Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Like you?
I dismissed that nagging voice. I was important to him for now. Deep inside, I knew this was insane, but I wanted to do something for myself. I could hardly encourage Lorenzo and not be willing to take my own risks. God knows what Rafe would say, but I’d figure that out later.
“Look at me, Alex.”
He did.
“I’m going to make you dinner, and then you’ll stay here with me tonight. You’ll figure out something to tell anyone who questions you about why you stayed out all night. I don’t care what you tell them, as long as I’m not involved. But while you’re not allowed to talk about us, I want you thinking about me. I want you longing to come back here. But do not touch yourself unless you’re here with me and I tell you to, and don’t you dare let anyone else touch you.”
“Dante? You mean that? I can come back?”
I’d clearly lost my mind. “Is that what you want?” He nodded frantically, and I loved that I could please him so easily. “You have to agree to my rules.”
He frowned. “You’re really serious, aren’t you?”
“Deadly serious. If we’re doing this, you’re mine. No one else touches you. You don’t go out with anyone, men or women. Is that clear?”
“I… um… I guess.”
I cupped the uninjured side of his face and moved so close I could barely stop myself from kissing him. His eyes widened, and once again, I saw that heady mix of fear and desire in them. “That’s not good enough. I don’t share. Do you promise to obey?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Yes, what?”
He smiled. “I thought you didn’t like me saying it.”
“I lied.”
“Yes, Professor.”
I knew it was wrong to love that so much, but I didn’t care. “That’s better.”
“This is really happening, right?”
I hadn’t been able to stop what felt inevitable. “Apparently. Have you eaten today?”
He seemed to be considering his answer. I think so.
“That’s not good enough. I expect you to eat regularly.”
“Or what?”
I let my hand slide down his chest. “You won’t get to come.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
I raised my brows. “Is that what you think? Do you think I would joke about what I expect from you?”
“No. But how will you know if I… when we’re not…”
“I’ll know. Or I could put you in a cock cage and see how well you deal with that.”
His mouth dropped open. “Holy fuck. That’s not… people don’t really…”
“I assure you they do.” Alex was such a delightful mix of innocent and filthy, naïve and knowledgeable beyond his years.
“I’ll be good, I promise. And no one else will touch me. I don’t want anyone else.”
“Good. Now, I’m going to make us some dinner.”
“You don’t have to do that. We could just order a pizza.”
I huffed. “You need a nutritious dinner, and I want to make one for you.”
He frowned. “You like to cook?”
“Yes. Is that so hard to imagine?”
“I guess not, but neither of my parents liked to cook, and my aunt and uncle don’t either. All my dinners were made by someone on their staff or in a restaurant.”
What a terrible childhood. “That’s a shame. Come on in the kitchen. You can watch and learn.”
“I don’t know if I can—”
“Anyone can learn to cook. It’s a skill you need in order to take care of yourself. Now, come in the kitchen.”
He huffed. “You’re so fucking bossy.”
“And you love it.” He took my hand, and I pulled him up from the couch.
“Yeah, I kind of do.”
Instead of standing beside me in the kitchen, Alex jumped up onto the counter on the opposite side of the sink and started swinging his legs. He looked frightfully young.
This was a bad idea. It was also the best thing that had happened to me in ages. How long had it been since I’d let myself enjoy being with a man or doing something simple like cooking for him? I took risks all the fucking time, stood in the line of fire, did anything and everything to protect my family. I insisted on stepping away, not having as much of a role in the family business as Lorenzo and Rafe. I’ve gotten my degree and followed my chosen career path, and that was supposed to be for me, but somehow, it felt… lonely.
And I was constantly frustrated by being pulled back into business, like this bullshit with the Russians. Not that I would mind taking out Ivanov and Dimitri. They were both scum, and they deserved to die. I had no qualms about fighting them and anyone who supported them.
But it had all been work. I’d worked as hard as I could to earn a PhD, then worked to be respected at the university despite using family connections to get my position. I’d worked to present material so that students could actually learn and maybe even enjoy my classes. But I never relaxed, not like the way I found myself smiling and laughing now as I hung out with Alex.