CHAPTER SEVEN: A Dangerous Game

Donato completely froze. The air left his lungs in a ragged hitch as Jesse wrapped his fingers around his thigh for leverage. Slipped inside the unzipped trousers, Jesse’s palm found Donato's heavy weight. It felt warm against his hand. Locking stares with the Don, he used the tip of his tongue to lick the dark red head of his length.

Donato shuddered vigorously, his head falling back with a sharp grunt.

Then, Jesse rolled his tongue around the tip, opened his mouth, and took him all the way in.

Donato completely lost it. “Ugh...” The broken sound escaped him before he could stop it.

Ginevra could not believe her eyes, her mouth dropping agape in horror.

Donato's composure shattered. A low groan escaped him as his hands instinctively gripped Jesse's dark hair, pulling him deeper as his body hardened.

“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath, hating how strongly his body reacted to Jesse.

Ginevra stumbled backward, her face twisting with shock and humiliation. Seeing the feared Don so affected by a man she considered a nobody was almost too much to bear.

Her fingers dug into her skin. “You'll regret this,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “I'll make sure of it.”

Donato straightened, his pupils blown wide. He quickly composed himself, but something in the way he looked at Jesse had changed.

Jesse noticed. He turned his attention back to Ginevra, regarding her like a child throwing a tantrum. “Perhaps,” he murmured, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “But not today.”

Ginevra hissed and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

The moment the door shut, the room fell silent. Jesse turned back to Donato, studying him for a few seconds before slowly stepping closer.

“Did I perform well enough for the contract, husband?” 

Donato held his stare. He zipped his trousers, straightened his clothes, and adjusted his sleeve with remarkable composure, as though nothing had happened. Jesse had to admit, the man was damn good at keeping his cool.

“Are you expecting a bonus or something?” he asked casually.

A knowing smile played on Jesse's lips. This man is truly something.

He nodded once. “I wouldn't mind a bonus. It's not every day you see a man who can handle a dick like that.”

Donato's fingers paused on his cuff.

Jesse's smile widened. Got you.

“Good night, Mr. Sindacato.”

He didn't wait for a reply. He simply winked and made his way out of the office.

A few minutes later, Jesse reached his quarters. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

The moment the door clicked shut, he glanced around the room before burying his face in his hands, grabbing a handful of his own hair.

His eyes caught the gleam of the platinum ring on his finger, and he instinctively touched his lips.

I kissed Donato Del Sindacato in front of half the Italian underworld, he thought, a laugh of pure disbelief escaping his chest. And if that wasn't enough, I just gave him head right in front of his supposed fiancée.

The worst part?... I liked it. I actually did.

The dangerous thought crawled into his mind, and Jesse quickly shook it away, smacking his own cheek lightly. “Stop it, Jesse.”

Donato must never find out he was attracted to men. If he did, it would make everything between them awkward. Jesse had kept his bisexuality private for a reason. Donato believed himself straight; he would never expect his fake husband to actually be attracted to him.

Can you really do this, Jesse?

He swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the obvious, lingering evidence of his own arousal beneath his trousers.

It's just a contract, he reminded himself. He's not mine. I'm not his. Whatever happened tonight means nothing.

He repeated the mantra to himself until exhaustion finally overtook him.

---

Sunlight streamed across Jesse's face.

He raised a hand to shield his eyes, trying to roll away from the brightness, only to realize he wasn't in a bed. His eyes snapped open.

He was still seated on the hardwood floor, dressed in last night's wrinkled white shirt.

He stretched, letting out a yawn.

After a quick shower, Jesse wrapped himself in a plush robe and headed downstairs, secretly hoping he wouldn't run into Donato.

In the grand foyer, the butler from the previous night was speaking to a young woman in a gray-and-black maid's uniform. The moment the older man noticed Jesse, he offered a deep bow.

“Good morning, Signor Miller.”

Jesse waved a dismissive hand. “Jesse is fine.”

“I apologize, but you are the Don's husband.”

Jesse's fingers tightened on the fabric of his robe. Right. He was Married. To a mafia Don. He decided not to dwell on it. “Where is Mr. Sindacato?”

“The Don had to leave early for unfinished business,” the butler replied. “However, Andres will be driving you to the Don's main mansion shortly.” He turned to the young maid. “Vina, please go prepare Signor Miller's clothes.”

The maid bowed and hurried away.

Jesse stood there, trying to process the news. Donato had left the property without saying a word to him?

A small, amused smile tugged at the corner of Jesse's lips. Is the big, bad mafia boss actually avoiding me? He shook his head, a chuckle escaping him.