After Divorce: The Mafia Queen's Comeback

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.

"God, you're built," 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.

His bare skin burned against hers, sending waves of heat through her body.

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 lost themselves in the heat, every touch igniting a new fire.

---

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—one of the hotel's exclusive suites, known for hosting its most elite guests.

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.

"Not bad," she muttered. "If you like being in charge."

After dressing, she pulled a stack of bills 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.