DARINAI paced the room, and the more I paced the angrier I became. I’ve had enough. Who the hell did he think he was keeping me locked in here like some plaything? He was getting a piece of my mind. I wasn’t going to stay here in this… this prison for one minute longer. No, I didn’t care if I was his slave in his mind. If he wanted to hurt me or kill me, he would have done so already.That thought stopped me, and I froze. He stopped Maria from hurting me. Lord knows what she would have done to me had he not stepped in. Maybe confronting him would be a bad idea. Would I be able to manipulate him in letting me out? He was quick-tempered, and scary as hell. But he was still a man. A man that lusted after me. I had no experience with men, but I wasn’t stupid. Women have had power over men since the beginning of time. I needed to harness that power. Bend him to my will. I smiled at that. He thought he was the Master. We’ll see about that.Was I playing with fire? I was willing to take tha
He took a meatball between his fingers, holding it out for me to take.“Open.” He commanded.My eyes widened. I hesitated for a moment but then my hunger got the better of me and I opened my mouth to take it from him. The juicy meatball almost melted in my mouth, and I tried to stifle the moan of pleasure.“Good?” he asked, taking one for himself.I nodded and he smiled. He picked up what looked like a little parcel of cabbage of some sort and held it to my lips.“This is my favorite, sarmale. Open.” He popped it into my mouth and a multitude of flavors exploded on my palate.“This is so different; I’ve never had it before.” I said between chewing.“What? Your mother never made this?” he shook his head in disbelief. It was a traditional dish.I shrugged, swallowing the last mouthful. “She never cooked Romanian dishes.” My mother wanted to fit in with the English way of living.He poured light white wine into a glass and held it to my lips. I took a sip, savoring the fruity taste on my
“Close your eyes.” Nico whispered in my ear.Before my eyes closed I stared up at him with all the questions I had in my mind, all the fears and unnamed feelings I had and prayed he saw them.He held my face in his hand. He was still fully clothed, I realized with relief.“Darina. Close your eyes. Or I will blindfold you.” The look in his eyes was feral and it scared me and excited me at the same time. I closed my eyes.“Trust me. I will not hurt you. I want you to feel pleasure.” He said, his voice husky.I clutched the silk dress, crumbling it between my fingers and tried to even out my raspy breathing. Something cold against my nipple. I gasped and my eyes flew open.“Darina!” he warned.I shut my eyes tight, gritting my teeth. I waited. And waited. The suspense was killing me. What was he doing? I knew if I opened my eyes he would do what he said and blindfold me. Maybe he should. Maybe I should ask him to do it. My heart was racing. This was insane.Trying to calm down l listene
“Open this fucking door! Now!” Nico roared. He slammed his fist against the door, and the wood started to crack.I saw Maria’s face turn ashen. A servant ran to open the door and Nico barged in, blood streamed down his right arm and dripped onto the carpet. Salvatore was right behind him.“Where’s Darina?” His eyes were wild and then he noticed me lying on the carpet with Maria standing over me with her gun. I held the side of my head, and my fingers came away bloodied.Maria took three steps back from me. The fierce look on his face had her falling to her knees. He snarled at her; lips drawn back in a feral growl. “I have warned you, Maria. Twice now.”“She attacked me, Nico. I swear, I thought she was going to escape.” Maria pleaded with him, crying. “Please, you’re hurt. Let me help you.”He ignored her, falling on his knees next to me. My head pounded so much I could hardly look at him.“What happened?” I asked, “You’ve been shot.” He scooped me up, glaring at the sobbing woman a
NICOBefore dawn I crept out of the mansion, let the wolf take over and went for a run at the far end of the property. My men were patrolling but they didn’t see me, I kept to the shadows. They were extra vigilant since Marcello’s men attacked us earlier. Good. They needed to up their game. Satisfied that everything was as it should be, I snuck back into the house in human form. I paused for a few minutes at Darina’s room, listening to her steady breathing and heartbeat. She was asleep.Turning away from the door I went to get dressed, almost forgetting to replace the bandage. I had to call an emergency meeting with my associates, and I had to deal with Maria, not something I was looking forward to. But I couldn’t let it go, she was defying my authority. Although this wasn’t a werewolf pack, I applied the same rules. They were my pack, human or not and I was their Alpha.The Snake Man and his merger could go to hell that’s how I felt. I’m sure the others would agree with me. If it’s a
DARINAMy head still hurt where that bitch clubbed me with her gun. I touched the bump lightly and cringed. At least I got all the blood out of my hair. My door slid open, and I saw Nico in my mirror. My heart leapt in my throat; his expression looked so dark. I sat, frozen, on the dressing table seat my hand holding the brush suspended in mid-air. Unsure if I should kneel or what.His hands were on my forearms before I could blink.“Master?” I croaked my throat dry all of a sudden. Thank goodness I was already dressed.“It’s time I started training you, my little fox. Last night was just a bit of fun. But now the real fun begins.” He said, looking at me sternly. “First thing I told you when I enter a room where you are, what was it?” he asked.I gulped. Shit. He came in so unexpectedly I became flustered. “I… I had to kneel and look at the ground?” I asked.His hands tightened on my arms. “So, tell me, Darina? Why didn’t you do it?”“You startled me.” I watched his eyes in the mirro
My father caught my eye. I saw a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead and upper lip. Why was he so nervous?“Alexi?” Nico asked again. His hand on my thigh stiffened and I felt the tension going all the way up his arm.“I… Maybe we should consider it? He has influence in parliament.” Daddy’s voice faltered. “And how do you know this, Alexi?” Nico’s eyes narrowed as he stared my father down.He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief he rummaged out of his jacket pocket. “The word on the street is that this man, Petrov, I believe is his name, is extremely dangerous. He has an army of men too, Nico. I don’t want my daughter caught up in all of this. We could all die!” he stood up to approach the table. “You want a war, I didn’t sign up for this, Nico.”“So, what are you actually saying, Alexi? Huh? You want out of my organization? Is that it?” Nico chuckled, shaking his head. “Alexi, you should know no one leaves the Romanesco alive.”He threatened my father! I gasped, trying to get off
NICO“What do you want, Alexi?” I asked the older man. He looked grey in the face, twisting his handkerchief around his fingers. I was tired and pissed off. I had no patience left. Darina sat unmoving on the couch, at least she knew better than to cross me right now.“I need to talk to her, please.” He just never knew when to give up. “Nico, I’m trying hard to get back the money I used…”“Stole, Alexi. Stole.” I corrected him.“But I’m trying to get it back. I will pay you back every last penny. But then you have to let her go.” Alexi touched my arm.The look I gave him had him remove his hand rapidly. “Sure, Alexi. You’ll get her back when hell freezes over.” I turned away from him and beckoned to Darina to come to me. She stood up slowly, and I watched as she swung those delicious hips of hers as she walked.“Darina, my child…” his eyes misted over, and he reached out to touch her. I swatted his hand away, pulling her to my side. “I’m so sorry I’ve gotten you into this mess. Your mo