived. We were going to have a late meal at the chef’s table.” She looked at Ransom. “Should we set out another place? Seems like the three courses you already had wasn’t enough to sate your hunger.”
“Mama—”
Thundering footsteps cut her off as Julianna dashed in through the door. “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“What’s going on?” Frankie asked.
Her sister’s hands were in tight fists at her sides, and her face was a mask of pure fury. “I just got a call from Sofia. The mages invaded The Enclave.”
Frankie
