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“I’ve been unconscious practically the entire time,El Oscuro,of course you’ve only gotten a twitch.”
His mouth moves into a smirk, and I almost want to puke at how it makes my stomach flutter. I’ll admit, if he wasn’t the devil incarnate, he’d be beautiful. His eyes sparkle above the candlelight, like his pupils are absorbing the flames. I can see a few lines around them when his cheeks lift lightly. I’d place him in his thirties, maybe older. Hell, when you’re rich you can look like anything, but I can see his beauty is natural and ancestral.
“I had a feeling you’d be spicy, though I must admit, judging from your mother I almost painted you out to be a fool. But you aren’t a fool are you, pequena?”
He’s baiting me for a response and I almost fall for it, but my stomach beats me to the punch, echoing loudly throughout the room.
Damnit.
He chuckles and taps on the crystal glass before him, and a worker ushers in almost immediately and I roll my eyes. He catches that and practically grins a vampire smile, dripping with venom. If I wasn’t so hungry, I’d be sick.
The staff member is a young Hispanic man, his expression lifeless and unreadable. He sets a silver platter down and lifts the lid, revealing a roast with colorful vegetables carefully placed around it. The meat looked succulent and resembled lamb, its smell tickling my nostrils and rousing my ravenous stomach. The man carefully places the vegetables on Dante’s plate before slicing the meat and transferring that as well. The staff member repeats the same motion to my plate and my mouth begins to water at the food before me, so close but literally out of my reach.
Dante raises a perfect, black eyebrow and nods to the staff member, who leaves us alone immediately.
Great.
“If I untie you, you will eat, yes?” He sounds amused and my palms itch to slap him across his perfectly sharp cheekbone.
“Why feed me before you kill me?”
Both eyebrows raise at this, and he raises his hands in surrender.
“You pain me, pequena. Here I have an expensive, lavish meal prepared for us and so quickly you anticipate your death? Have I given you a reason to assume this?”
My anger snaps to the forefront and all I see is red.
“You have me tied to a fucking chair!”
His hands drop immediately, and I see a flash of his own anger before a coolness takes over his smoldering eyes.
“Language, Esmeralda. We’re sitting before crystal plateware.”
He chuckles darkly and I make direct eye contact with him, his amber eyes challenging mine.
“It’s Emmie. If you’re going to hold me hostage, at least call me by my name.”
He ponders this, uncorking a bottle of red wine that is probably worth more than a semester of my schooling. He pours a drink for himself and taps the rim of his glass before lifting it to his lips and taking a small sip.
“Emmie…” He says it with disgust, and I snort. His eyes snap back to mine.
“It’s a shame to waste such a beautiful name, a fitting name no less. How childish it makes you seem,Emmie.”
He gets up slowly, bottle of wine now in hand, and walks to me. My back straightens and I keep my eyes glued to his, my stomach protesting this game we’re playing.
He tips the bottle to me in offering, a twinkle in his eyes. He pours a small amount into the glass before me and rests a hand on the back of my chair after he sets the bottle of wine down.
“I know you’ll be of age to drink this soon, in a matter of months actually, but the night is young and it pairs well with the lamb.”
My eyes widen and I dare not tremble.How the fuck did he know my age?
He sees the questioning in my eyes and smirks again, those full lips lifting ever so slightly.
“You really think after having your thief of a mother steal from me, that I wouldn’t have her home staked out within seconds? I’m a powerful man, Emmie, and we both know your mother is unconscious more often than not. Kind of the perfect storm, don’t you think?”
I look away from the intensity of his eyes, his scent now overpowering our dinner. If intimidation had a look or scent, it’d be this man.
His hands skirt down to mine, gripping the rope that binds them together. I flinch at the contact.
