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“So what do you suggest?” She gasps, her eyes lighting up. “Don’t tell me the all-powerful Don is going to take me to his bed.”
“Yes,” I reply and her eyes widen. “Don’t give me that look, I have no nefarious intentions. I just want to take care of you.”
Her eyes soften. “You’re just full of contradictions, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I know,” I agree. “Now come on, let’s go.”
I gesture for her to take my hand and, with an eye roll she does, letting me lead her out of the room. We take slow, measured steps toward my room. Daniella’s hand tightens around mine.
“Are you ever going to tell me why thunder scares you?” I ask her.
“I will. When you decide to tell me the truth about how you really feel for me.”
My eyes meet hers momentarily and my breath catches. How can I tell her the truth when I don’t know it either? She takes a step forward, looking around my space.
“Do you want to know the first thing my father said to me after I killed that man?” I ask softly.
She whirls around, her eyes widening when she realizes I’m willingly offering up information about myself. She nods once and I let out a deep breath.
“He told me not to let it in. I was horrified after I did it. I practically ran out of that room, but he followed me. My father looked me in the eyes and told me that all the things I was feeling would only make me weak. I wasn’t a boy from that moment on but a man with blood on my hands. And the man I had to be was one who could look death in the eye and not flinch.”
I run my hand over my jaw. I hate being transported to that night, but it’s the core of who I am. The apex of the Don today.
“I don’t know how to feel, Daniella. For the longest time, I’ve kept my emotions tightly leashed behind closed doors in my mind. I understand what you’re asking me for, but it’s hard to let go when I’ve been conditioned from the start to do anything but.”
She walks over and stands in front of me. Every nerve in my body tingles as she reaches up to brush a strand of hair from my face. I’m acutely aware of her closeness, of each breath, every single inch of her. The urge to pull her closer and kiss until we both can’t breathe consumes me.
“I understand,” Daniella says softly.
“I know you do. Which is why I need you to give me time.” I pause before saying my next words. “Of course I care,tesoro. I feel something for you. You just have to give me a while to understand those feelings, okay?”
She smiles softly and nods. And because I can’t help myself, because she’s right in front of me and she’s all I can think about, I slide my hand to the base of her neck and bring my mouth to hers. The kiss is reckless and consuming. I give it my all, knowing that I’m going against everything I say. Knowing that this only serves to complicate our relationship more. Knowing that it’s not helping the confusing feelings raging inside of me.
My tongue licks into her mouth with an urgency she returns, angling to take me deeper. There’s nothing hesitant about the way I lay claim to her mouth, nothing cautious about the ache that pulses low in my stomach. I break the kiss only when we’re both panting and rest my forehead against hers.
“Now, we sleep,” I whisper softly.
Daniella laughs, and the sound is enough to warm every channel in my body, keeping me at ease.
“Fine, but you have to put on a shirt first. Please?”
When I slide into my bed next to her and pull her into my arms, she feels so perfect, the realization tumbles into the deepest parts of my mind.
Somewhere between meeting her and disliking her and arguing with her constantly, I actually started to fall for her. And while it goes against everything I’ve been taught and everything that makes me who I am, the reasons to stay away from her are slipping. With every moment I spend in her presence, she chips away some of the ice surrounding my heart.
Maybe, just maybe, she’ll help me thaw.
CHAPTER19
Daniella
I’m not surprised to find Christian gone by the time I wake up. It’s on brand for him, the disappearing act whenever I manage to find my way past the barriers he places around himself. He doesn’t show up for the remainder of the day, not until I’m getting dressed for the party.
My eyes meet his through the mirror of my vanity. He’s leaning against the doorway, staring at me with barely disguised heat and lust. I turn around in my chair to face him.
“Hey, baby,” I greet, my lips curved up in a smile.
He rolls his eyes at the endearment before pushing off the doorway and taking several steps forward, closing the distance between us. My eyes roam his body. He’s dressed in a crisp, black Armani tuxedo, sans tie. The man has an obsession with the color black and a deep loathing for ties.
