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What the fuck is he doing here?
Shaking off my shock, I move closer to him. Slowly. Cautiously. He licks his lips, eyeing me like I’m a scared animal and could bolt at any moment. When I am within arm’s reach, I blurt. “What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t show.” He states, pushing off the car. Those pale eyes spark with curiosity and a hint of anger. Like he is proud that I didn’t turn up to the spa, but also pissed.
“Ten points for observation.” I deadpan, shoving past him. I know he isn’t a man I should be antagonizing but screw him. He is single-handedly fucking up my life. And the worst thing? I think he is getting some sort of sick enjoyment from it.
“Stop,” he says so low and threatening, I freeze. Though every part of my body screams at me not to obey him, I do. “Turn around.” He demands and without looking, I know his jaw is clenched tight.
Swallowing, I spin to face him. He stares at me with narrowed eyes as he runs his thumb across his full bottom lip. My stomach clenches when I remember the way that mouth wason me last night. Licking up my tears, like it was his job. Like they belonged to him. Why did I like it so much? I should have hated it. Not secretly hoping that he wouldn’t ever stop. He takes a step towards me, eliminating the distance between us. My breath hitches in my throat. His gaze holds its usual intensity and is completely focused on me.
Reaching out, his forefinger runs down my cheek. I stop breathing altogether. I have noticed it’s a normal reaction, whenever I am in his proximity. “So, fucking beautiful.” He murmurs softly before his face and voice hardens. “Now,Tesoro. I don’t know whether it is defiance or stupidity, or both, but neither will wash with me. I told you to meet me at theBellissima. You didn’t. And why didn’t you? Hmm?” It’s a question but one he doesn’t want me to answer. “Because you have been wandering around the city, hitting up other strip clubs and begging them for a job.” He grips my chin, pulling my gaze to his. “You can try every damn place in New York baby. No one will dare go against my word and hire you. I already told you, I run this city. So, stop doing stupid shit, before I do something crazy and irrational. I am being accommodating to your needs and trying to let you keep a little independence here. But if you keep defying me, I will take it away completely. Understand?” It’s a threat, but I nod my agreement, even though I want to push him away. His eyes spark with satisfaction before his head drops to my neck. He inhales, a deep groan rumbling in his chest. Despite my aversion to him right now, I shiver. My pussy clenches as moisture seeps into my panties. “You’re aroused,” he states confidently, as he nibbles my ear lobe. It’s not a question, it’s a statement. A true one at that. Like a shark sensing blood, he picks up on every little detail.
Pulling back, he smirks down at me. “Soon,Tesoro. Soon. Now. Back to your new job. You start tomorrow. Nine a.m. Leo passed on your number so I will text you the details. I wouldtake you there right now, but I have business to attend to, so a message will have to suffice.” He says all this like it’s a given. I will be there as if it’s of my own free will and not because he is steamrolling my life right now. Leaning in, he presses his lips to my forehead. My heart rate spikes, and I swear I nearly pass out. “Be a good girl,Tesoro. I will see you tomorrow, okay.” He cocks a brow, daring me to argue with him. Again, I nod, because I seem to have lost my voice. He smirks, and without another word, strides to the SUV. Pulling the door open, he climbs into the back seat. Only then do I see Dante sitting inside, with the same man who drove me home the other night in the driver’s seat.
Nico shoots me a look, before yanking the door closed. It’s only when they drive away that I release the breath I was holding.
Jesus. Something tells me if I don’t turn up at the spa, he will only show up here again. I don’t want that. Any of it. Without actually leaving the city, I don’t see how I can avoid his attention. He has taken an interest in me whether I like it or not. Surely, he will soon get bored when he realizes that I am not that interesting. I know with everything in me, I am going to do all I can to shake this attraction I have to him. He is rude. Obnoxious. Overbearing. Dangerous… Exactly the type of man I need to stay away from.
But I also need a job… and it doesn’t look like he is going to let me dance anytime soon, even if I want to fight him on that. No matter how much I want to disobey him, I also don’t want to run. Not yet anyway.
Shaking my head, I sigh, resigned to the fact that despite not wanting to work in a spa, I know I will be there tomorrow.
Chapter 15
Nico
Her defiance is an aphrodisiac.
I like it almost as much as I know I will enjoy making her submit to me.
I’m so fucking hard, my cock throbbing with so much need, I feel like I could explode.
Ocean, la mia piccola ballerina -my little dancer -has no idea the beast she has awoken inside of me. The need to claim her and make her mine has taken root, deep inside my body. She will be mine. I will make sure of it.
Nonetheless, no matter how much I want her, I will have to keep it discreet. I can’t have my papà finding out about my obsession. No way. He has his own plans for me. Plans that don’t include the blue-eyed, blonde-haired beauty.
“I think I just won my bet.” Dante drawls from beside me, snapping me from my thoughts. The humor in his voice has me gritting my teeth as annoyance unfurls in my chest.
Glancing at him, I glare when I see the big mocking smile on his face. “Fuck off.”
He bursts out laughing, shaking his head. “Man, you are so screwed.”
My jaw clenches, and not for the first time do I ask myself why this woman seems to have made me so unhinged. I look at Christopher, my driver, then back to Dante. Asshole has a big mouth. I trust Christopher – well, as much as a man like me can trust anyone – and he has driven Ocean home, so is aware of her existence, but still. Dante needs to shut the fuck up already. The less people that know about Ocean, the better.
“Where to, sir?” Christopher asks.
“The Marchetti Building,” I grunt, settling into my seat and dropping my head back against the leather headrest.
“What do you think he wants to see you about?” Dante mutters.
I roll my head to look at him. “If I had to guess, it’s about the Russians.”
Dante sighs, running a palm down his face. “Yeah. The problem is we don’t know how much information Federico leaked before you killed him.”
“It’s a fucking shit show,” I grumble, thinking about all the trouble the Bratva could bring if we went to war with them. It’s the worst time to start something with Ocean but even knowing all that, it still won’t stop me. She is mine. I can keep her safe. Iwillkeep her safe.
Thirty-five minutes later, Christopher pulls up to the curb outside Marchetti headquarters. Climbing out, I step onto the sidewalk, buttoning up my suit jacket. Dante comes to stand beside me. Craning my neck, I look up to the top of the high-rise with a sigh. My skin itches with irritation as I stare up at the extravagant building. The last thing I want is to be here, dealing with my papà, but I can’t defy his orders. As myDonand father. Duty calls and The Cosa Nostra comes before anything. Unease slithers through me when I think about my last visit. He informed me of the marriage arrangement he was in talks with the Romanos about. For my sister. How he could even considerselling her to that monster I don’t know, but he better not have gone ahead and agreed to it without discussing it further with me. I tense. Could his urgent meeting be about Allegra and not the Bratva? I fucking hope not. I don’t know what I am capable of right now. I don’t feel myself and I know this will just tip me over the edge.
