by Kate Stewart
“No.” He smirked down at me as I bobbed and sucked eagerly. “I am the man who stomps on those men with my heel.” He fisted my hair tighter and shot his hot release into my eager mouth as I consumed every drop, cursing my desire for him. Daniello leaned in as I savored the rest of him and placed a gentle, lasting kiss on my lips. Liquid brown eyes burned into mine as I rubbed my thighs together.
“I will be good to you. I will be as honest as I can, and when the time comes, I will end it,” he declared. “I am giving you the choice to start something only I will finish, and when I finish it, it will be over, Taylor.” I was still entranced and equally disheartened as he zipped his pants and brushed his thumb over my lip. Cornering my desk, he grabbed his suit jacket and slipped it on. “Think about it. Think about me.” As soon as those words were out, he was gone.
That night, I lay in bed, doing nothing but fantasizing about Daniello. He wanted to share time? I already knew I would agree to what he offered. What I was pondering were his conditions. Though he disguised it in a gentlemen’s way, and only after he’d spit his cum down my throat, he’d given me a clear indication that he would be in charge. Sexual control was a different story.
I could very easily let him objectify my body, but giving him the ability to control our situation and the nature of our relationship down to the point of where it would end, that was an entirely different kind of power.
Still, I loved having his silky, huge cock in my mouth. Even then, I wasn’t in control. I’d spent hours cursing my stupidity and inability to handle myself.
But wasn’t that what I was looking for? A man who could easily take the reins as I lost myself in him? I’d given him so much power over me in showing my arousal, my need for him, and my eagerness to please him.
Daniello was a force to be reckoned with. Could this finally be the man who topped me in every way?
Had I let him make a fool out of me or had I simply given into what I wanted?
Indecisiveness was not my forte.
I could keep things strictly sexual. That wasn’t an issue for me, never really had been since I started college. Lazarus was really my only reciprocal experience with matters of the heart. And my other experience…well, it was far from the norm.
I’d never, not once in my life, uttered the word love in declaration to any man.
So Daniello wanted to share time with me. He’d clearly told me he was dangerous. And from what he’d gathered from me so far, I was all bark and no bite. I actually liked that fact.
It could make things extremely interesting.
Okay, Mr. Di Giovanni, let’s share some time.
“You son of a bitch,” I heard Nina yell from her office as I passed by it the next morning. I laughed along with Devin as I heard a small crash and the breaking of glass. I paused by the door to make sure my girl was holding her own.
“Do not throw that, Nina. I simply asked you a question.” I could hear the amusement in Devin’s voice.
“And the answer is no. Get out of my office!”
“Jesus, woman, you are insane,” he scoffed as the knob twisted and the door opened. Devin gave me a raised brow as he caught me eavesdropping.
“Good morning, Devin.” I smiled as Nina fumed behind him. “I see you are leaving her in a good mood for me today.”
Devin was a beautiful man. I’d always thought so, even when I was tempted to kill him for the hell he’d put Nina through. I noted his impeccable dress as he shook his head slowly back and forth while Nina muttered obscenities behind him.
He gave me a smug grin as he spoke. “You know, you think the woman would be grateful to be asked to be the next Mrs. McIntyre.”
“Well…” I paused trying to hide my chuckle. “The last one did end up in the nut house.”
“True.” He grinned wickedly as he looked back at Nina. “So I take it that’s a no?” He winced as she lifted her stapler. “Okay, baby, see you at home.” He turned to me with a nod. “Taylor.”
“Give her time.” I winked as he retreated down the hall toward the elevator.
I turned to Nina and couldn’t hide my smile as her chest rose and fell in hurried breaths.
She gave me wide eyes. “Is he crazy!?”
I took a step into her office. “No, Nina, he’s in love and wants to make an honest woman out of you. Congratulations.”
“It’s barely been a month,” she huffed as she paced her floor.
“What do you want?” I asked as I took a seat.
“I want to marry him, of course,” she snapped. “But he’s still the man who lied to me for almost a year and then kept some pretty serious shit from me for the remaining time I’d known him. No way. Not now.” She crossed her hands and pulled them away quickly in gesture.
“I forgot to leave this,” Devin said softly, unaffected by her rant as he crossed the room with an open Tiffany’s box and placed it on her desk.
“You’re broke. You can’t afford that,” she snapped without looking at the ring.
“I plan on marrying a millionaire,” he said as he stood in front of her now, lifting a single finger to stroke her cheek. “Stop being such an ungrateful bitch about this.” I saw her face soften as he leaned in and brushed her lips with his. I stood to leave. “Taylor, you stay, he leaves.” Devin pressed his lips into a thin line and again made his way out the door. “Later, Mrs. McIntyre.”
“That name is a curse,” she called after him. “You can keep it.”
“Hyphenate,” he called back over his shoulder. “I love you.” I heard the elevator and turned to her with a smile. They were absolutely perfect for each other, and I knew no matter how much she resisted there would be a wedding sometime in Nina’s future.
“What are you so afraid of?” I asked as she looked at the box.
She gave me an Are you kidding me? look.
“Okay, aside from the obvious nightmare you two endured to finally be together. Would it be so bad to live with the man you love?”
“I already live with him. He hasn’t gone home since we got back from the Keys. I actually asked him to stay with me.” She sighed as she paced, fighting herself on an answer she knew she wanted to give.
“And how’s it been?” She picked up the ring with tears in her eyes and slipped it on.
“Perfect. But, Taylor, I swore I’d never get married again. I don’t need that. I don’t have to be his wife.”
“Maybe he has to be your husband,” I suggested. “His track record is just as tainted.”
“I know, trust me. I didn’t think he would ever even talk about marriage.” She looked up to me with a smile. “He wants to marry me.”
“Well, my job here is done.” She laughed at my retreating back. She knew I was uncomfortable with these talks and let me off the hook. “We have the Bledsoe meeting in an hour,” I reminded before I shut her door, her eyes glued to her finger.
“Un huh,” she answered absently.
Walking back to my desk, I willed away the sick feeling in my stomach. I remembered the day my college friend Greg declared his love for me and told me he wanted to marry me. In reality, he hardly knew me, but Greg was the closest I’d come to an adult relationship. His affection for me validated all the hard work I’d put into my efforts of becoming someone else, someone better than the helpless redhead that had committed her first felony at age fifteen.
Cedric, my only friend from my past, and Nina’s bodyguard, was the only one who knew me both as the penniless piece of white trash and the business mogul. He’d never judged me, making moves himself to get out of the timeless hell we’d lived in. But he was never anyone I could love or ever have sexual interest in. He had been like a brother to me until I disappeared from Tennessee, and he had done the same himself a year later to join the Army to better his situation. From what Cedric told me, all of our friends from those days were either dead, in jail, or still up to the same shit they had been when we’d escaped. Now, I had only one thing keeping me tied to Tennessee.
>
And one day soon, I would have to face my demons to rid myself of that life once and for all.
I wanted the way Devin looked at Nina for myself one day, but deep down I knew the man who would wholly capture my heart would have to know all the parts of me, and the truth was I knew I would never share that part of myself with anyone. Love had and always would be an illusion to me. I wasn’t incapable, my circumstances were. And I honestly didn’t know if I would ever let myself become a victim to it…again.
So it was time to put away the ridiculous notion that it could happen for me. Suddenly, I was excited about the no-strings arrangement with Daniello. Little did he know he was already giving me exactly what I needed.
Walking out of work that evening, I felt confident in my decisions about my future. As lonely as it might be to keep my past out of my present, I couldn’t commit. I refused to live another lie, so I was walking tall before I reached my Stinger. I smiled as I noticed the black SUV idling next to it, waiting for me. The chauffeur opened the back door as I approached and I slipped in without hesitation and sat opposite of Daniello. We greeted each other with appreciative eye appraisals. He was dressed in jeans and a designer black shirt that accentuated his perfectly cut chest and showcased his thick, muscular arms. I kicked off my stilettos and tucked my feet beneath me, making myself comfortable, which seemed to please him.
“Have you thought about what I proposed?”
“Oh, you mean the scenario where you are in charge of absolutely everything and I am supposed to just accept it and enjoy the ride?”
He let out a heavy breath with a quick, “Exactly.”
“You are extremely arrogant,” I said with a smirk.
“I do not deny this,” he replied with a devilish grin.
“How often are you taken up on this offer?” I asked out of curiosity, and to simply irritate him. I could tell he got his way often, if not always. So did I. The thought already had me hot.
“Every time.”
“Then I’ll be the exception,” I said, noting the irritation on his face. His eyes trailed down my body in hot survey as my panties coated in welcome to him.
“Then we have no more to discuss?” he asked, slightly confused.
“Sure we do. Take me to dinner. I’m starving.”
He smirked, and I could tell he thought he would sway me, but I had only one point to negotiate. “Either of us can end it at any time. I’m no one’s possession, and I’ll choose to submit, but I have the right to opt out whenever I want. If you can live with that, then I’ll share time with you.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at me dead on. “And if I do not agree?”
“Then we have no more to discuss,” I said evenly. “What would be the alternative anyway? I tell you I’m finished with you so you take me against my will?”
“Yes,” he countered wickedly. “That could be fun. Rocco,” he instructed his driver, “let us take the lady to dine.”
His voice was baritone silk and laced with old world charm. His English, though unbroken and smooth in delivery, lacked modern colloquialisms. He was a complete contradiction to the men I’d usually be attracted to, and yet it was undeniable.
We said little as we stared one another down. I was all for conversation. I was curious about him, but it wasn’t in the cards for our drive to dinner. I saw his erection grow in his jeans as we wordlessly expressed to each other our intentions. The cabin grew thick with tension as we fucked each other without touching. My hunger for him had reached unbearable.
“Did you enjoy watching me?” I asked, referring to the valet buried between my legs.
“No,” he snapped. “I intended to finish what I started.”
“You’re going to have to move faster than that,” I said coyly.
“You did not enjoy it, either,” he remarked coolly.
“It was your game,” I said heatedly. “Still is.”
“Tonight, my game is simple. I am going to fuck you…hard. And I am going to hurt you.” His eyes were deadly.
Instead of his tone setting in fear, it set me on fire.
“Your game, Daniello, though I must warn you since you were kind enough to do the same. I’m not so easily broken.”
“I have no intention of trying to tame your will. It is one of the things I like about you.”
I smiled. “It’s the only thing you know about me.”
“Well, you can tell me more at dinner.” He gestured as the driver opened the door.
“Thank you,” I said, taking Rocco’s hand and stepping down from the truck. Without acknowledging me in any way, Rocco closed the door behind us and resumed his seat behind the wheel.
“What polite help you have there, Mr. Di Giovanni.”
“He is not a fan of Americans,” Daniello remarked, amused. “Do not bother trying to befriend him.”
“Fine by me.”
Daniello grabbed my hand, ushering me into the small seaside restaurant. Though I may have demanded dinner, Daniello seemed to have arranged it already as we were led to a very small and intimate private dining room. As I sipped my white wine, I asked my first question.
“So, you clearly aren’t a fan of American’s, either, seeing as how you criticize our ways of keeping sexual acts behind closed doors. Exactly which country should I frequent where finger fucking is allowed at a local bar?”
He smirked as he sipped his brandy. “You people lack passion, romance.”
“And that was your idea of romance?” Though my voice was steady, I was having a hard time hiding my reaction to the sight in front of me. Every inch of Daniello was perfection, from his brown toned skin to his dark hair and perfectly etched but full features. His size was an absolute turn on. He filled his clothes out effortlessly and I knew what lay beneath was a solid, if not muscle covered body. I also knew his cock was massive and just as beautiful.
He crossed his arms. “No, that was easy gratification. Her eyes told me she wanted me and so I gratified her with my fingers. I appreciated her lust for me, and I returned it to her. She was in need and did not require romance.”
“Is that what you call what you did?”
“Yes, that is what I call what I did as I spread her out on her back that night and filled her pussy with my cock.”
I sat shocked as he leaned in. “I see the jealousy in your eyes, Taylor.”
“You see what you want to see,” I quipped. “And for the record, it’s not my concern what you do with other women.” Frustration rolled off of me. “I could end this before it starts. You come off as a pompous ass right now, which I do not find attractive. You talk a big game and have a beautiful face, but you should know those traits are not isolated to wherever you came from. In fact, that’s very American. I could throw a stone and hit another man just as full of himself. You came after me, try not to forget that.”
“I have offended you. I apologize,” he said, picking up his water glass.
“Are you sure you know the definition of passion? Because from where I’m sitting, all I see is boasting. For all I know you may have no clue how to use that beautiful cock.”
“Now you are the one being rude,” he snapped, pulling out his napkin and smacking the air with it before placing it in his lap.
“This was a mistake,” I said, pushing my chair from the table.
“One night,” he said, stopping me before I stood. “One night, Taylor.” I loved the way he said my name. The way his voice accented it so ornately it seemed important. And by the way he was looking at me, I felt that way. He didn’t want me to leave. There was no plea, no question. Just a simple command.
“I’ve got nothing to lose,” I rasped out, straightening in my chair as the food was set before us.
“That is where you are wrong.”
“Are we back here again already?” I rolled my eyes and nearly jumped back as Daniello stood quickly, took the two steps to my chair, and pulled me from my seat. “Taylor,” he breathed as his fingers
brushed my face before he cradled my head and stopped his lips a hairsbreadth from mine. He held me snugly to him as if I was precious, and I fought the urge to disintegrate the last of the space between us.
“I look at you, and I truly want you, Taylor. You are not angry with me. You are angry with your need.” His breath tickled my skin as he leaned in further, brushing his lips against mine before he spoke. “What you need, what your body is screaming for, I want to give it.” I felt a strange tug inside of me as his hands held me delicately. He stood perfectly still as his eyes wandered to my lips. “If this night is the extent of our time together, I will try to show more restraint…until I get you alone.”
All I could do was nod as his lips gently descended on mine. Once connected, the inferno took over. My moan reverberated throughout his mouth as I opened for him and his skilled tongue stroked me tenderly and thoroughly. All my anger vanished and anything left unsaid fell away as he tasted me completely with his tongue. Unable to control my reaction, I melted into him, gripping his shoulders to keep myself standing as we moved in unison, unable to get enough. Just as I expected him to pull away, he dug in deeper, completely ruining my chances of escape.
His tongue was velvet as it stroked mine and our mouths molded together. The only thought swirling inside of my head was that I didn’t want it to end. When he’d had his fill, he slowed our kiss, still tasting me gently with his tongue and swiping my lower lip and sucking it into his mouth. I kept my eyes closed as he finally pulled away, afraid he would see what was in them.
“Taylor,” he urged gently.
“One night,” I said, certain it would be all I could handle. I could compartmentalize lust, but this attraction was far too strong. He was like the opposite end of a magnet, and I had no choice. I opened my eyes to see him watching my face carefully.
“I cannot wait to taste all of you,” he whispered, pulling my lip inside his mouth again as I kept my whimper inside. “Watch you come all over my cock.”
“Okay,” I said as my knees turned to Jell-O. He laughed loudly as I tried desperately to keep my cool. He let go of me and pulled out my chair. I took it, thankful. When we resumed dinner, the air had changed around us. It was no longer filled with contempt, just lust and longing. I finished my scallops with a low appreciative moan.
